#162 *I'VE GOT MAIL* Wednesday 5-19-2021

This closed trunk model was one of my first mint cars as well. I have thought many times about adding the opening trunk version but always had other models that took precedence . Maybe one day.

Hi George, Thank you for posting this article, it really hit home and like you I started around the same time collecting model cars.

Also, this article made me figure out how to post again since the Forum change some time back

@mark, WELCOME BACK!  Glad the post brought back memories and that you are now able to post again.  This new board is awesome!

@bob-jackman Funny, Bob. That's my only '57 too. It's the same deal with me... priorities.... too many desirable images chasing too few bucks.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

This closed trunk model was one of my first mint cars as well. I have thought many times about adding the opening trunk version but always had other models that took precedence . Maybe one day.

"Maybe one days" are fun to have on our radar.  They are the days that keep us going. 

Good point George.

@georgeschire

H George and thank you for the reply. Like I said earlier this was my first reply on the new format.

Last night prior to the successful comment, I wrote about my love of models cars. I think we are close in age plus or minus I am 67 and my first memory of model cars goes back to a Christmas church bazaar sale, 1956 or maybe 1955. My mother gave me a yellow futuristic convertible, kind of a cross between a 56 Ford and Lincoln show car that went on to be the Bat Mobile around 1/25 1/18 scale. She said I carried that car every where I went and even slept with it. Soon, I too discovered the offerings from JoHann, AMT and a couple of others. My first vivid memory was a red and black 56 Dodge and a 56 Buick. I can also remember almost every hardware, department, hobby, toy and drug store sold model cars back then. Some had interiors some not, others had nice paint others molded in plastic color some hard friction motors others had detailed chassis, but, of all those they were excellent detail for the most part. Also starting to be offered were the kits molded in white that were a little to advanced for a 5 year old. Through the years I remember one of my most prized models was a 1963 Corvette. It was the fall of 1962, I was in third grade and went to Matthews Hargraves Chevrolet and picked up a dark blue coupe, a real dealer promo.

Also, back in 1959 I was so proud, my father and I (well I watched) put together a 1959 Buick convertible, painted with a brush, Testors red with a black interior. From there it was models and dealer promos through the sixties. 

Then like you, life started different challenges, college, job, marriage, kids then probably the same Sunday morning like you there was that Danbury 1957 Chevy a must have and the best part, because of a new house new baby, 3 easy payments and until then, who ever heard of payment on a model car. Prior to the Danbury Mint, Franklin offer some classics from the thirties and while they were beautiful nice models, I had zero interest in them. I never rode in one, seldom saw one on the street but there are those that love that era, but mine starts in the early fifties. Anyhow imagine the excitement seeing the detail of the DM Chevy, photo etched chrome working steering, detailed engine, chassis and interior, OMG the holy grail of model cars and who in their wildest dreams thought it would get better.

Now this site discovered year ago with a group of guys and I guess some girls with the same interest, kind of a comfort zone and much to my surprise, within the last 10 years how far 1/43 has come. Great detail and offerings in the 1/43 lines which I have become a enthusiast.

Thanks for all that contribute and keep the hobby alive.  

Posted by: @mark

@georgeschire

H George and thank you for the reply. Like I said earlier this was my first reply on the new format.

Last night prior to the successful comment, I wrote about my love of models cars. I think we are close in age plus or minus I am 67 and my first memory of model cars goes back to a Christmas church bazaar sale, 1956 or maybe 1955. My mother gave me a yellow futuristic convertible, kind of a cross between a 56 Ford and Lincoln show car that went on to be the Bat Mobile around 1/25 1/18 scale. She said I carried that car every where I went and even slept with it. Soon, I too discovered the offerings from JoHann, AMT and a couple of others. My first vivid memory was a red and black 56 Dodge and a 56 Buick. I can also remember almost every hardware, department, hobby, toy and drug store sold model cars back then. Some had interiors some not, others had nice paint others molded in plastic color some hard friction motors others had detailed chassis, but, of all those they were excellent detail for the most part. Also starting to be offered were the kits molded in white that were a little to advanced for a 5 year old. Through the years I remember one of my most prized models was a 1963 Corvette. It was the fall of 1962, I was in third grade and went to Matthews Hargraves Chevrolet and picked up a dark blue coupe, a real dealer promo.

Also, back in 1959 I was so proud, my father and I (well I watched) put together a 1959 Buick convertible, painted with a brush, Testors red with a black interior. From there it was models and dealer promos through the sixties. 

Then like you, life started different challenges, college, job, marriage, kids then probably the same Sunday morning like you there was that Danbury 1957 Chevy a must have and the best part, because of a new house new baby, 3 easy payments and until then, who ever heard of payment on a model car. Prior to the Danbury Mint, Franklin offer some classics from the thirties and while they were beautiful nice models, I had zero interest in them. I never rode in one, seldom saw one on the street but there are those that love that era, but mine starts in the early fifties. Anyhow imagine the excitement seeing the detail of the DM Chevy, photo etched chrome working steering, detailed engine, chassis and interior, OMG the holy grail of model cars and who in their wildest dreams thought it would get better.

Now this site discovered year ago with a group of guys and I guess some girls with the same interest, kind of a comfort zone and much to my surprise, within the last 10 years how far 1/43 has come. Great detail and offerings in the 1/43 lines which I have become a enthusiast.

Thanks for all that contribute and keep the hobby alive.  

Mark, THANKS for sharing your love of old cars story.  You are correct, we are close in age, I'm 69.  My love of cars began in 1955 when some friends of my parents had a Red and White '53 Oldsmobile 2-door Hardtop, man I thought that car was cool.  My parents at the time also had a '53, but it was Pontiac 2-door Hardtop, Yellow and White.  Two blocks from our house at the time, there was a new Ford Dealership and I remember fondly thinking the Crown Victoria's in their many two-tone color combinations being the neatest looking car.  I never stopped loving cars from that time on.  

Great stories, George and Mark.  For me it began in 1958 when my aunt gave me two 1/25 scale 1958 Impalas, one red and one yellow.  Like Mark, I carried them everywhere and also slept with them. I was three at the time.  I still have a couple of AMT frictions and a fair amount of my built kits from the 60's.  Like many here, this led to collecting 1:1s, which I have in three different locations.  Life would have been simpler if I had no interest in cars, but definitely not as much fun.

Our next door neighbor's dad owned a Buick dealership. I was already into building kits in my early years (I'll be 69 next week) but one of my earliest memories are of the promo models his dad would bring home for his boys. I was totally hooked by then. I had a summer job at Leigh Buick in the body shop in high school. Man, it was hot!