AMT 1/25 scale 1963 Chevy II Station Wagon with trailer model kit review

Round 2 has released a 1/25 scale plastic model of the 1963 Chevy ll Nova station wagon under the AMT brand. Taking cues from the original issue, it is a 3-in-1 customizing kit with five engine options and includes a trailer along with plenty of smaller details. A station wagon may seem an unusual subject choice for a model kit. However, consider, Chevrolet produced the 1st generation Chevy Nova II station wagons from 1962 to 1965 and took the car from design to production in an incredible 18 months. Compact, the Chevy II wagon came with a 110-inch wheelbase, which was just slightly longer than its main competitor, the Ford Falcon. This kit builds off the previous Craftsman (curbside) Chevy II station wagon Round 2 released earlier this year.

Of the five engine options, I opted for the factory stock 194-cubic-inch inline six-cylinder. It builds up nicely with a two-piece stock manifold and simple fan setup topped off with a classic GM air cleaner. I also built the V8 with a top-mounted blower to display on the provided engine stand. It’s included, so why not?

The kit offers stock or custom options for the interior. Custom features you can add include a parachute, a telephone, squirrel, and even a reel-to-reel tape recorder that definitely add a ’60s vibe to the wagon. Choose from either a custom center console with a floor shifter or the stock steering wheel setup. And while it’s not shown in the instructions, the parts tree provides a custom steering wheel. Choose between two sets of decal gauges to complete the interior.

The simplified chassis for the Nova comes with the front and rear suspensions, along with the exhaust, molded in. In back, a metal axle slides through a raised position for a custom look, or you can choose the lower position for stock height. Axle pins mounted to the molded control arms set the height options up front. Careful detail painting can make everything underneath look respectable. You have two choices for the wheels: stock hubcaps or a wire wheel style hubcap for a custom look.

While I wanted the stock look, the kit offers plenty of parts to customize the Chevy’s body, including a custom front end with a mesh grille, rear roll pan and bumpers, and even a slick roof rack.

And let’s not forget there’s a trailer included in this kit along with the loads of extra customizing parts. You shouldn’t have any trouble putting it together — easiest part of the build.

From the vintage box art to the custom extras, you can see the AMT 1963 Chevy II station wagon’s heritage. The new tooling breathes life into this model and should revive interest in the subject. My only gripe is the molded in suspension. Separate parts would have taken this kit to the next level. However, take the time to finish it properly and you’re sure to have a crowd pleaser.