Ertl 1:18 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS454

1970 saw the introduction of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which was an answer to the A-bodied (Intermediate) Pontiac Grand Prix released the year before. The wheelbase of the A-Body chassis was lengthened and the extra length added to the area between the firewall and the front wheels providing that long hood/short deck look that was then the popular hallmark of the personal luxury car genre. Although many of the components were shared with the Chevelle, the Monte Carlo got wider C-pillars, new bulged rear fenders and concealed wipers. The basic Chevelle dash got faux wood trim that was a photocopy of the bird's eye elm veneer of the Rolls Royce and upgraded carpeting and upholstery were also added to the interior. The top performer was the SS454 package which, in 1971, gave you a 360hp 454 V8, mandatory Turbo-Hydramatic trans, 3.31 rear axle, heavy-duty suspension, wider tires, and an automatic load-leveling rear suspension. It weighed only a bit more than the Chevelle SS454, so it's performance was definitely of muscle car calibre.

The 1/18 scale model is part of Ertl's Elite Series, which offers added features and content at a midrange pricepoint, like scissored hinges on the hood and hidden door hinges. The first run of these Monte Carlos is limited to 1085 units in Burnt Orange plus 217 Chase Cars that sport a black vinyl top. My example is a preproduction sample in advance of a planned 5/07 release date. Looking it over, the paint is nicely applied and clearcoated with only a hint of orange peel, oddly only on the horizontal surfaces. The verticals have their own problem. The sides are rippled like a bad Bondo job. Most noticeable is an actual dent or depression on the rear of the front right fender.

Virtually all the trim is either chromed or foiled including door guards, wheel well trim and rocker panels. The only exception is the thin trim around the vinyl top on the chase car which is painted. The foil application needs some refining as there are both voids and separate pieces of foil on the bodywork. The front grill is blackwashed poorly with voids in the recesses and excess black on the raised grill elements. Where this model needs chroming is behind the lamps which look blacked out. I assume that will be corrected. The wheels are nicely modeled with bright hubs and rings setting off the matte wheel finish. The blackwalls are white lettered Goodyear Wide Tread GTs.

The interor is of spotty quality and incomplete. The dash is fairly nice with legible gauges, and faux wood trim. The rearview mirror appears very low and is attached to the clear plastic connector. To the front and rear glazing doubles as a headliner with molded-in visors and dome light, worthless unless the final product is at least painted. The texture on the door and side panels are too heavily textured as is the vinyl top, which looks like the "no-slip" appliques found on outdoor stair treads. The seats articulate but are hard unrealistic plastic with prominant mold flash. Although there is a reel recepticle on the floor, there are no seat belts or hardware. Chromed sill plates are present with poorly applied and peeling "Body by Fisher" logo decals. There is not only no carpeting but there is also a hole next to each sill that shows the orange body underneath.

The trunk opens on simple arc hinges and is devoid of any stickers, spare, jack, or liner. Chassis detailing is an average mix of separate and molded-in components without brake or fuel lines and the suspension is static. Under the hood in the engine bay sits a replica big block with a labeled (offset and peeling) air cleaner with a plug ending to the snorkle. There is plumbing to the engine, heater and AC lines. The plug wires scale out to garden hose diameter and just look silly. Many of the plastic parts are poorly textured and unpainted, which also adds to the toy-like appearance.

As I stated in the beginning, this is a preproduction sample with a lot of warts and blemishes. At a projected price of around $55 for this piece (and add a premium for the chase car), it competes squarely with the Highway 61 lineup and if there are no significant alterations from this sample, it's a hands down loser at that pricepoint.

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