This is a review of the AMT ’63 Impala #8321

Gotta say, I’ve been having excellent luck with the Impalas lately, and this one is the crowning achievement of LUCK. This could be one of the worst models I’ve ever worked on, and I made it worse by swapping out some parts for a custom look. I’ll explain later, but there is a lot to fear in this build. In the end, a Revell kit (though pricier) will fix ALL the problems I’ll cover.

The 1963 Impala has a lot of models to choose from, including the top-left super oldie that commands some $300. Some are good, and some… not so much. The elaborate one, the Prestige version, and the Revells make for the best-equipped builds. The others (pretty sure inclusive) all have the problems I will mention as I discuss the build.

CAR BACKGROUND :: Chevy full-size cars are arguably the best sleepers of the ’60s, and the ’63 is a prime example. Where the base 4-door (shown above) may sport the tepid 6-cyl, the badasses come with the 409ci dual 4-barrel. 425 horsepower with the two fours, and 400 with the single 4-barrel, the 409 made the “everyday” Impala a colossal nutcase in a drag race. I say “everyday”, but the Impala was also elegant from every angle, had some serious opulence on the inside, and as much room as you could buy in 1963.

Jet-smooth indeed.

First, some of the upgrade-y stuff. The paint – Tamiya Orange. I wanted to do some custom to this turd, and it came out spectacularly. As an FYI, there is an amazing amount of chrome to detail – though thankfully it is simple to work with. I changed the tires and used the rims off a different model because I had to use different wheelbacks with the axles. I also added a ’64 Impala side mirror to match the look, since the ’63 kit didn’t have one.

Next, as I mentioned above, this kit is missing a lot of pieces, and the engine bay is the biggest culprit. To start, the engine is garbage. It is molded oddly, has too much awkward shaping, has lousy chrome, and is just MEH overall. With that, I swapped in a 454ci V8 from a ’70 Impala SS fail, along with the valve covers and a custom air cleaner. Also, the bay is missing ANY type of radiator, a decent brake booster, and a radiator hose (obviously, since there was no radiator to begin with). It is a barren mess that I have saved, but not without a lot of work.

Along with the 454 swap, I also had to add some extensions to the already molded exhaust. Fantastic that they have a base with molded exhaust AND custom side exhaust that you are able to affix – makes no sense. I WAS able to create extensions that look right by cutting the molded pieces and adding a couple of “bends” using a piece of pipe from my parts bin. I also added new tips at the end, as the molded exhaust ends with no exit.

The underside is also a plethora of mediocrity. There are also no shocks, mufflers, suspension, tie rods, or anything worth assembling or painting. It is a really good example of why I try and keep the chassis uniform for the most part, as there is no way to make this any better than it already is. It’s ok looking, but nothing to display, assuredly.

Thankfully, the interior is about the best thing with this kit. The only things missing are the rearview mirror and a directional stalk. I didn’t like the gear shift in this kit, but that is preference, not omission. I used Insignia White for the upholstery and black for the dash and floor. It is bold and shows up well against the orange.

Part of me wanted to add some orange to the interior (dash, striped seats, door inserts, etc.), but there is so much OJ on the exterior and firewall that I was good with leaving well enough alone.

Along with the disgusting lack of good pieces in this kit are a model-kits-worth of custom, aftermarket, performance, lowrider, and car-show crap that is completely misplaced when you realize you need to raid the parts bin for a dozen pieces to make the stock version. Nowhere on the kit does it say “build custom and stock – IF you have a HUGE supply of stuff to add on”, but that’s what you end up with.

There are also flash issues (the body in my kit was riddled with flash that basically ruined it, so I ordered a replacement body from eBay), issues with the rear bumper not seating properly if you use the holes for the chassis-frame merge (I cut the hole section off and glued it to the body), and chrome issues that many of these kits have (fading, flaking, poor coating, etc).

I built this one because I have ridiculous numbers of parts and I was going custom, but if you have the extra cash for the Revell version, you should stay clear of this abomination. I can also say this one won’t be a “collector” anytime soon, since so many were manufactured, AND Revell’s kits are better. I hear the kits are good for target-shooting, however LOL.

4.25 – Broken