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17/11/2012 9:02 am
I received my BCC 2012 model today. It is a 1953 Cadillac convertible.
This Emerald Green beauty may be displayed top up or top down as it has a removable top and a removable boot (tonneau) cover. I believe that such a combination is a first done by Brooklin. Most white metal manufacturers have shied away from this combination to avoid having collectors' "friends" lifting the model by the loose top or having the paint scratched by not being careful removing and replacing the top.
I had recommended this to Nigel Parker back when he did the Muntz as that was not a true convertible but he did not for reasons stated above. Most recently, Mike Murray at Minimarque told me that he did not want to do the Cord Tom Mix car that way for the same reasons and instead made a top-up and a top-down version.
17/11/2012 10:16 am
Ray Paz at Victory has made models similar to the Caddy- removable top-up and a boot
17/11/2012 10:49 am
As have others including Automodello but they were all resin.
The possible danger was in the weight of the white metal. The only white metal model that comes to mind is the Newbank 1942 Olds 66 convertible. My point was that this was the first that Brooklin had attempted.
17/11/2012 11:08 am
TK, when BRK announced their top-up LE Olds Starfire convertible in black, I suggested to John Roberts that he make his customary six cars with removable tops and he liked the idea. BRK still had some boots from the taupe convertible version, so he was able to use the correct boot from that car for his reworked versions.
My Starfire is black with a black boot and a tan convertible top. I believe that Pastor John also has one of these Starfires with the removable top.
JR was also kind enough to send me a top for the Muntz Jet when BRK made that model with the top affixed, so my Jet has a beige removable top now.
I think that the yellow BRK '60 Ford Sunliner John redid also had this feature---I think that the top was black and the interior black and yellow. It was quite attractive in that color scheme. I hope that Nigel will consider this feature for future convertibles (think of the forthcoming Chrysler Windsor) even if it adds a little cost to the model. It's nice to be able to remove the top to better see the interior, especially those with as much detail as JR's car have.
17/11/2012 11:29 am
Well it makes more sense for a company to do a model in either..................
top up version or convertible and hard top versions. My guess is that they would sell more models. People who want both versions will have to by both models. If they did them all so that you could display them either way with one model they would most likely sell less models in the long run. I do not believe it has anything to do with accidently dropping a model that the top was just sitting on. That would be the collectors fault not the model maker. You are always advised not to pick a model up by the top anyway. I do however like the idea of having options, so what Brooklin did with the Cadillac is fine with me. I would like them all done this way. But I would probably be buying less models if they did this with every model. Just my thoughts anyhow. RANDY
17/11/2012 11:40 am
Glad you like our Caddy Dick
It looks like a total sell out. The color is actually Crystal Green Poly and not Emerald Green as the box label (wrongly) stated. This color was only available for 1953. Just a reminder this is a Brooklin Collectors Club instigated model not planned or going to be used by the factory.
17/11/2012 11:44 am
John, I sure would like to see a photo of that car! How about posting one or two? I think it would look with any color top (white, black, or blue) but what color is the top on your Olds?
17/11/2012 11:51 am
(Pics) Here is a 1963 Olds Starfire with the removable top
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
17/11/2012 12:01 pm
17/11/2012 1:16 pm
OK, Who make the 63 Starfire? Mom had one when I was a kid. I HAVE to get it.
What is the cost?
17/11/2012 1:54 pm
I would love to see the convertibles done like this special edition Cadillac so it could be driven wih the top up or down. I promise I'll be careful and not pick it up by the top,
David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA
17/11/2012 2:34 pm
Both Bob Hooper at Dominion Models and Buz Kirkel at Route66 show the black top-up Olds to be available. It was also issued as a UK-based British Collectors' Club special model in Antique Rose, which was top-down. The initial release was as BRK 060, a maroon hardtop, which may be more difficult to locate although there were a couple on ebay not too long ago and they may still be there now.
The hardtop was a typical BRK of the time, which means that there was minimal chrome trim and the windshield frame was not chromed, as it was on the convertibles. Also, the black convertible's top wasn't removable as issued by Brooklin, but I'm sure you could overcome that problem.
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