MGB ROADSTER BRITISH RACING GREEN

From its announcement in 1962, it was obvious that the MGB was going to be a big success. The extremely attractive styling, masterminded at Abingdon by MGs chief body draughtsman Don Hayter, was bang up to date and covered MGs the monocoque structure, which was if anything stronger than it needed to be. You did not get scuttle shake in an MGB! It was produced for over eighteen years and in that time 513,272 were made, making it the best selling sports car in the world for many years. The 1800cc B-Series pushrod engine produced only 95bhp, giving a 0-60 time of 12.2 seconds, so it was not the faster vehicle in the world but it had a great competition career nevertheless.

The MGB Roadster was a joy to own as it was beautifully balanced to drive, reliable, comfortable, economical, pretty and above all fun. Today its very popularity means that it is one of the easiest classic cars in the world to look after, as every component can still be bought new, including the bodyshell.

A version of the MGB Roadster sees this model in the very prominent British racing green. As previously mentioned, this is a fine looking model, with a good paint finish. See more.

LLEDO: AUSTIN 7 MINI

The Mini is of course another of the modelled car, and one of which the shape is not always totally captured. Lledo, however, has performed an extremely good job in getting the shape and propotions of this car right. They have chosen the 1959 Austin 7 Mini as DG74, which comes in either dark red, or as a white Police version, complete with roof sign and blue light. Lledo is planning to offer both left and right hand drive versions of the Mini.

Clearly Lledo is offering these models at a competitive price, so finer detailing points are not included. However, if the Mini is the standard to be set for future releases, then there will be much to look forward to from lledo.

LLEDO: VW BEETLE WITH SPLIT REAR SCREEN

This model is DG72, the 1952 Volkswagwen Beetle with split rear window. While it is true this is a car frequently modelled, this is a pleasing rendition, which captures the shape, and yet is reasonably priced. Two versions have so far been produced: in patel green and in blue.

LLEDO: VW KOMBI VANS 'CINZANO' AND 'BOSCH'

Volkswagen, this time the 1955 Kombi van, comes as DG73. As a sign of the added attention to detail now being offered by lledo, one version, in the livery of Cinzano, has let hand drive, while the second, in the livery of Bosch ( in Hendon, London), has right hand drive. Again this is pleasing model with attractive liveries.

GO BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH SUNSTAR

Back to the Future I version

Back to the Future II version

The railroad version of the DeLorean as seen in Back to the Future III

The way I figured it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? –‘Doc’ Emmett L.Brown.

In 1985, teenager Marty Mcfly accidentally found himself behind the wheel of Doc Brown’s lastest invention, a super customized DeLorean retrofitted with a portable plutonium-powered nuclear reactor which sent him hurting through the veil of time 30 years into the past to help his parents fall in love. Doc explained to Marty that the car’s stainless-steel construction helps with flux dispersal, an aid necessary for time travelling. When he later travelled forward to the future, Doc took the DeLorean concept to all new heights. Modified and futurised with a simple hover conversion from the year 2015. Enabling the DeLorean to defy gravity as well as the time barrier, and later in the Wild West it a railway.

A trio of terrific models from SunStar accurately portray the amazing DeLoreans for the Back to the Future trilogy. These gorgeously detailed 1:18 cars show the original car and the modified high-wire-catching pole version from the first film, the wheel swiveling version from the second film and finally the railtracked version from the third episode. See more

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD II

During 1985 the James Bond film, A View to A Kill, was given its premiere. To coincide with this, Matchbox released a silver Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II with a grey interior and a plated base in a special presentation box. Three other models were intended to accompany the Rolls Royce as special issues, but in the event only the Renault 11 taxi was issued. At this time the models were not part of the range and it was not until 1986 that a recolored Royce Royce in cream became available, initially with a ‘Made in England’ base, but soon altered when the whole range moved to the Far East to be manufactured in Macau. Incidentally, apart from the GT range, this was the last 1-75 model made in England. (Model Collector 1988)

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW MARK II

Following the gap of five years a red Rolls Royce Mark II (MB39) with yellow interior was shown in the 1979 catalogue. In July of that year the model became available in America and in September it appeared in the United Kingdom. However, the catalogue version proved to be a pre-production, for in the even it came in silver with red seats, opening front doors, a chrome plated radiator and an unpainted base. In April 1981 the car was colored to metallic red with an ivory interior. Light and dark tan interiors were also found.

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW COUPE

Although the Rolls Royce Silver Shadows joined the 1-75 range in 1967, one of the first Superfast models to be produced in 1969 was the Silver Shadow Coupe (MB69). It lasted for four years but during that tome it was colored metallic blue and several shades of gold. The interior was either in Brown or ivory. The tonneau cover came in tan or black and the base came in many colors. In order to accommodate the wider Superfast slicks its wheel arches were soon adapted. Hence this model also comes with thin or wide wheels and narrow or wide wheel arches. The full listing shows the range of variations.

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW

In March 1967 the Rolls Royce was continued with a Silver Shadow (MB 24) painted in metallic red. This model also included an opening boot. Another new aspect was the fitting of silver hubs to make the wheels appear more realistic. Later the hubs became silver wheels with separate tyres. Newer versions of the model included a patent number on the base as well as a facility below the number plate to make towing easier.

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM V

The Rolls Royce Phantom V released in February 1964 showed several new features. It had clear windows, a cream interior with steering wheel and silver trim which had been masked sprayed rather than being applied by hand. The play value perhaps centered upon the opening boot and the spring suspension. Though this model is usually found with black plastic wheels, it was also fitted with grey and silver wheels but in much smaller numbers.

The body was painted a metallic mauve color which could vary in extremes to almost grey. This model was replaced in the 1-75 series in 1967 and so was only issued for three years.

MODELS OF YESTERYEAR Y-19 - 1935 AUBURN 851

The Auburn 851 supercharged speedster was designed and developed by the famous Gordon Buering. Each car was fully tested and guaranteed to exceed 100 m.p.h. with the straight 8 Lycoming 279.2 cubic inch (4.5 litres) supercharged engine. The American driver, Ab Jenkins, in fact drove one at an average of 103 m.p.h. for twenty seven hours. This model replica was modeled on the vehicle currently residing at the Beaulieu Motor Car Museum at Hampshire, England. See more.

CHAPARRAL 2 ROAD AMERICA JUNE SPRINTS '65

Chaparral 2 Sport Racer 1965 66 Diecast Model 1/18 Die Cast Car by Autoart

This is a model from AutoArt and features the car of Jim Hall famed throughout the world as a racing driver, Formular-One driver and car designer and founder of Chaparral Cars in Midland, Texas. Chaparrals were noted for their use of advanced materials and aerodynamic design to improve the performance of their cars and were some of the most innovative cars of the 1960s. The Chaparral 2 was the first racing car to conspicuously distance itself from the competition. Jim Hall and his team mate James Sharp, whose nickname Hap derived from his birthday on 1st January (Happy New Year!), outclassed the competition when they won numerous races throughout the USA, including the spectacular June sprint races in Road America 1965. This car nicely captures the ethos of the company

POLICE 'VIGILANT' RANGE ROVER MODEL

In 1972, the first Corgi Range Rover model, no 461, appeared, a Police service ‘Vigilant’ model. Police service up and down the country had been quick to recognize what the Range Rover could do for them and several specialist conversations were conceived and constructed on the base model. The Cogi Vigilant was one of these, coming with simulated roller shutter doors in the sides which concealed the equipment storage. The roof box was fitted with moveable plated flood lights on each side with yellow lenses and a central blue beacon. A large white-on-black ‘POLICE’ sign was to the front across the rear in white-on-black it read ‘POLICE’. This one model was to become one of the highest selling for Corgi, nor surprising recording over one million sales.

SUPERFAST SIMCA RALLYE 2 IN NEON GREEN

The automaker SIMCA (Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile) was founded in 1934 and manufactured Fiat cars under licence. A new era for the works was ushered in when, in the autumn of 1961, the Simca 1000 was shown at the Paris Automobile Salon. With its modern silhouette, the limousine stood out against the previous Simca models. Even the engine was now more powerful. At the start of 1970 Simca launched the distinctly reworked 1000, now named the Simca 1000 Rallye, followed by the Simca 1000 Rallye 2 in 1972. With 1,294 cc and producing 82HP the Rallye had the most powerful engine of the entire 1000 series. Designed specially as a sports car, the vehicle attracted attention on account of its trunk which was painted black to provide glare protection.

Following the Neon Green example is this ultra colourful Spa car! With the success of the first model in 1951, others quickly followed, including the Simca 1000 Rallye 2, launched at 1972. The car was fairly lightweight but boasted a powerful engine that displayed itself in a remarkable acceleration capability. And it was also at international level. The vehicle was frequently regarded as the counterpart to the equally successful NSU TTS which had similar characteristics. See more.