Dodge L700 Truck with Flatbed Racing Trailer
AMT’s new 1:25 scale 1966 Dodge L700 Truck comes with a Flatbed Racing Trailer and should be available here in the UK in the coming months, retailing at around £50, having been released in the States in January. It is a curious model in as much as it appears to be another example of Round 2’s habit of switching badges. As far as I can determine, this kit was last reissued under the Lindberg banner in 2019, as an articulated tanker truck. In this guise it was offered in various oil company liveries. It was last produced as a race car carrier with its short trailer in 2009 with the Little Red Wagon wheel-standing drag car on the back. It has also been offered with a long flatbed trailer, once with a 1940 Ford Coupe included, with an articulated box trailer and just as a tractor cab. At various times new parts have been added. This appears to be the first time it has been boxed as an AMT kit.
The original tooling dating from 1965 started off as an IMC kit, a relatively little-known plastic kit manufacturer which produced some really nice models until it was acquired by Testors. Various other company moves over the decades culminated in Round 2 acquiring this well-respected kit. It’s a comprehensive build, consisting of 273 parts moulded in white and clear polystyrene, with some chrome-plated parts. It has 10 heavy duty black vinyl tyres, a new set of race decals and vintage-style Retro Deluxe™ AMT packaging. It has a tilt cab with opening doors, a detailed interior with three seats, a tyre rack, complete engine and chassis, loading ramps and chrome bumper and mirrors. The single axle, four-wheel articulated flatbed trailer is ideal for displaying almost any 1:25 scale race car, whether it be a vintage stock car or funny car.
Like the Ford C Series trucks, the medium duty Dodge L600 and L700 were COE designs with a 45-degree tip-forward cab, providing excellent access to the suspension, engine and gearbox. Produced between 1966 and 1971, the L600 was a petrol vehicle and the L700 had a diesel. Several engines were offered from slant 6 and V8 Dodge power plants to a Cummins diesel. The cab was very similar to those used on the company’s light duty pickup trucks. Contemporary advertising stressed the advantages of its tight turning circle, ease of maintenance, parts availability and versatility.