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06/03/2021 10:19 am
Franklin Mint 1955 FORD FAIRLANE CROWN VICTORIA
All brochures from the Mint's that arrived in my mailbox were so welcome, but there were some that really added a skip to my walk. This was one of them!
As kid back in the Fifties my memory is that there were a lot of Crown Victoria's around and there seemed to be so many different color combinations. There was Red/White, Yellow/White, Pink/White, Turquoise/White, Black/White, Orange/White, Yellow/Black, Tan/White, Blue/White, Pink/Black, and THIS ONE in PURPLE/WHITE.
With their "Picnic Basket" (that's what I thought it looked like) Roof Line, to my young eyes they were just a different looking and nice car. We had a neighbor a few doors down from us that had the Orange/White two-tone combination. And about six blocks down from our house was East Side Ford on 7th Street in St. Paul, with their car lot lined up with all the various color combo's. They were just cool, that's all I can say.
When FRANKLIN MINT and DANBURY MINT started giving us models of these CROWN VIC'S, my young boy memories were rekindled and I wanted all the colors that I remembered there being. So I never got tired of adding another one to my collection.
Today on my car shelves, I line them all up side-by-side like they were on that dealership lot and I'm six years old all over again. For the memories alone, they are a favorite car!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
John Merritt and John Merritt reacted
Topic starter
06/03/2021 10:28 am
I always liked it when the Mint's would tell you what number YOUR cars was in the Limited Edition run of their models. This '55 Crown Victoria from FRANKLIN MINT had a run of 9,900. MY car is #909.
I always had some doubts that these production numbers and actual car numbers could be a marketing ploy or fudged in some way, but I hope not. Either way, the numbers provided on the models we received add to the collectability of them.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
06/03/2021 11:01 am
This one brings back a great memory.
Franklin Mint used to have an annual antique car show on the grounds of their Pennsylvania headquarters. Of course they also had their products for sale at the show. I went one year, and drove back home to NY with this purple-and-white beauty that still sits in my display case!
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
Topic starter
06/03/2021 12:17 pm
@moe-parr, I used to love the Franklin Mint store that was in the Mall of America during the 1990's. I had the honor of working there for about 6 months, which was a job I took just for the kicks and giggles of it. They had a huge diecast model display on one wall of the store and that was where all the guys who visited the store spent their time. According to the Franklin lore at the time, their sales of diecast cars provided 67% of the company's annual revenue. I'm sure that Danbury's revenue amounted to about the same, and that is why when the mints stopped producing 1:24 diecast, I was totally shocked. Certainly it was a major blow to both company's, though Franklin had been less than their former self by that time.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
06/03/2021 12:17 pm
Barry, Did you ever take one of your 1/1 cars to the show?
06/03/2021 1:11 pm
Bob, it was about 100 miles each way. That's a longer drive than I feel comfortable taking with my antique.
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
06/03/2021 2:06 pm
Barry, I can appreciate that. I have done it on occasion because I have road service and towing on my antique car insurance and a cell phone for help if needed.
George Schire and George Schire reacted
Topic starter
06/03/2021 3:34 pm
Barry, I can appreciate that. I have done it on occasion because I have road service and towing on my antique car insurance and a cell phone for help if needed.
I wish I'd have had road service and a cell phone back in the days when I had my '62 Oldsmobile. As great as that car was, I had a couple of breakdowns and was left to figure out what to do.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
06/03/2021 6:50 pm
A nice model. Great color.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
George Schire and George Schire reacted
08/03/2021 7:52 am
This one brings back a great memory.
Franklin Mint used to have an annual antique car show on the grounds of their Pennsylvania headquarters. Of course they also had their products for sale at the show. I went one year, and drove back home to NY with this purple-and-white beauty that still sits in my display case!
My wife and I went to about 3 of those annual events. They were fun weekends.
John Bono
North Jersey