[Sticky] Lost Reviews - Franklin Mint & Danbury Mint

Franklin Mint 1958 Plymouth Belvedere Nbr- Ltd Ed of 2500  -  E656

FM has been kind to those of us who like our Mopars. We have a multitude of Chryslers, Plymouths, Dodges and variations in-between. Of the Plymouths we have Furys, Superbirds, Cudas, Roadrunners and GTX’s. We have more than one Belvedere too. But this is the first ’58 Belvedere in coupe form from Franklin. And what a color choice. Arctic Turquoise Poly is a blue-green-ice shade of ocean color that FM clear-coated and polished to a gem-like shine.

The interior, in its white and grey-texture blend, is a pleasant offset, especially considering the bold white side accent arrow. FM fashioned the scripts in chrome metal foil and they are super-realistic. The doors were treated to the new hinge technology and the suspension is form-following-functional. There’s a plethora of detailing in the engine bay; fully wired and plumbed with proper stickers and windshield washer bag. The interior door panels, dash and side vents all exude good detail and the chrome trim and vent windows have all been crafted well.

At only 2500 units to be had, this is a delightful treat for Mopar fans and passionate collectors of diecast alike.  TP 09/27/2007

FM crafted up a lesser limited edition than had ever been issued for the breed, 1500. The aforementioned green version came in an issue of 2500 pieces. This one is a thousand less and appropriately bodacious. The engine has plug wires and hoses and looks good even for today’s technology. All panel gaps are minimal and the ride stance is right where it ought to be. Place this baby on a shelf and admire it; it deserves that proper adulation.  TP 09/27/2007

Franklin Mint 1960 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop- Nbr Ltd Ed of 2500 – E013

I was surprised to learn that the mints have only presented us with five 1960 Impala hard top precision 1:24^th scale models. Three are from Franklin Mint, including this latest iteration and two from Danbury Mint including their low rider rendition. I suppose it just ‘felt’ like they were all around us. Based from FM’s 1993 original tool, this limited edition is all about blue. FM sprayed the car in a period two-tone that makes this a welcome repaint. On this car, it works well. The top appears as a Horizon Blue while the body is a deep Royal Blue Poly with contrasting light blue side spear accent.

FM opted for a matching dark blue with light blue insert seating and the stippled pattern of the inserts are nicely done. Don’t expect high tech or new innovations here, it is mostly a repaint issue in limited quantities. But do expect a great finish, highly glossy and metallically-scaled, nice little emblem and insignia tampos and a grand presentation of a period Impala for the masses. It depicts an automatic, single exhaust car with a straight six. Twin antennas are thin metal. You’ll find coil springs on the non-working suspension but the stance is spot on.

Definitely a collector for the Impala fan, the color makes it a success. Issue price is $145.  TP 02/21/2007

Franklin Mint 1961 Lincoln Continental- Nbr Ltd Ed of 2500 – E254 (Royal Red Poly) 

What more can be said about one of The Franklin Mint’s most important diecast vehicles? Even today the original version, in Presidential Black, still sells for a premium. Issued in July of 1996, it was a highly popular model hailed for its great detail and faithful representation of the vaunted Lincoln land yacht it replicated. One month later, in August, the car was slated to sell at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in a small quantity of 500. Repainted in Sultana White they disappeared quickly at the classic car event. Very soon thereafter the model hit cult status when it became so nearly impossible to find. The folks who originally bought them liked them so well that they did not want to part with them. The question now might be better asked of what has the re-issue of the model in 2003, in Regency Turquoise of 1000 units, and now this reiteration in Royal Red, done to the intrinsic values of the various versions. Besides allowing more collectors to own a brand new version of the diecast, it gives us more color options to please a broader range of tastes.

No doubt about it, this deep Royal Red Poly looks elegant and rich on the Lincoln’s long frame. The contrasting red and white interior enhances the total package. It is mostly about the color change but FM has added a couple wrinkles to sweeten the pot. There have been different hood ornaments on these cars; photo-etched metal and plastic. This one is a substantial P-E metal. Though not as delicate and detailed as a former iteration it is not as vulnerable to damage. Perhaps the best change I note is the ‘up-top’ locator pin holes in the rear body cowling behind the rear seats. They are now gone. So if you display the car sans roof, there are no unsightly holes to detract from the view. FM has added two small pegs to the rear base of the top to align with the rear inside body work and a small tab that fits between the sun visors. It keeps everything on the up and up. It does not fasten the top tightly but it keeps it from flopping around during minor movements.

The engine bay continues to look good; wires and plumbing are sharp. Interior detailing is the same; excellent, and with dark ruby red flooring, matching steering wheel and seat centers, presents a pleasant look. The front seat features a folding arm rest and the dash and gauges are nicely formed. The grille, rear valance and windshield wipers still make good use of photo-etch metal and the antenna is scaled well. The car still looks great after all these years and makes a grand display with any or all of the previous editions. Issue price is $135.  TP 01/28/2007

Danbury Mint 1956 Lincoln Premiere Coupe – 1439

Like an open field runner, Danbury Mint is eating up massive chunks of yardage, on the precision diecast playing field. It seems like every week we are hearing of, or seeing, another new issue debut from the huddle of the Boyz from Connecticut. On our collective collector’s wish lists for some time now, the Lincoln Premiere has floated at, or near, the top of everyone’s dream-come-true desire for this diecast model. Well gang, wake up and smell the fresh paint; the Lincoln Premiere, in Island Coral and White, is now reality! Lincoln took a handoff from the styling cues of the 1955 Lincoln Capri and stretched them into a long, lean and flowing mass of sheet metal and luxury. The taillights are the most obvious carry over but a whole new look was achieved in the Premiere models; two-door hard tops, Premiere sedans and the drop top convertible. Power rose in 1956 to 285 horse power from the 368 cubic inch V-8.

DM captured all of the elegance that the Premiere was known for, and in an end run, added some extra glitz. For instance, the model is depicted with the cool (pun intended) A/C feature. The smallish air scoops on each rear fender hints to the option. Out of the rear shelf and as seen through the rear window, there are twin clear tubes that run into the rear of the headliner. The air then escapes through four vents, two in back and two up front. Also detailed in the headliner are travel hooks and side entry lights. The sun visors are mounted on slim realistically scaled metal pivot points. The rear seat has a fold down arm rest and the front seats have grab straps behind them. DM scores a field goal with the extensive steering wheel and dash board detailing. Even the tiny miniature door locks are true to scale and very realistic. The fender skirts are removable but they look much better in place. The doors ride on internal hinges. The metal foil scripts are magnificent on the replica. The rear fenders sport gold “Premiere” emblems and the front fenders come to life with “Lincoln” spelled out in script, also gold. Across the front of the hood, DM duplicated the chrome “Lincoln” emblems in separate block letters, perfectly scaled.

In the trunk DM fashioned the prerequisite FoMoCo plaid mat and made the spare tire removable. There is a swiveling locating pin to help in the mount. Behind it is a jack. The trunk lid features an instructional jacking label and simulated weather stripping and insulation. The license plate flips down to reveal the gas filler. Underneath we have a wealth of chassis detail. Fuel lines, in metal, leave the tank to run forward to the engine. Brake lines and emergency brake cabling are all replicated and even the fuel pump is plumbed. Once back upright treat yourself to a first and goal to go by checking in on the engine bay. The now famous DM scissors hinges are used to perfection here. Holding up the hood, they offer a gorgeous view of the V-8 in all its glory. Metal fuel lines are readily seen, the windshield washer system is evident and so is its fluid lines and pump mechanism. The master cylinder is plumbed and ready for action and the radiator sports an overflow tube while the heater hoses, plug wires and vacuum lines are pressed into duty. Check out the scaled dipstick with photo-etch metal ring.

The suspension functions and the stance of the car is low and straight. The model scores a well earned TD on my score card and DM deserves to spike the ball in the end zone with this offering. For subject matter and execution I rate this a 9.98 on the Thrillometer.  TP 08/24/2005

Danbury Mint 1956 Lincoln Premiere Convertible - 1483

Even while enjoying the widespread success of Danbury’s ’56 Premiere coupe release, talk of a follow-up convertible almost instantly ensued amongst the diecast faithful. People reasoned that it was inevitable. Discussions of color began at the same time and some held that this particular paint shade would win out. It was all the rage back in the day so it would only be rational to use it on the drop top version. Pastels would probably not make as big of an impact cloaking the cars of today. Maybe a cute little mini-car targeting the younger generation of today’s buyers could get away with one or two pastel shades but the exceptionally broad array of cars painted in these colors back then was truly remarkable. For 1955 through 1957, there were several forms of pastoral greens, ocean shades and the pinkish-toned palette of hues offered by Lincoln. They were so representative of the land yachts of the fifties. There was Cashmere Coral, Taos Turquoise and Summit Green. Fast forward to ’57 and we saw Bermuda Coral, Flamingo, Willow Green-Blue and Seascape Blue. In the year this car was built, 1956, Lincoln used Island Coral (I had no idea there were so many shades of Coral), Champlain Blue, Amethyst and Wisteria. Amethyst has overtones of pink mixed with a modicum of blue. Wisteria, like the flowering vine that lends its name, is an off-shoot of pastel lavender. 1956 is the only year that I can find where Lincoln offered this color on one of their fifty’s machines. A perfect choice for this model, to represent this year? In my mind the answer is a resounding, “yes”. It so typifies the pastel era of that time in automotive manufacture. One last thing about the color. No other choice would ‘fit’ quite so well displayed next to Danbury’s hard top, in Island Coral.

The drop top iteration shares all the goodies, the form, fit, detail and function, found on the hard top but adds a few distinctive touches as well. This car did not come with the air conditioning option; open air driving purists must have frowned on that frivolity, so DM refashioned the engine bay accordingly. So while you may miss the associated A/C gadgetry you will still appreciate the phenomenal model craftsmanship under the hood. You also benefit from new parts and pieces that come only with the rag top. DM not only fabricated the new soft top, (remind me to tell you about this little treasure) but they fashioned the boot and even a fabric simulation of the rear storage space behind the rear seats as well. The view into the open car, sans roof, is unblocked and spectacular. The dash is grand and so stylish, even for today. The sunvisors, a two-toned affair, flip up and down. The steering wheel has excellent detail, so do the door panels and floor. The seats fold forward to reveal separately fashioned grab-straps attached to the seat backs. The center arm rest folds down in the back seat and, what’s that under the dash on the passenger’s side? Could it be one of those cool little period pieces that were all the rage back then? Why yes, yes it is; a tissue dispenser. DM made it so it swings out for the seat occupant to pull out a Kleenex or two. Moving rearward be sure to notice the gold metal foiled scripts. Delicately fashioned, they are scaled perfectly. You may remove the skirts, but the car doesn’t look half as good without them. The trunk opens wide to afford a cavernous look inside. The hinges are scaled right and the inside of the trunk lid shows off terrific detail. Weather stripping is simulated, a jacking instruction label is affixed, the floor mat is realistic and the spare and accessories are in place. On the higher shelf toward the rear seat back is a boot bag; another nice touch. The license plate flips open to give access to the gas cap. As with the hard top, the chassis is replete with details galore. The suspension, chassis fittings, metal lines, tranny and exhaust system all combine to pull off a dazzling charade designed to make you believe that you are looking at the genuine 1:1 article. It would work too if only it weren’t for the limited edition plate. It’s a nice reality check.

Some of the better detail work is still in the engine bay. The scissors hinges have never looked any finer than they do here and they work faultlessly. When closed the hood aligns beautifully and it opens wide to grant you a good look beneath it. All the modelers artistry is found lurking here; impeccable engine lettering, air cleaner labeling, scaled wiring, plumbing and hose-work. Even a nice dipstick appears at the ready for the driver to check the oil level before a sunny day’s cruise. But in the case of inclement weather you will certainly enjoy the up-top once in place. It fits as snug and precise as the real one should. And as promised, an extra little note on the top. The covering is a great fabric simulation; feels real as can be. But the additional detailing beneath is astounding. Separate little chrome pieces carry forward a realistic presentation right down to the simulated gold zipper the operator uses to unfold the rear vinyl window before dropping the top.

If you want an elegantly crafted model of an elegant classic of the fifties, you’d be hard pressed to find one better than this little jewel. A perfect little model in the perfect period color.

TP 06/04/2006

Danbury Mint 1956 Packard Caribbean Hardtop – 1536

When I got the new order #195-153 from the Danbury boys I knew little else than this was an all-new build that was some time in the making. I had to embargo the model listing to reveal itself no earlier than today, 11/20/2007. This gave them ample time to ready catalogs, brochure ads and customer service order sheets. Thoughts of just how long it had been in the pipeline completely vanished when I learned it was to be a Packard. “Hot dog!” I thought; I love Packards!  Then they tell me it will be a triple-shaded fifty-six Caribbean. Ok, I am enthralled with the Caribbean and loved the only mid-fifties versions we were treated to by the ‘Mints’, the FM’s 1955 iterations. But this is the first precision foray into the 1956 model year. Did I say, “Hot Dog!”?

A hardtop, the full-sized Packard Tri-Color order-code, ‘MES’, rendered code 2403-H Dover White, code 2389 Danube Blue and code 2396-H Roman Copper (aka "Metalli Chrome"). My thoughts re-engaged to the song lyrics, “Heaven; I’m in heaven...” Then the time came to open the little parcel from Nirvana; okay, I admit it, white box stickers marked, “Norwalk, Connecticut”, in my brain, translate by default to Paradise. Unveiling the little treasure sent shivers up the old spinal column. In perfect miniature, were the off-white upper body and roof, over copper metallic, sandwiching the light baby blue that runs the length of the still-gorgeous-today body and hockey-stick’s its way up the tail to the twin unfolding antennae. In-between lies some of the most awesomely incredible detail living on a 1:24^th scale auto replica today. The overview of the model is astonishing. It looks positively 1:1.

What makes it appear so lifelike are detail touches such as stipple-textured roof covering, twin extending antennas, delicately-formed metal wire wheels and tight shut lines on every body panel including the opening gas filler door and removable fender skirts. The rear shelf exhibits multi-perforated holes as if made by some 1:24^th specialty worker and the gold scripts are from some other planet, they are that good. The paint is DM-phenomenal, full and rich and the copper is metallic-scaled to perfection. Inside the tartan plaid trunk is a removable spare with jack and tire tool. Beneath is outstanding chassis craftsmanship. The suspension is pliable yet authentic to the 1:1 ride height. The doors open on realistic inner-body hinges to display an awesome interior view. The full scale fifty six came standard with push button drive and featured reversible seat cushions front and back.

Danbury’s model has both. The cushions mimic the actual car; leather on one side and brocade material on the other side. DM furnishes us with a cushion tool. Magnetic in nature, it adheres to each cushion so that we can position each piece to where they belong and are held in place with another magnet attachment device.  We have our choice of matching blue or a grayish pattern. I went with the blue-tone to match the folding sunvisors. The dash, flooring detail and seat operation is amazingly accurate. The carpet matches the copper exterior. The inner door detail is also tri-color and its fixtures scaled in flawlessly. Under the hood is a plethora of craftsmanship. From the still-awesome-even-for-the-day scissors hinges to the delicately scaled wires, fuel lines and tubing to the material usage and hood insulation, the detail carries the day.

This is one more credit to the DM for innovative additions such as the reversible seat cushions and an all-new tool that is as bright and exciting today as the 1:1 was back over half a century ago. This is a regular issue with the Preview Society buyers getting theirs automatically.

TP 11/18/2007

Danbury Mint 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible – Brochure Advertisement

The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible.

1957 Opulence, Sophistication and Beauty - Rolled into One Fantastic Package.

In the fifties, Cadillac styled their automobiles to resemble, in some ways, advanced aircraft of the day. Case in point, the fins seen on the early to mid-fifties Cadillac Eldorados looked like the tail sections of certain WW-II airplanes. But that changed for the Eldorado of 1955. Sparked, perhaps, by the warm reception given to the radically restyled “shark” fins first seen on the tail section of the Cadillac “La Espada” show car of 1954 vintage, GM stylists added the astonishing design element to the Eldorado, exclusively, while the balance of Cadillac’s lineup kept the aforementioned aircraft-inspired fins. In 1956 Cadillac added another aircraft styling cue to the lineup, a so-called, “jet tube” bulge running down the length of the rear fender panel. But the Eldorado kept its distinctive shark fin treatment. Cadillac added the name “Biarritz” to the 1956 Eldorado convertible to distinguish it separately from the Seville, which was offered in coupe form. Somewhat apropos, the shark-finned styling also shares the sea connection with the town of the same name. Biarritz is in Labourd, a French Basque province near Spain. Originally a whaling community, Biarritz made its preliminary living from the sea before becoming the elite stopping-off point for the rich, wealthy and affluent jet-set of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

For the model year of 1957, the Eldorado Biarritz never looked better. While Eldorado’s new and mostly hand built 400 Brougham hardtop sedans joined the lineup and sprouted similar shark fins, the Biarritz convertible model featured a brand new rear fender and trunk deck treatment commonly referred to as “chipmunk cheeks”. Cadillac forever and definitively defined its place in automotive styling history with the Biarritz convertible by creating such an elegant and smoothly designed lady with her alluring and angular shapes, curves and angles that few automotive styling exercises have come close to approaching it to this day. Its fins were moved from the body side perimeters to a more inboard position rendering an all-new and fast-forward look to the already classic car. The car’s styling elegance was not immune from mechanical improvement. Twin carburetion added another 25 horsepower to the big Eldorado V8 boosting the rating to 325 over the standard 300 horsepower for other Cadillac models. Propelling such a large and opulent vehicle (over 4800+ pounds) required this sort of motivational inspiration.

There were only 1800 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible models made in 1957. They rode on a wheelbase of 129.5 inches and stretched out a leisurely 221.2 inches in overall length. The Eldorado was identifiable by its block gold letters set just above the traditional gold V on the trunk lid, gold ID script, “Biarritz” on either front fender and further identified by the new twin sail fins perched high atop the front fenders. The highly popular “Sabre Spoke” wheels carried forward from 1956. The standard Hydra-Matic transmission and 3.07:1 rear axle ratio were suitably applied for a silky-smooth ride and a rather impressive, for its time, 115 mph top speed. Achieving a range of between 12 and 18 mpg with twin carburetion was likewise impressive. The elegant lifestyle afforded by the Biarritz was made even more pleasant by an array of optional equipment that included, “E-Z-Eye” tinted glass, a new air condition and heating system, 6-way power seats, Autronic-Eye and a remote controlled trunk lid latching system. More mundane touches could be added too, such as whitewall tires, rubber bumper tips, “Dor-Guards” seat belts and rear passenger radio controls.

You did not need to be wealthy to buy a Biarritz but it provided a wealth of enjoyment, opulence, sophistication and beauty.  TFP 10/06/2006

Danbury Mint 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible- 50th Anniversary Ed – 1502

There were three yellow based paint shades offered by Chevrolet in 1957. The only one named ‘yellow’ was, to my eye, the least yellow of all, “Coronado Yellow”. It had that dreaded hint of Miami Sand to it. But Calypso Cream and Colonial Cream have definite tonal leanings in favor of butter, goldfinches or, dare I say it, lemons. This car is DM’s first fifty-seven in Colonial Cream. Their 1957 Bel Air Pro Street Machine version was done in screaming yellow but this factory stock issue is much more civil in the paler shade. 

Essentially a remake of the silver convertible issued as a limited edition of 5000, this version carries on the tradition of the early Chevy “fuelie”. Issued here in 2007, the model is named as the, “50^th Anniversary Edition”. A brass plate on the chassis displays just that wording. The model still depicts the first year of Chevy’s fuel injected V8 that pumped out one horsepower per cubic inch and DM’s rendition of the engine itself is still magnificent. We’re treated to minute lettering printed on the air handling intake, miniature fuel lines running hither and yon, hoses and wiring in classic scale and a chrome radiator cap to top it all off. There’s a blend of badging that adds a nice touch of detail to the exterior. Script lettering is found in the form of tampo printing for, “Chevrolet” on the facing edges of the hood and trunk lid, “Fuel Injection” and “Bel Air” on the sides along with louver simulations on the front fenders, while the gold “V” is multi-dimensional up front and in back and so is the gold license plate frame. I like the black plate with, “1957” in yellow numerals. A California car perhaps? The crossed flag insignias, above the fuel injection script, are photo-etched. The chassis features articulating suspension and the trunk exhibits jacking instructions next to the jack and covered spare.

DM did the interior in a beautiful blend of yellow; excuse me, Colonial Cream and silver. The dash has nice detail and the door handles and window cranks are delicately finished. The top boot, in body color, fits extremely well and the ‘up’ top displays wonderful workmanship within and on the outer surface. From below you see separately fashioned top rails and framing and outside we see a fine fabric covering yielding exceptional realism. The added rear welt line, complete with chrome trim ends, doesn’t hurt the detailing either.

Don’t expect all today’s technology to be built into this gorgeous little creature; it is a product of yesterday’s fare. But do expect a fantastic finish, flawless fit and a great overall fidelity to everything that is likeable on one of Chevy’s most favorite images. Of the ’57 Bel Air’s, it is the Colonial Cream of the crop. Issue price is $120.  TP 02/23/2007

Danbury Mint 1:12 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air “Big Kahuna” Super Pro Street – 1458

Duuude! This is BIG! Ok, I have that pre-requisite bit of surfing-culture jargon out of my system. Obviously sparked by the name of the model, and evidently a factor from the Pro Street quarter mile scene that influenced Danbury’s development of this diecast, it puts one in mind of surfing and drag racing. Its name is probably more descriptive, however, of how really large the model actually is. I clock it in at somewhere north of eight pounds. Big Kahuna, indeed! And yes, it is based on DM’s 1:12^th 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible of January 2004 issue.

You may want to start your inspection of the model by backing up, giving it some room, and admiring it from afar. At least, initially. At 1:12^th scale you have to do that, out of respect for its presence and, logistically, to take it all in. After all, we did establish that it is BIG! Its stance is low to the ground and somewhat in the weeds. Ok, another drag racing/hot rod term but you get the picture. The deep blue paint calls to mind a surfer’s haven in the Pacific Ocean. Dark and metallic, the finish challenges the best 1:1 paint job out there today. The graphics are reminiscent of an up and coming drag star. Not yet the country’s top gun in the Super Pro Street ranks but maybe a shade-tree mechanic’s entry; conservative yet purposeful. That’s a good thing too, because too many sponsors logos and graphics would just hide this beauty’s good looks.

Of course beauty is only skin deep; so take a close look at all the detail and workmanship that DM built into the car. From below you will immediately see proper attention to authentic drag strip detailing. The chassis is a race-bred affair extending back past the rear tire tubs and lends support to the fuel cell above while providing an anchor for the twin chute system. Race suspension and coil-over shocks cradle the rear axle and gives a stable foundation for the massive tires. I love the patterning of these street slicks. Further up front, shift linkage, fashioned in metal, header tubes and engine wiring are readily visible. You can see the brake calipers and rotors inboard of the skinny front tires. But for an even better look, remove the spinners and take off the tires!  This affords a great view of the wheel studs, brake caliper and drilled rotors. And like the 1:12^th convertible, earlier mentioned, turn the rear tires and the driveshaft turns. But as you turn them, open the hood and watch the blower belt and blower rotor pulley turn as well. Ok, since we’re there, let’s explore this cavernous area of wildlife. And I do mean wild. There’s the potent Chevy V-8 with all the trick components modern science has to offer for the old push rod mill. Moroso® heads, high energy ignition and spark wiring, billet aluminum fuel block and anodized fittings, incredibly fashioned fuel lines and metal wire injector block with its full compliment of plumbing and so much more I’ll leave for your search. The awesome throttle linkage isn’t just there for show. Open the driver’s door and stick your finger in. It’s ok, there’s plenty of room; BIG, remember? Go ahead, push down on the accelerator. Watch the linkage articulate. As you do this, look at the blower butterflies open and close. Too cool!

Don’t forget to check out the hood hinges and realistic brake cylinder hold downs and fluid lines under the hood. Oh, and those twin metal spouts just fore of the windshield; they’re the nitrous purge valves. Yeah, you can see the twin NOS bottles snuggled next to each other on the front edge of the tire tubs where the rear seat used to reside. Fold the seatback and slide the whole seat itself forward to get a better look. Take a long minute or more to appreciate all that the interior has to offer. Obviously the roll cage affords great protection as do the racing belt harnesses. Note the fire bottle between the seats and the readability of the gauges and tach. You will love the photo-etch metal work on the steering wheel and floor pedals. You know from reading the review on Danbury’s 1:12^th Chevy drop top that the lights work. Same here. But before we learn how to do all of this and before closing the door, roll the windows up. Go ahead, you can do it. Place a fingertip on the window crank and rotate it. The window goes up and down. The vent wing opens manually. It would be too difficult to roll the rear windows down so they are static. All right, let’s venture rearward and lift off the trunk lid/wing combination. Be sure to check out the awesome detail of the dual battery cabling and tie-down assembly to one side and the metal high-flow fuel pump to the other.

Lighting functions begin by opening the fuel cell in the trunk. This is accomplished by pushing the red square cell forward and letting the rear come up from the floor. Position the three AAA batteries, supplied with the model. You may disconnect the fuel line from the rear of the cell and reconnect it later, it isn’t necessary for the operation of the electrical system.  Reinstall the fuel cell with batteries now aboard. Be ready to be amazed. There are two red buttons on the dash board, straddling the steering column, that handle the lighting functions. The one to the right is the master power switch. The one to the left of the steering column is the headlight switch. Push them in to operate and push again to turn off the operations. Once the master switch is engaged the interior lights come on when either door is opened. Push the headlight switch on to work the headlights and push down on the high beam floor switch, to the left of the clutch pedal, to engage the high beams. Cool. Now move the turn indicator down for left turn signals, right for right turn, and press the brake pedal for the stop lights. Way cool! Sorry, all “varooom-rooom” noises must be made by the model’s owner.

Danbury calls this a Museum Masterpiece. Yeah, buddy. Since it’s so large I guess a 100-based Thrillometer, proportioned to size, is best indicated. In this case, we see a massive reading of 99.9! The issue price is $495.  TP 01/11/2006

Danbury Mint 1:12 1957 Corvette Roadster 1462

Bigger is not always better. Size doesn’t really matter. Good things come in small packages. Less is more.

BA-LON-EY!! Size DOES matter; in diecast cars anyway. Give me a one-twelfth scale Corvette any time and I am in diecast collector heaven, thank you very much. Okay, a guy or gal can’t logically collect many of these huge monsters without giving up living space and sure, you can do curls with them until your biceps shred your shirt sleeves, but no one is actually advocating abandoning 1:24th for 1:12th. Well, unless you have a mansion and the mints forego their ‘standard’ scale precision offerings in favor of these big boy’s toys instead – not likely Leonard! But once in a while one of these behemoths rolls into town and makes a HUGE statement. And to borrow a line; ok, I’m outright stealing the sucker from Tom Hnatiw of the “Dream Car Garage” TV show on Speed Channel; “Do you need a car model like this?” No, of course not. It is large, bulky, heavy, takes up the space of four or more 1:24ths and can be relatively expensive. “But do you want a car model like this?” Oh yesss, with every fiber of your diecast car collecting heart! So, what makes this model so outstanding? In a word, everything my friend, everything. So, let’s explore that, shall we?

First, it’s a Corvette. Second, it’s a Danbury Mint Corvette. Third, it’s a Danbury Mint 1957 Corvette. Fourth, it’s a Danbury Mint fuel injected 1957 Corvette, in the most popular color pick of that model year. Ok, that’s fourth and fifth but you get the message; it’s a fabulous iconic choice to fabricate into a big honkin’ model. And while you may not want to kick your 1:24ths to the curb just yet and start collecting 1:12ths exclusively, one or two of these giants will be more than a welcome addition to any serious, or even not so serious, collection. Fans, I am telling you, if you haven’t yet seen one of these babies in the flesh, there is ample opportunity to build some down-and-dirty-detail into one of these big bad boys and DM is wearing the overalls to do it. At this scale, there is an appreciably larger canvas to fill with exciting little goodies and it renders more enjoyment to its owner in the form of readily accessible playthings. Take the working soft top. A 1:24th model could employ this feature but its size makes working with it tenuous at best. Here, in 1:12th, it operates easily. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll go over each and every working item on the model in a minute. But first I need to talk about the paint, overall look of the model itself and its fidelity to the 1:1.

The paint, Onyx Black, is exceptional. More Vettes in 1957 were painted this color than any other; 2189 of them. Good reason. The sinister color and inherent glossy nature of the paint made a visual statement, especially when mated to the silver coves and the to-die-for red waffle-patterned interior. Checking the ordering block for option code RPO 290 gave the new Vette buyer the whitewall tires, at $31.60, and added a cool contrast that was all the rage in the late fifties. DM’s paint work is not only up to their normal excellent standards but I believe surpasses it here. They then waxed the daylights out of it, or should I say nightlights? Overall, the replica looks like a perfect clone to a 1:1. Ride height is flawlessly interpreted and the fidelity of build is a spot on replication of the real car. Each part fits with exceptional tolerances. But it’s the total attention to detail and the sheer amount of it that Danbury gives us that makes this model so enjoyable. If you’re ready I’ll run down the considerable features and detailing of the model. Detailing-wise, DM went nuts. Just look at the chassis or engine bay to realize this. This is the most realistic chassis I have ever seen on a model. Hell, it may be more realistic than some 1:1’s I’ve seen. Check this out; turning the rear wheels turns the driveshaft. The driveshaft turns the engine crank, generator and fan belt and fan. Time for an oil change? Go ahead and unscrew the oil filter. When done, check the oil level by removing the dipstick. Detailing goes beyond amazing. Consider this, all brake fluid lines, fuel lines, emergency brake cabling and the fittings that go along with all of them are connected perfectly to where they should be and the trans linkage, braided straps for suspension travel limitation are formed as if by Chevrolet themselves! All chassis markings are correct, accurate and in the proper places. Did DM do this model or the NCRS? The suspension works faultlessly and you may remove the wheels and tires. The hubcaps are held on with tiny magnet centers. Removal displays the internal brake system and lug nut detail that may put you into sensory overload.

I won’t go overboard in describing the engine bay. Simply put, it must be seen in person to be appreciated. Suffice to say that once you first see the generator wiring you’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt that DM is serious about detailing to the next level. The plumbing, fuel lines, throttle body linkage and vacuum tubing is resplendent and far above anything seen so far in a diecast miniature creation. That’s what this scale brings to the collector’s table. Just be sure its legs are sturdy. The hood hinges and prop rod are likewise amazing to behold. The wipers have real springs where the 1:1 does and the photo-etch pieces add realism too incredible to describe. They move across the windshield. Pictures do them injustice. Ok, hang on, here we go: The cowl vent, just in front of the windshield, opens. The windows roll up and down; easily. The side and rearview mirrors adjust. The center storage console door between the seats opens. The seats themselves move forward and backward. You may shift the transmission through each of its four speeds and reverse gears via the floor pattern gate. The fuel filler door opens. The antenna, a three-piece affair, just like the 1:1, operates. The tonneau deck cover opens to reveal the down top, in white. Oh, it also unfolds and fits upright flawlessly! So does the auxiliary hard top. The spare is removable, so is the jack. But I saved the best for last. Take a second and catch your breath, I had to. Push in on the ignition. It has a key in it already. That is the master power switch. Now go on and open a door. The courtesy lights come on. Close the door to deactivate them. On the dash, to the left of the steering column; see the headlight switch? Push it in. Voila, lights. Cool. Remember the days that these ‘57’s had the floor mounted high beam button? Yeah, there she be. Push it in. There you go; high beams! Go ahead, push on the brake pedal with your finger, you know you want to. Uh huh, brake lights. Turn signals? Well, D’oh! Down for left turns, up for right turns. Super cool. The batteries hide under the down top in the storage area.

At nearly half a G one wouldn’t exactly call this diecast cheap. But I would term it a value. For the sheer size of it and what all it does I can’t help compare it to four or even five 1:24th models with slightly lesser detailing. To me that means good value for the money. On the Thrillometer, this big brute weighed in with an 11.75 reading. How can that be? Simply put, the model found new undiscovered diecast territory and pushed the envelope past the ten spot. It’s everything a ’57 FI Vette should be and then just a little more! So in my opinion, if more is better, too much is just right. This black beauty is just right.

The issue price is $495.  TP 04/10/2006

@perrone1 Even with less detail than other models, these monsters are an imposing image in any collection.

@bob-jackman 

You can say THAT again - they really are.

@perrone1 I have two of the premier hardtops in Coral. Not sure how this happened but one has black wheels while the other has body colored wheels. The Coral color, along with the Wisteria on the convertible are the absolute perfect colors on these beautiful models.

(Back to 1/24th)

Danbury Mint 1957 Corvette Roadster- Nbr Ltd Ed 1475

If you are anything at all like me, your tastes change over the years. Vegetables that were once ‘yucky’ in my youth are all of a sudden pretty complementary to certain foods. Cars I once looked at with a certain amount of disdain, back in their day, are somewhat cooler now that the nostalgia bug has settled into my latter-year bloodstream. Such is the case with this purpose-driven, (pun intended) no-frills, fifty-seven Vette with the goofy hub caps in plain vanilla with stop sign red wheels and interior. Today I would sell half of my soul to own a pristine first year fuelie with factory optioned four-speed tranny, column-mounted tach in Polo White with Inca Silver coves.

Does Danbury know us old birds or what? They fabricated up a terrific little reminder of how cool we could have been, had we used the forethought to special order one of these thinly disguised road rockets, half a century ago. To the moderately knowledgeable car guy of the day, it was understood that the driver of this plastic plaything wasn’t fooling around; they had the goods that could blow your doors off if they so chose. So DM went about making the model with all of today’s tech to replicate yesterday’s highest technology of the time. The chassis carries the wizardry of DM’s craftsmanship with metal anti-sway bars, leather rebound straps tethering the rear solid axle, operational suspension and fiberglass-in-the-raw tub assembly mimicking the genuine article.

They built all the proper features into the new issue; opening fuel filler door, internally-sprung door hinges, lifting top storage deck and superlative chrome metal foiled badging. (See the exquisitely scaled, “Fuel Injection” monikers on both side coves and trunk). The wipers have some of the best photo-etched detailing I’ve seen and the trunk has a removable floor mat, sub-floor and spare. The interior is expertly appointed in rich detail and the engine is in a whole other stratosphere. Lift the hood and watch the telescoping prop rod do its thing. The fuelie motor never looked so good. DM crafted up a mess of scaled wiring, plug wires and otherwise, and the plumbing is properly in place to pass off the endeavor as an authentic look at the 1:1. The fuel lines and throttle linkage are well received in this area and help lend a realistic view to the bad boy car in its own day.

The replicated soft top looks good and fits perfectly, albeit plastic and not fabric. DM also added a nice touch by including the little top tag that is found on the outside, lower driver’s side corner of the rear of the top. No doubt prompted by an NCRS-scored 1:1 that was granted extra points for the correct addition. This is a limited edition piece. Numbers are subject to manufacture for the anniversary year of 2007 only. Production will cease on December 31 2007. Issue price is $140. TP 03/09/2007