[Sticky] Lost Reviews - Franklin Mint & Danbury Mint

@perrone1 Grateful to have them all. Thanks for some of the details I wasn't aware of Tony.

@perrone1 I notice from time to time that there are some who automatically rule out the FM Corvettes as not being worthy in their collections. Unless you have examined this model closely you would be making a mistake IMO. The model is somewhat unique in that it features both the soft top and hard top. The close gaps are equal to or maybe even better than the 1/1.

@perrone1 Truly up there with the best of the best and very befitting of being a Cadillac.

@georgeschire 

@bob-jackman

@geoff-jowett

Hey guys. Found a nice 49 Olds Coupe, bought it, it's on the way! Thanks for the encouragement!

Posted by: @john-barry

@perrone1 ..................Danbury Mint 1954 Cadillac Eldorado - DM1583.......a fine story for people with hats,and for those without

                                            ........the photos are flawless....................Thank you Tony  

Thank YOU JB!! Really appreciated!

Thanks for all the excellent comments fellas! Like everyone else, I forgot a lot about the various differences and detailing on some of these. When the Mint's were in full-out production mode, the models came in quickly and it was hard to remember each nuance of each replica. I wish I had the old resource where reviews and pics were together but it's fun trying to resurrect them!

Danbury Mint 1969 Corvette Owens/Corning Racer - 1477

I am so blown away with each new ‘racing’ variant that Danbury Mint releases. I’m not sure exactly why. Their counterpart factory model is just as full of detail and functionality as these bare-bones race livery models but the detail seems to be so somewhat more uncovered and easily seen. Here’s a perfect example in the form of a legendary racing Corvette to help make my case. Maybe it is the 325 plus parts that go into the making of this particular Vette that pushes my ignition button. Or maybe it is because I watched this very puppy in live action one year in Sebring, Florida from the “Corvette Corral” that sparks my vivid reverie.

Whatever it is, Danbury is right there behind it all. They’ve obviously poured over the archival photos and replicated an authentically correct racing legend. Who else could do justice to a record-setting 22 consecutive A-Production Class wins from this C-3 from the 60’s to early 70’s? The model, from an overview, sits low, lean and mean, a classic racing machine full of muscularity, but light in weight and ready to rumble. The rumble comes in spades from the L-88 427 big block lurking beneath the bulging hood. DM did their research here ladies and gents.

This is historic racing accuracy in fine miniature – the tiniest safety pins I have ever been blessed to see. A word of warning; take them out and you may pay hell to get them back in; but it’s a modest price to pay to peer into the bowels of the beast itself. The hood opens away from the latching posts, separating the posts from the photo-etched pin-plates on the hood. The telescoping prop rod holds the hood aloft. Take as long as you need, there’s a lot to ponder within. Where the wiper assembly would normally be, DM fabricated the Owens-Corning firewall just like the real deal. Wipers need not apply – the windscreen acts more like an aero-foil anyway. The cowl-induction and its working mystery is now apparent. A metal-meshed induction circle in place, it seals out the heat of the L-88 and allows the cooler outside air to flow directly into the big carb. Metal mesh is used to perfect simulation here as well as it perches atop the engine. The wires, throttle linkage and fuel lines are exquisitely detailed. Following downward, you can trace the exit of the exhaust pipes as they re-gather into the collectors; watch the unmistaken craftsmanship of the modeler unfold as the braided oil lines run their course and the fuel lines meet their maker, the electric fuel pump. Don’t miss the trans linkage either, it’s a highlight!

Removing the rear tonneau deck reveals even more detailed wonders. No need in undoing the photo-etched Dzus clips, their simulated. But once removed, you’ll marvel at the fuel cell, intricate wiring and lines leading to and fro. Be sure to catch the jumbo oil reservoir with its clear oil tubing colored to replicate the oil within them! Even the Monza gas cap opens. Every sort of bell and race whistle is apparent in the interior. The gauges and lap belts are super realistic and the shift pattern is readable in scale. The light pods are done perfectly and the wheels are a marvel in their own right. The big brake rotors are kept on watch within the visible calipers. DM’s metal handling of emblems front, as Corvette’s crossed flags and block letters in the rear, are incredibly scaled and even the plate holder is fashioned in metal.

I’ve noticed a few photos where the real car tilted the rearview mirror to a vertical orientation instead of its more normal horizontal street configuration and by George, DM even paid attention to that little detail too. Yep, DM gets high marks for their homework; what a terrific addition to the Vette collection! Issue price is $139.  TP 11/04/2006

Franklin Mint 2000 Corvette Callaway C-12 Roadster - #LECC-VIII

Quite a few folks really liked FM’s Callaway Corvette but were unable to afford it. The diecast was not only much different than the standard, stock Corvette but came with wonderful little accessories and was hand signed by Reeves Callaway necessitating a $500 premium. The unsigned versions, without all the accouterments, sometimes sold on the secondary market for more than the Mint-issued versions. Additionally some even liked that a signature was not present on the model itself. Another thing that put people off was the accurate but over-the-top interior color.

The usual suspects on the board of directors of the Diecast Zone, Jay Olins, George Dill and I, gathered to nominate eligible candidates for this year’s Limited Edition Club Car (LECC), the eighth one to date. We wanted something fresh. The Callaway was our top candidate. With Raffi Minasian overseeing the process and lending his valuable expertise to the working method necessary to accomplish another LECC home run, he consulted often with Lewis Checchia, Joe Sellari and their design team at The Franklin Mint. We wanted correct Callaway Corvette colors and a color combo in two-tone that was not been seen on every corner. We also added the proper two-toned matching interior, highly detailed raised chrome hood emblem to replace the tampo on the previous model. And we also added polished wheels to fully accent the silver body.

That it could be sold for less than $150 but still have Reeve’s signature on the certificate of authenticity meant that those left out could now own one. Franklin had not done a repaint on this model before. As an image, it is outstanding; especially in terms of stance and faithful body shape and contour. The model has full suspension, great engine detail including simulated carbon fiber fuel injection rail covers, lifting boot deck and trunk. Two small sections mount between these two pieces when the top is off. Their continuity assures good aerodynamics on the headrest pods. They remove for the insertion of the ‘up-top’.

The legacy of the LECC survives well in this eighth offering and so does the partnership between the club, Franklin Mint and the ultimate owners of these cherished little replicas. I look forward to seeing many more.

TP 09/02/2007

These 2 corvettes I don't have.  Wish I did though.

@perrone1 Tony I am so glad you found the Olds coupe as a model of this stature belongs in your collection.

@carsman1958 Have the Owens/Corning Racer and Callaway C12 Corvettes in my collection. It's very rare that I buy race cars but this one pushed my button.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@perrone1 Tony I am so glad you found the Olds coupe as a model of this stature belongs in your collection.

Will do a photo spread on it next week!! Thanks Bob!!

Posted by: @bob-jackman

@carsman1958 Have the Owens/Corning Racer and Callaway C12 Corvettes in my collection. It's very rare that I buy race cars but this one pushed my button.

Danbury Mint 1:12^th 1957 Corvette Street Machine – 1479

Corvette, America’s Sports Car. Since 1953 Chevrolet has sold their two-seat sports car made of fiberglass, and red-blooded car nuts and geeks alike have longed for it. Is it any different with us diecast collectors? It doesn’t seem to be; offer a scale Corvette in almost any form, fashion or size and we buy it. The Danbury Mint actually came a little late to the party. Franklin Mint had modeled nearly every generation of Corvette made by the time DM started earnestly producing their renditions of the iconic attention grabber. What they did, substantially, was improve upon the breed. They also stepped away from stock factory-only replications and offered flights of fancy in the form of custom and racing Corvette renderings. This is one of those flights. Previously issued DM fifties 1:12^th scale Corvettes include the 1957 Onyx Black fuelie roadster and the 1956 Arctic Blue dual quad version.

Danbury’s people deserve exceedingly high marks for originality. Witness: their ’54 Nomad Custom, the ’55 Dry Lakes Racer and the ’65 Canyon Racer; all in 1:24^th scale. This latter mention and its upcoming brethren, the ’68 Pro Touring, is classic, “thinking out of the box” (whatever that has come to mean). But you catch my drift, no stale or stodgy issues to bore our socks off from the folks in Norwalk. This is a 1957 Corvette the way one might expect it to be built if done without a full body-off restoration. No, instead, let’s do it on a reasonable budget, from, let’s say, more than one parts car. Ok, we have the bulk of pieces on our C1 1957. Why not assemble some parts from the C4 parts bin and, hey yeah, that recently wrecked C5 owned by Johnny down the street. I know its engine was good before he crunched the plastic tub beyond fixability. And just like that Danbury’s flight of fancy achieves reality.

The big model takes on a ‘Speedster’ look. Why not, we have the 100 point restoration on the big ’56 and ’57 cars; a resto-rod look on this one is beyond cool. The body is lowered. The skin made sleek with the door handles, emblems and antenna removed. Know what? Let’s remove the bumpers too! We’ll fill in the holes and shoot a killer yellow pearl coat of paint on this baby. The windshield has been de-chromed and shortened and the door glass follows suit. But still, DM built in the wind-up feature. Place a fingertip on the crank and have at it. Just for full effect let’s add a couple bullet-like head rests and taper them back to the trunk completing the speedster look. DM reversed the way the trunk lid opens. Under it we see a fuel cell and rear-mounted battery, cables well in place. The high-flow electric fuel pump is plumbed. Under the top panel, behind the seats, you will find the battery compartment. The car takes 3 AAA’s. More on what they operate in a minute.

The model has current-day disk brakes all around with drilled rotors, late C4 chrome wheels and interior parts. DM fancied the center console with opening door. There is a one-handed comb in it. A rubber-booted six-speed shifter that actually works. Note the shift gate pattern on it and you can trace it with a finger on the shift knob. The dash, too, is C4 vintage. So is the steering wheel. Do I have to tell you that the steering works? Didn’t think so. The seats and outside rearview mirrors are C5 flavor. But Danbury added racing belts to the mix. The photo-etched buckles and ends are gorgeous.

Ok, here’s how she works: In the center of the console, between the seats, is a round button. Push it down until it holds. This lights up the dash gauges, radio and front and rear lights. Open a door and courtesy lights illuminate the floor. Cool so far? You bet; hang on, there’s more. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes, but while the lights are on pull back on the column-mounted stalk on the left for high beams. Press down and the left turn signals blink. Up for the right side. Press the brake with your fingertip and the brake lights brighten. Don’t you just love technology?

The model comes with a tire tool. It can be used to open the hood or trunk lid. It also unscrews the wheels to afford a grand view of the brakes, rotors and working suspension componentry that we upgraded during build-up. Now check out the C5 LS2 motor. It is plumbed and wired beautifully and has all the realism of the real thing, right down to the hoses and spring assemblies. Turn the right rear drive wheel and tire and you can see the revolution of the drive train all the way up to the belt pulley on the front of the engine. Note too, before you close the hood, that DM built in a nice working hood hinge and prop rod mechanism.

I like the way these boys at Danbury are always thinking of new and different car projects that may spark our imagination. Personally, their flights of fancy fully fuel my interest. I’m willing to bet they do yours as well.  TP 12/29/2006

Danbury Mint 1965 Thunderbird Convertible – DM1594

This is Danbury Mint’s next Preview Society release. Release the doves, the balloons and let the dancing in the streets begin. Oh come on Tony, is it really that exciting? Are you kidding me - do birds fly?  This bird soars! As you know, DM has been serving up some mighty tasty T-Birds for the FoMoCo fan in everyone. High-tech specimens of the fifties through sixties versions, to date, have included the ’55, ’56 and ’57 cars, called the “Baby Birds” and this led us right into the “Square Bird” era with the incredible models they produced. There are the ’58, ’59 and ’60 model year cars all sharing high-technology craftsmanship. Now enters the first issue of the so-called, “Jet Bird” presentation. Models from 1964 through 1966 constitute this fourth generation group.

The Jet Birds grew to a length of 205 inches and rode on a wheelbase of 113 inches. The sixty-five bird featured minor cosmetic changes over the previous year and the sixty-six amended the grill and added a full-width tail light treatment over this model. But this sixty-five was the first to receive power front disc brakes and those sequential tail lights everyone was amazed with. This was one lovely automobile and DM brings out the best of the vintage in this new offering.

First, I love the color. In early photos, I was not sure that would be the case. But in person it is representative of the pastel colors we still associate with the mid-sixties. Diamond Blue is clean, pure and bright. The white convertible top just adds to the purity and the interior in medium metallic blue is another breath of fresh air. The DM Boyz pulled no punches in building in that exceptional quality we have all come to expect and enjoy. Just look at the car’s appointments and feature-rich replication. The door and hood hinges are high-tech. The doors close on spring-loaded pins and jamb for a tight shut line. The visors flip up and down and the trunk lid is pure genius. When you remove the convertible top, a bottom mounting panel comes with it.

This presents the opportunity for the trunk lid to lower back down and extend that same panel section for a flawless open air look. The fit of the top in place and then with the trunk lid lowered, is absolute perfection, as the front edge of the top locks into the windshield header. Oh, and speaking of which, thanks DM, for the tinted header on the windshield; nice touch. The simulated rearview mirror mounting point lends a large dose of realism. So does the hydraulic trunk lid operating pistons. And while looking back there, join me in wondering how DM captured all that detail in the power lines and hydraulic mechanism replication.

The interior will command your attention for a good amount of time. The steering wheel mimics the 1:1 car and tilts away for entry and exit ease. The center console opens and the seat backs fold forward. The detailing of the dash and door panels is wonderful. And of course you know what I’m about to tell you concerning the engine bay and chassis assembly – they will blow you away! Right; par for the DM course. The big V8 sits cramped in there among all the scaled wires, hoses, tubes and fluid lines. The air cleaner is huge and factory-stickered. Danbury uses metal lines to simulate the brake and transmission lines and the suspension components are right off the page of a sixty-five T-Bird ad.

The use of chrome metal-foil for the scripts and badges is excellent and although DM has taken some heat for them in the past, I have never had problems with them. These were covered with that magnetic plastic and they came off without a hitch. The up top has a terrific welt line top and bottom and they lend a real authentic look to the model. The paint is superb and the stance is spot on. All things considered, DM has done it again kids!  TP 09/24/2009