This is a review of the Revell 1969 Shelby GT-500 Kit#2158

This is a bit of a pain in the a$$ – fantastic kit… and it really is just because it is a special car. I just saw a $229,000, burgundy colored ’69 for sale at a local car show, and I can tell you it was astounding. It was also NOT worth even half that amount of money, but who’s counting? What it is… is a must-have PITA model car.

I have worked on the two above as well, and I can tell you two things. One, the convertible is just not as nice a final product as the coupe, and two, the other kit is molded in one of the WORST yellows you’ll find in the model kingdom. It is all over everything and makes for some terrible re-coating. All kits include the same pieces (save for the conv. items) and have very few “street” add-ons. The good thing is that I didn’t have to add a blessed thing to the whole kit.

CAR BACKGROUND :: Carroll Shelby sure made some waves in the automobile world that would stretch on for decades after we are gone, but the ’69/’70 GT-500s would be the end of a muscle car streak of badasses that started in the early ’60s.

The name wouldn’t return for another 30+ years.

That didn’t mean this car lacked performance. The GT-500 came with one of Ford’s best engines – the legendary 428 Cobra Jet. It looked amazing, sounded amazing, and delivered amazing performance. With the 4-speed, this horse would dip into the high 13s through the ¼ mile and had the torque (some 440lb-ft) to turn tires to jelly. Now, I said before that the one I saw wasn’t worth a quarter million dollars, and I stand by that. I can say wholeheartedly, however, that if I had the money in hand.. I’d fork it over without a second thought.

I have to admit that the Bug Yellow I used for this Mustang is a bit too bright, but honestly, it is close to the Bright Yellow (Grabber) from 1970. I really like the way this one came together, but I can also say it is not an easy build. The hood has tiny vents, the rear valance is painted black, the taillights have chrome dividers between the sequential lights, the decals need holes cut around the stripes so they fit around the side markers, and so on. The kit is really good though. I’ve built this one a couple of times and haven’t had any issues besides my own shortcomings.

I didn’t get a great image of this interior, and the black further does it no justice. There is a mass amount of detail all over the inside, and little is needed to finish her off. I think I added a directional stalk, but everything else is there.

There is also nothing of any value in these kits in terms of speed. It is brutally stock through and through. Not that these Shelbys weren’t already performance gems, but you won’t do much here without using your parts bin.

The underside of this one has a lot of good (with shocks, easy attachment to the engine, easy-to-use axles), but the exhaust is terrible. I’ve always hated the Mustang exhausts in most of these kits as they wrap around the axles and are more of a pain than a help.

This exhaust is especially disappointing, since the dual exhaust attaches to a bar that is supposed to connect the middle exhaust. It doesn’t, however, connect to the fancy tips, just ends before the back of the car. I’ve long thought of adding an extension to make it look more realistic, but getting it right between the bottom and body of the car would be difficult, to say the least. It is easily my least favorite section of this car.

Like I stated earlier, the engine is a sight to see in real life, and this Revell is a fine replica of it. It has more detail than most : brake boost; full-size battery (though annoyingly molded); large fan; premium radiator surround with hood latch; engine stiffeners… it is grand to say the least. I left the bay yellow (akin to a rotisserie resto) because it brings out the look further. The only downside is the firewall, as it is as bare as a shaved cat… er… horse.

I cannot say enough about this kit except to say it is a well-designed model that needs a lot of detail attention. In the end, it is an exceptional kit that needs to be gotten – in either coupe or conv. form. The good news is that these kits are not only plentiful, but rather inexpensive. You typically can’t get these in stores anymore, but they are still available online for $25 or so. It has been a few years since its reissue as well, so not a half-bad investment – especially since it is a great build.

8.5 – Very Good