Jo-Han models share your models and memories.

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moparmat2000

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I fondly remember Jo-Han model cars from my youth. I used to build the monogram, revell, MPC, AMC kits.they all made interesting kits in 1/24 & 1/25th scale. The one company kinda like the underdog was Jo-Han. I believe they made most of the promo models for the big 3 , but also made glue together models. Jo-Han modeled typical hot roddy stuff, and also made a plymouth superbird kit that could be built as pettys 43, or the #40 7up sponsored car, or stock. They had a nice road runner stock car.as well as models of chryslers, plymouths and dodges that nobody else modeled. How about a 68 fury police car with decals and parts to build it in one of 4 variations, a cadillac ambulance, cadillac hearse, 68 chrysler 300 fastback with the parts to build a long horn crossram big block for it. , they even had an intricate kit of the 1963 chrysler turbine car. This model had opening doors, hood, trunk, steerable wheels, and seatbacks that folded forward. All this in 1/25th scale.they even had a model of the sox and martin 71 hemi cuda prostock car. Plus more i have not mentioned

Granted the chassis of most of these,were pretty basic one piece moulding, but the detail in the ,bodies, engines , and different subjects they modelled were great.

From what i understand Jo-Han used profits from selling promo models to the big 3 as a means to finance building kits of the same models but with more detail. Once the promo model sales dried up the company struggled to keep going. Jo-Han models was always conspicuous by their absence at model trade shows, which could have drummed up interest in the company. the owner John Hanley sold the company to somebody else, and a lot of the tooling to make the models was missing, presumably taken by disgruntled employees, or just plain worn out. By 1993 the Jo-Han companys main building in detroit was razed. The remainder of the tooling has been sold or stashed away.

Really a shame. I have quite a few of these i modelled when i was younger and my hands were steadier, and my eyesight was razor sharp. I built em right, currently they are stashed away, until i can display them properly.

Anybody else have Jo-Hans that are built up. Show em on this thread, and share your memories.
 
I had and built most of those you mentioned. The Roadrunner was one of my favourites. I painted it yellow, white interior and hot rodded it several times over. Long gone and no pics though. Don't forget the 64 Dodge they did as well. That one was pretty sweet too. And Petty's 64 Belvedere.

Steve
 
I didn't build models much growing up. I didn't really have a knack for it. My Dad was a stickler and I never felt like what I produced measured up. But a while back after seeing a real Turbine car at the Gilmore museum and there was a thread on FABO about building models...I found a kit on ebay. Little did I know that was one of the hardest kits out there to build but I just bumbled my way through it. Also I had to send away for the correct Turbine Bronze paint. Kegan gave me a lot of tips and encouragement which made all the difference.
 

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I have built a bunch and Johan is one of my favorites. MPC close second. Here are a couple of Johan kits I built.
 

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I didn't build models much growing up. I didn't really have a knack for it. My Dad was a stickler and I never felt like what I produced measured up. But a while back after seeing a real Turbine car at the Gilmore museum and there was a thread on FABO about building models...I found a kit on ebay. Little did I know that was one of the hardest kits out there to build but I just bumbled my way through it. Also I had to send away for the correct Turbine Bronze paint. Kegan gave me a lot of tips and encouragement which made all the difference.

Awesome job. That one was done right. I never finished my turbine car model. I may have to get it out one of these days and complete it.

I hope y'all enjoyed my short synopsis on jo-han models. Its a shame this company ended the way it did.
 
Hyper_pak those look great. I love the sox n martin 60 wagon. And the bracket racer plymouth coupe. I also built an AMC rebel machine too. Came w the red , white, blue decal stripes. A nicely detailed 390 with offset dual quads , and a functional scoop with built in tachometer. I dont ever see that one on evilbay.
 
Awesome job. That one was done right. I never finished my turbine car model. I may have to get it out one of these days and complete it.

I hope y'all enjoyed my short synopsis on jo-han models. Its a shame this company ended the way it did.

Like I said I bumbled my way through it. My kit was a somewhat later edition that wasn't as precise as the early ones. In the top pic, the engine is put together wrong. I had to do it over. I agree Jo-han was a very special company. The way the parts came stacked in the box was very well thought-out. That era is over, sadly.

Dang that '63 Plymouth and the '60 wagon are very nice.
 
I have a ton of the Petty '64 JoHan kits, most of them are unopened but a few have been built. I will try to get pictures and post them. According to the model guy I bought these from, I have the largest collection of JoHan '64 Plymouths that he knows of. He buys, sells, and trades worldwide. I don't remember how many I have, but it numbers in the 100's.
 
Thanks for the write up on Jo-Han.
I have a number of their kit. Also got the Superbird-kit still in the vintage box, and the '68 Chrysler 300 which I built.
Also have a promo-car of a '65 Chrysler 300 convertible. Exactly the model I have in fullsize.
One would expect they would have made the 300-L lettercar, but they chose the 300 convertible instead.
 
I have a ton of the Petty '64 JoHan kits, most of them are unopened but a few have been built. I will try to get pictures and post them. According to the model guy I bought these from, I have the largest collection of JoHan '64 Plymouths that he knows of. He buys, sells, and trades worldwide. I don't remember how many I have, but it numbers in the 100's.

Are you intetested in selling one of those petty kits?
 
I always liked the Johan kits! I can remember up to the mid 90's picking them up at the hobby shop for $10.00 each! Those builds are cool guys! I still got a bunch of Johan's still to build!
 

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I'd LOVE to get my hands on a couple of the 50's Mopar cars that Jo-Han made. can't find 'em in my area so. I'm SOL but...... maybe someday!
 
John,

You can still find these kits on evilbay. Some are more pricey because of their rarity, but i still have seen good deals for $15 to $25 for unbuilt kits of the more common ones . The decals may be a bit shot from age, but can be scanned and transferred to new decal paper. So thats not a problem.

Matt
 
Matt,
I hear ya, I just don't have the decal printing capabilities....BUT I'd love to get one of the Plymouth Superbirds to do up a Petty 43, OR an old 50's Mopar, I'd love it!

Sadly, I don't have a paypal account for ebay so a lot of times the sellers have an issue with a postal money order anyway so... I'm stuck between a rock and hard place with evilbay!
 
I've got seven of the S&M 71 Cudas now either new or partially started in boxes with parts for at least 5 more
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My favorite kits were the '64 Dodge Ramcharger kit and '64 Plymouth Golden Commando kit. This goes back to when I was about 12 years old and would go with my mom to the grocery store just so I could check out the model cars and car magazines. I bought several of the kits mentioned and they were awesome. They came with the Max Wedge engine (before the Hemis came out) and were just soooo cool. Had the big, wild exhaust manifolds. Those are some fond memories. Don't have them any more. After I'd gotten older and was starting to play with real cars, all of my model cars disappeared one day. Nobody in my family would admit to taking them. I found one mag wheel / tire out in the spring snow thaw one day, which confirmed my greatest fear that I would never see them again. Didn't find out the truth until about 20 years later. I'd had a "fight" with one of my 3 sisters so when I wasn't around, she took all my model cars and destroyed them. I had some really cool models and they just disappeared out of my life. Geez, I'm getting pissed thinking about that!!!!!

One thing I'll add about the Jo Han models of that area ('63-'64), they came in a bigger around, but flatter box than the pictures posted by you guys. I've always wanted to buy one of those model cars (Ramcharger OR Golden Commando) but have never seen them. The only ones I've found are the newer style (box) and the cars have a Hemi. Just not the same. I really liked those Max Wedge versions. If anyone has one for sale, please PM me !!!
 
I love reading all this! I myself over the years always built either AMT-Ertl (my first choice) and then followed by Monogram, and then Revell. SADLY I have to admit, I've NEVER seen a "Jo-Han" model on the store shelves where I lived back then! (As mentioned was the underdog in the model car world)

The whole truth, I recently got my hands on a Jo-Han '71 Plymouth "Hemi" Barracuda Pro-Stock, came to me complete with a set of dual plug type valve covers! NICELY done I may add here. The thing is on the model, I'm really not into that whole HUGE pro-Stock hood scoop so, I plan to remove it, or replace it with a hood with a more "stock" OEM look, probably a Shaker, or maybe even the pitchfork type scoops....Haven't decided yet on that but I know its NOT gonna have that pro-stock hood scoop on the hood when I'm done with the body....

I'd love to find a model of Petty's 'bird, to make as he is my favorite driver, when he drove. I'm no longer a big Nascar fan, now....BUT, I would look into finding that one! I'd also LOVE to get my hands on a '50's or 60's Mopar too, not many of those around as models anymore so....You ALWAYS see the Ferd's and the Chebby's but, no Mopar anything in the 50's and 60's and I hate it!!!!!!
 
Bob,
Yeah, it did, a 246 Max-Wedge, (I have the kit) so....

BUT, I got it thinking it may have came with the Slant 6, ONLY to "street" version comes with 2 motors, the Slant 6 AND one of 2 big blocks, the '64 Plymouth Belvedere version comes with I think a 383,. and the '64 Dodge 330 comes with the 426 Max-Wedge.

SO, I'll be building my "330" as a street car, SO....There will be MORE racing parts for ya!

The "racing" only version, only comes with one motor!
 
When I was in my twentys I had a neighbor who worked for Johan, he asked me to build a few of their models and give him feed back. The first time I met him I never heard of Johan and he was floored by my collection of models and the crazy configurations that i created. I built the first run roadrunner and he changed the mold color to orange since that was the popular color back then. I have not seen him since I moved from the old neighborhood but it was funny to watch his eyes pop when I gave him the kit back complete sometimes in less then a week. I used thread on the spark plug wires and vacuum hose for the rad hoses.
 
Bob,
So, your looking for the street version, or the race only version? I've seen the street Dodge 330, and one time seen the Plymouth and left it sit, Not sure if that store still has it, I'll have to check some time! But the Belvedere comes with I think the 383, and a slant 6 if its the "street" version, the race cars only have the big blocks in them!

My Dodge 330 come with a 426 Max-Wedge, BUT, the same car as the street version, comes with a slant 6 AND the 426 Max-Wedge....
 
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