1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet by Franklin Mint

  Franklin Mint PW44 - 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet in Snow White

The 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet is an iconic automobile that exemplifies the elegance and innovation of early American luxury cars. Manufactured by the Cord Corporation, a subsidiary of the Auburn Automobile Company, the L-29 was introduced in 1929 and produced until 1932. It holds a special place in automotive history for several reasons. One of the most distinctive features of the L-29 is its front-wheel-drive layout, which allowed for a lower and more aerodynamic body design. This was a rarity among American cars of the period, which predominantly used rear-wheel-drive configurations. The Cabriolet version, with its convertible top, added an extra layer of luxury and appeal. 

Despite the economic challenges of its time, the L-29 Cabriolet remains a beloved classic, celebrated for its contributions to the evolution of automotive design and technology.

The Franklin Mint 1:43  model of the 1931 Cord L-29 exemplifies the attention to detail, this includes the Cord L-29's sleek, low-slung body, the distinctive grille, and the elegantly curved fenders. The model features a highly detailed exterior with an accurate representation of the car's body lines and chrome accents. The paintwork is finished to a high standard - the execution of the red pinstripes on the perfectly glossy white paintwork is exquisite.

The model has functional opening doors, a detailed engine and chassis, and most importantly, a rumble seat in the back.

And I forgot to mention the perfect execution of the trunk on the rear rack, with numerous chrome details.

The Franklin Mint 1:43 scale model of the 1931 Cord L-29 is highly sought after by collectors due to its quality and the historical significance of the car it represents.  It is a piece that stands out in any collection of diecast models.

1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet by Franklin Mint  

Manufacturer:	Franklin Mint
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	1985
Part Number	PW44
Color:	Snow White
Material:	DieCast
Rating:	9/10

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Fire Chief by Franklin Mint

 Franklin Mint XT95 - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Fire Chief in Matador Red

The 57 Bel Air is one of those classics that everyone seems to love.

This i a second generation Bel Air - full-size automobile that was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in model years 1955-57.

The 1957 Bel Air is among the most recognizable American cars of all time; iconic body style, well-maintained examples, especially Sport Coupes and Convertibles are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. They are roomy, with tastefully restrained, period use tail fins and chrome. This version of the Sport Coupe became the basis of the fire chief's vehicle.

Opening hood with detailed engine.  The front grille  with badge is a masterpiece. Quality chrome trim along the body and around the windows, no silver imitation. There’s well-done interior detailing, with beautiful red steering wheel with chrome middle part. The chassis is standard in high-level. And icing on the cake is Chief’s hat on the front seat.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Fire Chief by Franklin Mint  

Manufacturer:	Franklin Mint
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:
Part Number	XT95
Color:	Matador Red
Material:	DieCast
Rating:	9/10

1957 Packard Clipper Town Sedan by Brooklin Models

 BRK 171 - 1957 Packard Clipper Town Sedan in Tiara Gold

The 1957 and 1958 Packard lineup of automobiles were based on Studebaker models: restyled, rebadged, and given more luxurious interiors. 

Only one Packard model was available for 1957, the Clipper, and it was a Packard in badging only. Beneath those Packard badges was Studebaker's top-of-the-line President dressed in tailfins, unique trim, a different headlight treatment, a supercharger and an upscale interior, among other things. The Clipper was offered in two body styles--a four-door sedan, dubbed the Town Sedan, and a station wagon, the Country Sedan. For longtime Packard customers, this was badge engineering at its worst: A former world-beating brand, renowned for quality and innovation, reduced to some chrome emblems.

 1957 Packard Clipper Town Sedan By Brooklin Models

Manufacturer:	Brooklin
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:
Part Number	BRK 171
Color:	Tiara Gold
Material:	White Metal
Rating:	9/10

1954 DeSoto Firedome V8 Sportman 2 Door Hardtop by Brooklin Models

BRK 176 - 1954 DeSoto Firedome V8 Sportman 2 Door Hardtop in Cherokee Red / Black

BRK 176 - 1954 DeSoto Firedome V8 2-Door Hardtop - Cherokee Red / Black

The 1954 DeSoto Firedome V8 2-Door Hardtop is a classic American automobile that epitomizes the style and technological advancements of the mid-20th century. Produced by the DeSoto division of Chrysler, this premium model exemplifies the post-war optimism and design flair that characterized the era.

DeSoto Firedome V8 2-Door Hardtop boasts a sleek and elegant design that captures the essence of 1950s American automotive styling. Its hardtop configuration, with no central pillar separating the front and rear windows, offers a smooth, uninterrupted profile and a stylish, sporty appearance. The car features a prominent, chrome-laden front grille with a distinctive DeSoto emblem, wide, curved fenders, and large, rounded headlamps that were characteristic of the time. The Firedome's body is characterized by smooth, flowing lines and a slightly exaggerated rear fender design.

At the heart of the 1954 Firedome is a 276.6 cubic inch (4.5-liter) Hemi V8 engine. Despite its success and popularity, DeSoto faced declining sales in the years following World War II, leading to the brand's eventual discontinuation in 1961.

  

This Brooklin model features an accurate representation of the DeSoto Firedome's sleek and classic 1950s design. It includes chrome detailing, accurate grille patterns, and carefully recreated body lines. The hardtop's smooth profile, without the central pillar, is faithfully reproduced, capturing the car's stylish and elegant look.

The finish is typically glossy and meticulously applied, enhancing the model's visual appeal and providing a realistic look. The model is crafted using a new technology for chromed body parts, including all trim pieces. It's a beauty. 

The interior is crafted to reflect the luxurious and comfortable nature of the actual vehicle, with features such as a detailed dashboard, steering wheel, and seats. Although the model's scale limits the extent of interior detail, Brooklin Models manages to include key elements that capture the essence of the real car's interior.

This highly sought after by collectors model by Brooklin provides a miniature tribute to the 1954 DeSoto Firedome V8 2-Door Hardtop, a vehicle known for its stylish design and performance during the 1950s. It allows collectors and enthusiasts to appreciate and showcase a piece of automotive history in a compact and accessible form.

1954 DeSoto FiredomeV8 2-Door Hardtop By Brooklin Models

Manufacturer:	Brooklin
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	1981- 1993
Part Number	BRK 176
Color:	Cherokee Red/Black
Material:	White Metal
Rating:	10/10

1931 Hudson Greater 8 by Brooklin Models

 BRK 12 - 1931 Hudson Greater 8 Convertible - Orange / Ivory

 

BRK 12 - 1931 HudsonGreater 8 Convertible - Orange/Ivory

The Hudson Greater Eight is a luxury car that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during 1931 and 1932 with many body styles.

This model 1931 Hudson Greater 8 was produced in 1981, early in Brooklin’s history, with Murray-designed "boat-tail" body done in a beautiful combination of orange with ivory fenders, blacked-out grille and foot treads in black on the running boards. The windshield frame is plated, as are the covers for the fender spares. Other details include louvers just below the radiator, rivets on the hood, markings for a jump seat in the rear and a step on the right-rear fender. This first edition has a silver detailed dashboard. This model is a beautiful representation of the "Hollywood speedsters" of the 1930's, driven by Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The model was deleted in April 1993. 

1931 Hudson Greater 8 Convertible By Brooklin Models 

Manufacturer:	Brooklin
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	1981- 1993
Part Number	BRK 12
Color:	Orange/Ivory
Material:	White Metal
Rating:	8/10

1937 Lincoln Le Baron Convertible Sedan by Brooklin Models

 BRK 172 - 1937  Lincoln Le Baron Convertible Sedan -Dark Blue / Tan

BRK 172 - 1937  Lincoln Le Baron Convertible Sedan - Dark Blue / Tan livery

Lincoln, the luxury flagship of the Ford Motor Company, produced just 977 automobiles in its regal Model K line as it emerged from the Great Depression, across an amazing 21 body styles. The low production total ensures that some individual designs can be exceptionally rare, and this is one of them. According to most informed estimates, Lincoln assembled just 12 examples of the Model K in 1937 fitted with body style 363-A, the LeBaron four-door, five-passenger Convertible Sedan.

In 1937, the man who owned this Lincoln Le Baron Convertible Sedan was at the top of his game! 

This model Brooklin Model - Save the rubber tires, the windows, and the plastic interior and top, the whole shebang is done in painted, polished, or otherwise prettied-up white metal. That includes the wee door and trunk handles, the wheels, the radiator grille, both bumpers, and even the greyhound that rises off the top of the radiator shell.

This deep blue model is a charmer. I love the quality of these things; the paint (a new, water-borne process only recently put into use at Brooklin’s Bath, England factory) is nearly flawless, and it’s accented by the tightly-placed, tidily installed trim all over the car. Wide whitewalls fill the wheel arches perfectly, and the Lincoln that sits on the tabletop in scale is just as snazzy and elegant as the real thing.

A lack of side windows allows a peek into the cabin, and it’s got good representative detail on the dash and seats; there’s a proper steering wheel and a floor shifter, but don’t look for readable gauges or the like.

Is the lack of interior detail a deal breaker? Nope, and here’s why: These cars aren’t about gee-whiz detailing and get-the-magnifier working features. They’re about a fan base centered around a well-loved, distinctive line, hand-built by a tightly organized, passionately focused crew who know their collectors, and know them well. But I surely do know what I like, and I’m liking this little Lincoln a lot.

1937 Lincoln Le Baron Convertible Sedan By Brooklin 

Manufacturer:	Brooklin
Scale:	1/43
Production Year:	2011- 2015
Part Number	BRK 172
Color:	Dark Blue/Tan
Material:	White Metal
Rating:	10/10