It's December 1957....
 
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It's December 1957. The 1958s are arriving at the Ron Franks Cadillac dealership

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Harv Goranson
(@mg-harv)
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It's evening, soon after a light rain shower and the premises are decked out for Christmas. Traffic is dense with holiday shoppers and rush hour traffic. The salesmen are trying to close a few deals before going home.

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Many of you will recall that I posted pics of this amazing diorama during its construction many months ago. Ron has completed this masterpiece and I'm finally getting around to posting just a few of the dozens of pics he sent me. More later as I extract them from my phone.



   
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(@chris)
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Very nice for sure - it looks great.... but I'm unfamiliar with this hauler.  I recognize the tailer (released years ago with a different brown/tan livery and a GMC C.O.E ) but not the truck.   I must find out more.....  🤔 🤔 🤔 

Haul 1
Haul 2


   
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(@ed-davis)
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Great looking diorama.


Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA


   
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(@chris)
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OK, now I need help with TWO 1/43 car haulers:    

1) Does anyone have info on this?    - It appears to be a Chevy version of this tan GMC hauler (which I have ) only with a different livery and a Chevy rig.

Haul 1
Haul 2
GMC COE 143 hauler

 

2) Is this red trailer a Brooklin?    - I know the Dodge truck is.   

What is this

This post was modified 5 months ago by Christopher Moroni

   
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(@chris)
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Well, that red trailer, w/the Brooklin Dodge, is a scratch bult project.....  so that answers one of my questions. 



   
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David Green
(@david-green)
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Ron (Franks?} has created a masterpiece. The more you look, the more you see. What an amazing diorama.



   
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(@michaeldetorrice)
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Superb work on this intricate diorama, filled with great cars and trucks !



   
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(@john-quilter)
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The red car hauler is a 1957 Chevrolet cab over.  It was used as the tractor for this Mayflower moving van. Most all seem to be available on Ebay from Portugal or Italy.  Interestingly the box behind the cab is, I believe, a sleeper box but for some reason there is a gap between the cab and box which I do not think is correct but I could be wrong.   Also a bit of trivia: these large GVW Chevrolets in 1957 borrowed their engine from Buick, a 322 CID "nail head" as the largest Chevrolet engine at the time was the 283 CID small block, which was deemed not powerful enough for the big trucks.

1957 Chevrolet COE #2
1957 Chevrolet COE #1
1957 Chevrolet COE #3

John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA


   
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(@chris)
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@john-quilter THANK YOU John!     I have NOT seen that Mayflower set-up before.    So.... apparently someone cobbled together two 1/43 Altaya trucks, repainted them - this Chevy COE, and that GMC hauler trailer.  

I'm no expert on 1950 semis (although I've crafted a few 1/18 '50's haulers ) but I do believe that non-connected sleeper is accurate.   It was simply an "add on"  - literally - option.   The driver would exit the cab, to enter the sleeping unit. 

Thanks again!



   
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Geoff Jowett
(@geoff-jowett)
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thanks Harv, I'm being helped back into my chair after falling out! That is brilliant, one of the best I've seen, not only all the intricacies but just how well the models are so prominently featured. 



   
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(@perrone1)
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Absolutely wonderful. Love the Caddy dealership and the arrangement of the cars, people and shrubbery.



   
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(@jack-dodds)
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@perrone1 +1  Me too Tony!



   
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Harv Goranson
(@mg-harv)
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A little historical note. Ron and I grew up next-door to each other and were big diecast collectors 'back in the day'. I think I saw my first Corgi over at his house. He went on to become a successful architect (it shows in his work, doesn't it?) and retired as President of HFR, Inc. (formerly Hart-Freeland-Roberts). As a refresher, here are pics of the service bay on the lower level, not much of which is visible in the completed photos. I had chided him, tongue-in-cheek, about the lack of sprinkler protection on the lower level - then he added them! The tires on the rack even have the labels stuck on the tread side.

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This post was modified 5 months ago by Harv Goranson

   
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(@chris)
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Posted by: @mg-harv

I had chided him, tongue-in-cheek, about the lack of sprinkler protection on the lower level - then he added them!

Fantastic Harv.... now get on him about that gray & black 1959 Dodge to the right of the Cadillac Dealership - promoting the new '58s in late 1957.       😀 😀    It's clear that Ron understands architecture; it's a beautiful scale structure. 



   
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(@karl)
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@chris A rival dealer could be showing off an early prototype Dodge - just to poke the local, fancy Caddy dealer - I can understand that! 😉 But why did they hire the French to replace a plate glass window (in the Citroen Type H van under the tree)?  🙄



   
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