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Topic starter
18/08/2025 3:04 pm
Remember Saturn? Yes, yes... I KNOW this bread & butter replica will never appeal to every collector, but in my quest to secure 1/18 American 4-door sedans - these HW61 2002 L300 Saturns were no brainers. Years ago, I considered buying many more, in all colors, for yet another car hauler project, but....
- Typical HW61 fare: Great detail, everything folds down, slides, or opens. Photo-etched "stuff" and badging looks good, carpeted areas are decent and who remembers mobile phone antennas - for that "status look?" The engine is a transverse 3.0 V-6 that produced c.185 hp
Saturn started off great, but.... Poor Roger. 😔 😔 😔
This topic was modified 9 months ago by Christopher Moroni
18/08/2025 3:16 pm
Chris, that's positively...esoteric.
As for "poor Roger", didn't he kind of bring it on himself?
Christopher Moroni reacted
18/08/2025 4:44 pm
What an unusual choice for a fully functional diecast. To tool up for the Saturn model seems like a helluva gamble. If I had been marketing Director and the design team came to me with this proposal, my response would have been "Are you out of your bleeping minds?". The Saturn does have a bit of historical importance for GM as the car was given its own division and a unique marketing program, but really? I suppose there are Saturn owner clubs that would buy the model (and then there's you. LOL).
Topic starter
18/08/2025 4:57 pm
"...and then there's you. LOL"
Yep! I don't purchase 4-door 1:1 vehicles, but I love bread & butter 4-door models! 🤗 🤪
Marty Johnson and Rich Sufficool reacted
18/08/2025 5:10 pm
@chris Good for you, Chris. BTW: Nice close ups. It's a really well done and detailed model for sure.
Marty Johnson and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
18/08/2025 5:16 pm
@paul-rouffa Yes Paul, "obscure" is another word that comes to mind. 😀 😀
- Roger could've tried harder to ensure Saturn's long-term success, however, changing OEM culture (even today ) is akin to trying to steer a cruise ship with a spatula.
Saturn's early years were quite promising. The brand enjoyed outstanding customer loyalty AND garnered some of the best reliability scores ever seen.
BUT... the UAW & GM grew tired of Saturn operating independently. MNGMT seldom likes what it can't control and over a 10-year period the UAW & GM successfully destroyed "Saturn culture." In many ways, Saturn was WAY ahead of its time. GM (now ranked 6th in global sales ) has made numerous costly mistakes over the last 4 decades - the "Saturn story" is simply one more example. 😔 😔
Topic starter
18/08/2025 5:28 pm
"BTW: Nice close ups."
HA! Thanks, but I think of YOU every time I "attempt" any close-ups with my newer, but bottom-rung, phone. I have a very nice digital Sony, but.... 😬 😬 YOU are the master of close-ups, REGARDLESS of scale!
I laughed when I tried to capture this engine badge - I finally gave up but all the while I thought, "I know Rich could do it!" 😏 😏
Steve Jacobs reacted
18/08/2025 7:19 pm
@chris The secret to photography is simply 'if you take 30 shots, chances are one will be a keeper.' and thank the Lord for digital photography.. it's instant gratification. It's so much better than waiting for your film to get developed only to find you have to reshoot.
Christopher Moroni reacted
18/08/2025 9:53 pm
Didn't they make the Vue too ?
Yep, just ckd on bay. $50 to $180.
Rich Sufficool and Christopher Moroni reacted
19/08/2025 10:35 am
@chris - A Saturn? Wow! I never knew such models ever existed! And, I must say, I love collecting "off-the-beaten-path" model cars! The Saturn adds a unique flavor to your eclectic collection! Very cool!
Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
19/08/2025 12:25 pm
"...they make the Vue too."
"A Saturn? Wow! I never knew such models ever existed!"
- Yes Steve, the Vue and the Saturn SC2 3-door coupe are also available in 1/18, but not at the functionality & detail as these HW61 replicas. No Saturn Skys are available 1/18 (some nice ones in 1/24 though ) that I'm aware of - but - I suppose one could be fabricated from Road Sig's 1/18 Pontiac Solstice. See it behind my GTO? 😏
- Right Marty! As Rich noted.... an odd choice for HW61 - I believe it's the most modern vehicle they ever tooled. 🤔 🤔 🤔 I'd love to hear just why & how HW61 chose this one, but I'm SO GLAD they did! 😀 😀
John Merritt reacted
19/08/2025 5:43 pm
A very cool and detailed model ! For a while, I had this Highway 61 1/18 replica in silver. I had understood that this H61 diecast replica was partially bankrolled by Saturn as it was good publicity for the automobile and could perhaps used by dealers to advertise the car or as a gift/reward for customers who ordered the 1:1 automobile. However, I don't know if this story is true or not.
Christopher Moroni reacted
19/08/2025 6:46 pm
@michaeldetorrice If that story is true, then it answers my question. I wonder if the model was sold at the Saturn dealership.
michaeldetorrice and Christopher Moroni reacted
19/08/2025 8:49 pm
It's not out of the realm of possibility. Brian Dunning, of WCPD was commissioned by GM to create the Cadillac Sixteen.@michaeldetorrice If that story is true, then it answers my question. I wonder if the model was sold at the Saturn dealership.
This post was modified 9 months ago by Marty Johnson
michaeldetorrice and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
19/08/2025 10:32 pm
.... you guys may be on to something. 🤨 🤨 🤨
If this Saturn was initially a GM-HW61 collaboration, like 1/25 promos of days of old - meant to be sold in Dealerships throughout the US - that would explain the absence of any specific license plate, right? 🤔 🤔 🤔
PS
Marty.... my 1/18 Cadillac Sixteen does not have that slide out trunk-tray! 😫 😫 😫
Marty Johnson and michaeldetorrice reacted
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