[Closed] Upcoming Release question...

George, Sometimes people at the mint will slip some info that isn't ready to be released.

There are others here who are tied into the industry and find out stuff ahead of time.

Then there are the guys in China who work at the factory and slip an unannounced diecast out the back door so they can sell it on ebay.

When our guys see it on ebay they figure it's coming our way soon.

I'm just glad I found out about the '58 Pontiac hardtop LE so I could get my order in early. I think that one has the possibility of selling out before the first brochure is mailed.

Pontiacs from the '50's are very popular.

Try to find a FM yellow & black '55 convertible or the '55 green & white hardtop for bargain prices.

I'm surprised DM hasn't done several different years of Pontiacs from that period, starting with '49 up through '60.

The same thing applies to Oldsmobiles.

Thanks Dan!

Sort of what I figured. Guess there is a little underhanded stuff that goes on in everything these days. Oh well, I agree with you about the '58 Pontiac! I am so looking forward to adding it to my collection.

With regards to other 50's Pontiac's and 50's Oldsmobile's....I couldn't agree more with you. Why the mints have not jumped on the bandwagon to produce them, is a mystery to me. Especially the Oldmobile's. DM is the only one to give us a 1:24 scale for 1955, and that has been 8 years (or better) already.

Where are the classy 57 Oldsmobile's? The 58's? 59's? Seems to me that, the demand would be extremely high for them, and yet, nothing!

Luckily, I do have the 55 Olds releases, and the DM 55 Pontiac's you speak of too. Beautifull reproductions!!!

Speaking of the '55 Ponitac...

When FM released this car (geez, about 15 years ago), did they ever correct the "thin white-wall tire" mistake that was made on the early releases? Mine has "thin white", and we all know that is incorrect, as thin white's did come around in the real world until 1962. I could swear I saw one of these cars at an FM stores years ago, with "wide whites". Am I mistaken?

George, I'm more forgiving. I've seen thin white walls on '55 Pontiacs so I assume they just copied an existing car. Mabye it's not the way they came out of the factory but eventually most of them updated the tires.

If I had a real one it would be wearing radials.

The '58 is my favorite Pontiac so I'm happy to have the DM convertible and the new HT on order.

I have the Tinderbox blue '55 and Coral '57 but none of the original FM issues.

Pontiac trim just looks good to my eye. I really like the wide chrome hood and trunk strips on '56 and earlier models. The '54 was a gorgeous hunk of metal but a bit underpowered compared to Olds, Buick and Cadillac which had the OHV V8.

An Olds V8 would slip right into those Pontiacs with just moving the rear transmission cross member.

To answer your question, YES they changed the WW tires on later releases. Thus there are 2 versions of the Coupe, error ww, and correct ww. ALL the subsequent convertible versions are correct.

I guess that makes me less forgiving...

I'm very critical of both DM and FM, when they don't replicate a car to the specifcations it wore when the real dea rolled off the assembly line new.

Those "thin white-all" tires I speak of on my FM '55 Pontiac are incorrect, and it has always bugged me. I've always felt that if a job is going to be done, it should be done right!

Wide white-all tires were majestic on the 40's and 50's cars, and to put thin shite's on them when re-producing a model that represents the car as if it were era perfect...just doesn't sit well with me.

I do agree with you about the lines and chrome on the 50's Pontiac's...they were awesome looking cars! And, I've always felt the same about the 50's Oldsmobile's too. The two-tone speared side chrome design of the 54 through 56 models, just have a customized look, without being customized. A red (or any color) over white makes them the most beautiful of any 50's cars in my opinion. Put those classy spinner hubcaps on them, start the "rocket" engine, and Route 66 never felt better. And what about the "juke-box" 58 Olds? A car so chrome laiden, you needed sun glasses just to look at it. I want one for my die-cast collection!

Come on DM and/or FM, give us more Ponitacs, and finaly give us some Oldsmobiles!

Thanks David...

My limited faith in FM is restored, knowing that they corrected the ww tires on the 55 Pontiac. For me, it was an almost unforgiveable error in the first place.

Somehow, I don't envision DM making the same error. They seem to pay more attention to replication detail than FM does.

Actually George

The "thin whites" were actually introduced on the 1957 Cadillac Brougham. But, they weren't seen again, that I can remember, till 62, as you said.

Thanks David for the info...

I wasn't aware that thin ww tires were seen on any car before 1962, so thanks David for the info about the 57 Caddy.

That being the exception then, I hate seeing thin ww tires on any car before 1962. I strongly believe that, if the mints are going to replicate a car, they should go above and beyond to see that the replication is perfect to a tee. It shows that they care!

DM is very good about producing cars that are perfect. FM on the other hand, I don't get the feeling that they care...rather just put it out.

The 55 Pontiac we've discussed with the thin ww tires, is a very, very nice car from FM. But, their putting the thin ww tires on it, detracts from it being replicated properly.

My 58 Cadillac El Dorado Brougham had thin whites too! Wish I had never sold it.

The Electrical system was a Problem and the air suspension would leak down over night. One had to start the car and wait for it to attain "Ride Height" before you could move it. A real pain in the a$$ some mornings when running late.

David's "real" 58 Caddy

I think perhaps with gas at $4 going on $5 a gallon, you shouldn't fret to much about not having your 58 Caddy anymore. And too, you have the "unleaded" quest of finding it to put in your Caddy. Nah, you made a good decision to sell it.

And I Agree

I, as are you and many others, a real stickler for historical accuracy and correctness and quality of build. DM is miles ahead of any other mint, however, Brian at WCPD has some beauties as does GMP(even if most of theirs do not have working suspenison.)

Thanks for the info David.

As I said, I knew the 57 Cadillac Brougham had the this whites but wasn't aware that the 58 had them also. Am I correct though, in saying the 57 was the "first" one to have the thin whites? As I said, it is the first one I remember! My Grandmothers 58 Sixty Special had the wide whites.

Regarding Brian at WC...

I've talked to him a number of times....great guy! And, he is not afraid to keep you on the phone as long as you want to talk.

I'm waiting and hoping that the teased at '57 Oldsmobiles's are eventually produced by Brian and his team. Based on the excellant quality and workmanship of his '59, 61', '62, and '64 Chevy's....the Oldsmobile's should be (and no doubt will be) a knock-out!

I am very pleased with this newcomer to the die-cast market. I hope they continue to produce the type of quality to percision they've shown with the Chevy's.