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08/08/2010 9:47 pm
Avanti Minimarque 43
The Avanti pattern does indeed have the WM logo on the bottom. The arrangement was that WM made the pattern and produced the subsequent castings. However, the first several hundred were all painted and built by GTA Models for MM43 (round headlight).Later models i.e. square headlight were built elsewhere. There was talk at one time of producing the latest version which appeared in the TV series 'Dallas'in the convertable form. I believe this was a classic case of product placement by the company to try and revive the Studabaker Avanti car in its last throes.... I might be wrong. Did anyone try the Dallas drinking game?, when they had a drink you had one!
09/08/2010 12:23 am
I have a round headlight version with WM on the baseplate.
09/08/2010 1:41 am
WM Logo
Hi Dick, The logo was silver soldered into the baseplate of the pattern for advertising purposes. Nevertheless the first models were produced or more correctly were processed by GTA models. My first job for the Late Richard Briggs (MM43) was the 55' Chevrolet in too many colours, again cast by Western Models but never built by. I started building for Richard in the very early 80's and all castings were supplied from various sources. It wasn't until the very late 80's that I started casting for him. The last castings received from WM to us was either the Checker Aerobus or the Duesenburg SJ. Richard always liked to give the impression that all models were produced 'in house'.