[Closed] Here is a positive spin on the repaints by DM & FM

Alan...I'm taking from your post regarding the FM red 63 Chevy that you like it. Or is it just that is is okay due to the sentimental reasons you stated. Just curious.

And I only inquire because I have both the red and the silver issues of that car, and I'm not impressed with either of them. I think the "no wing" windows is primary flaw for me.

And actually I had passed on both of them until I decided to add them only because I have Chevy's from 1954 to 1964, and needed them to fill in 1963.

Randy...you make the claim that FM has had more new toolings in the last 9 months than DM. Can you list the new toolings for each? I ask only because I don't buy everything from either mint, so I'm curious how they stack up.

Thanks!

Are you saying FM has more new toolings than DM. What is your dealer spin on that one (LOL)

Chris, one fault with your comment........

Do you really believe that if Chevrolet reproduced a 1957 Bel Air today in newly released colors with absolutely NO updates in mechanical (tooling) improvements that they would or could sell them for the original 1957 price????? .............. NOT ! ! ! !
I'm not saying that I agree with the FM repaint policy but you have to consider the increased costs to manufacture, ship and market the items. FM tried to offer inexpensive repaints of popular models via an alternate marketing scheme and that flopped (WalMart)......

Just one !!!! I'm getting better.

As long as people are willing to buy the old tool cars at new tool prices, then they will have a market.

They could sell them for a lot cheaper as the Wal Mart example illustrates. However, they would not make enough profit because as you state, not enough people will buy to make them that profit.

I'm in a mellow mood this AM...... LOL ......

All you have to do is access the list and reviews they are all there...

...Frank hurt my feelings yesterday by saying I have too much free time so today I am going to do a little dusting in my french maid's outfit.

It's all relative with regards to cost.

Yes diecasts have increased in price, but be honest, haven't normal wages too?

To put it in simple terms...
In the late 1950's, a loaf of bread cost 19 cents (est.), and a factory worker earned around $10,000 (est.) a year. Today a loaf of bread costs $1.89 (est.) and the same factory worker would make $40,000 a year (est.)

And to put it another way...
The next time you buy a Chocolate bar from a vending machine for 75 cents...refect back on when in the 60's, that same size candy bar was a nickel.

The above are only examples to illustrate that though FM may charge modern tooling prices for an old tooling repaint, it is probably still the same price in yesterday's dollars vs. today's dollars. :))

I agree, case in point is the Pink '58 Edsel

FM did an absolutely awful on their first issue color choice for the 1958 Edsel. Chalk pink itself isn't bad, but combine it with that terrible brown interior and you've got people reaching for their air sickness bags. Pink and white is alright, pink and black would have been better... a coordinating interior would have doubled sales of this diecast milestone car. The follow up was a Turquoise beauty that had a great interior. The following Ltd Edition repaints completely changed the character of the car and gave collectors an opportunity to buy just the color that they wanted. Several colors to choose from, so just buy what you like.

Other diecasts are loooong overdue for a repaint. DM should definitely retire the excellent Turqoise and White '59 Cadillac Coupe de Ville and bring out another color combo. The champagne 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 has also been available for too long. Repaint these two beauties and the result will be renewed interest in both of them. Once a color is retired, don't bring 'em back (Butternut yellow Camaro, General Lee, hint, hint... it kills the collector value).

Don't even get me started on FM misfires and issues that should have been retired long ago. The Black & Red (Red & Black?) '55 Pontiac's are an excellent example of thoughtful color selection on a repaint. I wouldn't mind if a few more diecasts got a repaint if they look as good as the "new" Pontiacs do.

Wow us with beautiful colors, update tampos to foil scripts, and fix some of those 4X4 suspension heights and the mints just might make it through this recession in good enough shape to reward us all with even more brand new stuff.

I supported the FM/Walmart deal and bought several cars. Would do so again....

...to get an FM image I wanted but didn't have the full price cash. The colors were new and they were nicely priced. I remember the ridiculous uproar over the whole deal because some of the "investors" were so disappointed their little cars wouldn't be worth much after the cheapo repaints available at Walmart.

All I could do was laugh, shake my head and go get my cars at Walmart.

But Jerry

It flopped because FM pulled out of the deal. Wal Mart had no problem selling them, albeit, in "selected" markets.

Just a thought on this.....

subject. Why are so many people getting upset with FM/DM
repaints. It's just another color choice of an existing model. And....why wasn't anyone crying and complaining when Brian, at West Coast brought out four or more color options of all the models he brought to us??? What is the difference if they all came out at once, like Brian did, or come out one at a time like DM/FM does? I realize Brian gave you your choice of color at issue. But....how many of you bought several of the same model...but in different color?? It sounds like the same choice options to me. Like I said....just a thought.

Greg...I agree with you about FM's 58 Edsel in Pink, and the turquoise repaint. You didn't mention the other two colors that it was released in...one in black, and the other in red. I like the latter two the best of the four.

My only problem with that Edsel overall is that FM never put wing window glass on any of them. Other than that, they are okay cars.

I'd love to see an Edsel hardtop in black or red.

Patty, you broght up an intersting point.

I always shake my head when I hear of collectors who buy these little cars that are worried about thier investment value.

Sure we'd all like our investment to hold or increase their value, but that has never been the reason I buy these cars. I buy them because I love old cars, with the thought process being that I will never part with them.

I offer another analogy...
When I was kid in the 50's and 60's, I bought Superman and Batman comic books. I never bought them with the thought being that they'd increase in value over time. I bought them because I was (like most young boys) a fan of the heros. And today, though they have indeed increased in value, and I still have all of them, I have no intentions ov every selling them.

Those comics, like the little cars I collect, represent who I am and what I've enjoyed in my life.

Just my thoughts on the subject.