CORGI CLASSICS 1927 Le Mans Winning Bentley 3 Litre.

That Corgi 1927 Bentley looks great. I think the Corgi Bentley I have dates from an early release although it's a red color

@mikedetorrice 

Hi Mike,

Beautiful car with a nice background. Love the red wheels.

That one is Corgi Classics 9002 released in February 1964 at the same time as the green Le Mans version. I really like this one and have it along with the other first series variations. All variations came in either green or red but wheels did vary in colour and top was usually in down position with later versions. All first series Corgi Classics were discontinued in 1969.

Thanks, David. Corgi did a fine job with these 1927 Bentley's either red or green.

Nice model, hard to believe it is over 50 years old.

David Green mentioned MCM models so I went hunting for some in an "unbuilt" box and found three. These were the first models I bought before I started building again in the year 2000. I wandered into a hobby shop one day, described a 1/43rd scale kit I had seen about 20 years previously, and with a smile he brought out a box of little gems that were on consignment. The wire wheels won my heart so I bought several kits at $25/each, the most I had ever spent for a model at that point. Couldn't help myself.

Never built these but none was a 1927.

An early kit and the beautifully rendered wheels. Thought they were real wire, was P/E I realized just today. All these models later maybe I did learn something.

So I wandered into the basement where some Bentley's were on display, but no 1927.

Looking for more and found this one. The nicest Bentley in my collection, a Top Queens model, but not a 1927. Notice the '32 Alfa's  winning average speed compared to the 1928's race's winner. More on the Alfa later.

Other LM's winning speeds for comparison if interested.

One more place to look but there wasn't a 1927 there either, however you might enjoy seeing these.

Love those blower Bentley's though they never won LeMans

What an elegant design

The beautifully detailed Bentley engine is in the red Top Marques model.

Couldn't help myself, had to include this unique TM Rolls. A red '40 Bentley is behind it.

But wait, one more thing. The first model I built in the year 2000 was one with real wire wheels.

The 1932 Alfa LeMans winner which was so old the decals just fragmented. Was not into research then so just painted it what I thought might have been original (blk wheels & no silver stripes). Anyway, this is my 1st 1/43rd resin kit, with metal bits, Oh My, which turned out better than expected IMHO. It did not make it into the LeMans display but happily resides in my office with other favorites.

Note those beautiful wire wheels

An Alfa! Here is how Starter thinks the car was painted for 1932 Le Mans!   (Sorry to hijack this thread, David)

@stewil 

That is a nice set of models. Thanks for pictures and story behind this part of your collection.

@karl  @stewil

Regarding the 1932 Le Mans Winning Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Steve, I see elsewhere in your pictures here you have a fully decaled Sommer/Chinetti winning car. If you wish to add decals, as Kerl showed, that is the appropriate decal set-up. I've included a black and white picture from the 1932 race and the IXO model with decals.

 Steve, $25 each for MCM kits back in 2000 is astounding. The kits in Canada back then where $74.95 and the factory built models were $200 or more. I only bought MCM models fully built. I have ten including the 1924, 1928 Bentleys and the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, all Le Mans winners.

You must be a real bargain hunter to have that a high price that you paid back then. Congratulations.

There were two levels of detail with MCMs Top Queens line often adding engine detail as a few of yours show. (MCM is the parent company in France).

I enjoyed your description of the hunt for the 1927 Bentley. You have an extremely interesting collection of models which I really enjoy seeing.

Karl, you did not highjack the thread, you just branched it out. One never knows where posts can lead.

Posted by: @david-green

Steve, $25 each for MCM kits back in 2000 is astounding. The kits in Canada back then where $74.95 and the factory built models were $200 or more.

David, "The rest of the story" is that an airline pilot flew into France frequently, loved models and bought quite a few. After he passed away his widow brought this big box of kits into a hobby shop in Boulder CO and asked if the owner might be interested in selling the cars. He was and that is what he showed me after I had described a kit I had seen in CA many years before but had never been able to locate. (plastic models were all I had ever seen and this was long before the internet) I was especially interested in the wire wheels, loved the old Bentleys, and was off on a new modeling adventure after an ~ 30 year building hiatus. Was unaware of their original cost until seeing your post. Not sure I would have bought at $75 but @ $25, the hook was set.

And Thank you to all who responded to my addition to David's thread starting post. 

I have but one MCM, the 1925 Lorraine-Dietrich that won Le Mans. Purchased as abuilt model for $90 in 1992. And those very fine wire wheels were included unattached. I have been hesitant to attach them permanently to avoid damage if the model is sold and has to be shipped.

@mg-harv 

Excellent Harv. I have that one too and paid quite a bit more for company built here in Canada. I really like MCM and Top Queens models. I find them similar quality to same period SMTS white metal.

@david-green I would have said similar to Top Marques myself.

@mg-harv 

Top Marques are wonderful models but super expensive. I don't have any so far to compare but it would be nice to think that MCM are that good.

Gentlemen, I have enjoyed the good descriptions and fine photos of these Bentleys of so many years ago.  And then I remembered one stuck back in my "one of these days" section. Here's a look:

The box is labeled "EQUIPE" and on one end is handwritten 'Bentley 3 ltr."  The single page of instructions has the name 'BENTLEY 3 LITRE STANDARD TOURER' and is rather general in its assembly directions. English/ French instructions are printed.  The inner envelope has seemingly never been opened.  Through the plastic envelope the base may be seen with the wording: EQUIPE, 1925 BENTLEY, 3 LITRE.   The wheels are interesting but are hard to photograph.  There are no decals, even though the assembly directions include information on applying decals.   I assume the scale of 1:43 based on my own observation;  no scale is mentioned in the packaging or underside.  

  Do you Bentley experts have any suggestions as to my possible activities with this model/kit?

     David H   

(later)  I found this older Corgi Classics Bentley Le Mans 1927 stuck back. I'm not sure of its background.