Revell 1/25 1969 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Kit First Look

By Phil Cooley, Front Range Auto Modelers (FRAM)

First Look

The 1969 Camaro carried over the previous year's drivetrain and major mechanical components, but all new sheet metal, except the hood and trunk lid, gave a car a substantially sportier look. The grille was redesigned with a heavy "Y" cant and deeply inset headlights. New door skins, rear quarter panels, and rear valence panel also have the car a much lower, wider, more aggressive look. This styling would serve for the 1969 model year only. Collectors often debate the merits of smooth, rounded lines of 1967 and 1968 model versus the heavily creased and sportier looks of the 1969. What is not in doubt, is the 1969 Camaro is one of the most sought-after ponycars, ever.

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camaro)

The Engine: the 375 hp, 396 cu. in. engine was at the top of the RPO list. That engine is depicted in this kit. There are over twenty pieces, including a two piece chromed carburetor, a nicely detailed distributor with vacuum advance, separate water and fuel pumps, two piece headers, an ignition coil, a cowl induction aircleaner assembly, and radiator hoses with clamp detail. Curiously, heater hoses are not included. A manual transmission is depicted, which would have been the best way to put all that torque and horsepower to the ground.

Chassis: Revell’s recent kits are arguably the most detailed of the “inexpensive” kit range. This one is no exception. Although it does not feature a steerable front end, it has a separate front crossmember and a-arms, plus a steering box. There is also a separate, fragile, front anti-rollbar. The one in this sample was broken, but a small drop of glue would make a quick, unnoticeable repair. The rear suspension is a 5 piece unit, including two convincing replicas of the unique OEM shock absorbers. The driveshaft is very well molded, with open “U” joints. Other details include a chambered dual-exhaust system, a hood latch, a clear windshield washer bottle, a two-piece brake master cylinder, and a fan shroud.

Wheels and tires: Kudos to Revell for including two complete sets of wheels and tires. There is a set of Chevy Rally Wheels with no-name tires and a set of 19”wheels and tires, again with no brand name.

Interior: The interior is a bucket type, with separate door panels. The front bucket seats are two-piece, the steering column depicts the turn-signal lever and a tilt lever, plus there is a separate console. Two steering wheels are included, the “base” model and the correct (for the RS/SS) sport steering wheel. The dash appears to be nicely done, though there is no depiction of a speaker grille.

Body: The 1969 Camaro had a distinctive shape—only sharing its trunk and hood with the 67-68 models. Revell has done a nice job capturing the RS/SS version, with its hide-away headlights and optional cowl-induction hood. They included a brace to keep the windshield frame intact until it is built, and included separate front and rear spoilers. One thing I noticed is the placement of the Camaro script on the decklid. This is correct when you use the rear spoiler, but would be much closer to the edge of the decklid, if the rear spoiler is not used. This could easily be rectified with a little sandpaper and a Camaro script from the decal sheet. Two different taillight lense types are included. The one with the backup light is not correct for the RS/SS model. The other is and is called for in the instruction sheet. One minor “nitnoid” is the backup lamps for the rear valance. They have a pin to help mount them in the correct position. The valence has corresponding holes, but they do not go all the way through, you must open them up from the inside.

Decal sheet: What can is say here? Beautiful! There are two sets of Rally Stripes, two sets of Bumblebee Stripes, and two sets of pinstripes, each in white and black. There are also gauges for the interior, an aircleaner decal, numerous Camaro scripts, 396 and SS badges, plus decals for the battery. And if you want to depict the optional “houndstooth” interior, there are even decals for that. One last detail: there are accurate depictions of two sets of California license plates, including the coveted black/yellow plates. Revell even distinguishes between the front and back by including month and year tags on the rear plates.

Revell has another winner here. Using the instruction sheet, which calls out colors to paint various components, and with some research and care a moderately skilled builder should be able to produce a very nice replica of the upscale 1969 RS/SS Camaro convertible. Camaro fans, musclecar fans, and ponycar lovers need this kit to complete their collections.

Many thanks to Revell for the product sample.

Ed Note: Phil is a member of Front Range Auto Modelers.