[Sticky] Lost Reviews - Franklin Mint & Danbury Mint

Danbury Mint 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS-396  -  DM1623

This is actually the first Mint El Camino for the model year 1969. Danbury’s previously issued two are both of 1968 vintage and Franklin has built the vehicle in 1970 and 1971 configuration. This one is cloaked in SS-396 trim, an option that year rather than a wholly different model. The model change-over from 1968 was a minor facelift and taillift; is that a word? The bumper slightly changed up front and the grille was new. The rear back up lights moved to the tail gate and side quarters of the car.

With the 396 option the engine came with bright engine trim, dual exhaust, power front disc brakes, black-out grille, Sport wheels with Redline tires and bright wheel well trim molding. The hood had a special twin mounded styling to it and floor-mounted shifter. DM built some of its finer goodies onto the silver stallion too. Opening gas filler door, metal-tethered tailgate, phenomenal engine detailing and gorgeous metal foiled scripts.

They didn’t neglect the interior either; it sports great detail on dash, doors, floor and seats.

All body panels are straight and true and exhibit terrific alignment for an older tech machine. Stance and ride height are spot on and the silver paint gives the model a bright and welcome look. We might not be able to answer the age old question of the El Camino – is it a pick up or is it a car? But as a diecast, it’s lovely! TP 06/07/2010

@perrone1 Okay Tony, enough is enough. I feel I'm as enthusiastic as most people when it comes to looking at these models and studying their details. Your suggestion to look at this model "upside down" is going too far. My wife is considering having me committed for trying to stand on my head just to look at a model car. Nice model though.

Danbury Mint 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS-396  -  1396

1969; Woodstock, man steps foot on the moon, the Viet Nam war raged on and “Easy Rider” played on the big screen. Muscle cars were now an accepted part of life for the car enthusiast and coming from all the major builders. At almost any light you pulled up to, you were subject to a possible show down with some guy in a Nehru suit wearing beads and driving some brightly colored Detroit Iron. But roll up to this guy in an innocuous black grocery-getter and the mood goes flat. That is until you light up the asphalt and split the silence of the calm air with the roar of a 396 cubic inch SS big block! Talk about your sixties sleepers, whoa buddy.

Chevy debuted the Chevy II in 1962. The cute little thing had a pitifully anemic 120 horse inline six banger. In ’64, when Chevy decided to up the ante and give the brave little car a V-8, things got interesting, in a hurry. The Nova package was an upgrade to the Chevy deuce but the Super Sport (SS) addition to the Nova in ’63 set the tone for things to come. By ’69 the SS could be had with a big block 396 pumping out 375 bhp. Oh, life was good.

DM tooled up a whole other new muscle car for us in this Nova and I am so happy that they did. I owned a spirited ’70 Nova with the 350 horse mill and a close ratio four speed but the guys with the big block SS Nova’s cleaned my clock on a regular basis. DM decided on a sinister black exterior with black vinyl bucket interior. Outside, all that sets the model off is the chrome and the redline F70x14’s. They mounted them on the popular Rally wheels with chrome trim rings. The chrome trim around the windows, windshield and back glass is precisely done. The ‘for show’ hood vents and the side fender louvers are treated to the plating as well. It also surrounds the side marker lights, made mandatory the year before and in the front units you can see the perfectly scaled, “396”. Usually seen too late to avoid a trouncing, it is the only giveaway to the car’s performance potential. Well, that and the, “SS” emblems on the blacked-out grille and rear valance panel if you knew that they meant trouble. The chrome foiled, “Nova” script is absolutely gorgeous. There are three, both front fenders, above the side louvers and on the rear deck lid. The working antenna is slim and scaled beautifully. Don’t miss the separately formed door lock buttons under each door handle and be sure to catch the well shaped lock knobs too. But be sure to take in the trunk lock button. It is recessed into the trunk lid just like the real one. Inside the trunk, the spare can be seen on correct matting and sitting on the jack tools. The rear plate flips open to reveal the gas filler and cap.

Interior-wise, DM treats us to another class on Diecast Detailing 101. Photo-etch metal sills greet you as you enter and they replicate the, “Body by Fisher” insignia within. The seats fold forward. Each one is flanked by seat belts. The dash, steering wheel, floor pedals and floor shifter are all perfectly carried out in scale and oh, yeah, the visors work. Say what you will about working suspension but I love it. The more that works the better. Nothing here suffers; the shape and fidelity of the body is perfect to the 1:1 and the ride height and stance of the model is as accurate as a Rolex. Did I mention that the doors open on realistic hidden hinges? Uh huh, they do. Doors go into the bodywork like the full sized car. You have to see the chassis detail up close. It’s mesmerizing. Brake lines emergency cabling and tranny lines are all fabricated in scale. The headers are cool, as seen from below, and the muffler is colored the right way. But it’s the engine bay that will steal your heart on this one. It’s miniaturization perfection. Gone are the days when all we got was an upgrade to plug wires from older tech models. Now we expect more. Well model lovers, we have it in spades up front here. The engine block hoist loop is fashioned. The dipstick is seen. From the gold anodized master cylinder we see fluid lines and flex tubing. Heater hose looms, clamps and fittings are readily apparent and don’t overlook the hood’s underside paint treatment. But to me the trick under the hood is the hood itself. Raise the hood and DM raises the bar once again. The scissors hinges are so real it may bring a tear to your eye. This cannot be described, it has to be experienced. Even the minute wire mesh that replicates the air cleaner is dynamic to the sight.

Once again DM delights. I would have loved a small block Nova 350 in Autumn Gold to match my old 1970 1:1 but yet again, the SS-396 cleans up! I rate this a 9.9 on the Thrillometer. TP 01/27/2005

Franklin Mint 1969 Corvette 427 Coupe- Independent Retailer- Nbr LE of 750 (Discontinued) E141

Michelle Peters of Mint Models specially commissioned the Franklin Mint to do this limited edition. In a series of 750, it is rather low by model car collectibles standards, making it instantly palatable and almost instantly sold out.

FM’s standard 1969 Corvette Coupe was not the quintessential high standard for Corvette models but it did fill the ’69 void for some time and for the period was more than acceptable. Michelle, however, had FM enact some enhancements to the model and they pay off in a very delightful little package. Without getting ahead of myself here, I do not want to overlook her color choice. Black on black really escalates the image especially considering the addition of the redline tires, with its stripe further out from the center of the tire and most importantly, the change to the wheels themselves. The Monaco Orange model had rather flat looking aluminum wheels. A black ‘wash’ separates the aluminum fins and gives the model a much needed extra dimension. FM’s paint job is excellent and has lots of depth and shine. Michelle also wanted the T-tops to fit tighter and she was granted her wish. They fit enormously better. A black Corvette, fitted with the savage 427 beast under the hood should look properly menacing and this one certainly does. Speaking of which, FM’s engine bay looked great for a model done in 1995 and guess what, it actually still does. There is plenty going on in there and it is fitting of a very nice Corvette image.

Amazing what a little tender love and attention can do for some of our older model iterations. I’m really glad Michelle had the foresight to commission such a beauty.

The issue price was $135. TP 09/19/2005

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@perrone1 Okay Tony, enough is enough. I feel I'm as enthusiastic as most people when it comes to looking at these models and studying their details. Your suggestion to look at this model "upside down" is going too far. My wife is considering having me committed for trying to stand on my head just to look at a model car. Nice model though.

LOL!!!  OK, OK, a mirror might work. LOL Bob!! 

@perrone1 Hard to believe this work of art is now 19 years old. DM at their best. Your writeup truly does the model justice.

@perrone1 Tony, the 1967 GTOs from Dm are phenomenal in every way. I can't imagine a collection without these two pieces of perfection. Both models are rendered, each in it's own way, with period perfect colors and proportions.

@perrone1 The 69 Novas were something I never paid attention to for some time. To me they were grocery getters and something an older person would drive. One day a guy in his grocery getter pulled up to me at a stop sign and gave me the look...when the light turned green My 69 Buick Skylark GS 400 had all it could do to stay up with that grocery getter. from that day on I never took these cars for granted.

@perrone1 The black 69 Vette is a winner. Have it, love it.

Thank you Bob  X  4  !!!   

Franklin Mint 1969 Corvette Coupe- Independent Retailer Nbr Ltd Ed of 427 P002

In the realization of amortization of tooling costs, no better marque seems to be reissued or repainted and re-released than the Corvette. Quite simply, the car has a cult-like following and they sell. Some retailers, too, have found their way into the realm of the Corvette ‘redo’ but unique and historic images are getting harder and harder to find and duplicate. Enter, once again, Diecast Reproductions, Inc. I must gratefully give generous kudos to Tony Cerra for commissioning a stellar (pun intended) Corvette piece of history; little-known as it may be. You will recall that it was Tony’s Diecast Reproductions, Inc. that gave us the FM 1982 Corvette in Silver and Dark Claret as well as the FM 1966 Shelby Cobras with Carroll Shelby’s signature.

During the glory years of the space program, NASA did not permit its astronauts to be spokespersons for monetary gain. Former Indy 500 winner (1960) Jim Rathman, was a prominent Chevrolet dealer during the hey day of our space exploration travel and fully admired the astronaut’s contributions. He decided to offer his own sort of reward to our USA space men. He conferred with Chevrolet’s Ed Cole and set up an, “Executive Lease Program” administered, exclusively, for astronauts. And while other astronauts, such as Gus Grissom and Alan Shepard, were performance car advocates and Corvette owners, the Apollo 12 crew was the first and only such group to drive matching cars, thanks to this lease program. Apollo 12 was our second lunar exploration. Launched 11/14/1969, its crew consisted of Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr., Commander; Alan L. Bean, Lunar Module Pilot and Richard F. Gordon, Jr., Command Module Pilot. They returned to earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on 11/24/1969. The three space explorers were good friends. When offered the matching Corvettes by Rathman, they opted to add black “wings” to the paint scheme, a chosen Riverside Gold. It remains a mystery to this day as to who actually performed the custom paintwork on the trio of Vettes. In a rectangular addition to the front fenders, red, white and blue squares held specific lettering for each of the flyers. Letters were applied in the blue fields of each vehicle. “CDR” was used on Pete Conrad’s car, standing for ‘Commander’. “LMP” was used on Alan Bean’s car, signifying ‘Lunar Module Pilot’ and the blue field on Dick Gordon’s Vette was emblazoned with, “CMP” for ‘Command Module Pilot’. Jim Rathman enhanced the black wings with a separating pinstripe of white between it and the metallic gold paint. The cars all boasted 427/390-horse motors with four-speed trannies. They had AM/FM radios, Special Wheel Covers, Head Restraints and Four-Season A/C.

Perhaps these magnificent cars would have languished in historic mediocrity were it not for a man named Danny Reed. At the expiration of the astronaut’s lease, Alan Bean’s car was turned back in and found its way to a GM-GMAC dealership in Austin, Texas. Danny knew what the car was all about and bid on the Vette when the dealer finally decided to auction it off. The top bidder did not follow through and Danny, the second highest bidder, won the car in August of 1971. After an extensive tear down, clean-up and thorough reclamation, the car garnered the highest original-condition honors without a full, so-called, restoration being performed. What it did do, however, was call attention to a little know space/Corvette tribute that could have easily slipped unnoticed into an automotive vacuum.

Tony Cerra did his due diligence in once again researching worthwhile Corvette ownership and reproduced a gorgeous 1:24^th replication of a marvelous piece of history. His AstroVette carries upgrades to the original FM model, including a slim metal antenna, a new exhaust system, upgraded door-sill plate, chrome trim shift plate, hood support bar, shifter diagram & silver-painted drip moldings on the T-tops. The Corvette ‘Crossed-Flag’ emblems, on front fascia and gas-filler door, and “427” hood insignias are chrome metal-foiled. The paint itself is beautifully applied and, in person, looks magnificent! Keep in mind that this is a VERY limited piece of only 427 units and is a bargain, in this reviewer’s mind, at only $145. Tony Cerra; to unearth (again, pun intended) this rare Corvette treat, your job was exceptionally well done sir!

TP 11/13/2006

Franklin Mint 1:18^th 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Franklin Mint is living large these days – upping their scale from 1:24^th to 1:18^th for these three gorgeous Camaros. Offered in three delicious colors, you have your choice of Hugger Orange, Daytona Yellow or Mulsanne Blue. These Z28’s feature contrasting interiors in black for the two citrus-flavored cars or matching blue on the Mulsanne model. All, of course, feature the standard Z28 dual center stripes in black.

Franklin Mint’s foray into this larger scale, now totaling eight replicas, including these Camaros, is a departure of sorts since the mainstay of their offerings have long been in the 1:24^th precision field. Folks such as Highway 61, GMP and Kyosho have made the other 1:18^th scale cars for FM, the Camaros are all new FM toolings. And while this trio may not be as ‘precision’ in detail-nature as some of their newer and smaller siblings, they afford the buyer a great value in detail and fit and finish for their price point. At $69 per issue, there is a lot to like, especially if you are into the early Camaro. The look of the car is classic and, in your choice of colors, very desirable. The fit and finish is excellent. Doors, trunk lids and hoods all fit beautifully. The paint hints at a clearcoat and is glossy and velvety smooth.

Interior features are sharply patterned seats, with belts formed into the replication, good dash and gauge detail and flocked carpet simulation. All-together door panel molding eliminates separate pieces such as window cranks and door latches but keep costs down. But more than making up for such intricacies are beautifully formed wheels and tires, trunk instruction labeling and magnificent engine detail. The 360 HP power plant features fine, scaled wiring, terrific plumbing touches and grand little caution labels and stickers.

Keep an eye out for more of these larger scale FM models; I think they will have a success here and that will surely breed future offerings and a broadened array of models.

Issue price is $69. TP 12/21/2005

Franklin Mint 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS396 – E510

As a long awaited counter to Ford’s 1957 Ranchero, Chevrolet finally debuted the El Camino in 1959. By model year 1970 the El Camino had been based on the Chevelle line for a time and in that year it took the same styling changes that the passenger car underwent. It was available in either Base or Custom trim but the SS option was available only on the latter model. This is The Franklin Mint’s first precision El Camino. An all-new tooling, it is high tech and lovely!  As has long been the case, Franklin’s shape and stance of the replicated model is true to form to the 1:1 SS396.  TFM opted out this little cherry bomb as the Turbo-Jet 396 (which actually displaced 402 cubes) pumping out 350 ponies at 2500 rpm.

In Cranberry Red with dual broad hood stripes in Classic White, the model really stands out. Franklin added styled steel wheels with Goodyear™ Polyglas G70-14 white lettered tires. The interior is black and contrasts the exterior rather nicely. The grille is blacked-out and matches the black center of the tailgate. The high tech is represented in the form of terrific chrome metal foiled insignias and side scripts. The tailgate latch mechanism, “SS” moniker, front and rear side markers and, “Cowl Induction” letters are all done this way. The doors are on hidden hinges and the hood pins and tethers are done the same way that TFM previously did the 1970 Challengers. They do not need be opened as they are part of the hood and open in one unit.

The cowl induction port opens and the tailgate folds down and snaps back shut. The interior is very richly appointed and has great detail in the door, seats, dash, console and floorboard. The engine is immaculately fabricated to yield all sorts of stickers, wires, hoses, lines and cables. Scaling is especially good. The suspension works well; the front on actual springs and the rear on springs and working shocks. The paint is rich and even and shines like a new penny. Proportions are excellent, gaps nearly non-existent and overall fidelity to the real article is genuine. This diecast stands out very well in any crowd.  TP 11/26/2007

Franklin Mint 1970 Corvette Convertible- Fiberglass Edition- Nbr Ltd Ed of 9900

E247

Congrats, kudos, bravo, high fives all around. It came in only halfway noticed but do yourself a favor and take the opportunity to check this little baby out. Ok, up front, it is an all-new Franklin Mint tooling. It is fiberglass and it has lots of nice frills, features and details. Oh, and did I mention it’s a CORVETTE?!?

FM ratcheted up the technology and detail bar on this one, even over and above their previous fiberglass issues of the 1957 and 1963 Corvette models. There are a couple minor issues that I could find to carp about but overall, and at a price of only $105 for a limited edition model, I have precious little to complain about. More on that specifically, later.

On the plus side, and it prevails on this model; you will find the old standard hallmarks of The Franklin Mint. These include excellent paint finish and a great overall fidelity and stance to the 1:1 it replicates. Monza Red is not easy to capture in photographs but every nuance of the color was caught by FM’s modelers perfectly. The stance is right where it should be for a new Stingray of 1970 vintage. Later in years they squatted down somewhat with age and suspension deterioration. But add to these hallmarks some new detail finery. We see new chrome metal foil badges and emblems where once there might have been old tech tampos. Nice upgrades. But be careful, they are delicate. Maybe that “Future Premium Floor Finish” trick is called for here. Remember, just a touch of the stuff and blot off the excess. Who wouldn’t have wanted new door hinges, you know, the internal, realistic type, on this little treasure? Hot dog; they’re there. The doors, like the entire model itself, are lightweight and open and close flawlessly. The interior is nice; not overly detailed to death but has all the right components. As I alluded to previously, a couple minor nits. Movable sunvisors and an opening top deck would have been welcome but these do not detract very much. Back on the positive side of the tally, we see operational headlights, a nicely scaled antenna and a gorgeous big block engine compartment. The labeling is accurate for the 454, 390 horse mill and the wiring and detailing is carried out very thoroughly. One other really nice bonus, especially in light of the good price point; we’re treated to two tops. One is the auxiliary hard top in matching body color and the other is the soft top version crafted in black.

It’s nice to see The Franklin Mint jump back into the mix of new tools again, this time with a Corvette and a nice addition to the Stingray C3 lineup. The model looks really good taking it’s place among the Vette diecast collection, albeit in the form of what the real one was made from. Nice job FM.

The issue price is $105. TP 07/12/2006

Franklin Mint 1970 Corvette LT1 Convertible Independent Retailer- Nbr LE of 500

 E668

There has now been decent homage paid to the C3 Corvette generation by the Mints in model form. The C3 encompasses, as you know, the model years of 1968 through 1982. Franklin Mint has now replicated three 1970 models, all in fiberglass, including this one. Their previous two were a red convertible with a 454 big block in 9900 units and the corresponding blue coupe in LT-1 configuration limited to 5000 pieces. Now, thanks to Michelle Peters of Mint Models, we have the gorgeous little LT-1 in convertible form again in the rich metallic Donnybrooke Green with warm Saddle interior. In this fashion, no one really knows how many actual cars existed. Build numbers for the paint codes aren’t available for 1970. What is known, however, is that only 1287 LT-1’s were made for ’70.

TFM reprised their best for this commissioned Vette; the sealed photo-etched emblems and scripts, previously-mentioned fiberglass body, finely crafted and applied LT-1 striping on the hood, opening headlamp pods and internal 1:1-like door hinging. The suspension articulates and the updated hood extending prop rod was included here as well. TFM made that change from the first-issued 1970 red convertible to the 1970 blue coupe. The egg-crate grille and grated side vents are formed well and the ‘mud-flap’ fender flares are crafted nicely. The first two years of the series, 1968 and 1969, had smooth fender bottoms. To prevent stone nicks and chips, Corvette added these for 1970. The interior is really done well. The dash and console gauges look authentic, the seats fold forward to reveal the seatbelt ends, done in photo-etch metal. The corresponding lap belts are in place next to the seat bottoms; done with P-E also.

Michelle had TFM grant us a bonus. We have the option of a three-way display. We may opt to show our car sans top, with beige soft top or auxiliary hard top simulating a black vinyl-covered unit. The stance and overall fidelity to form is excellent. Mint Models has once again added to the diversity of what the Franklin Mint brings out on their own and sitting beside any of their Corvettes, this one shines!

Exclusively commissioned by Mint Models from the Franklin Mint.

TP 12/15/2007