Sunday, May 30, 2010

SIGNATURE MODEL 1/18 1962 BMW 700 LS LUXUS GREEN



The BMW 700 was a small rear-engined car produced by BMW from 1959 to 1965, based on the BMW 600 (which was based on the Isetta). It was powered by a 2-cylinder, air-cooled engine of 697cc from the BMW R67 motorcycle. Styling was by Giovanni Michelotti – the car is sometimes compared with his other popular design of the same period, the Triumph Herald. A coupĂ© and a cabriolet was also produced. The car was renamed "LS" in its later years.The 700 RS was a highly tuned version for racing. It had special, lightweight, aerodynamic bodywork and an engine tuned to 70 PS. Hans Stuck campaigned the car with success. Jacky Ickx also raced in 700s. About 180,000 were made in total. Classic BMW from the 60's, nicely detailed interior, opening doors boot and bonnet with engine detail. Shop here

Friday, May 28, 2010

FIRST STREAMLINED POLICE CAR - 1936 CHRYSLER AIRFLOW POLICE CAR


Chrysler's designers and engineers developed the Airflow in the mid-1930's to give a car the same streamlined effect of military aircraft. Sloping at both ends plus moving both axles away from the middle of the car gave the Airflow less wind resistance than any other car on the road. Unfortunately the public hated this futuristic look, preferring massive hoods and sweeping fenders on their luxury cars. But for the police, with its' all-steel top, "Life-Guard" tube tires and 115 hp. engine, function was more important than form. Buy it now

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

SCHUCO 1/10 BMW R69/S MOTORCYCLE WITH STEIB SIDECAR





The BMW 42 hp R69S was produced from 1960 to 1969 as a relatively high powered, high compression sport bike. The R69S also carried the patented Earles triangulated fork—ideal for use with sidecars—and came with sidecar lugs installed on the frames. The Schuco model replicates the unique fork design as well as the addition of an elaborate Steib TR500 sidecar. Steib began building sidecars in 1925 and was a leader in the category. BMW offered the popular TR500 design for many years. This amazing miniature replicates the mechanical prowess of the BMW motorcycle coupled to the grace and style of the Steib sidecar. See more

Monday, May 24, 2010

SKID RALLY - PEUGEOT 206 WRC ESSO (WHITE)


Same car, same drivers, but this time in a white Esso-backed 206, plus this time there's a special 'test car' version, as used by Gronholm, G. Panizzi and Delecour. Of the pair, it's the San Remo rally car which looks the most impressive, with looks the most impressive, with its vast 'Peugeot Lion blotches' dominating the 206's stylish lines. All look extremely neat. Shop here

SKID RALLY - PEUGEOT 206 WRC ESSO


It's amazing just how much 'starship' a modern rally car can look and Peugeot's 206 drives this point home. This silver machine is the works, Esso backed Monte Carlo enteant from that year driven by the Panizzi brothers. Conscientious attention to the interior, rear wing and sponsor's adverts are its hallmark and overall this Peugeot looks the part. Shop here

BEST MODELS: JAGUAR E-TYPE


This version of the E-Type was raced at the 1962 Le Mans raced by Charles/Coundley. Finished in British Racing green and carrying racing number eight, the car retired in the fourth hour. The model is accurate apart from the missing grille. To stop trackside rubbish blocking the radiator, a light grille (similar to that used later on the V12 E-Type) was fitted, but missing on this miniature. Buy here

Sunday, May 23, 2010

CMC 1/18 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SLR MILLE MIGLIA #722, 1955






In 1955 Mercedes-Benz introduced its 300 SLR for the first time at the Mille Miglia. Among its strongest competitors were Ferrari, Maserati, and Aston Martin. Every minute a competing car got its starting clearance. Since 1949 the starting order had been decided by lot so that each starting number was a record of the starting time. The young-but-well-accomplished British race driver Stirling Moss, together with his co-pilot Denis Jenkinson (“Jenks”), received the starting number 722. It means that their exact starting time was 7:22 am. What an unforgettable race they presented that day. Denis Jenkinson invented the so-called Roller Map, a sort of “navigation system“ that would become a part of racing history. This Roller Map was a six-meter paper roll with details of the track information collected during the training sessions. As a result, he was able to give his pilot very exact tips. Thanks to his driving skills, his will to win, and the reliability of his 300 SLR, Stirling Moss already took the lead in Rome. After 10 hours, 17 minutes and 48 seconds, the duo of Moss and Jenkinson crossed the finishing line to become the victors. They reached an unbelievable average speed of 157.65 km/h. An unparalleled record for a long time to come. J.M. Fangio, also driving a 300 SLR, finished 2nd to complete a sweet dual triumph of the Mercedes-Benz. Our SLR is hand-mounted from more than 1,500 single parts. It is a precision model that incorporates well-documented historic details and authentic replication. Explore the realistic presentation of this great model, and you will feel somehow like Stirling Moss. By the way, Moss drove the whole race with the service panel removed to expedite maintenance work in the case of emergency. He simply could not bear to lose a single second unnecessarily. But if you do not feel capable of filling the shoes of this legendary race driver, then picture yourself as his co-pilot. A miniature version of Jenkinson’s Roller Map is also included. Buy it now

Friday, May 21, 2010

SCHUCO 1/43 SETRA S6 TOUR BUS PAINTED FOR HERMANN RUSER COMPANY






Setra is a renowned German maker of buses and touring coaches. The name comes from the German word Selbsttragend (self supporting). This refers to the company’s complete control of all aspects of making their buses. Until 1995 the firm operated under the name Kässbohrer-Setra, but economic difficulties forced its sale to Daimler Benz, under whose ownership it continues today. Your Schuco S6 model comes with the distinctive Setra name design and “K” logo imprinted on the display base. The first Setra bus, the Type S8, so called because it contained eight rows of seats, was introduced in April 1951. It featured a self-supporting body, a concept now featured in most modern buses. Equally unusual at the time was the decision to locate the engine behind the rear axle; another Kässbohrer-Setra innovation which subsequently became mainstream. The design simplifies the production process and creates a range of passenger-focused possibilities. Buy it now

SCHUCO 1/43 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN BLACK


The Volkswagen Tiguan was announced at the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show held in November 2006 as a design concept, with the production version premiering at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show as a 2009 model for the North American market. While aimed at the growing crossover utility vehicle segment, the Track & Field version of the Tiguan has genuine off-road capabilities, with a maximum 28 degree approach angle to terrain. Schuco is a legendary German toy manufacturer, founded in 1912. The company achieved worldwide fame with its toy cars manufactured in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, many of which were patented. While Schuco continues to issue a limited number of metal retro-toys for collectors, today the company is better known for its amazing diecast vehicle replicas. Working directly with manufacturers and car collectors, Schuco painstakingly re-creates each vehicle in miniature, often incorporating tiny details only visible with a magnifying glass. Most Schuco models are issued in specified limited quantities, and once gone, will not be made again. That’s why wise collectors know that a Schuco model isn’t just a purchase: It’s an investment with a lifetime return of enjoyment. Buy it now

CORGI 1/72 OPEN ROUTEMASTER BUS


This is the Routemaster bus as an open top version for The Original London Sightseeing Tour. In some ways this is a curious mixture: clearly aimed at the toy or souvenir market, it has 'whizz'-type wheels, while much of the decoration is in the form of stickers. Yet the London Transport fleetname is tampo printed in gold with black outline, and the RM number (RM143) is included both on the bonnet and by the driver's cab (and in the case of the latter the word 'Routemaster' appears above the fleet number). The registration number plate is also included. If you have a collection of these Routemasters, you will find this version a welcome addition. Buy it now

Monday, May 17, 2010

DETAIL CARS: ALFA ROMEO SPRINT



Four versions have been produced of the 1960 Alfa Romeo. First comes the Sprint as a coupe, available in either red or powder blue. As one expects, this is finely detailed model, ranging from the flush glazing, seperate door and boot handles, windscreen wipers and wing mirror, wheels and silver trim around the windows, to the excellent representations of the lights, both front and rear. However, no less impressive is the interior, with the accurate steering wheel, dashboard detail, interior door handles pick out in silver, and the red trim on the seats.

Also available is the 1960 Giulietta Sprint 1,000 Miglia version in blue, carrying number 228, and a Giulietta 1960 Sebring version, with number 54, in white with black top.

The result is an excellent model. Buy here

CORGI: MERCEDES 207D 'EDDIE STOBART'


For Eddie Stobart fans, the Mercedes 207D van comes in the popular livery as a Roadside Maintenance vehicle: a worthy addition to the Stobart collection. Buy it now

Saturday, May 15, 2010

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEELS - ATLANTIC TRAILER




The no.16a was rather plain in light brown, but it provided good play value with its moveable ramp. Earliest examples of the loading ramp were to be found with two flat ejector rings and a thin, oblong plate inside the ramp. Later issues had a thicker oblong plate whilst final examples had extended ejector rings. At the same time as the modifications to the loading ramp, there were slight alternations made to the front ramp brace.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

MATCHBOX COLLECIBLES: MERCEDES BENZ 540K


This is the Mercedes-Benz 540K: this is finished in black with silver trim. Particularly notice the dashboard detail with the instruments included.

Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-18C 1918 Atkinson Steam Lorry

    Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-18C 1918 Atkinson Steam Lorry was made in England by Matchbox International in 1986. It is 11 cm long an...