seven new diecast reviews

December/January
2016
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
By CMC
p. 8
Vol. 1
•
Issue 4
SEVEN NEW DIECAST REVIEWS
1947-48 BLUE CROWN
SPECIALS
By Replicarz
p. 3
1967 Ford
(Cosworth) V8
By Automodello
p. 6
SAVAGE’S GARAGE
BY MARK SAVAGE
Feeling racy as we light it up for Issue No. 4
available for holiday delivery. I
haven’t seen it up close and personal
yet, but the photos are stunning. I did
get to review the racer’s mighty Ford
V8, which is available separately, and
it’s another beauty.
SOMETIMES A THEME just falls
in your lap. As I was talking with
diecast manufacturers preparing this
issue, it became obvious that race
cars, especially historic ones, are hot.
THAT’S FINE WITH ME, I’m a
big open-wheel racing fan and in this
issue we run the gamut from 1920s
Indy cars to the famous Lotus 49 that
Jim Clark drove to a win in its
inaugural Formula 1 race.
Jim Cowen from Automodello/
Diecasm tells me the Lotus 49, which
is a monster 1/12 scale model will be
I also was able to review both of
Replicarz’s new Indy cars, the 1/43
scale 1920s Millers and 1/18 scale
Blue Crowns. The later is particularly
spectacular and feature new hood
straps that are easy to use for keeping
the hood in place or allowing you to
open the hood and see the detailed
Offenhauser engine.
That’s the advantage of the larger
1/18 scale models, they usually have
superb engine compartment detail.
dressers and shelves so that our
collections can keep growing without
requiring an addition on the house.
WE ALSO HAVE a good
collection of real American motoring
history this issue. There’s the museum
quality Ferrari 250 GTO, fine BoSModels 1951 Studebaker, a hot
looking 1969 Chevy Camaro SS in
1:24 scale from Auto World and the
iconic Willys Jeep from Autoart.
All of these would look good
under any gearhead’s Christmas tree.
Here’s to happy holidays and even
more gorgeous diecast cars in 2016!
Please let us know what you think
of Scale Auto DC at ScaleAutoDC@
kalmbach.com.
But those of us with space
constraints are happy to see an
increasing number of highly detailed
1/43 models that will fit on our
Mark Savage, Editor
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2 Scale Auto DC •
D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
NEW
STORE!
DIECASTREVIEWS
1947-48 Blue Crown Specials
Mfg: Replicarz
Scale: 1/18
Stock No: R18010 (1947)
R18012 (1948)
MSRP: $249.99 (each)
Link: replicarz.com
Replicarz’s Indy-winning Blue Crown Specials
In post-war U.S. open-wheel racing
the Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials
were as dominant as the New York
Yankees were in baseball for years. The
Blue Crowns’ reign was shorter, but
everyone knew their name, like they
knew Ruth, Guhrig or Dimaggio.
Replicarz knows that and ups its
assault on Indianapolis 500 race winners
with 1/18 scale models of the Blue
Crowns, a complement to the beautiful
1/43 scale models it released earlier.
THE HISTORY
As a refresher on the Blue Crowns’
history, consider that Lou Moore had
been a successful Indy Car driver in the
late 1920s and ‘30s, finishing second at
Indy in 1928. His cars won Indy twice
prior to WW II. During the war he
hooked up with Leo Goosen to create
front-drive cars with Offenhauser
engines that he was convinced would
rule Indy. He was right.
They dominated the 1947, ’48 and ’49
races with Mauri Rose winning the first
two years and teammate Bill Holland
second. In 1949 Holland turned the
tables on Rose, a 3-time winner. Oh, and
a third team car with George Connor
driving finished third in 1949.
These were beautifully prepared cars
with immaculate light blue paint
schemes to reflect the Blue Crown
sponsorship.
THE MODEL
While Replicarz’s earlier1/43 Blue
Crowns are sharp, moving to the larger
scale allows even more detail, plus a
unique new feature.
These Blue Crown bodies are cast
resin, but the hoods are louvered metal
and open to reveal a silver 4-cylinder
Offy. Unique are the three leather straps
that secure the hood. The buckle is
made to hook onto the car’s body. A
tiny tweezer included with the model
allows you to easily adjust the straps.
Under the hood is a small thread to
keep the hood from opening too wide
on its twin hinges. Unlike in the smaller
scale racers, the louvers here are real, so
you can see light through the hood when
it’s opened.
The Offy is wired and plumbed with
four black wires to its spark plugs, plus
cooling hoses and attachments up front
and copper coil coming from under the
cockpit cowl to the engine. A chrome
exhaust pipe runs down the right side of
the racer’s body and there are several
metal fasteners on the tail and hood.
Steering arms and suspension are
more detailed here with chrome and
other metal parts, plus big rear disc
brakes and calipers. The red wire wheels
are impressive and of course the treaded
tires are appropriately labeled Firestone.
This cockpit is simple, but realistic
with a flat brown ribbed seat and
leather-like cockpit surround complete
with what looks like silver snaps.
Replicarz also will soon offer the 1949
winner driven by Bill Holland. It
features a dark metallic blue finish.
Plus the company expects its long
anticipated 1967 Paxton STP Turbine
car that almost won the race with
Parnelli Jones at the wheel. All should
be availble this month.
D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6 •
www.ScaleAutoMag.com 3
DIECASTREVIEWS
1926/29 Indy 500 Millers
Mfg.: Replicarz
Scale: 1/43
Stock No: R43013 (1926)
R43014 (1929)
MSRP: $89.99 each
Link: replicarz.com
Replicarz’s 1920s Miller Indy 500 Winners
Before the word “Miller” made us
think of beer, it meant winning at the
Indianapolis 500, and on the nation’s
numerous board tracks. That’s right,
racetracks used to be made of wood!
Millers were simple, sleek racers that
the best drivers, or their sponsors,
bought to race at the highest levels
throughout North America. Indy was
the crown jewel, and Millers were the
cars to beat in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Now, Replicarz has produced two
Indy 500 winners in 1:43 scale and just
250 of each. Due to be released shortly
are the 1926 Miller Special driven by
Frank Lockhart, and the 1929 Simplex
Miller driven to victory by Ray Keech.
Replicarz’s earlier Miller, driven by
3-time winner Louis Meyer, sold out.
THE HISTORY
Harry Miller was a noted engine
maker and race car designer. Cars he
designed won the Indy 500 nine times,
and three other times cars that were
using his engines won the race.
Millers, which were front-wheel-drive,
4 Scale Auto DC •
D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
were so dominant that they made up
83% of the Indianapolis fields from
1923 through 1928. Miller’s won 73 of
92 major U.S. auto races from 1922-29
and in 1929, 27 of the 33 racers in the
Indy 500 were Millers.
Miller became wealthy from a
carburetor business he started and then
moved to making his own 3.0-liter
straight-8 engine. His supercharged 2.0and 1.5-liter engines in front-drive
chassis won Indy in 1926, ’28, ’30 and
’32. Yet Miller went bankrupt in 1933
and Fred Offenhauser bought his engine
design, and thus was born the Offy.
THE MODEL
Replicarz focuses on the 1920s cars
and these are especially timely as the
“Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will run
its 100th race in May, 2016.
These Millers are similar, as both are
bright white with simple markings. The
1926 winner was entered by Miller with
Frank Lockhart as the driver. This
model features a black No. 15 and a
simple cream-colored oval with “Miller”
in black lettering on the cowl, just in
front of the cockpit and below the
windscreen.
The 1929 winner has a bold blue No.
2 on the tail and hood, the same
locations as on the earlier model. This
car was sponsored by Simplex piston
rings and has that name in matching
blue on the cowl in front of the cockpit.
Both cars come with big chrome
radiators with a crank starter, along
with chrome front and rear leaf arm
suspensions and steering arms. Chrome
exhaust pipes run along the right side of
the engine nearly the full length of the
car and there’s a chrome brake lever
with black knob between pipe and cowl.
Decals represent hood straps and
there are beautiful black spoked wheels
and rubber Firestone Balloon tires, with
those exact markings. There’s a photoetched windscreen and air vent in front
of the cockpit and a silver gas cap
behind it.
The cockpit is simple with chrome
dash, wood wheel with black turning
knob and chrome three-spoke hub.
Replicarz Exclusives, the difference is in the details!
R184712
R184711 1:18 scale $159.99
Eagle, Winner 1973 Indianapolis 500, Gordon Johncock
1:18 scale $159.99
1973 STP Eagle, Indianapolis 500, Swede Savage
R18010
R18012
1:18 scale $249.99
Blue Crown Special, Winner 1947 Indianapolis 500, Mauri Rose
1:18 scale $249.99
Blue Crown Special, Winner 1948 Indianapolis 500, Mauri Rose
oon!
Coming S
R18011
Coming
January 2
016!
1:18 scale $249.99
Miller, Winner 1928 Indianapolis 500,
Louis Meyer
R18013
$249.99
Blue Crown Special,
Winner 1949 Indianapolis 500, Bill Holland
1:18 scale
R18500
1:18 scale $249.99
1959 Mickey Thompson
Challenger 1 Land Speed Car
R18004
1:18 scale $249.99
1967 Paxton Turbine STP,
Indianapolis 500, Parnelli Jones
R18501
1:18 scale $249.99
1960-1962 Mickey Thompson
Challenger 1 Land Speed Car
R43001
1:43 scale $89.99
Blue Crown Special, Winner 1947
Indianapolis 500, Mauri Rose
R43002
R43005
R43006
R43009
R43010
R43013
R43014
1:43 scale $89.99
Johnny Lightning PJ Colt, Winner
1970 Indianapolis 500, Al Unser Sr.
1:43 scale $89.99
Johnny Lightning PJ Colt, Winner 1971
Indianapolis 500, Al Unser Sr.
1:43 scale $109.99
1971 PJ Colt, Indianapolis 500,
Joe Leonard USAC Champion
One Stop Shopping!
P.
1:43 scale $89.99
Spin & Win, Winner 1985
Indianapolis 500
1:43 scale $89.99
Miller, Winner 1926 Indianapolis 500,
F. Lockhart
Coming
January 2016!
1:43 scale $89.99
Blue Crown Special, Winner 1949
Indianapolis 500, Bill Holland
1:43 scale $89.99
Miller, Winner 1929 Indianapolis 500,
Ray Keech
166 Spruce Street • Rutland, VT 05701 • www.replicarz.com
800-639-1744 • F. 802-775-1981 • [email protected] • We Buy Collections!
Over 50 Brands, Over 3,000 models in stock. All the top lines of Die Cast Models, Displays, and Accessories. We Ship Worldwide • We accept PayPal!
1967 Ford 3.0-liter Twin Cam V8
Mfg: Automodello
Scale: 1/12
Stock No: AM12-FOR-3L
MSRP: $149.95
Link: Diecasm.com
Automodello’s 1967 Ford (Cosworth) V8 & Lotus 49
Few engines have the pedigree of
Ford’s 3.0-liter twin cam V8, nor can
boast the overwhelming success. But
calling it a Ford is a bit of a stretch.
Most folks refer to the engine as the
Cosworth DFV (double four valve)
because Keith Duckworth and Mike
Costin of Cosworth designed and
created the cast-aluminum engine. Ford
bankrolled it after Colin Chapman of
Lotus fame enlisted the help of Ford
Britain’s Walter Hayes. Arm twisting
ensued and Ford forked over the money.
Still, the engine became the go-to
powerplant for Formula 1 cars for more
than 10 years and also powered Indy
Cars for much of the 1970s and ’80s. In
fairy tale fashion it won its first race, the
Dutch Grand Prix, in June of 1967.
Automodello now releases its 1:12
resin version of the iconic racing engine.
Just 499 are being made.
THE HISTORY
After Chapman got Cosworth the
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D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
money, the small racing engine company
developed the lightweight DFV over a
couple years, setting its debut for the
1967 F1 season.
F1’s sanctioning body had upped the
maximum engine displacement for the
series from 1500cc to 3000cc in 1966 and
put Lotus at a disadvantage. The
English team had used light, torquey
Coventry Climax engines that now were
overpowered by the likes of Ferrari.
So Chapman kept his Lotus 49 light
by making the new, extremely rigid
Cosworth a stressed member of the
chassis. There were some timing gear
problems early on though and while
Graham Hill won the pole for the Dutch
Grand Prix at Zandvoort in the car’s
initial race, he dropped out after leading
the first 10 laps, a victim of a broken
gear in the camshaft drive.
Jim Clark, Hill’s teammate and twotime F1 champion, went on to win the
GP, giving Ford and Cosworth a win in
the engine’s first race. It was one of
many. Clark won 3 more races in 1967
and Hill won the 1968 F1 World
Championship with the engine. DFV
engines powered seven champions in a
row and 12 overall.
THE MODEL
Automodello’s model is up to its usual
fine standards with beautifully sculpted
headers with rounded copper-colored
mesh covers. There are visible bolts
attaching the engine covers and yes,
Ford’s name is photo-etched on the
black covers in chrome.
Wiring connects the distributor to all
eight sparkplugs with red caps that
attach to each. There’s also the starter
motor and big snake-like white exhaust
pipes coming out each side of the motor,
which sits on two brushed chrome
spindles. Chrome pipes go from 2 to 1
and extend rearward, while up front are
the supports (cut off here) where the
engine is bolted into the chassis to hold
the rear-end together. More than 100
pieces are used to create the engine.
As usual this comes in a snazzy
acrylic box with black base with proper
labeling noting that this is the winning
engine from the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix.
Note too that this is the same engine
Automodello uses in its highly detailed
new 1/12 scale Lotus 49 that depicts the
winner of the same race, Clark’s No. 5
racer. While we haven’t had the chance
to see the newly released Lotus in
person, it looks to be up to
Automodello’s usual standards of finely
cast resin models. There are brake lines,
a great looking suspension, tires with
the correct tread pattern and a beautiful
interior with proper instrumentation.
The Lotus 49 costs $899.95 and just
499 are being made.
Update: Look for a new 1:43 scale
Kaiser Darrin from Automodello soon!
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Mfg: CMC
Scale: 1/18
Stock No: M-151 (silver)
MSRP: $499
Link: cmcmodelcarsusa.com
CMC’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
The term “icon” is bandied about
nearly as much as politicians promise
tax cuts, but if you’re a Ferrari lover of
a certain age, the 1962 250 GTO is likely
the first car you think of when you hear
“Ferrari” mentioned.
I know, I raced an HO version on my
old Aurora slot car track as a kid and
fell in love with Ferrari’s long, lean,
muscular GTO immediately.
CMC does us GTO lovers the favor
of re-creating the 1962 model in
museum quality and perfectly sized in
1:18 scale. Oh, Baby!
THE HISTORY
GTO’s backstory is that Enzo Ferrari
was worried in 1961 that Jaguar’s sleek
new E-Type was going to eat Ferrari’s
lunch. So he set Giotto Bizzarrini to
designing the 250 GTO, based on the
250 SWB Competizione’s chassis and
using its Columbo V12.
But this one would have larger valves
and create about 300 horsepower, use a
5-speed gearbox, add a new rear axle
and thin aluminium body panels. Plus
Bizzarrini would work with the
Univesity of Milan’s wind tunnel to
improve aerodynamics. It worked, as top
speed was 170 mph with a 5.0-second
0-to-60 mph mark.
8 Scale Auto DC •
D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
The emotional Ferrari fired Bizzarrini
later in 1961 in one of his firing binges,
yet the car proved a success. Drivers Phil
Hill and Oliver Gendebien finished first
in class at Sebring and second overall in
the car’s first race. It won the GT
manufacturer’s title 1962-’64. Just 39
were made.
THE MODEL
Another beautiful finish with
precision fit. The silver review 250 GTO
was flawless.
First the numbers, the CMC model
has 1,841 parts with 1,215 being metal.
The car also is available in yellow, blue
and red (my choice); all are beautiful.
The V12 engine beneath the forwardopening hood is spectacular with wires,
pipes and cables. The hood has a
supporting rod plus leather belts and
buckles to keep the hood down at speed,
plus quick-release latches.
Other fine details include three
removable covers for air intakes on the
nose and a similar flap that opens for
the coolant filler. There’s a flip-open oiltank filler on the right side under the
rear window and a chrome fuel cap
opens on the tail, below the window.
The doors have metal handles and the
trunk a chrome handle. Naturally
everything opens. A spare tire fills the
trunk, while the cockpit contains two
blue cloth seats with leather trim and
elaborate 4-way safety harnesses. The
doors’ windows (Plexiglas in the original
car) slide open too.
CMC delivers a beautifully detailed
dash with glass-covered gauges you can
read, wood three-spoke steering wheel
with Ferrari logo on the hub and a
flocked rear compartment with rollbar.
Lights front and rear are realistic, the
front enclosed lights simulating four
bolts to hold on their glass covers. In
back are four chrome exhaust tips and
the side mirror has a mirrored face.
Even the metal windshield wipers have
rubber blades. Who else goes to that
much trouble for such a small detail?
Front and rear suspensions work and
the wired wheels are beautiful, with a
light alloy rim and stainless steel spokes.
The wheels can be removed too as the
Borrani central locking nuts can be
loosened. Nuts are side-dependent, so
don’t mix them up if you remove all four
tires. Tires are treaded, but not branded.
CMC’s 250 GTO is another gem, and
available in the four colors. Look for
numbered racers next year. CMC
usually launches the generic versions
first, opting for specific models later.
1951 Studebaker Champion
Starlight Coupe
Mfg: BoS-Models
Scale: 1/43
Stock No: 200872
MSRP: $38.95
Link: American-Excellence.com
BoS-Models’ 1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe
I’m an Indiana boy at heart and
that means Studebaker has always been
near the top of my favorite car list.
The South Bend, Ind.-based company
ceased production in the mid-1960s, but
many of its cars were styling successes.
Certainly in 1951 when this 1951
Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe
was roaring up and down U.S. 31 the
car’s bullet nose and wraparound rear
window were standout features that
quickly marked it as a Studebaker. Such
styling certainly got folks’ attention,
although some joked that you couldn’t
tell if the car was coming or going.
Here BoS-Models produces a fine
1/43 scale version at a high-value price,
making it an easy addition to your
collection of 1950s cars and trucks.
THE HISTORY
Studebaker, which had been making
wagons, etc. for a century already in
1951, quickly took to the lean aircraft
styling that was gaining popularity after
World War II. The result was the sleek
rounded fenders of the Champion with
similarly pointed nose and tail styling,
plus a wraparound rear window that
gave it an airy, bright interior. It also
gave the driver excellent rear visibility.
The car was designed by famed
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D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
industrial designer Raymond Loewy
and was recognized for its futuristic
look aided by that rounded roof and
panoramic rear window. The distinctive
look was enhanced in 1951 by the bullet
nose, also called a spinner nose. This
style ran from 1947-52 before the
Starlight was restyled. Remember when
car styles changed each year?
For stats lovers, the car featured a
choice of either a 169.9 CID 6-cylinder
engine, or new dual-barrel carb V8 that
created more than 100 horsepower. Both
had a three-speed manual transmission.
The car rode on a 119-inch wheelbase
and Studebaker sold a record 343,164
cars in 1950. So this model represents
Studebaker near the top of its game.
THE MODEL
Bright red and with Studebaker’s
iconic bullet nose, the Champion
Starlight Coupe is an assault on the eyes
– but in a good way.
BoS-Models casts seams for the car’s
hood, trunk and doors, plus gas filler
door and air vents in front of the doors.
You’d expect no more at the car’s sub$40 price point.
But you might not expect other
details, starting with the chrome-ringed
headlights with clear textured lenses,
photo-etched metal grill flush with the
body, as in the original 1951, and nicely
detailed chrome nose piece. Bumpers
front and rear are chrome as is the
splash guard just in front of the rear
wheels, airplane-like hood ornament
and trim atop the front fenders.
I was impressed by chrome trim
around side windows and fine black
edging on front and rear windows, plus
three chrome strips on the wraparound
rear window. There’s a chrome mirror,
hub caps and wheels, plus a trunk
emblem that looks like a metallic bird.
The Stude also features sharp-looking
red taillights with chrome trim and an
Indiana license plate, front and rear.
Tires include a broad white-sidewall and
a red ring inside the white, just next to
the chrome wheels.
Inside is a gray and black interior
with big three-spoke steering wheel and
dash gauges that you can nearly read.
Oh, and there’s a rearview mirror on the
dash, a standard location at the time.
All told a well-executed 1/43 model
with a beautiful glossy red paint job and
enough detail to impress at this price
point. This and the Corvette Corvair
Concept I reviewed last issue tell me
BoS-Models are well made and
reasonably priced.
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2012 Lamborghini Urus
MCG 1:18
No. E62-197230 $ 48.95
1:18
1975 Chrysler Imperial Le Baron
4-Door Sedan
No. E62-193761
$ 97.95
1982 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
No. E62-193751
$ 97.95
1:43
1992 Cadillac
Eldorado
BoS-Models
No. E62-193840
$ 38.95
1933 Chrysler Imperial Le
Baron Phaeton
WhiteBox
No. E62-199160
$ 23.95
1957 Chevrolet 150 2-Door
Sedan
BoS-Models
No. E62-200188
$ 38.95
1946 Desoto 6
Suburban
WhiteBox
No. E62-197854
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Sedan, Taxi
BoS-Models
No. E62-193842
$ 38.95
1973 Dodge
Coronet
WhiteBox
$ 23.95 No. E62-199985
1955 Chrysler Ghia
Falcon
BoS-Models
No. E62-197982
$ 38.95
1930 Duesenberg Model J
Tourster Derham
Neo
$ 24.95 No. E62-185857
$ 95.95
1964 Ford Galaxie Custom
500, 4-Door Sedan
WhiteBox
No. E62-200030
$ 24.95
1968 Ford LTD Country Squire 1965 Ford Mustang
BoS-Models
WhiteBox
No. E62-200183
$ 38.95 No. E62-199982
1960 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop 1954 Jeep Willys Station Wagon 1939 Lincoln Continental
Neo
Neo
WhiteBox
$ 24.95 No. E62-185896
$ 74.95 No. E62-184426
$ 79.95 No. E62-199163
$ 24.95
1959 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight
(98) Convertible
Neo
No. E62-185972
$ 74.95
1929 Pierce Arrow
Model 133
Dongguan
No. E62-207806
1970 Plymouth Cuda 426
Hemi
BoS-Models
$ 32.95 No. E62-200186
$ 38.95
1960 Plymouth Valiant
Station Wagon
BoS-Models
No. E62-193837
$ 38.95
1958 Rambler Customs Six
Sedan
Neo
No. E62-185537
$ 79.95
1935 Studebaker Big six
President
Dongguan
No. E62-207807
$ 32.95
1977 Plymouth Fury 4-Door
Sedan
Neo
No. E62-206754
$ 79.95
1977 Plymouth Fury, Michigan
State Police
Neo
No. E62-206755
$ 79.95
1951 Studebaker
Champion Starlight Coupe
BoS-Models
No. E62-200872 $ 38.95
www.american-excellence.com
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Mfg: Auto World
Scale: 1/24
Stock No: AW24004/6
MSRP: $59.99
Link: autoworldstore.com
Auto World’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
I learned to drive a stick shift on my
Uncle Wink’s 1967 Camaro SS, so I’ll
forever have a soft spot for 1960s
Camaros. Seems Auto World loves
Camaros too, along with other muscular
1960s and ’70s cars.
Auto World has been cranking out
good quality 1/18 scale muscle cars in its
American Muscle series for years. The
variety has been spectacular and the
opening hoods, doors and trunk give the
large scale cars a major dose of reality.
But serious plastic model car builders
love their muscle in 1/24 scale. Now
Auto World delivers something they’ll
love, a handsome diecast Hugger
Orange 1969 Camaro SS.
Because of its smaller scale there isn’t
as fine a detail and only the hood opens,
but the body is well shaped and the car
has the aggressive Camaro stance and
pricing is more value oriented.
THE HISTORY
Chevy’s Camaro was launched in the
fall of 1966 to compete with Ford’s
exceedingly popular Mustang. Camaro
and Mustang were affordable sports
cars, which we later decided were
muscle, or pony cars.
The lean Camaro featured a classic
long hood, short deck profile and
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D EC E M B E R /J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6
became the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
in 1967 and 1969, so A.J. Foyt and
Mario Andretti each won one.
Power ruled the ’60s and Camaro was
happy to play the power game with its
300-horsepower V8.
THE MODEL
Auto World delivers a high-value
versuib of Chevy’s racy SS model with a
white swoosh (before swooshes were
popular) up the front fender and back
to the door handle that also touts the
350 engine within the white stripe.
The orange paint scheme is eyecatching and well executed for this price
point. Windows all are trimmed in silver
paint to set them off from the body, as
are the door handles and black and
silver vents behind the doors. There’s a
silver strip along the rocker panels too.
Badging is good with a Camaro SS
logo on the front quarter panel just in
front of the door, plus Camaro badging
on both the nose and tail.
The 1/24 model’s hood opens to reveal
a customized version of the Chevy V8.
There’s an orange engine block, but
Auto World adds chrome headers and
giant round chrome air filter. There’s
also a battery, radiator and belt pulley.
Plus the hood stays open easily due to
its large metal hinges.
This model features a Shaker hood
with its trademark big power bulge and
the SS also comes with a blacked out
front grille. Headlights are chrome, not
clear lenses. A sporty looking chrome
mirror sits atop the driver’s door and the
car sports a black chin spoiler.
Down low there are racy looking
chrome sport wheels that appear to be
Cragers and Auto World adds realism
with treaded tires that are labeled
Goodyears, plus add the detailed
Polyglas GT G60-15 labeling too.
Since doors and trunk don’t open
here, the seams are straight and narrow,
better even than on the original cars of
the 1960s where fit and finish often were
lacking. A red Michigan license plate
graces the front and rear too.
Inside is a black plastic interior with
high-backed race-oriented bucket seats.
The only real color is the snazzy silver
shift knob and rearview mirror.
Under the car is a moderately detailed
chassis and suspension system, plus the
underside of the orange engine block.
Overall the 1/24 Camaro looks sharp
and is attractively priced for collectors
of all ages. Its aggressive stance and that
eye-popping orange finish make it a
grabber in any showcase!
Willys Jeep with Trailer
Mfg: Autoart
Scale: 1/18
Stock No: 74016
MSRP: $329.95
Link: autoart.com
Autoart’s Willys Jeep with Trailer
Jeep became an automotive icon as
the soldier’s best friend during World
War II. Now that the brand is owned by
Fiat Chrysler, some may have forgotten
it was originally primarily built by
Willys-Overland.
Autoart’s 1/18 scale version is of that
early Jeep along with a U.S. Army
trailer with fuel drum and other
accessories. But a model of only the
Jeep also is available.
THE HISTORY
How the Jeep came to be is a lengthy
tale, but here’s the short version. First
government specs went out in 1940
calling for a 1,300-lb. vehicle with
80-inch wheelbase and an engine
generating at least 85 ft.-lbs. of torque.
Out of 135 U.S. automakers, just
Willys and American Bantam Car Co.,
sought the contract, Ford entering the
fray later. The government ordered
1,500 from each of the three makers, but
later settled on the Willys design while
using Ford’s wide, low hood.
Ford’s version was called the GP, but
it’s said that nomenclature didn’t spur
the Jeep name. Instead many say that
mechanics coined the Jeep phrase and
then it was repeated when the vehicle
was introduced on the steps of the
Capital in Washington, D.C.
Newspapers picked it up and the name
grew from there.
In any case, the Jeep name stuck and
although Ford tried suing Willys to gain
use of the name after WWII, it lost in
court. Willys, then Kaiser, then
American Motors, then Chrysler and
now Fiat Chrysler have owned it.
THE MODEL
Autoart’s version is a beauty that’s
loaded with detail.
Start with the fold-down windshield,
giant hood that folds back to expose the
powerful (for the time) Willys Go Devil
engine with proper wiring and plumbing
and then add the serious detachable
machine gun that mounts behind the
driver’s seat. Its barrel is black metal!
In fact the Army green Jeep is a bit
more than 13 inches long and made of
536 parts, of which 208 are metal and 12
are photo-etched plates. the Jeep
received 214 free-hand sprays to create a
realistic flat military green.
Both the steering and suspension are
functional too and the passenger’s seat
flips forward, a feature that carried over
into many future Jeeps. Seats are
realistic cloth in the model.
In addition to the trailer that includes
red rear lights and side reflectors, this
model is loaded with accessories to
enhance its realism.
There are chains to hook the trailer to
the Jeep, plus a wiring harness. Autoart
also includes two helmets, two gas cans,
a 45-calliber pistol and Thompson
submachine gun, shovel and axe that
attach to the Jeep’s side and will come
off. For the Jeep’s tail there’s communications equipment with a handset and
detachable radio antenna that arches
over the Jeep.
The underside is well detailed and the
sparse interior features a few dash
gauges and lables, plus one main shift
lever on the floor along with two for
engaging the overdrive that gives it fourwheeling capability, vital when traveling
on muddy, rough, war-torn terrain.
There’s a rifle mounted on the back of
the windshield and appropriate white
Army stars on the hood and trailer.
Even one on the rifle rack.
This military vehicle moves Autoart
beyond its comfort zone of high-end
sports and race cars too.
Along with this special accessorized
version, Autoart offers the Willys Jeep,
without the trailer, and at a lower price,
$275.90. Its stock no. is 74006.
Both versions are stellar.
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