Corvette Model Gallery
Mako Shark I
1961
First there was the XP-700, a car built for GM design chief Bill Mitchell, then came the XP-755 which was then redone as the Mako Shark I. Design was by Larry Shinoda who will forever go down in Corvette history as the designer of the 1963. The Shark had been styled and painted to resemble a Mako Shark that Mitchell had caught off the coast of Florida. An oft told story is that Mitchell had ordered the car painted to match the colors of the fish but when that was impossible his staff quietly borrowed the mounted fish and repainted it to match the car. While the styling was a stand-out it clearly was the color scheme that made this car. Starting with dark blue upper surfaces it faded to a lighter blue on the sides and finally white on the bottom half.
During its long history the car has seen a variety of changes. It originally sported the all glass top from the XP-700 and the interior from a ‘61, except for the non stock steering wheel that had ben a present from Enzo Ferrari. It has also been fitted with several engines including a turbo charged 427 for the 1962 New York Auto Show. The present kit by AMT does an excellent job of portraying what the car currently looks like. To be more accurate the dash and upper door halves should be wood grain, the door bottoms silver and of course the kit external colors are a modified version of the real scheme.
Nearly 40 years after its creation the Mako Shark I still attracts attention at the Corvette Museum and whenever it is taken out for display. For the model kit review Mako Shark I.
This is AMT latest Corvette release, Snapfast Plus kit #6133.. which will probably be the last AMT Corvette kit released for 1998.
This is really a good looking model for the short time you spend building it.
I wish the rear taillights had been clear red tinted plastic.. the effect on the rear deck would had been better.. as Robert Wheeler has pointed out in his review, the rear pan screw hole indentations really standout.
The interior color scheme on the model does not match to the prototype's.. there is some question as to what the dash should be. I took the liberty to paint it "my way".. but when color references become available in the future, it will be changed to reflect the prototype. Overall the model was a lot of fun to build and I certainly hope that AMT has plans for future Snapfast releases of Corvette concept and show cars.
Page updated 08/16/99