We seem to love “woody wagons”. But a sub-culture, the “surfing woody wagon” has emerged as a wholly different means to make us smile. I mean, who wouldn’t love to own a 1:1 or 1:24th woody devoted to serving the surfing crowd? The sun, waves, cool cars and great era music. DM must think so too. They crafted one tricked out Merc for us to have fun in; excuse me, to have fun with. They started, essentially, with their release, in 2003, of the Bermuda Cream showroom stock Woody Wagon.
They painted this new bad boy in sun-faded flat blue, added a sun screen over the windshield, changed the coloration of the wood veneers and went on a tear from there. As was the key custom of the day, they ‘nosed’ the hood, removing the Mercury badging, then added a wild, “Tiki-face” pinstripe and adorned the center with a surfing girl ornament. The stock license plate bracket was removed and a “Nomads” plate took its place. The fog lights are gone and the license plate frame is now a wood-like affair featuring twin palm trees. The rear California plate says, “Surfs Up”. Those DM boys next added proper surf decals to the non-sliding contingent of rear windows, tossed a Southwest blanket on the front seats and attached a surfboard rack to the roof. They even thought to add bungee cords.
The buggy was further modified from the stock issuance by removing the third row seating, removing the spare tire cover and adding “Baby Moon” hub caps. The antenna still extends and the doors still feature those wonderful internal hinges. But the rear bumpers lost their bumper guards, as the front did, while we see period additions to the interior. Note the bouncing hula girl on top of the dash and the necker’s knob on the steering wheel. One-hand driving is now possible while holding a ‘cold one’. Oh, and to hold the beverage of choice, DM crafted up a little, “Ice King” cooler, cloaked in tartan plaid, and gave us some other trinkets to go with it. There’s a folded multi-colored beach blanket, a, “Sidewalk Surfer” skate board and two pairs of flip flops. Cowabunga dude! (Sorry; got carried away there.)
The model is still powered by the flathead V8 that is in the stock version and it’s wired and plumbed to the nines! The fuel line simulation is grand and the firewall renderings are incredibly detailed. DM pulled no punches here; the ‘surf woody’ has never looked better. Keep ‘em coming DM, you dudes rock! TP 01/06/2009
@perrone1 Tony the photo does not match the review. Do you have the pictures of the convertible?
Thanks for the catch John. Had pics to one Merc but no review and a review with no pics for another Merc. I substituted to this 49 Merc - both are here.
Danbury Mint 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible 50th Anniversary Ltd Ed – 1389
This model commemorates the 50th anniversary of Ford’s Thunderbird. Danbury will limit this edition to the number of units sold during the year of 2005 only. This mimics the concept of the limited edition 1953 Corvette and 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible.
In 1:24th precision miniature we have not been treated to the first year of the ‘Little Birds’ until now. I have to tell you straight up, if this model does not bring joy to your face, especially when handling it, you have a serious diecast deficiency disorder. But as cheerful and joyous as it may be it also does not lack in tech and detail quality. This is an all-new tool from the guys who seemingly open our emails and read what we want. The ’56 baby birds are nice and goodness knows we’ve had our fair share of them but some guys do not care for the continental kit, standard on that year’s build, and some also yearn for a 1957 version too. Even the current DM guys wondered why a ‘first year’ iconic image wasn’t fashioned before a mid-year car was. Well, thanks for rectifying that fellas, you did a terrific job.
Goldenrod Yellow was a masterful choice for this particular Thunderbird. It is somewhat deeper and richer in tonal value than the Thunderbird Goldenglow Yellow of 1956. There is the softest hint of primary red blended into the yellow adding a nice touch of warmth to the hue. We have come to expect perfection in our little car's paint jobs and once again DM does not disappoint. The coverage is spectacular. But the model is about so much more than the happy color. DM went all out to detail the bird. The model comes laden with magnetic plastic covering the chrome metal foiled emblems and insignias. Take your time removing them; the wait is well worth it. Fore and aft, you will see the one-year-only crossed flags and Ford crest. The red panels in the crest and black checkerboard squares are readily seen within each. The roof sports the crest on either side as well. On the sides of the car DM separately fashioned the hash marks, V8 emblem and “Thunderbird” script in chrome foil metalwork. But not to be outdone, check out the wheels. There is photo-etched wire in the wheel covers. While we are on the subject, you will notice photo-etch metal in the grille, in the functional hood scoop opening, the exquisitely fashioned door sills and on the rear deck as removable top holding brackets. The realism they lend is amazing.
Metal is used well all over the car and adds a nice dimension to the scaled precision of the piece. The short exhaust tips, as they exit the rear bumper surrounds, are tubular metal fabrications. The doors on perfect little hidden hinges close tightly due to the metal striker plate that mates up with the tensioned metal pin in each door. Metal wire perfectly simulates fuel lines and hose clamps in the engine and DM gives us a retractable metal antenna. DM didn’t take the easy road in detailing this gorgeous diecast. Where silver-painted bumps could replicate door and trunk key lock points, we see separately molded and chromed pieces. Even the door handles show the thumb button. The rear deck lid has an opening fuel filler door and when the trunk is closed, opening the filler door reveals the gas cap. The spare is removable. Jacking instruction and tools are seen hiding inside.
The interior was fabricated wonderfully. In black and yellow with matching door panels, it is a striking sight when you remove the top. The seats show off the stitching on the black sides and top portion. The yellow seat inserts are deeply patterned. The dash is full of nicely detailed gauges and the steering wheel, floor and pedals are well defined. Little door locks protrude over the doors. To affix the top, simply match up the two clamps with the windshield header and then let the two metal pins in the back of the top mate up with the holding brackets. Before you do that, however, take time to examine the inside of the top. DM simulated the perforated headliner to perfection. Under the hood, you will see the optional chrome ‘Dress Up Kit’ and proper plug wires, battery cables and the aforementioned fuel lines and hose clamps. We’ve even been treated to separately molded windshield washer nozzles just beneath the wipers. Of course the “See Clear” fluid bag is in place in the engine bay. The suspension works but does not over-flex and the ride height is perfecto! Oh yeah, one last point. If you do not care for the fender skirts, take them off.
Really, if this little image doesn’t push your buttons, better check your pulse. Gracious, could a ’57 be far off? One can only hope. I look forward to the ’58 ‘Square Bird’ and any other T-Birds DM can manufacture. This one gets a 9.75 on the Thrillometer.
Danbury Mint 1955 Corvette Roadster- Nbr Ltd Ed Limited to 2005 Production - 1398
This model commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 1955 Corvette. Danbury's replica will be produced until December 31, 2005 and then ended forever.
By 1955, only the third year of production for the Corvette, most automotive mavens realized that the sports car needed a couple of things to enhance its image; handling and performance. It received both. The power came in the form of a brand new Chevrolet V-8. A 265 cubic inch motor, it built 195 horsepower at 5000 rpm’s. It was an option for ’55 as the six cylinder motor was still standard. Very few six cylinder cars were sold for ’55 and fewer survive today. That’s how much people wanted the little small-block eight. Late in the model year, the two-speed Powerglide transmission became an option when the three-speed manual gearbox became standard.
Danbury replicated the V-8, three-speed manual shift car in this numbered limited edition and opted to paint the little doll baby red. If ever we could make the case for another red car, this is it. Gypsy Red is not only a ‘period’ color but it is a classic tone that does not scream like Ferrari Red or shrink like a pastel 50’s rose petal. It is quiet and demure and filthy rich once optioned out with Light Beige interior and a Beige soft top.
The engine and color choice makes this another ‘must have’ issue for the Corvette or detail-conscious collector in all of us. Like the ’53 and ’54 DM releases, everything opens and functionality is terrific. The doors operate on the internal hinges that DM made famous. The tonneau panel opens to show the simulated ‘top down’ top. The trunk opens up and displays all of its goodies. There is a full sized spare, jack tools and spare cover with jacking instructions affixed thereto and a leather (real, of course) storage bag for the side curtains. The gas filler door opens and the hood raises on slim, scaled hinges held up with a working prop rod. The interior is awash in perfect detail. The dash has readable gauges and radio detailing, the floor, carpeted in tan, shows off a driver’s heel mat and headlight hi-beam foot button and the steering wheel is tampo’ed with a tiny Corvette crossed flags emblem. The seats, almost white in bright light, reveal the most minute red dot pattern in the valleys of the inset tucks. There are miniature air vents up by the base of the windshield and the interior view of the cloth ‘up’ top is amazing. Its flat black framing is very realistic.
The chassis is carried over from the ’53 and ’54, as it was on the 1:1 and looks remarkably like a real one. Emergency brake cabling, fashioned with a metal spring and wire. Seen from below, also, are magnificent details from under the engine area. You will see a breather tube, transmission linkage and plug wires. Up top, with the hood open, the Vette’s first V-8 shines, literally. The Rochester four-barrel carburetor is fed by a fully chromed air cleaner. The valve covers are chromed and so is the distributor cap. You just have to check out the throttle linkage, done in metal wires, and the genuine metal return spring. As the case with the 1:1, DM signified the car to be a V-8 by making the “V” of Chevrolet, tampo’ed to each front fender, a larger font in gold. The model received the longer exhaust tips that the ’54 got and they are done in metal.
This is a delightful little model. DM went the extra mile to build in exacting details on their early Vettes. I rank this a solid 9.8 on the Thrillometer!
Danbury Mint 1955 Corvette Roadster- Nbr Ltd Ed 1383
This is the second of two Danbury Mint numbered limited edition 1955 Corvettes. The Gypsy Red model was issued earlier this year and is limited to the actual production for the year of 2005. The availability of this Harvest Gold version is limited to the buyers of the original DM limited edition 1953 Corvette. Additionally, available to the buyers of this model, are four other limited edition Corvettes as well. They are a 1962 Corvette 327, in Tuxedo Black and currently available, a 1966 convertible, a 1971 convertible and a 1993 Corvette. All will carry the same price as this issue.
Danbury released a drop-dead-gorgeous 1955 Chevy Bel Air in 2002 in Harvest Gold and India Ivory with a white soft top. It had green interior. Equally striking and then some is the Corvette offering in 1955. It came in solid Harvest Gold but with a green soft top to go with the yellow and green interior. The car, in these period correct colors, is an absolute knock-out! It goes without saying that the paint is splendid. It has a beautiful shine to it and the contrasting green shades of the dashboard top and carpet and soft top are remarkably accurate. A relatively recent Corvette publication featured a fully restored ’55 in this exact color combo. DM’s little masterpiece looks like a perfect “Mini Me” to it. The yellow hue is soft and warm, not nearly as deep and in-your-face as the ’55 Thunderbird in Goldenrod Yellow. It highlights the curves and form of the early Vette wonderfully.
The extra accessories fit flawlessly. As with all three DM first year Corvette models, 1953 through 1955, the doors, on internal hinges, the hood and trunk panels all line up seamlessly and fit flush. The side window curtains can be inserted into the doors and the top fits over all without any gaps. The fuel door opens and the trunk has all sorts of realistic gizmos. There are jacking tools, the jack, itself, is removable from the spare tire well, and the spare comes out. There is a storage pouch for the removable side curtains and the floor mat and floor support, with its jacking instruction label, is removable also. The interior is fit for a king. Danbury fashioned a fully readable gauge collection on the dash and perfectly printed out the shift pattern on the shift knob. Get out the magnifiers folks. R-L-D-N-P! You might want to use the magnifier on the chassis too because, like the real car, DM thought to include the drive line stampings, 3707878. As Chevy dropped in the V-8 to replace the six banger, they had to notch out the frame rail to clear the V-8’s fuel pump. DM caught that too and fabricated the difference from their ’53 and ’54 models. The crankcase vent tube is even there. Once you go topside again, do the honors of raising the hood for the best treat of all. The engine detail is just astounding. Magnifiers at the ready, you’ll ooh and ahh at the actual spring connected throttle linkage. The wires are all scaled and brake lines and heater hoses are replicated as if by a ‘50’s GM techie himself. The hood is held aloft by a telescoping prop rod and the suspension is fully operational.
The model’s stance and the overall appearance of the diecast are magnificent. It is another ‘must-have’ for the Corvette aficionado, fans of colorful models that stand out in any collection or just the detail buff among us. No teetering of the strength wand on the Thrillometer on this issue, we have a strongly registered 9.9 here ladies and gentlemen! The issue price is $135 TP 07/01/2005
