This is a review of the Revell DONK ’70 Chevelle #2058

The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 454 LS6. Arguably one of the most coveted, most recognized, and fastest of the muscle car era. It was one I HAD to make. So, why a DONK special? Well… it was at a good price. The good thing about this kit is that it has everything for the stock badass – save for the stripes. This (Monogram/Revell) kit is one of the better ones you’ll build as well.

These above monogram/revell kits are about the same in most respects. The blower kits above may not have the dual racing stripes, and some are molded in blue vs. white. The first kit is nice because it has the Baldwin hood and decals, but it isn’t really the LS6 you want. The other 4 kits also come with the stock cowl-induction hoods even though cut-out hoods are pictured.

These three (and possibly 2 or 3 more) AMT kits are workable, but not as good as the Revell/Monogram counterparts. The front grille/lights are usually a lousy fit; the rear bumper is undersized and looks more fake; the interior is poorly detailed; and the engine bay is typical AMT low detail. They WILL display well if built properly, but they are a nuisance.

CAR BACKGROUND :: As I said earlier, the ’70 Chevelle 454 LS6 IS a muscle car icon. The number of books, movie cameos, and outrageous price tags all speak to the car’s infamy. As if the styling wasn’t enough to make you devilishly grin, the engine prowess surely would.

See… most 1970s Chevys could come with the prestigious 454, but this particular one came with the “ultra” 454… the LS6. With an 800cfm Holly 4-barrel, aluminum pistons, and an 11.0:1 compression, the motor was underwhelmingly rated at 450hp and a thundering 500lb-ft torque. Quarter-mile times varied widely from one magazine to another, but you could rest assured you’d not only have a low-13s car, but one that could come close to the coveted 110mph trap speed. This is one of the top five fastest muscle cars of its era and one that had the aggressive looks to match.

BUILD NOTES : This model is – for lack of a better adjective – great. The body and other parts have very little flash. The chrome is usually good, the glass is in its own bag (preventing tire rub), and there are a lot of detailed parts. My few grievances are with fit and finish. The racing stripes (when available) are lousy. They are especially thin and do not work well around the cowl hood. The hood vent is at a point and can cause the decals to tear. I’m not a fan of the wheels either. No, not the 26″ers, but the regular ones. They are unlettered and do not come with decals to make them so.

I have always liked the dark green Chevelles/Malibus more than any other color, and I finally got the Model Master Fathom Green to work. It is a tough paint to work with because it loves to pool and can ruin a paint job easily. I got the white stripes from another Revell kit, and they worked well. The magnum wheels came out nice, and the trim is easy on this one.

This DONK pack also allows you to affix giant wheels and rims, hip-hop seat decals, and chrome-plated exhaust. I think it’s all ridiculous considering the pedigree, but it’s all there and easy to use. There are blowers and such as well for a “street” setup, but not a lot of other add-ons. (no fins, slicks, wheelie-bars, etc)

This is one of my favorite interiors. The detail is high and the look is really sporty. I went with the black and white – with the floor and dash black and the rest flat white. This kit came with a nice 4-speed shifter and rearview mirror. It already had a directional stalk (I think) on the column too.

This is where the AMT and Revell kits truly part ways. The Revell 454 looks pretty nice (pic A), but its accents put the AMT kit to shame.

As you can see from the AMT kit (pic B), the firewall is less detailed; the wheel wells are boring and don’t fit as well; the radiator hose looks fake (too straight); the master cylinder is 3 sizes too small; and the radiator is not only a straight piece of plastic, but has no fan shroud. The only saving grace is a relatively decent-looking battery – a tad better than the Revell.

The underside is a really good place to be on this model. There is a lot of chassis detail and a really tight exhaust system. I wish the fit to the motor was cleaner and there were no distinct shocks, but the wheels fit tight, and it all looks good.

Another small gripe – there are no exhaust tips. This is annoying as the rectangle ones on the real McCoy look awesome. I fashioned two good ones from another kit, but the round nubs that come with the kit are disappointing. Mind you, the AMT ones are terrible, with a weird shape and look.

When all is said and painted, the Chevelle came out splendidly. I can say that it is also a good buy, but a negligible investment – as there are just too many out there. With both Revell and AMT doing recent reissues, both are still around $25. In fact, you can get the AMT version at Hobby Lobby for $18 with 40% off coupon. Definite must-have!

8.75 – Very Good