Instructions:
Decal Sheet
Extras
Photos of Real Car:
Kit notes:
In the 1970s MPC (Model Products Corporation) was AMTs prime competitor for USA domestic plastic model car kit production. Quite a few MPC kits of the early 1970s had inaccuracies and were difficult to build well. About the time that this kit was originally tooled, MPC changed their philosophy to produce fewer kits per year and to engineer them to a higher standard.
Because of this commitment, body details were sharper, parts fit better, but more often than not, interior and chassis parts were simplified or had a certain softness to them.
In the case of this kit- the simplification is shown in molding the driveshaft and front suspension to the chassis pan while the rear end, leaf spring and exhaust unit is cast as a separate piece. This was an improvement over the promo style one-piece chassis found in many AMT annual kits. Todays builder has the advantage of being able to kitbash more recently tooled Dodge and Plymouth kits for parts, this will allow you to create a more detailed appearing chassis if you so choose. The stock exhaust will have to be trimmed from the drag version, and period correct Lakewood-style traction bars are included if you wish to use them.
Two complete engines are provided- the LA Series 360 single 4 barrel (stock) and the 426 Hemi (called the "Big V-8" in the instructions and box art) with a choice of single 4bbl on a chrome manifold or dual 4 bbl carbs on a high riser manifold. My reference photos show the air cleaner in the kit being correct for a 383 hi-po engine but not for the 360 (see 1:1 "Hang Ten" car photos below). The 360 engine delivers only average detail but I can see it being the basis of a nice model if attention is paid to painting and wiring details to draw the eye of the observer in. The drag engine uses a multi-piece header exhaust with a collector tube while the stock engine allows use of the stock dual exhaust or optional Thrush side pipes. At first I thought the stock exhaust was incorrect- but some research revealed that the 1975/1976 Dart Sport 360s were some of the last domestic rear wheel drive cars to have a true dual exhaust and no catalytic converter. The drag engine version offers a chromed cool can for under-hood use.
The factory 15 inch Rallye Sport wheels look good if needing a little bit of painting to bring out their details. The optional honeycomb wheels puzzle me as they look like they belong on a Firebird Trans Am rather than on a drag car. The wheel backs are plain and show no brake detail.
The box art incorrectly shows the front turn signals as being solid amber where for 1975 they should be white frosted with amber bulbs. The 1975 and 1976 Dart Sport grilles were nearly identical except that the 1976 had amber colored front turn signal lenses.
The interior bucket is standard model kit fare for the 70s which means nearly non-existent detail, with separate bucket seats and a molded in rear seat. The optional sport console is molded to the interior bucket floor with at least an attempt at woodgrain and panel engraving lines. Pedal detail is molded to the front of the interior bucket and probably should be removed for separate parts since they represent auto trans pedals and both engines have manual transmissions. The drag version has a period correct steering column mounted tachometer and a cluster of three optional gauges (both chrome). Instrument faces on the decal sheet would have gone a long way to add detail to these. The drag/custom version also offers a chromed fire extinguisher for the interior.
A driver figure is included and can be assembled sitting (will fit in the interior holding the wheel) or standing. The standing version can be posed holding an optional one piece trophy. The instructions show how to construct a "show car" diorama and have a scale ruler printed on the sheet.
Windshield wipers, door handles, etc. are molded to the body. Revell's recent B-Body kits have these as separate parts if you wish to add more detail. The fuel filler cap is a bit on the undefined side so a little work might be in order here if you are building a replica stock model.
The chrome tail light panel was usually seen on top trim level cars and seldom seen on big engine street warriors prowling my neighborhood. I suppose it would be easy to fill it in and reshape to the plainer appearance of the low trim level cars. It's a shame that bumper guards weren't included in the kit- I remember them being a popular option.
No decal guide is provided- the instruction sheet advising to check the box art for decal placement. Three period state license plate decals are included but no dash, instrument or interior decals. The tires are un-labeled but a Goodyear decal is provided along with Accel, Fenton, Hays, Champion, Cragar etc. accessory sponsor stickers. The drag version Smoken Joes Rebel Rouser decal has a quite decent representation of gold foil without actually being gold foil. If you look closely the decal sheet is slightly different than the box art in at least two places.
A 340 side stripe (see below) is included for the stock version but the sheet has a 360 air cleaner decal. Would it have taken THAT much effort to change it to 360? It looks like two other under-hood decals are included but I havent taken out a magnifying glass to figure out what they represent.
The optional two-piece hood scoop looks good but I feel the factory optional 1973 dual snorkel scoop (shown below) would have been a nicer choice.
Supposedly there is an aftermarket company offering decals and resin body parts to allow creation of the Hang Ten Code A63 special edition model that was offered in 1974, 75 and 76 (see below)
(The hood scoop and spoilers shown on the above car IIRC were Chrysler Direct Connection factory parts and available to order)
Jerrys House of Resin had a Pro Street Chassis and Big Cowl hood for this kit in the past- perhaps they will start casting them again now that the kit is back on dealers shelves.
Overall Round 2 did a good job of cleaning up the tooling so there are few imperfections. The plating on the chrome tree is so-so and some parts were showing that the plating was rubbing off even though they are in a protective bag. Some small parts included in the kit seem to be from the prior Convoy Chaser cop car- to end up in the spare parts box I imagine?
Its nice to have this kit available again, and by kitbashing it with some more recent Mopar offerings, current modelers have the ability to make a spectacular scale replica.
Kit tree, decal and other photos to be posted later.
.. hope it helps... someone, somehow, somewhere. 
They had more lowend torque but 'noosed over' at about 4500 RPM. 
4 speed SixPack car, hit the gas and 
