@perrone1 The black 56 Corvette is an excellent model from FM. With regard to the two toning the cove, I don't know what it cost in 1956 but on my 1961 in 1/1 scale, it was a $16.15 option.
@perrone1 The Goldenglow Yellow was distinctly different from the Goldenrod Yellow used on the 55 Thunderbirds. The chrome band on the Russian version was not correct from the factory but I could see an owner having that band plated to give extra pizazz to their car....not an uncommon thing to do in the fifties.
@perrone1 The black 56 Corvette is an excellent model from FM. With regard to the two toning the cove, I don't know what it cost in 1956 but on my 1961 in 1/1 scale, it was a $16.15 option.
@perrone1 The Goldenglow Yellow was distinctly different from the Goldenrod Yellow used on the 55 Thunderbirds. The chrome band on the Russian version was not correct from the factory but I could see an owner having that band plated to give extra pizazz to their car....not an uncommon thing to do in the fifties.
You're absolutely right Bob. Sent to me for this review, was #1 of the issue. I wasn't happy with the inaccuracy and later sold it.
@perrone1 I think all of us can agree the hardtop Olds was overdue following the convertibles and DM knocked the ball out of the park. I was surprised how many collectors seemed to not respond to this model when it was introduced as even today I still hear of folks looking for this model for their collections.
It was split among those saying (initially, while looking at photos) that they saw 'green' in the paint color - Miami Sand. Those looking at the car in person, were generally mute on the specific subject.
Sure never looked like any green in it to me.
I recall all the controversy with the voting and the resulting Miami Sand color selection.
It was split among those saying (initially, while looking at photos) that they saw 'green' in the paint color - Miami Sand. Those looking at the car in person, were generally mute on the specific subject.
Sure never looked like any green in it to me.
I recall all the controversy with the voting and the resulting Miami Sand color selection.
Ahh yes, the best of times, the worst of times. I miss those times John. Thanks for your comments my friend!!
Danbury Mint 1956 Buick Roadmaster Riviera- 4 Door Hardtop – DM1622
Four-doors are back baby! Has Danbury decided to add some four-door cars to the mix of automotive images coming out of Connecticut? We have seen precious few examples in the form of certain woody wagons, for instance, but four-door sedans and hardtops are like hens teeth in this scale. On a larger scale, and less precision genre, we may see some due to the abundance of material necessary to hang the two doors per side. But in this more diminutive size, internal hinging hardware makes for a difficult union between door panel and lower mounting post. This higher tech new tooling has a plethora of detailing not unlike what we’ve come to expect from the DM Boyz. And, ok, since we do not see the myriad of new automobile miniatures flowing like those produced in the diecast hey-days of collectibles, I cherish each newbie, perhaps, a little bit more.
DM chose a great image from which to work. I’m glad they chose the four-door version first and the tri-color combo. Maybe their 1:1 donor car was this color, maybe it wasn’t, but I might have picked it since it exudes the fifties Buick vision some of us older heads recall back then. Bold, bright and unafraid. The top is Carlsbad Black. Not sure where the name came from but I’ve been in the Carlsbad Caverns and it gets no blacker than that – I love it! The center and most prominent color is Seminole Red. Can we say, Florida State University Seminoles? THIS is their red! Then build it all above the base earth-tone fifties Cameo Beige and you have a tri-tone palette proud to be seen on a ’56 Roadmaster. The paint is astounding; clear, glossy and even. The separately formed chrome trim adds a final dimension of authenticity.
Details are anywhere you look. The antenna works, natch; the hood uses those scissors spring hinges, natch, the engine bay, interior and trunk exercise full detailing innovationary-fabrication while the photo-etched scripts are better than ever! DM employed cost savings techniques some time ago to keep the admission price reasonable and I have yet to hear many moans to the contrary. The fuel filler door is static and so is the suspension. For me, not a problem. The interior material in the seating areas, realistic mesh grilling in the non-functioning air scoop that Buick built below the hood mounted aero-mascot, is way more important. The build lines, getting tighter and tighter, have never been more amazing and the miniature detailing of dash, console, engine lay-out and chassis are worth their weight in diecast gold bullion.
This is one of those models you will want to display proudly for all to see. Puff out your chest and say, “Look at what I have. You won’t see THIS everywhere.” Yeah, DM saw to that boys and girls. Good on ya, DM! TP 06/05/2010
The first so-called, “Letter Car” of Chrysler’s performance oriented vehicle line was the 1955 Chrysler 300C. It got it’s moniker from the 300 horsepower engine beneath its hood and, believe it or not, the “C” stood for coupe. In 1956 the letter reverted to a “B” but the horsepower rating went up to 340 brake HP. This was produced by a 354 cubic inch hemi engine. In addition, there was an option to go with a higher compression, 10:1, 355 bhp motor, also a hemispherical combustion chamber mill. This 1956 car was rarer, at 1102 units sold, than the 1955 Chrysler where 1725 were produced during the first year’s outing. For 1957 the 300 once again picked up the “C” classification and they went on from there. Interestingly enough, however, there was no “I” model. Chrysler thought it could be confused for a “1”.
Danbury has made the transition from their DeSoto line of very well received models to the venerable ’56 Chrysler 300B discussed here. There was a ready crowd for this eagerly anticipated model in 1:24th scale and DM provided us with a real beauty. In a high gloss Raven Black, the model will shine its way into your heart. DM chose an elegant color combination, adding the tan interior, dressing up the high class attitude of the vehicle with medium whitewalls and an exemplary set of wire wheels. As with the DeSoto variants there is a tremendous amount of functionality to the model and wonderful fit and finish. Each opening panel, doors, hood, gas filler door and trunk lid, fits precisely and is evenly spaced within their boundaries. The doors open on internal spring hinge assemblies and the hood is in a whole other world of precision diecast.
They are a dual scissors springs arrangement with working miniature springs painted in the pre-requisite red of the day. Not to be upstaged by the hood holder-uppers, the engine bay glows like a black Cheshire cat that just swallowed a canary; a large gold and silver hemi canary. DM spared no quarter in including detail here. Everything is connected; plug wires, air and vacuum lines, heater hoses, battery cables, metal fuel lines and a windshield washer bag. Heater hoses have their proper clamps and the battery is labeled with, “Mopar”. Other labels are affixed for instructional and “Caution” warning purposes. The antenna is fixed and scaled to size and chrome foil lettering is carried out perfectly for the “Chrysler” letters up front and “Chrysler 300B” script on the sides.
The trunk has the usual suspects in it; soft flocked carpet, a removable spare, not wire, which is correct, jack and jack stand behind the spare and the tire iron in its hold-down anchor. Internally, this was a nice place to send an afternoon cruising and showing off or an equally opulent place to spend a quiet and classy evening on the town. It even comes with A/C. Of course DM saw to it that the front seats fold forward and the visors fold down. The dash and gauge package is well defined and detailed and the black carpet is soft and scaled properly. The chassis holds nice detailing. The suspension is operational. Check out the headers, steering system authentications and the gas filter bowl.
Once again DM has responded to our wants and needs and does so in a positively convincing manner. The Thrillometer weighed the heavy model and produced a sound 9.9 rating for this lovely image of the 300B. TP 08/07/2005
Danbury Mint 1956 Corvette Roadster- Nbr Ltd Ed 1424
Red. We do NOT need any more red models. No more red diecast cars please. There are far too many of them. Oh sure, red sells; to those who are non-core collectors maybe, who want that flashy splash, that exuberant pizzazz, that, “Hey look at me” quality that calls our attention to the hottest new car on the block or, in this case, the display case. The mints have heard our pleadings. They have heeded it, for the most part, and have issued far fewer new red diecast automotive treasures in that particular color. Forget that there are as many shades of red as there are full color palettes of other primary colors. We don’t need no stinking red cars! Well excuse me, I do. And this is the one I want; right now.
Venetian Red. A politically correct, middle of the road red, not gaudy, not in-your-face but not lily-livered either; a red for all seasons. A rich, unencumbered and non-apologetic red that in 1956 made the statement, “Drive me, if you are man or woman enough to be seen with me?” Had I bought a Corvette in 1956, this would have been my color choice. Sure, white was clean looking and black was wonderfully sinister, but Venetian Red was cool. I mean, hello, I’m in a Corvette for Pete’s sake; I do NOT want to blend! DM stepped up, didn’t wimp out, and fashioned the preeminent Corvette for ’56 in its proper attire. And the choice of red interior with the red auxiliary hard top and white coves is roundly applauded by this reviewer. All right, enough of the color issue. How’s the model look otherwise?
Well, for starters, hot. Only the second year of the C1 generation for a V8 engine, this model carries Corvette’s dual quad small block. (Remind me to tell you about the throttle linkage.) The door hinges are new-tech, the suspension system functions and the fuel filler door and hard boot open. Under that tonneau cover is a simulated ‘down top’. This was part of the tooling found in the previously issued Chip Miller’s 1957 Corvette. The rest of the interior is finely detailed as well. The shift pattern is readable on the floor-mounted shifter plate, it’s an automatic folks; the gauges are all perfectly formed and the seats have the correct waffle patterning. Oh, and they match the headliner of the auxiliary hard top. The trunk features a removable rubber floor mat and spare cover, complete with jacking instruction and limited slip differential caution labels. The spare comes out also and has a miniature jack on the reverse side. I love the deeply etched tire pattern. When you close the flawlessly fitting trunk you will note the beautifully fashioned Corvette emblem imbedded into the body work. Its twin is located up front below the front edge of the hood. And as with previous issues there is a separately formed lock button in chrome below the emblem, not merely a painted-on indication. The doors each have one as well.
The engine bay remains the center of attention for some of these earlier Corvettes and Danbury captured every exquisite nuance on this fifty-six. Danbury’s standard attention to detail remains excellent here with every wire, hose, line and telescoping hood prop rod. And now may be a good time to discuss that throttle linkage I alluded to earlier. Chevy’s twin carburetion system called for a progressive linkage that was not so easy to calibrate. The mechanicals were so simple that they were ingenious. DM nailed every bit of the fabrication of it. Get out the magnifiers; you have to see this for yourself. I know the guy at DM that was responsible for this and although I am not permitted to name names – ya done good, I’m proud of you.
DM may be trying to spoil us. They sprang for some nice options on this model. Some of the more prevalent goodies are the aforementioned auxiliary hard top, RPO code 419, a $215.20 option, the Powerglide auto-tranny option, RPO 313 for $188.30 and a RPO 109 windshield washer option for $11.85. Ever thoughtful, as they are, they not only placed the “Chevrolet Windshield Washer” blue fluid receptacle on the inside driver’s front fender but they plumbed it as well! And those little, tiny chrome thingies in front of the photo-etched wipers are the washer outlet nozzles. Not content to sit still and offer easy transformations from one existing model year to another, a lot of thought goes into affording us different variables between models. For that and the fine job these folks do, I offer may thanks. Thrillometer readings of 9.99 are pushing the envelope – again. The issue price is $135.
