Vanishing Point Dodge Challenger

       

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Original Kit:
Vanishing Point '70 Dodge Challenger
Made By:
Revell (kit #85-1516)
Scale:
1/25
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Dodge Challenger from the movie Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point Challenger badge detail Vanishing Point Challenger engine Vanishing Point Challenger interior Vanishing Point Challenger chassis rear Vanishing Point Challenger chassis front Vanishing Point Challenger rear

 
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Once I finally started work on my original Vanishing Point Challenger, I figured I may as well build the one from the 1997 remake as well. While outwardly very similar, there were some differences between the cars making it worth a separate project.

The biggest difference was the engine. While there's some argument about whether the original movie Challenger "should" be considered a 440 Six Pack or 440 Magnum car, no one with any authority ever claimed it had a 426 Hemi. The remake, on the other hand, distinctly showed us a Hemi engine right at the beginning of the movie (well, sort of - the engine we saw was actually several close-up shots of a Charger mill). To match this, I used the engine from Revell's 1970 Hemi 'Cuda with the air cleaner from their '67 GTX. The exhaust pipes had to be trimmed to fit the Hemi's headers, but otherwise it fit perfectly.

The chassis was left black on this one to represent a fully restored car with undercoating. Details were picked out in various metallic colors, and as with the classic build weathering was kept to a minimum. Tires were taken from my parts box and finished with decals from Fireball Modelworks for a movie-correct appearance.

Inside, I added a center console from Hart's Parts Resin and modified the pistol grip shifter to fit. Otherwise I built and detailed the bucket exactly as I did for the original, including embossing powder for the carpet.

With the new engine in place the factory-applied hood badges were no longer accurate. I carefully removed these with some isopropyl alcohol, then added a set of correct "426 Hemi" badges courtesy of Keith Marks Decals. I also removed the front license plate, made bumperettes, and painted the tail panel black. The chrome flip cap was accurate for the '97 car, so I left that. Finally, a movie accurate rear license plate was added and the remake car could join the original.

 

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