The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1994
Diecast Collector Forums
Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.
8Forums
195,000+Topics
1,276,000+Posts
10,000+Members
Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
23/02/2008 8:45 pm
Diecasts on the roof....
I was pulling some models out to photograph when my wife pointed out the models sitting on the roof of the diner with the question, "Isn't this getting a bit out of hand?" which I imagine loosely translates to "Aren't you getting a bit out of control?"
Guilty on all counts.
photo no longer available
23/02/2008 9:22 pm
Richard, your wife will feel much better when she realizes your collection is only half of what it appears! BTW, are you aware of the history of the Chrysler Norseman which resides at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean? To anyone who is not, do a Google search, very interesting.
24/02/2008 2:27 am
Great cars. And . . .
I like seeing the production Hudson Italia alongside all the dream cars. I wonder if a V8 would have made a difference in the way buyers saw those Kaisers? Thanks for posting, Richard, and I just noticed a Checker cab on top of a garage on one of my shelves.
24/02/2008 3:26 am
Who manufactured the diner? I've never seen it before. Thanks.
Topic starter
24/02/2008 5:18 am
Kaisers were supposed to have V8s in the early 50s...
There was a deal with Oldsmobile to produce them that was scuttled twice... once by Uncle Sam for diverting precious resources from war production during the Korean conflict.
The '54-'55 Manhattan with its concave baleen grill is one of my absolute favorite designs. Unfortunately, by the time I could drive, I'd have had to import the car from Argentina under the Carabela marque.
Topic starter
24/02/2008 5:24 am
Ertl made a couple of different diorama accessories a few years ago
It's actually quite well done. I repainted the soda jerk's face as it was a bit cartoonish. It came with 2 1/43 cars if I remember right. One of them was a black Cobra 427 roadster.
They're still around at least on the secondary market. Just "google" "Dolly's Drive-In".
24/02/2008 8:56 am
Isn’t that the car that was in the cargo hold of the Andrea Doria…
bound for New York until her fateful encounter with the SS Stockholm?
24/02/2008 10:50 am
Pics: That's it! It was a fairly advanced design and some of the design cues didn't show up on production cars for another 10 years or so, like the cantilevered roof theme.
24/02/2008 11:03 am
I worked at Chrysler Export in accounting from 1956 to 1957.
Primarily I handled Ocean Freight and much of my time was involved with the loss of the Chrysler Norseman.
24/02/2008 11:08 am
Fascinating! Why didn't they just make another one?
24/02/2008 12:05 pm
The car was made for a specific show and couldn't be replaced in time.
Also the cost was quite high.
05/03/2008 4:33 am
Ertl Diner
I have 3 of these on 3 different train layouts. I added lighting to all of them, as well as miniature hamburger, hot dog, and "soft" cone to the roofs. Nice detail, and they don't take up much space. Got them all on eBay for about $20. each.