Sunday, January 25, 2015

1951 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe by Franklin Mint

The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, between 1951 and 1954. This Franklin Mint  model from range "Classic Cars of the 50`s - Extension Set" represents the most  fabulous First-generation  two-door Hudson Hornet Club Coupe ($2,543).
The first-generation Hudson Hornets featured a functional "step-down" design with dropped floorpan and a chassis with a lower center of gravity than contemporary vehicles that helped the car handle well – a bonus for racing. The Hornet's lower and sleeker look was accentuated by streamlined styling, sometimes called "ponton" styling. The car's "unique, low slung appearance and silky handling earned Hudson an image that – for many buyers – eclipsed luxury marques like Cadillac.
 The chrome-alloy block engine  308 cu.in. with its high-compression aluminum "Power Dome" cylinder head, it made 145hp at 3,800 rpm. The bump in displacement and compression made this the largest, most powerful six-cylinder engine available in an American car in 1951.
Franklin in the  year 1990 has released a very accurate and beautifully made die-cast model of the car in its current form that’s as gorgeous as the original. The "Green Metaloid" paint is excellent and every piece of  window trim, side trim, even the tiny Hudson badges and Hornet emblems, is done with plated parts.  Curved windshield with center crossbar and the antenna in the middle of the window.
 If it’s visible in photos, its visible—and to scale—on the model! Interior detail is done to the same level, with accurate upholstery, silver-painted relief interior handles, fully detailed instruments, pedals, and a steering wheel. This is a beautiful model of a drop-dead gorgeous car. One of the nicest.


1951 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe by Franklin Mint









 Manufacturer: Franklin Mint
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1980
 Part Number: UK12
 Material: DieCast
 Rating: 10/10

Thursday, November 20, 2014

1956 DeSoto Adventurer by Collector's Classics

In this article  have a collectible rarity and beauty in one: The famous 1956 DeSoto Adventurer by Collector's Classics!
The DeSoto Adventurer is an automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation and sold under its DeSoto automotive marque from 1956 through the 1960 model year.

The 1956 Adventurer was DeSoto's top-level answer to the Chrysler 300B. Both were high performance vehicles with top speeds of 144 mph. Besides speed, the popularity of the Adventurer was enhanced by its strikingly good looks. These cars were based on the legendary designer Virgil Exners Forward Look body. The Adventurer boasts a stunning exterior with a color-sweeping paint scheme, a pillarless hardtop, chrome bumpers accents, taillights ascending up the rear fins, Gold name plates, spoke wheels, cleverly placed rear-view mirrors, and a jet inspired windshield. Exterior colors were restricted to three colors in six combinations: white/gold, black/gold and the extremely rare white/black. By reversing colors, you had six combinations from which to choose.
The Adventurer's manual was signed by DeSoto President L. Irving Woolson. "It isn't very often that any man or woman has the opportunity to see one's dream come true," he wrote, "but a dream of ours has become a reality in your new DeSoto Adventurer. We believe it to be the finest DeSoto ever built. May I congratulate you on your choice of this superb automobile."
These words describe my feelings at the magnificent model Desoto Adventurer by Collector's Classics - Buby. Buby was the original name of the company which first sold model cars in Buenos Aires in about 1958.  It was founded by Harolodo "Buby" Mahler.  The quality of Collector's Classics was excellent for the era. Each model was assembled by a person who signed a sticker attached to the base plate. I love this detail - my model is made by Gladys - many greetings to my unknown… When it comes to detail and quality, the Buby's Collector's Classics line is without equal. Similar, somewhat, to the vehicles produced by Brooklin Models, the Collector's Classics line is much more affordable and highly coveted by collectors world over.  All chrome parts are metal, not plastic! Model wears a nice hand-rubbed paint, and a very detailed beige matching interior and real white wall rubber tires. This is one of only 3.000 units produced in this original color scheme white/gold, individually numbered in the chassis casting and on the perfect box. Numbered Certificate included - No.00298.

Unfortunately, this Argentinian company is no longer in business, so many of these vehicles are becoming increasingly harder to find as the years slip by. I can imagine the fantastic quality of the Collector's Classics models with today's technological possibilities!!









 Manufacturer: Collector's Classics
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1987
 Part Number: 00000
 Material: DieCast
 Rating: 9/10 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

1956 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire Convertible by Franklin Mint

The Oldsmobile 98 (a Series 90 with an 8-cylinder engine, hence the Ninety-Eight) was a full-size automobile and the flagship model of the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and related  Cadillac Series 62. This is fourth generation (1954-56).
 Oldsmobile first used the Starfire name on a one-off show car at General Motors’ 1953 Motorama auto show held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Named after the Lockheed F-94 jet fighter plane.
The top of the line body-style was the Convertible and sold for $3380. A total of 8,581 examples of the convertible were produced for 1956. The car comes with the famous Oldsmobile Rocket V8 motor coupled to a Hydro-matic transmission.
What we have here is a Franklin Mint 1956 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire Convertible beautifuly finished in a two-tone pale blue and white, the convertible roof is also white.
Model has opening doors, hood, chrome-plated driver's side rearview mirror, sculpture exhaust tips, whitewall tires, and 'spinner' wheel covers. The interior has black and white upholstery with matching black carpeting, a black padded dash with a white painted lower half. Deluxe steering wheel with horn ring, deck lid '98' script, back-up light moldings. Absolutely perfectly detailed chassis on this scale has no competition.
Nice detail - word STARFIRE is spelled out across the lower portion of the front fender and side trim permitted attractive two-tone finish.
This outstanding example is one of top stars from Franklin Mint Extension Set of Classic Cars of the 50s. Twenty-year-old  die cast model to preset a high standard of quality you can get on eBay.


Franklin Mint 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire Convertible



This is a rocket it would move on down the road!







 Manufacturer: Franklin Mint
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1990
 Part Number: UO23
 Material: DieCast
 Rating: 10 / 10 

Monday, June 30, 2014

1954 Dodge 500 Royal Convertible by Brooklin Models

Dodge, is an American brand of automobiles manufactured by Chrysler Group, Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles presently include the lower-priced badge variants of Chrysler-badged vehicles, though for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above Plymouth.
 The 1954 Dodge Royal 500 Convertible was a pretty and quite desirable Dodge that was a package model fashioned after the Royal convertible that paced the 1954 Indianapolis 500. The 500 package included Kelsey-Hayes chrome plated wire wheels, an exterior spare tire mount, special trim, and a 150-bhp version of Dodge's Red Ram V-8.
The model  from the year 1990 has a little bid hard lines but the styling is good despite too high body. Extremely good are the chrome parts including the radiator grille, hood ornament, hint of the fins and spare tire mount. Strange impression of the semi-gloss black canvas roof  is followed by Pace Car Yellow color. This Brooklin model is easy to buy, even after years.

Brooklin 1954 Dodge Royal 500 Convertible




1954 Indianapolis Official Pace Car



 Manufacturer: Brooklin Models
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1990-1993
 Part Number: BRK 030
 Material: White Metal
 Rating: 7/10 

Monday, May 19, 2014

1963 Studebaker Avanti by Franklin Mint

The Studebaker Avanti was a personal luxury coupe built by the Studebaker Corporation between June 1962 and December 1963. Studebaker itself referred to the Avanti as "America's Only 4 Passenger High-Performance Personal Car!" in its sales literature.
Designed by Raymond Loewy's team on a 40-day crash program, the Avanti featured a radical fiberglass body design mounted on a modified Studebaker Lark Daytona 109-inch convertible chassis with a modified 289 Hawk engine.
The front had no conventional grille - just an air scoop below a thin bumper. The hood had an asymmetrical hump, and the interior featured aircraft-style instrumentation and controls, some placed above the windshield. Occupants sat in four slim-section bucket seats as in Alfa Romeo or other Italian sport car.
The original Studebaker Avanti has been described as "one of the more significant milestones of the postwar industry". Nevertheless, this model did not save Studebaker from the abyss. The factory doors closed in December 1963 thanks to poor production rates.
My Franklin Mint model looks a bit oversized. The model has great detail the actual car:  designed sport chrome mirrors typical for sixties, chrome wheel covers, Avanti logo on all sides, interior doors chrome trimmed  panels and color of the original Avanti Gold bodywork. Impressive are chrome frames of all windows. Not only chrome-faced, but faithfully quality chrome. Nice interior and detailed chassis.  For a Franklin well-fitting doors and bonnet.
It is a model of the iconic car, but does not look too American.


Franklin Mint 1963 Studebaker Avanti









 Manufacturer: Franklin Mint
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1988
 Part Number: PY77
 Material: DieCast
 Rating: 7/10

Friday, April 25, 2014

1940 Ford Sedan Delivery by Brooklin Models

BRK 09 - 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery - Black

Brooklin Models - 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery





The 1940 Ford car line was a great styling statement, and so was the 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery derivation. Many connoisseurs of design declare it one of the most beautiful commercial vehicles ever.
A sedan delivery, commonly called a delivery, is a two-door station wagon with driver and front passenger seats or driver's only seat, and steel sheet-metal panels in place of rear side windows. Sedan deliveries have spartan interior trim and were used by businesses ranging from plumbers, couriers and local merchants such as bakeries as cargo vans are used today.
A total of 5,325 Ford Sedan Deliverys were built with a sticker price of around $700.00. This vehicle is equipped with a- 85 bhp, 221 cu. in. L-head V-8 engine, three-speed sliding gear manual transmission. Ford also introduced sealed-beam headlights in 1940, finally eliminating the persistent problem of moisture degradation, with their housings also incorporating the parking lights into one single unit.
New pivoting glass wings in each front door offered improved ventilation. A split, fixed windshield with cowl-mount wipers was standard.

Brooklin Models 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery Van "Ford Service" - black, light tan interior. Brooklin produced more than 5000 of these in a variety of liveries between 1979 and 1993. This is the standard model with Ford logos and sign "O'Neil Ltd Sales, Parts, Service" that was discontinued in 1991. Despite this fact, it is still easy-to-find model. Black color model fits well. Beautifully curved lines of the car are captured perfectly, chrome bumpers, grill and lights. White wall tires are nice, and was really on the car.


 Manufacturer: Brooklin
 Scale: 1/43
 Production Year: 1979 - 1991
 Part Number BRK 09
 Color: Black
 Material: White Metal
 Rating: 6/10




Thursday, April 10, 2014

1968 Dodge Charger R/T by Franklin Mint

One of the more memorable Command Performances of the 60s was the completely restyled 1968 Dodge Charger R/T. This gritty semi-fastback offered the public a sport car look without breaking the bank. The car was restyled to give it a more menacing look.  The rear taillights were changed from full length to smaller red circular lights similar to those on the Corvette. The R/T performance option was also added this year. The car came with a 440 Magnum engine and "shark-like" body styling. and the car appeared in numerous Hollywood movies.
 All recaptured in a remarkable 1:43 scale die-cast replica Franklin Mint. The full, unbroken front grille is deeply recessed and the friction cheating hood featured twin, simulated air scoops. From the vertical rear deck to the 440 Magnum V-8 engine and complete undercarriage, every feature is state-of-the-art in die-cast engineering. Model is painted Sunfire Yellow, one of the car´s original 16 color choices. Bumble Bee racing stripes were standard and buzzed across and down the sides of the sporty rear fenders. The vinyl roof on model was standard. The nice detail is gas cap - using an Indianapolis pitstop idea, the car featured a quick fill gas cap.

Franklin Mint 1968 Dodge Charger R/T






 Manufacturer: Franklin Mint
 Scale: 1/43
 Year of Production: 1998
 Part Number: XF71
 Material: DieCast
 Rating: 9/10