This is a review of the Monogram 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Kit #2470 AND #85-4190

What the hell does the title mean?? Well, I like to keep things a bit variable on here, so this is a lot different than my typical blah blah review. I AM reviewing the kit to the left, but I’m also reviewing the FOOSE kit to the right. I have always liked this kit, and aside from the front grill being a true bastard to get in place, it is one of the best kits made – IMHO. I say the review is different because I made two cars… one bone stock with the Iris color that matches the box, and the other…. welllll…

Ok…. so the one in the bottom right… the red one… the one with the scantily clad girl. I CAN’T say enough about how much this ruins most of the respect I have for Hasegawa kits. I don’t even know where to start. The fact that it is a 1965 and the cover says 1966? That they have the name on the side of the car, but couldn’t take the extra step to call it an “Impala” – rather “Coupe Type I” on the box? Do I dare mention the unneeded trollop on the hood of the car for no reason whatsoever? And why the heck do we only get the girl’s figure?? Where’s the rest of her?!!? Anyways, the three above are really the only options for building, and I cannot vouch for the AMT. You’ve seen in my reviews that Revell/Monogram will ALWAYS beat an MPC/AMT, but I honestly have no idea on this one. I can say that the AMT is so costly that I’d just buy the Revell anyway. The FOOSE kit comes molded in white and has a few more custom parts than the stock kit I made, so it’s good too.

CAR BACKGROUND :: Not sure if EVERYTHING around you will be different (like the ad touts), but if you had a cheating wife, lousy job, and a kid flunking High School… you may have given it a try! Kidding aside, the ’65 Impala is a bit like my other ’65 fave – the Galaxie 500. Both are large, comfortable, and come with good engines, but are more or less forgotten in the muscle/collector world. Which also means – to some degree – to the modeling world.

It was only due to FOOSE getting their paws on the car that the model was reissued. With that, I can say “fooey!”. This is a splendid-looking car with fancy lines, a handsome grille, abundant comfort, and a set of engines that can take it from sublime to crazed lunatic. The kit I made has the 375hp V8, and though it would only produce a high 15sec quarter, would still leave most of the bigger cars in its wake. But, look at it! It is the car that you’d want to take to an elite function… and you’d get there faster than most!

Ever since I saw the cover, I HAD to make this one in Iris. Alas… there is NO Iris paint available unless you go to GM themselves. I was NOT paying $40+ for the color, so I went shopping. What I found was that Krylon Gum Drop looked super close to Iris. $6, some clear coat, and voilà! – instant Iris! This Revell kit is fantastic, too, with everything it comes with. You literally don’t need anything else to build this one. Even the exhaust tips are usable… though I did change em out.

Now, for the Impala’s ugly, evil stepchild. The custom Impala I made is a mishmash of parts from everywhere. Outwardly, in this pic, the door handles were deleted; the tires and rims are from FOOSE; and, obviously, the Hot Magenta color isn’t stock. Because this was set up for FOOSE, the suspension was an easy fix. Not like other fun stuff, though!

To the left, I went with the stock white w/black interior and had a ball doing the chrome. The Monogram kit has amazing detail, and I had fun doing it. On the other hand, the custom one was rather fun too. The steering wheel is from another kit (neither kit had a good custom one); I added a Hurst gearshift; went full-chome on the dash; added a custom directional; and used a pink/white motif.

Now I know what you are going to say… Yes, the one on the right is a BIT more impressive. So much so, I use it for my header on this website. NO, it isn’t the greatest engine ever (it isn’t even wired), but I like how the chrome looks in front of the pink. It isn’t a 396 either. It is a blown 454 from a Chevelle. Not too much had to be done for placement either… SO worth it!

The other engine to the left is the 396 I mentioned earlier, and it still looks stock-perfect. I could’ve chromed it up a bit more, but it looks like the typical “sleeper” in your dad’s car! This is one of the MOST COMPLETE engine bays you’ll find, and it needs absolutely nothing to finish.

The chassis is also top-notch. The stock pipes are really nice and fit well. And, like I already mentioned, the exhaust tips are fine, but I needed more chrome, so snip-snip. Really good detail and easy engine placement make this a 100%, A+.

That isn’t to say that there is no room for improvement. For the custom, I scuttled the stock exhaust and went with a more formidable one. The muffler section is from a Mopar; the ends past the axle are off a Ford; and the tips are from a Murcielago. You can also see the tire difference from the stock 15″ers to the 20+ inch FOOSE rubber.

Whether you’ve got a 500hp blown 454 or a purely stock cruiser, these are both fantastic kits. There is nothing to add (unless you go crazy custom as I did), and it won’t cost a truckload to buy because of the recent reissue. I wouldn’t wait for the price to skyrocket, though. Actually, I wouldn’t wait at all!

9.75 / 9.25 – Excellent / Very Good