Monogram 1/24 Valvoline Pontiac Stock Car

Lawrence Neil Bonnett (July 30, 1946 – February 11, 1994) was an American NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. Bonnett was a member of the Alabama Gang, and started his career with the help of Bobby and Donnie Allison. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s with his performances in cars owned by Jim Stacy and Wood Brothers Racing, becoming one of the top competitors in the 1980s. The Alabama native currently ranks 47th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Bonnett hosted the TV show Winners for TNN from 1991 to 1994, and was a color commentator for CBS, TBS, and TNN in the years until his death. Bonnett's racing career was interrupted in 1990 when he suffered a severe brain injury in a crash that left him with amnesia and chronic dizziness. While working towards a much-anticipated comeback to the NASCAR circuit, Bonnett died as a result of injuries he sustained in a crash during a practice run for the 1994 Daytona 500. He lost control of his vehicle and collided with the outside wall in turn four, resulting in massive head injuries that proved fatal.

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, NASCAR kits were a really big thing. For a while, some kits were valued at well over $100. Part of this came from model kit makers no longer doing cars with beer or tobacco advertising for the fear that if little ones saw them, they would immediately hanker for a brew and a smoke. However, like Beanie Babies, the bottom fell out of the market and even rare kits can now be found for considerably less than what they were valued in the hey days.

This kit is Neil Bonnett's 1989 Pontiac Gran Prix and like other kits from this time, at one time sold for about $75. Now you can find them for as little as $10 from vendors at shows. This particular kit was sealed and not opened until I wrote this article so is in pristine condition for a 36 year old kit. Monogram decided to mold this in a white plastic, apparently to aid in either painting or in building the car without the need for paint. Nice for kids and something a bit different for the more mature modeler. I was pleased to see that the decals were in excellent condition, undoubtedly thanks to my careful storage of my kits to prevent issues from heat or moisture. While Monogram decals from this time period tend to be a bit thick and also a tad transparent, with the use of hot water, they do conform well. Not really an issue when it comes to these slab sided NASCARs. A bit of masking will be needed for the lare blue area on the rear of the car and the red sections.

It seems that just about all these kits have very similar chassis. The roll bar configurations  and general layout seem to be identical. Of course, since these folks were using the same rule books, that is not so difficult to understand. There is a full roll cage that includes the upper sections as well as the side pieces. The instructions for assembly of this part of the kit take up almost a third of the sheet, and seam clean-up is a major building issue.  Also quite similar are the engines and again for the same reason. These are actually quite nicely detailed and though perhaps not up to today's standards, are still very nicely done. Those with the will and the skill will find them easy to wire.

About the only difference in these kits is the body shell and clear bits to match. The body is not a complete shell, but has a separate nose piece and the bumper section is also separate as is the rear deck spoiler. However, it does attach to the rest of the chassis as a single unit so it means that painting it will not be an issue. Note, however, that the clear bits fit from the outside making painting even easier as there is no masking.

The kit also has a fair amount of chrome. Not like you would see on a street car, but for wheels and a few engine bits. The chrome is very nicely done, though removing the parts from the sprue and cleaning the seams may well remove chrome you do not wish removed. Thankfully, Alclad II Chrome is really chrome bright and can be used once the parts are stripped for repainting.

I have already mentioned the decals and though I am not sure of availability, there used to be a raft of aftermarket NASCAR decals from Fred Cady and the like.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Bonnett

November 2025