AMT 6487 - 1953 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck

Originally introduced in the 1963 AMT Trophy Series line-up, this model kit has stood the test of time and goes together as easily now as it did in it's first production run. 

The kit’s decal sheet features many optional graphics from the era in which vehicles like this would have been delivering packages, working on the farm, and servicing garages in days gone by! You can build one of three different trucks from this decal sheet and save the other two versions for your other model trucks to build your own unique vehicles. 

You get three choices of engines in this model kit. The first is the stock 1953 255 cu in (4.2 L), referred to as the model BG. This engine consists of 19 highly detailed parts including the air cleaner, carburator, intake manifold, 2-piece engine block/transmission combo, cylinder heads, 3-piece exhaust headers, oil filler spout, oil filter, fuel line filter, distributor cap, fan belt, fan and generator. All these parts are molded in white plastic. 

The second engine option is the Desoto Firedome with eight single barrel carburetors mounted on a custom "log" intake manifold and dual long chrome air cleaners. The Firedome was an early hemispherical combustion chamber motor produced from 1953 - 1959, and had 3 displacements from the factory. The 1952-1954 Firedome had a 276 C.I. motor, the 1955-1956 had the 291 C.I. and the 1957-1959 came with the 361 C.I. engine. It is hard to know which one AMT duplicated for this kit as all the Desoto Firedome engines came with a pair of spark plug covers with "Desoto Fire Dome Eight" stamped into them, as depicted on this model kit. The Trophy Series model kits came out in 1963, so it is probable that the engine block would depict the 1957-1959 version, since it would have been the most recent and powerful at the time. 

The eight carb Firedome consists of 23 parts, some molded in white plastic and some in chrome. The white plastic parts include the engine block halves, cylinder heads, front timing chain cover, fan belt, dual split water hose, intake manifold, magneto, and exhaust manifolds. The chrome pieces include the two air cleaners, eight carburetors, valley cover plate, valve covers, alternator, and oil pan. 

The final engine assembly is designed for racing and is a special fuel injector intake for the Desoto Firedome engine mentioned above. This option replaces the two air cleaners, eight carburetors and "log" intake manifold with eight chrome fuel injector trumpets and two special intake manifolds that are glued to the top of the cylinder heads. The chassis is a beautifully designed unit that includes four separate front and rear leaf springs, brake drums, I-Beam front axle, two piece rear differential, drive shaft, shock absorbers, a spare tire with spare tire mounting bracket, your choice of exhaust pipes, (factory, chromed dual exhaust straight pipes and chromed dummy lake pipes) and a choice of bumper brackets or rolled pans. 

To wrap up this kit, you also get a choice to build one of three variations : the factory stock pickup truck, a service truck and a custom truck. 

The factory stock version comes with authentic bumpers, chrome grill, an operational rear tailgate with "Ford" stamped in it, Firestone White Wall tires with factory stock steel wheels and chrome "Ford" dog dish hub caps. 

The service vehicle is based off the factory stock truck, but replaces the authentic bumpers with service bumpers, basically the factory stock bumpers with a series of holes in them. There are two chrome bumper over-riders, air horns, service roof lights, side mirrors, 6 different tools, a fire extinguisher, oxy/acetylene tanks with a torch, scissor jack with jack "crank" handle and an extra rear tail lamp. 

The final version is the multi-part "custom" version. The stock chrome grill can be replaced with the "Wild Kat" grill (Designed by George Barris), the "Canted Light" grill, or the "Waffle" grill. The factory stock rear fenders can get special 1949 Mercury tail lamps, or replace it with 1955 Chevrolet Step Side fenders that include sunken in 1957 Corvette tail lamps. 

No matter how you build it, this is one fun model kit!