[Sticky] Lost Reviews - Franklin Mint & Danbury Mint

Danbury Mint 1950 Studebaker Custom Rod – 1460

(Review inspired by the TV show: American Hot Rod with Boyd Coddington)

When legendary hot rod and custom design builder, Ding Troutington, decided to fabricate a one-of-a-kind-car that would see some action at custom shows, but ultimately sell at the Jarrett-Backson Auction, he knew just what he wanted. The call went out for a classic car of the early fifties with ahead-of-its-time styling and one that both lent itself to futuristic customization and was not your run of the mill Ford or Chevy seen at every other custom show or auction house sale. It was Ding’s paint and body man, Jose Flippanoche, who found the nearly rusted out shell of a 1950 Studebaker Champion convertible languishing in the Carmel, California junk yard. The pieces were all there and the outside body relatively free of dents and damage. The journey began. Jose had the hulk hauled back to the Dan & Berry Coachworks shop for its transformation and eventual resurrection. Over the next several months, and with long hours into the night, and with lead work, sanding, chopping and welding, Ding worked his magic into the metal. From the chassis up, the car started to breathe its new air of life. Each body panel was painstakingly restored, primed, sanded and sanded some more. This was going to be big.

Ding had this open air roadster in mind and was determined to build it the right way. The windshield frame was laid back; raked but proper. Shortened too, until way cool. Bumpers, badly pitted chrome add-ons, door handles, unnecessary trim; toast. They were vanished. Interior tub; gutted. The old, tired and rusted out six? History. Wouldn’t a big V-8 be juicy here? Oh sure, if you want one more dime-a-dozen custom rod. No, nothing short of a V-10 Viper mill will do here boys. Oh yeah, and a six speed manual tranny to go with it. Bring up the rear in Viper fashion too while we’re at it. Nestle it in coil-over shocks, tomorrow’s cradle suspension and you have one proper snake. “Hey! That’s a good name for the project”, exclaimed Ding. The boys all agreed. So, “Snake” it was. The crew set out to replace the interior and trunk with ‘go-fast-in-style’ goodies and pieces. After a complete gutting of the bench seats, door panels and dash, Jose, with help from shop co-owner, Dan Mint, laid up and fabricated a complete new dash. A wrap-around with flat panel configuration was formed. Flush-mounted gauges, high tech, of course, were added. With insight by Berry Mint, Dan’s brother and co-owner of the shop, the center of the dash was extended to flow down into a center console that the boys allowed to run the length of the interior tub. It housed the shifter, emergency brake handle and power control switches. After a short, time-limited stint at Babe’s Upholstery shop, the car returned to Dan & Berry’s. The boys admired the new hides, properly stretched like fine high fashion garb on some supermodel. Babe had clothed four high-rise bucket seats with three of them outfitted with fabric belts and race-inspired quick release buckles. The driver’s seat was fitted for a three point lap belt with two additional shoulder harnesses. Carpet was fabricated and laid out. Stereo speakers were pressed into service on four side panels and two were placed between the twin rear buckets. The color of the seats, a warm nutmeg, was carried over onto the interior side panels and at Berry’s insistence, the color advanced to the inside upper portion of the hood and trunk lid. Later, the crew all agreed it was the right thing to do.

After the carpet was installed to the trunk, Dan fitted this puppy with a chrome-plated NOS tank, all the tie-downs and a battery for good balance. The license plate holder was also treated to a coating of the chrome kind. Once the beefed-up chassis was ready, the mighty Viper motor found residence in the old Stude’s front quarters. By now paint colors were being fleshed out from the drawings that Ding labored over all those months ago. The bottom portion of the car received a platinum silver base coat that appeared to be a foot thick. And this, before the clear-coating! Then separated by a wafer-thin nutmeg pinstripe, the top portion of the coach got a shot of charcoal pearl metallic to die for. And of course, the prerequisite clear-coat that looked like icing on the cake. There wasn’t going to be a top; this was a roadster after all, but Dan laid up the fiberglass top-down boot, in charcoal, that fits so profoundly flush and tight where only a long curved line gives it away as a separate piece. But when it is removed, a stealthy twin-hooped tonneau cover may be installed in its place to transform the car from a four place fun machine into a cozy two occupant Sunday car show thrill ride. Jose fabricated the piece and added four metal-faced speakers to the unit. He then added the “Viper” emblem to the waterfall portion of the tonneau to match the one affixed to the trunk rear. And just like the boot, when snapped into position, the tonneau is tight and seamless.

It was the shop’s foreman, JRD, who did the mechanical work. He installed those big Viper disc brakes and drilled rotors that you see spinning past the mag wheels. He also carried out the plan to exit the exhaust just in front of each rear wheel, ala Dodge Viper SRT10. He fashioned the black metal air intake screening for the front end of the car and the side fender vents as well. He plumbed and fitted the motor and gave the engine bay the classy and clean look that you see there. He got the in-the-weeds stance so low and cool too. In fact, it was JRD who first realized that the long months were complete. “Boys!” he shouted, “We’re done!” So off on the show circuit it was for the Snake. One after the other, the trophies piled up. It didn’t seem like the car could garner anything except first place results. So after due time, and plenty of instant crowd recognition, the custom rod was ready for the Jarrett-Backson stage. From the opening announcement, with wildly appreciative cheers, to the final gavel, only 9 minutes passed. But to Ding it seemed like at least one of the months that he spent in building the little dream machine. When the dust settled and before any commission was tacked on, the rod sold for $1.2 million!! Ding and the Mint brothers were over-joyed. The crowd was snake bitten and all the better for it.

Danbury Mint and the DM Boyz obviously had a lot of fun putting this one together and so did I, fictionalizing a bogus story about it. But owning the model will give you more than a great measure of fun; it will give you a diecast that is a stand-out, far different than the norm and one surely to attract a lot of attention from onlookers trying to figure out its origins. It is nostalgic and high tech all at once. DM calls it the Snake. I think I’d either call it Studeviper or better yet, Snakeabaker. But whether you like resto-rods or not, this is truly a MUST-HAVE model no matter what you decide to call it!

People who bought the Corvette Nomad Custom ($135) and sent in their Option Form to reserve the Studebaker Custom will get it at $135 (as advertised in the materials accompanying the Corvette Nomad). 

New buyers (anybody else who didn’t buy the Corvette Nomad) will pay the new price of $140. TP 05/22/2006

@perrone1 Have both of the two tone versions. All of the DM Mercurys are outstanding models.

@perrone1 Have the 49 two door Ford in green along with the flamed version by Barris.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@perrone1 Have the 49 two door Ford in green along with the flamed version by Barris.

YES Bob! Love those Tudors! FM's two 1930 Model A's, their 1933 Dillinger Model A, DM's 1940 Tudor, 1947 Tudor and the 1949 Ford Tudor as well!!

Franklin Mint 1950 GMC 2007 Christmas Pickup Truck Ltd Ed of 2500 – E500

TFM has spun a wonderful Holiday yarn around a perfectly wonderful little 1950 GMC pickup truck. They’ve decorated it for Christmas with a merry paint scheme and hung wreaths for full effect. The tale stems from the magically mythical town of Franklin. They purport that each year at Christmastime, the town’s local brewery whips up a special blend of Christmas tidings in the form of full-bodied beer. The town’s beverage maker is the one and only, “Franklin Brewery and Ice House”. The special result is called, “St. Nick’s Stout”.  This is a limited edition of 2500 and the edition, according to TFM, closes at midnight on December 25^th, 2007.

Franklin took the terrific little long bed truck that they have used as a special platform for events in the past, and transformed it into the Holiday beer hauler. The paint is beautiful and cheery in red and beige. The graphics are some of the better ones I have seen used and the originality of the design was very well thought out. They hung Christmas greenery on the wooden stake-sides and tied red ribbons accordingly. There is a cool little miniature beer keg topping the hood as an ornament and chrome hub caps on whitewall tires for the special season.

The model has a utilitarian interior but boasts a really nice working suspension, opening tailgate with chain tethers and a fully wired and plumbed engine. TFM supplies fantastic little niceties in the way of two beer kegs, three blocks of ice, one large and two smaller, on set of industrial sized ice tongs and a separate wreath. The wreath attaches to the grille. I can just see this little bundle of joy on the mantelpiece at Christmas lighting up the festivities with good looks and a seasonal bit of whimsy. Job done excellently FM, Merry Christmas to you!

TP 09/27/2007

Franklin Mint 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible- Nbr Ltd Ed of 1000 –E041

I can recall when Franklin Mint first issued this model way back in 1991. In Alpine White, it created a good stir. The collectors liked the subject matter, faithfulness to proportion, stance and overall model execution. Since we were still some years from models that appear ready to be fired up and driven away, as if by 1:24^th scale humans, the model commanded attention and decent prices each time it sold on the secondary market. FM reissued the model in 2000, in red, as a limited edition of 9900. This time around, the limit is set at a more collectible 1000 units. With a Pastoral Blue paint job, matching blue and white interior, white ‘up-top’ and contrasting wide white wall tires; I find the model very pleasing and perhaps more than the equal of both previous replicas. The white version lacked pizzazz and the red iteration was overly flashy; at least in some circles. But this class act is just that, classy.

Don’t expect more than the wonderful image itself; the model carries none of today’s glitz and glamour of functioning everything. But what you do get is a well proportioned model, excellent body and panel fit and beautiful paintjob. The wire wheels are fashioned in nice scale and although the engine isn’t ready to be fired up, it is representative of the car itself back then. Let’s face it, if you like the classic ’53 Caddy shape, style and countenance, you will like this image. If you place it among your collection and enjoy looking at the grand old yacht, how often would you be peeking under the hood for all the goodies anyway? This isn’t to say that I would not welcome a revised and totally updated ’53 Eldo, but what you see here is what you get and it IS really nice, all these years later.

The issue price is $155.  TP 12/05/2005

Franklin Mint 1954 Corvette – F394

This was a nice choice for a repaint. In fifty-three the world saw the first production Corvette. Only 300 units were offered for sale. If you wanted one, you had to be content with Polo White. But in 1954 over 3600 cars rolled away from the factory. At 3200+, Polo White was still the dominant color, but Pennant Blue and Sportsman Red were also available.  A few hundred of those were made but only four were ever done in Black for fifty-four.

This is virtually a repaint, and the model offers nothing more than it did when it served Franklin back in the early nineties as one of its first offerings of the breed. And while it holds no mystically detailed and high technology advancements it looks terrific in this color choice. FM did substitute metal-foiled “Corvette” scripts for the former decals on the lower front fenders and that is a very welcomed touch.

The model actually looks unusual in this color but a breath of fresh air when displayed among its early-fifties brethren.  It’s limited to only 500 pieces so this should be a classic in years to come. Nice color choice and nice presentation.  TP 05/15/2009

Franklin Mint 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60 Special- Nbr Limited Edition of 2500 E291

Wedgewood Green Light and Mist Green, might not normally be associated in partnership on the same car, but Cadillac decided to use them when pastels and spring colors were all the fashion in the mid-fifties. This may be yet one more color duo to either love or hate. Cadillac also had a Wedgewood Green Dark Poly in the paint stable that could have been pressed into service as another ‘upper’ body color in tandem with the ‘lower’ Mist Green. Period-correct, it still definitely evokes sparse middle-of-the-road opinions.

This is the third iteration of FM’s ’55 Caddy. Issued originally five years ago in 2001, it was hailed as the Elvis depiction; the star’s legendary pink Cadillac. Two years later, in 2003, it received a new coat of black attire and a tan interior and released as a limited edition of 3000 pieces. At 2500 units, this iteration is slightly more limited but much more colorful.

As a four-door vehicle, we have few such offerings considering the plethora of available two door sedans, coupes, convertibles and wagons. Expect the same nice detailing as the previous two models. There’s functioning suspension componentry, including working shocks, front cradle suspension that moves in tandem with the wheel, not just the wheel itself and the driveshaft turns with the rotation of the drive wheels. The trunk is laid out well with tire iron and jack visible behind the stationary spare. The doors open on dog-leg front and internal rear hinges to afford a great view of a nicely appointed interior. The seats are done in Wedgewood and white with matching dash, steering wheel, head liner and door panels. There is a slight, ‘oops’ in that the spotlight handles are still aboard even though they were removed for the black issue and this one as well. To be correct, if you so choose, it is a mere matter of popping them off. The engine bay remains a pleasant nicety. Proper instructional printing, wiring and plumbing are in place. A nice photo-etch metal grill proceeds the cavernous expanse under the hood. Unlike the photo we initially saw of the prototype, the production model has the proper badging and hood emblem. The Cadillac crest appears above the gold “V” with “Cadillac” and “Fleetwood” scripts in tampo-print on the sides, rear deck and wheel covers of the vehicle.

FM’s latest treatment of the big four-door Caddy is bright and cheery. Issue price for the limited edition is $135.

TP 09/07/2006

Franklin Mint 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air- Indy 500 Pace Car- Nbr Ltd Ed of 5000 – E256

TFM has made seven different 1955 Chevy Bel Airs. Although somewhat surprising, only one of them, the original issue of 8/1993, was a convertible. Roughly based on that model, this drop top has been revised to represent the Indy 500 Pace Car for 1955.

The Gypsy Red and India Ivory paint is knock-out on this car, always has been. The matching red and white interior has never looked better. And while this is an old technology model FM has made some subtle, yet very effective, changes. All emblems are now metallic in nature and almost part of the bodywork; they’re flat and realistically rendered to scale. Gone is the ‘inverted hockey stick’ chrome trim that ran the lower portion of the body. So are the bumper guards. And, oh yeah, so are the fender skirts and connie kit! Good riddance. The engine has sported nicely crafted plug wires while remaining is the photo-etch grille. The antenna is scaled nicely and the twin chrome exhaust tips look great sticking out of the rear of the vehicle. The car’s plate reads, “Official Pace Car” and the side graphics are gorgeous.

The tires are marked with a “Firestone 500” logo on each whitewall and that includes the spare as well. Stance and proportion fidelity is wonderful on the model and whether or not you are into pace car issues, the little double nickel (Fifty-Five) is more than worth owning. TP 01/26/2007

@perrone1 Tony, I have these displayed in a patriotic red/white and blue. For years I didn't have the blue version but recently picked it up for an attractive price.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@perrone1 Tony, I have these displayed in a patriotic red/white and blue. For years I didn't have the blue version but recently picked it up for an attractive price.

I'm standing here, at attention, and saluting!  

@perrone1 Have all three versions and never noticed the handles without the spotlights. I must be the most unaware guy in the world.

@perrone1 parade rest!

@perrone1 Indy pace cars are a subsection in my collection and this one stands tall.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@perrone1 Have all three versions and never noticed the handles without the spotlights. I must be the most unaware guy in the world.

Well, but they are only 1/24th the size of the real ones - it's totally understandable!