Glen,
The kit of 7 Chryslers dates back to the 1980's. But its a re-issue of the Revell kit from 1961. Originally, these cars were made both in kit form and sold assembled separately. The original releases from the early 60's had chrome grilles and bumpers, and were molded in authentic Chrysler Corporation 1961 colors. All the cars are 1961 models. The original assembled models were actually considered to be "promotional models" for the Chrysler lineup and had alot of Chrysler advertizing on the boxes. They are actually very well detailed for 1961 with legible emblems. I only wish they all had interiors.
Legend has it, that if they had sold real well, they would have done a similar series for each model year, 62, 63...and up. But although they were better than anything else on the market at the time, they were relatively expensive, and didn't sell as well as hoped.
The reissue kit that you have would have been nicer if they had at least chromed the grilles and bumpers. The 2 door Plymouth wagon, unfortunantly isn't as nice as the others as the mold had been damaged at some point before the reissue. One side of the Plymouth wagon is lacking in detail as the repairs to the mold were inadequate.
Still, that kit is a great find, and they can be made into very nice models.
The Valiant wagon would be the only car in that set that would have appeaared exactly as it is in the kit, on the roads in 1959. The Valiant was introduced in late 1959, and there were no styling changes till the 1962 model year when tail lights and trunk lids were changed.
In the background of this photo are the original issue Revell Chryslers. The Global Van Lines truck and the Auto Transporter were also Revell kits from the early 1960's. Here the Revell Auto Transporter carries new 1959 Chevy El Caminos by Brekina. The gold metallic and blue metallic El Caminos just came out and Walthers just recieved them into stock. I just got the blue and gold El Caminos from Walthers lst week.
