Among their earliest models were the 1934 Studebaker, Chrysler Airflow, Graham and Hupmobile four-door sedans and a variety of other cars and trucks.

After World War II, Banthrico continued with a focus on precision metal replica banks of cars, accurately painted, and mostly in 1:25 scale.

[5] Also, the universally recognizable red rectangle with rounded corners shifted from SMP to AMT with a simple change of the diagonally-formed white letters.

Newcomer MPC (Model Products Corporation) entered the arena in 1964 with their Chevrolet Corvette kit, followed by 1965 promos of the Dodge car line.

Aurora Plastics Corporation diversified, specializing in aircraft, TV, classic Universal Monsters, and figure kits.

Importantly, through the 1950s post World War II, plastic gradually became the primary material for the modeling and collecting hobby in the United States.

The post-war labor and business environment in the U.S. supported only the simpler casting of cheaper materials for toys, although they could be made with great detail.

By contrast the common trend in Europe was making more sophisticated diecast metal zamac toys in smaller sizes with many working features.

With parts typically "melted" together, forming a permanent bond, promotional models were much more durable than their counterpart assembled kits.

[19] Also, some models were made with built-in radios, like the 1964–1969 Ford Thunderbird, 1964, 1966 and 1967 Riviera, 1965 Grand Prix, Dynamic 88 and Wildcat, and 1965 and 1966 Impala SS.

Eventually models were offered only for the most sporty or prestigious cars and sold in dealerships for steep prices and not given away, so the term “promotional” hardly applied any longer.

In the 1960s, commercial versions of AMT promos were marketed in retail toy and dime stores like Zayre and Murphy, commonly for $1.00.

[21] By contrast, the promo version often had a special lower engine plate that covered where the friction motor was placed on the commercial model.

Early on, some cars, such as the 1953 Studebaker Commander promo, had the addition of acetate windows, while the friction powered model was windowless.

One example is the 1968 Ford XL Fastback, which was available only in bright yellow as a friction, or as an annual kit molded in the standard white color.

It began when, as a young man struggling with marketing ideas at his new post at AMT, he made a pilgrimage to St Anne's in Canada and received a vision in a dream.

As mentioned above, this configuration was soon named the “3-in-1” kit where the modeler could build a car in stock, custom, or hot rod versions by selecting different parts included in the box.

The instructions included five pages devoted to “stylizing”, a practice of adding parts by using body putty and sanding which went beyond ordinary customizing.

When the TV series Movin' On debuted in 1974, AMT made new versions of many of their truck kits with new features such as CB radios, dragfoilers and sometimes new engines.

By the mid-1970s the Enterprise kit had been joined by a 1:12 scale figure of Spock defending himself against a three-headed reptile on an alien landscape, as well as models of a Romulan Bird Of Prey ship, a Starfleet Shuttlecraft, the Enterprise Bridge, the K-7 Space Station from the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles”, and a three-piece Exploration Set consisting of approximately 3/4 scale, toylike models of a phaser, communicator and tricorder.

Round 2 has reissued the Spock model, the Romulan Bird Of Prey ship, the Enterprise, and the K-7 Space Station, all from the original AMT molds.

AMT-Ertl has also reissued the former Model Products Corporation kits of various Star Wars spacecraft and has added several new designs based on the prequel trilogy.

Oddly, none of the decals supplied with the American LaFrance kits included markings for the Los Angeles County Fire Department that was also featured in the series.

[1] By this time, prices of plastics had increased and Detroit was squeezed by government regulations of safety, emissions and fuel economy.

Selections included a 1957 Chrysler 300C, 1960 Ford Starliner, 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS convertible, 1962 Pontiac Catalina SD421, 1966 Buick Riviera and a few others.

As assembled kits they were factory-glued together, but the glue used appears to be of high quality and when cared for properly they can be kept in good condition for years.

In an ironic turn that parallels other large companies, AMT now co-exists in the same organization alongside a revived MPC and Polar Lights.

Reissued classics such as the 1962 Buick Electra 225 and the 1961 Ford Galaxie Skyline kits are now available with many of the original features including whitewall tires, metal axles, chassis screws, and molded-in suspension detail.

Even full-size models of GM cars such as Chevrolet Impalas, Pontiac Bonnevilles and Grand Prixs also garner high prices.

Today, because of the high value of old promotional, friction and annual kit cars in 1:25 scale, a “cottage industry” boom has taken place.