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Topic starter
17/02/2025 12:34 pm
This sleek, trim 1969 Chevelle is my favorite generation. The next gen looks just too bloated for my taste. Through COPO Don Yenko secured 99 of these cars with the 375 HP L78 396 to upgrade into a powerhouse of performance they began with their tuned L72 427 big block that, if you note the air cleaner sticker, it was rated at 450HP. GM later had the rated horsepower reduced to 425HP as did Ford and Chrysler. Beyond that mythical '425HP', insurance premiums would be virtually confiscatory. The list of performance upgrades was long and included a heavy duty transmission 4.10 limited slip differential, big front disc brakes, and a heavy duty suspension with Yenko badged 'Torque Thrust' wheels. Performance was outrageous for that era: 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and a quarter mile in just under 12 seconds. The model is older ERTL tooling and does suffer from intrusive dog leg hinges and I would have loved to see photoetched badges, scripts and side marker lights. Beyond the pad printed trim package, the model has the proper logo'd bucket seats but does not have the Yenko supplied column mounted tach, the 3 info gauges below the ash tray and the special bullet shaped outside mirror. But in Hugger Orange over back, I love the look and stance of this model conversion.
17/02/2025 2:42 pm
An awesome model. I LOVE the '69 Chevelle; it is my favorite year and you can never go wrong with hugger orange.
Steve Jacobs and Christopher Moroni reacted
17/02/2025 3:05 pm
Nice pics of a so-so effort. To me, this tooling always seemed a bit "off." ...something about those wheel arches 🤔 🤨 🤔
Although not perfect either, Welly's 1968 release looks a bit better. But if you want a Yenko - Ertl/Autoworld is it! 😎 😎
Steve Jacobs and David Green reacted
Topic starter
17/02/2025 3:53 pm
Now to me, it looks like the front clip is droopy on yours. Everyone sees something different.
17/02/2025 4:44 pm
I see that too, kit-bash an Ertl & Welly and we'll both be happy. 🙄 😏 🙄
17/02/2025 6:10 pm
I agree, they both look a little off but a blend might work.
19/02/2025 7:36 am
The only complaint I have with the autoworld Chevelle is the height of the body from the ground, it looks like the car has a 4x4 lift kit on it. If the body was lower this car could have been a knock out. The body is very nicely done, the ride height is the biggest flaw of this AW car.
19/02/2025 12:54 pm
If the body was lower this car could have been a knock out.
Lowering 1/18 ride heights are some of the easiest mods to do - especially on Ertl cars. Usually, those can be slammed in minutes! 😏 😏
19/02/2025 2:33 pm
I really like that hugger orange Ertl Chevelle ! It is an exceptionally cool 1/18 diecast of this automobile, as the extensive picture survey of this one shows. I have some prized 1/18 Chevelles from the '60's and '70's but nothing from this year.
Christopher Moroni reacted
19/02/2025 7:23 pm
I always found the "Turbo-Jet" engine to be an interesting name. Without a turbocharger to be found, it was purely a marketing term to add more excitement to the line.
Christopher Moroni and Rich Sufficool reacted
Topic starter
19/02/2025 8:46 pm
@marty-johnson It's just another moniker that makes a connection to the modern Jet Age. I don't think it was related to turbochargers.
Christopher Moroni and Marty Johnson reacted
19/02/2025 11:08 pm
@rich-sufficool ....correct, just more marketing hype. "Super-tronic-hyper-matic-turbo-fire-sonic-a-tron-ic-blast-O-matic-power-riffic-glide-O-cruise-dynamic-twin-ultimatic-ease-O-tron-power-jet-teriffic-glide-O-matic!"
Marty Johnson reacted
20/02/2025 6:14 pm
....correct, just more marketing hype. "Super-tronic-hyper-matic-turbo-fire-sonic-a-tron-ic-blast-O-matic-power-riffic-glide-O-cruise-dynamic-twin-ultimatic-ease-O-tron-power-jet-teriffic-glide-O-matic!"
So your the one who bought this car, we thought it would never leave the lot!
This post was modified 1 year ago by john3976
Christopher Moroni reacted