Monday, March 13, 2023

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge by Franklin Mint

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III, A true American Icon is one of the best-looking real muscle car of all time. The name was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the successful race car. The most significant event of 1969 for the GTO was the launch of a new model called "The Judge". The package was US$332 more expensive than a standard GTO, and included the Ram Air III engine 455 was rated at 360 hp (270 kW) Rally II wheels without trim rings, Hurst shifter (with a unique T-shaped handle), wider tires, cable controlled Ram Air Hood Inlet, blacked out grill, various decals, and a rear spoiler wearing its own "The Judge" decal on top. Correct color combination - Carousel Red with Black interior and original style Judge stripes. Fully detailed chassis including dual exhaust.

This is the rarest model Franklin Mint.the last of the models in 1:43 scale . The extraordinary amount of detail, very expensive production and a small number of units ordered is the reason why the model is so rare and hard to find. But it is the top of the collection.

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge by Franklin Mint

Manufacturer:	Franklin Mint
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	1999
Part Number	B11YB21
Color:	Carousel Red
Material:	Die Cast
Rating:	10/10

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

1938 Packard 1601 Eight Graber Cabriolet by GLM

1938 Packard 1601 Eight Graber Cabriolet

This is a uniquie one-off Packard. First shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1938, this is one of just two or three Packards that were bodied by Graber along with three Duesenbergs.Swiss coachbuilder Graber bodied this American Packard 120 chassis. The car was originally sold and titled in Switzerland.

This 1938 Packard, a 127-inch wheelbase “junior” Eight, is among the latter. It was bodied by Graber for the 1938 Geneva Auto Salon, and its body virtually duplicates, albeit to a smaller scale, one built for a Model J Duesenberg, number J-246. The body was ahead of its time, as the lines include sweeping French-inspired pontoon fenders with fully skirted rear wheels and a single tailfin dropping down the rear deck lid. The hood is covered in dozens of small louvers, and beautiful hints of chrome trim appear everywhere.

For many years this car was lost but turned up about twenty years ago in a cinder block garage in Switzerland. Unrestored, it was taken to the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the Pre-War Preservation Class. The paint was tired but all else was intact. I restoration followed with the car returning to Pebble Beach in 2011 to win Best in Class. This was followed in 2012 where it scored 100 points at the CCCA Annual Meeting.

Wonderful GLM model is highly detailed in top quality. Black painting with chrome trim is stunning. A great model, though not a "diecast" metal one.

Manufacturer:	GLM
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	2019
Part Number	---
Color:	Black
Material:	Resin
Rating:	10/10

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

1949 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Sports Coupe by Brooklin Models

BRK 073 - 1949 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Sports Coupe

Oldsmobile’s first all-new post-war model was its Series 98. Following a GM practice of first debuting special features such as the later panoramic windshield and hard-top body styles on senior models, the 48 employed new styling with a lowered hood line that converged toward a higher fender line. Oldsmobile called its new model “Futuramic“.

Oldsmobile's revolutionary 1949 'hard-top convertible coupe' was modeled by Brooklin in 1998. Brought out in a Praline Brown Poly over Tawnee Beige, it enjoyed a short production run of 16 months; this was during a time that GM wanted scale model manufacturers to pay royalties to the large company for the use of its images. Brocklin's model is, of course, based on the Series 98 and is a credible albeit simply detailed replica.

It is typical of later Brooklin products, in that well-proportioned with accurate styling, major details cast into the body or picked out with chrome parts, durable parts, and a solid feel to it. It has a fully chromed trim. The interior once again, is simplest has accurately-shaped seats, steering wheel and dashboard.

In 2005 Brooklin issued its 114th model, a mid-blue 1949 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe with light blue wheels and whitewall tires. An accurately proportioned scale model, it has separate chromed windshield wipers, hood mascot, hood emblem, and door handles, rocker panel molding and hefty chrome stone shield all of there own." on each rear fender. It is a very nicely made model that Brookin also introduced as a California Highway Patrol cruiser in its International Police Vehicle line. In black with the 'CHIPS' emblem made. prominently displayed on each of the vehicle's white doors, the model appears to be historically authentic. The Highway Patrol usually purchased one type of car each year for its fleet, usually a heavier high-powered automobile that would hug the road