VINTAGE 1/12 SCALE PEERLESS/OTAKI PONTIAC TRANS AM COLLECTORS GUIDE

This guide is one in a series of guides created to assist Collectors and Builders of "Big Scale" plastic model kits. Previous Guides have concentrated on the earliest 1/12th scale kits from Tamiya, and this will be the first written on one of the extremely rare first issue Otaki kits. As a "side" hobby of my Automotive interests at the Woodward Avenue Garage, I've amassed a substantial collection of Big Scale Automotive and Motorcycle kits. I've learned much over the years, and none of the information provided in this guide (that I am aware of), is available in any forum. Emphasis in this guide is (as usual) upon kit History, Identification, Features, ect. Hopefully, this guide will be a useful reference on the particulars of this very rare kit. As always, emails with comments, corrections, requests, or inquiries are always welcome.

**The Original c.1974 1/12th Scale Peerless/Otaki Big Scale kit #2, of a 1972 Pontiac Trans Am**

IDENTIFICATION: An original issue of this kit is so rare today, it defies description. In years of collecting, I've seen very few minty and unbuilt examples. One of those resides in my collection and is the kit being used as a reference for this guide. The kit was purchased new in October of 1974, opened for inspection , and was re-sealed from 1974 until 2007 (33 years). All blisters and parts bags remain sealed. Several other kits I've seen have had many deteriorated parts. A major factor in the scarcity of these early kits was the $39.99 plus retail price (circa 1974), and as a result there were very few manufactured or sold. First issue kits are very easy to identify by the box art alone. A White 1972 Pontiac Trans Am 455 HO with Blue Stripes adorns the boxtop. Look no further. If you see a kit with this artwork, it's a first issue. Additionally, the manufacturer will be "Peerless/Otaki", not to be confused with later kits made by "Otaki".  A second issue kit will have a Red 1973 Pontiac Trans Am 455 HO with the (New for 1973) Optional Hood Decal (Hood Chicken). Parts from both kits are very similar, but there are some significant changes that were made to later issue that will be addressed. A photo of a second issue is shown below..... 

A first issue Peerless/Otaki kit will carry the kit number 1202.  Additionally, first issues were fully motorized & lighted. There are two sets of gears, one for a build-up inside the engine to drive the fan belts and drive shaft, and a second set of gears that build-up inside the rear differential. When built, the drivetrain operates in a very scale, detailed, and realistic manner. Also included in the kit are (4) wheat bulbs for functioning Headlights & Taillights. The kit is designed to run on (4) AA batteries that are installed inside the Gas Tank/Battery Box. A clever detail that maintains the scale look. A very detailed kit, but very pricey to manufacture, and hence the steep price when new. That being said, later kits were "static" only, without the costly motor, gears, hardware, and lights. All early issues by Peerless/Otaki, and later by Otaki, have the very expensive to manufacture Cast Metal Pontiac "Honeycomb" Mag Wheels. As a special note; Upon the demise of the late Otaki, Doyusha aquired the molds for (all?) the "Big Scale" Otaki kits. When Doyusha re-issued the kits, they retooled the molds to include plastic plated wheels, rather than continue casting the expensive Cast Wheels found in the earlier Otaki kits. The original Otaki kit has Instructions that are unique to the motorized and lighted kit. The instructions are written in Japanese, but come with a supplemental English language pamphlet. Later kits have an entirely different set of instructions for a "static" build up, and will have many plastic parts left over that are listed as "not used". The parts "not used" are plastic parts for the switch, battery box, ect. Additionally, the decal sheet for an original kit is unique. 1972 was the last year for the One Color Only Pontiac T/A, and so the decal sheet in an original Peerless/Otaki kit is for a White Car with Blue Stripes. White and Blue was the only Factory color combination for Trans Am's from 1969 until 1972. In 1973, Pontiac expanded color options for T/A's, and the optional "Hood Chicken" appeared. Second issue kits from Otaki, and later re-issues from Doyusha have decals for three (out of four) different colors options available for a 1973 Trans Am (all with the optional Hood Decal). Green was the only color not included on the decal sheet, but available on a real 1973 T/A. Photos of the kit contents are shown below.

An original kit has parts molded in White, Black, Chrome, Gray, Blue, and Clear. Only the original kit has the interior parts trees molded in Blue. Later kits changed the interior parts to Black. Also, The parts blister for Hardware and Tires is unique (see photo). As is the case with all early Otaki kits, the Body and Chassis are sealed in a very large blister. As you can tell from the photos, the kit is a high parts count monster and is very complex. Prices for nice unbuilt issues of these T/A kits is high. All are out of production, demand is high, and supply is mostly in the hands of collectors. Values for first issue Peerless/Otaki kits cannot be estimated due to extreme scarcity. If you do locate an original kit in sealed (parts) condition, be prepared to put a big dent in your bank account.....

**1/12th Peerless/Otaki 1972 Pontiac Trans Am Kit History**

From all indications, Peerless/Otaki was a short lived alliance between the Peerless Company of New York, and the Otaki Company of Japan. Only the very earliest examples of these 1/12th Big Scale kits I've examined were from this alliance. The kits were, and for many reasons still are, very unique in the 1/12th Scale Automotive market. Nearly all Big Scale Car kits from the 1960's onward were modeled by Japanese Manufacturers. Most were motorized to some degree, and almost all were of open wheel Race Cars or Prototype Sports Cars. Peerless/Otaki released their line of kits, and almost all of them were of real-world roadgoing vehicles. A 1971 Ford Mustang Mach I 429 Super Cobra Jet Ram Air, the 1972 Pontiac Trans Am 455 HO, and the 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo are all kits I have in my collection. All are motorized and lighted. Peerless/Otaki moved into 1/12th scale cars with some incredible kits. All were of a type that no one had modeled before, and the kits had every conceivable option. They were motorized and lighted, most had Cast Metal Wheels, Opening Doors - Hood - Trunk ect, Rubber-like Tires, Working Suspensions/Steering, and many other functioning details. The kits were, and still are incredible. The only problem was the steep price! They did'nt sell, and the full option kits, as well as the Peerless/Otaki alliance disappeared. Otaki re-issued the kits with a shorter list of extras, and actually added several more kits to their 1/12th Scale lineup before going out of business. The molds passed through the hands of Entex, and ended up with Doyusha who re-issued only "static" kits.

The 1/12th Scale Trans Am kit is one of the standouts from the Peerless/Otaki lineup. First, it is the only 1/12th Scale 2nd Generation Firebird ever modeled. The kit has some failings, but it more than makes up for them with detail and functions. For a kit manufactured in the early 1970's, mold quality is quite high. Proportion to scale is right on, but the aspect of the tires are slightly off. This is a problem with most of the Otaki kits (tire profile). There is a very high parts count in this kit (well over 200) and detail is good. Front suspension detail is altered for functional steering (semi-scale) and there is plenty of room for extra detailing under the hood. Hood, Door, and Trunk hinges are non-scale as is the case with all kits. Rear Suspension as well as the Function Rear Differential is very well represented with the exception of the (functioning) rear shock absorbers. The (4) AA batteries are hidden in the Gas Tank and the switch exits through the bottom of the tank. All motorizing parts build-up inside the engine and rear diff. Wiring the lights a motor requires some engineering to hide the wires. Overall, I have to say this is a landmark kit in 1/12th scale. The major drawback is it's scarcity. It would be hard to justify building one of these first issue kits knowing how few are left. Go find a re-issue from Doyusha. It's basically the same kit, without the mechanicals and lights.

**Kit Features**

**Over 200 parts molded in 6 colors

**Fully Motorized Pontiac 455 HO V8 with "Shaker" Hood Scoop

**Functioning drivetrain through a driveshaft and working Rear Differential

**Functioning Belt Driven Engine Fan 

**Functioning Steering and Fully Sprung Suspension

**(4) Rubber-Like Tires (Goodyear) with realistic tread pattern

**Cast Metal Pontiac "Honeycomb" Mag Wheels

**Working Headlights and Taillights

**Opening Hood, Trunk, and Doors

**Fully Detailed Interior with Reclining Bucket Seats

**Kit Pros and Cons**

Let's start with the Pro's. Even with the kit being nearly 40 years old, it's an incredible kit. A high parts count kit with incredible build possibilities. Mold quality is high, and the proportions are very good. You don't have to be a Muscle Car fan to appreciate a Big-Block Trans Am in 1/12th Scale. Add in all the Mechanicals, Lights, Functions, and details and you have a grand slam of a kit. There is no kit out there to compare it to (except the Peerless/Otaki Mach I).

Cons. This kit was rare back-in-the-day, and nice unbuilt kits are just not out there. If you do excavate one out of an attic somewhere in the twilight zone, it's so rare you don't want to build it. Otaki kits of this vintage tend to suffer from the same mystical tire faires that visits old Tamiya kits. Some unknown variation in the rubber tire manufacturing process causes some tires to "melt" or deteriorate inside the blisters. If you have "flats", you will have to source replacements from a later kit ($$$$). Additionally, the decals for a first issue T/A kit are irreplacable. If yours are bad, the kit will forever be without decals. Instructions for the kit are written in Japanese. Instructions are well illustrated, include an illustrated parts list, and are supplemented by an additional manual in English text, but the kit is very complex and some steps get lost in the translation. As with most of these Big Scale Otaki Cars, front suspension detail is lacking to accomodate functional steering. Several mold lines in the body require work to remove. There is no spare tire in the opening trunk. The tire profile is not quite "right". The electrics inside the engine drive the fan on the front of the engine, but not the rest of the accesories. There are no side windows (assume they are rolled down).

Hope this guide has been informative, and I welcome input and comments. If you've found some useful info, take a moment to give this guide a vote below. Keep an eye open for more "Big Scale" guides in the future.