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Topic starter
21/06/2021 10:29 pm
This Danbury Mint piece from several years ago was in the accumulated mail that greeted me on my return from the NC coast this weekend:
This is a pewter model of the 1914 Stutz Bearcat, just about as legendary as any American car. Most everyone vaguely recognizes the name but the vast majority has never seen one. I built my original Revell Highway Pioneers model many years ago, and I've hunted for one in our beloved 1:43 scale without success. This pewter model is well proportioned but is larger than 1:43. I will probably put it alongside one or two others of similar construction and have a painting project one of these days.
But what I'm really posting is to ask, "Where are the antique American cars in 1:43?" The only one I've found recently is this one:
It's a beauty! But it's also a rarity. So here's my second question: Would you buy antique American cars in our scale if they were offered in a relatively reasonable price range? (Or maybe I'm just living in the far distant past and should shut up and play with what's available.)
David H 
PS- It's only taken me about 6 months to learn how to "drag and drop" pictures. I like this method!
21/06/2021 10:37 pm
Yes, I would likely buy some of these cars especially some from the 20s. I have done painting and detailing of a number of the pewter Danbury Mint items.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
21/06/2021 10:44 pm
Back on may 5th we had some antiques in the 1:43 including some Ertl model.
here is one I have a 1912 Buick
Frank Reed
Chesapeake, VA
22/06/2021 5:17 am
I would definitely buy American antique cars. I also have the CMF 1915 Detroit Electric .It is my most recent addition and one of my favourite pre 1930 models. The great looking display case is a bonus. I also have the Esval 1920 Pierce Arrow. It is also a great model.
Someone on this site once said that the only American antique models available are either extremely expensive (eg. EMC, Top Marques) or are very cheap and toy like. I totally agree.It seems that if you want American antique models you have to settle for Danbury Mint pewters and paint them or Matchbox Yesteryears, but as you mentioned, they are usually under or over 1/43 scale. I'm just finishing off a 1906 Cadillac Tootsietoy modification.It also appears to be underscale. Other than those, there are the Ertls or Ford Model Ts by IXO/Altaya/Del Prado or Minichamp. Why no models of the American Underslung, the Chase Touring, the Locomobile, the Pope-Hartford, the American Simplex, Pierce Arrows etc.etc. There seems to be a lot of antique models of European cars available on the low end of the price scale. Most of those were made 40-50 years ago and lacked realistic detail and proportion.
The only other American antique model to look forward to is Esval's 1911 Mercer Runabout. It looks like it will be a beauty!
Topic starter
22/06/2021 7:53 am
I agree, Ken. I also have that fine Esval Pierce Arrow; mine is the green/black version. The Mercer sounds like a winner!
Frank, if I remember correctly, I bought my first Ertl 1912 Buick and a companion 1914 Chevrolet roadster top-up about twenty-five years ago. I still have a special place for these and some other old Ertl antique cars and trucks.
But where are the new versions of those great antique American cars from the first quarter century of automobile production? I have nearly a hundred Packards (my favorite marque) and yet virtually nothing from the first twenty years. Just for comparison, here are two 1912 Packards, one from RAMI and the other from Franklin Mint. The white one is 1:24 scale and the much older orange one is an undersized 1/43. Yes, I like my RAMI collection, but it's just not very realistic.
David H 
Later: After Ken's good reminder, I checked on the Esval Mercer. It's still at the "promise" stage, doggone it! But I'm going to put my order in later today.
22/06/2021 11:23 am
Sometimes you have to get racing cars from the pre-1925 period.
22/06/2021 11:37 am
Though pricey, VDM models (Vlad Sorokolat) has a 1905 Cadillac Osceola on the way, a follow-up to this 1918 Type 57.
22/06/2021 1:15 pm
what is this golden model ?
looks nice....
22/06/2021 7:22 pm
@joop From my post Joop? It is the Dust & Glory 1917 Miller Golden Submarine, raced by Barney Oldfield.
Randy Rusk and Randy Rusk reacted
23/06/2021 1:30 pm
Thanks, Harv.
I will check this out....
24/06/2021 9:42 am
@joop Best of luck in your search Joop. Phil Alderman had the D&G models made for him by MCM in France in the 1989-1993 time frame, with only 150 of each made.