PLASTIC CLASSICS "33 1/3" REVIEWS

THE MONOGRAM 1/24 SCALE  Z Z TOP “ELIMINATOR” 1933 FORD

By Steve Berner

Now for something totally different; how about blending two of the most popular pastimes…scale modeling and Rock 'n Roll! If you didn’t think it couldn’t be done, check out Monogram’s 1985 classic, 1/24th scale, ZZ Top "Eliminator" car of MTV rock video fame.

 

 I know, I know, it doesn't have a propeller, two wings, or a lot of victory flags on it, but this kit is special. Featured in three of the most popular music videos ever recorded, this chopped, channeled, low-riding beauty is based on a 1933 Ford three-window coupe body. Custom built and owned by the rock band ZZ Top, this fire engine-red dream car was created by Don Thelans of Buffalo Motor Cars, Ltd. This car’s color, just as it appeared in the videos, was bright red and painted by Kenny Youngblood. It was the inspiration for the Double Platinum hit album “Eliminator” recorded by ZZ Top in 1983. It was featured on MTV and is still available on videocassette and DVD. “GIMMIE ALL YOUR LOVIN',” “SHARP DRESSED MAN,” “LEGS,” “SLEEPING BAG,” and “ROUGH BOY” all featured this

one-of-a kind vehicle. The last two videos were shown less often than the first three.

 

Sadly, this was to be a "Limited Edition" kit. Though it was never printed on the box, the “Eliminator” was only on the market for about a year and a half. It was released under three different box-art covers before being withdrawn and retired some time in 1986 or 1987. To date, it has never been reissued in this form.

 

The ZZ Top "ELIMINATOR" kit features an easy-to-follow instruction sheet and a small decal sheet containing the side designs and license plate. There are four nicely molded black, hard rubber tires with the raised "Goodyear GT" trademark logo.  A chrome-plated sprue containing 27 parts, a small sprue of 4 clear parts, and 35 main body parts, molded in red, round out the kit. 

 

The authentic engine is a model itself. It features chromed, custom valve and air filter covers embossed with "ZZ" logos. If the engine is displayed “out-of-the-box”, it will not have that cluttered, busy look of a modern, high-powered engine. There are no spark-plug wires from the distributor cap to the spark plugs. The modeler must fabricate these with stretched sprue or scale rubber tubing.

The suspension, with solid cast springs, are molded in red plastic. They will benefit from careful building and painting. What is offered by Monogram looks very good when dry-fitted prior to assembly. The kit even provides separate chrome-plated tie-rods that add to the finished replica's appearance.

 

From this point on, the level of modeling skill applied will be left up to the individual. Model car building is a totally different hobby. There are many different techniques utilized here other than those used in building plastic aircraft, armor, and modeling. Many books about plastic car modeling are available. Those by Kalmbach Publishing are particularly useful due to the large amount of photographic content used to explain their ideas.

If you can find this kit anywhere, BUY IT! You will not be disappointed. The change of pace it offers will only add to the enjoyment of building it. I guarantee it!

 

If you can find the music video collection by ZZ Top, featuring this amazing car, rent it or buy it! It features some incredible, foxy women (ah, sorry) views of the car that will help in building this superb bit of classic plastic!

 

This review is dedicated to Dan Paulien, who never sees enough "Car Stuff" in our newsletter.