MAISTO 1/18 1971 DATSUN 240Z

For the price this is a pretty decent die cast. It's my first Z car scale model and I'm happy with it. I bought mine while they were available for a great price at Costco.


The general dimensions seem to be spot on from the outside. The model itself does have some very fine details and decals too. The scuff plate decal in the door frame looks like metal and has the tiny word DATSUN on it. There's even a minuscule VIN plate on the dash with legible numbers and the month that the California plate would be set to expire is almost discernible. The headlights, front turn signals and taillights are each separate plastic pieces and look very convincing. The side marker lights are painted on though. The tires are appropriately skinny with early style "D" hubcaps. Inside, there is period correct diamond pattern where it would have been on the original vinyl, the tiny three spoke wheel had the right indentations as well as a painted on wood rim and the door panels even have pulls and knobs molded onto them.

Both doors open, as well as the hatch and hood. The front wheels turn in conjunction with the steering wheel and it has independent suspension with coil springs all the way around, just like the real car. The underside of the body is comprised of 3-4 big slabs-o-plastic that have molded in details like the IRS, engine, transmission, splash pan and gas tank. There is a correct looking exhaust system complete with dual pipes that merge into one collector and route properly to the rear and out through a single muffler.

There are only a couple of disappointments. The biggest being the engine bay, which is one solid piece of plastic with a few parts painted (valve cover, air cleaner, spark plug wires and fluid reservoir caps). Under the rear hatch the metal of the body juts out at the bottom, quite unlike the real deal, and on the plastic window frames for both front doors, at the leading edge they get too thick right by where the rearview mirror is. It is accurate in only having a rearview mirror on the driver side however.

All in all, for the price, I'm happy with this model. So much so that I bought four of them. --W. Wilhelm  Shop here

CORGI CLASSICS 1/50 FOWLER B6 SUPERLION - MILLENNIUM

The showman's engine has also been chosen as a chrome Millennium model, and this is perhaps the best of the 'Millennnium' choices. Complete with a chrome seal, in a splendid presentation box, this looks quite eye-catching. As mentioned earlier, the Millennium series has sold quite well. Shop here

CORGI OOC 1/76 VAN HOOL ALIZEE - SHEARINGS

OOC's elegant Alizee coach has recieved one of its most attractive liveries yet. To celebrate 80 years, and the dreaded Millennium, Lewis of Greenwich revised its normal liver to represent the Thames flowing through Greenwich 'Home of the millennium' - (Greenwich Observatory is on the Meridian line and where GMT is measured from).

The delightful compass logo and Thames way line are really well done, resulting in one of the best millennium models produced. The registration LEW 15 W is a clever touch by Lewis. The tampo printing of such tiny details as the welcome aboard slogan is excellent. Shop here

MINICHAMPS 1/43 MERCEDES-BENZ UNIMOG 401 WITH TRAILER

It's always good to see a model of a more unusual prototype. Coming from Minichamps you know that the result will be an accurate casting, the fine detailing extending to the cab interior. Of particular note are the excellent wheels, and the high level of finishing. Shop here

WELLY 1/18 1964 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLES DIECAST CAR MODEL

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Diecast Car Model 1/18 Convertible Red by Welly

The first production Mustang rolled off the assembly line on March 9, 1964, and was introduced to the public at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964, via all three Amercian television networks on April 19, and made an appearance in the James Bond film Goldfinger in September of 1964. It was one of the most successful product launches in automotive history. The Mustang nameplate has signified an American classic muscle car for generations. This beautiful 1964 Red Ford Mustang Convertible Diecast Model Car is a great collection piece for any fan of the Mustang

AUTOART 1/18 1956 JAGUAR XK-SS STEVE McQUEEN PRIVATE COLLECTION

1956 Jaguar XK-SS Steve Mqueen Private Collection Diecast Car Model 1/18 Die Cast Car by Autoart

Produced in 1957, basically from 'left over' Jaguar D-Type pressings, the XKSS was simply a racing car with some road car trim. It retained the D-Type 250bhp 'drysump' engines and disc brakes, and much of the performance. Only 16 were built before a disastrous fire at the Jaguar factory ended production. Born of the D-type and sire to the E-Type-the lines were evolving at an early stage. Examples of the real car are very rare and ver, very expensive. This perhaps explain why there are apparently more in circulation now than were originally builts!

The model has superb engine detail: the small doors open, as does the rear boot, the lower revealing the spare tyre. This model fills a gap in the history of Jaguar racing.

SIGNATURE MODELS 1/32 1936 CHRYSLER AIRFLOW DIECAST CAR MODEL

1936 Chrysler Airflow Diecast Car Model 1/32 Silver Die Cast Car by Signature Models

Total Corporate Sales Beat Ford 1936 was a great year for Chrysler with sales the best since 1929 and a profit record of 62.1 million. Even better, corporate sales topped 1 million and beat Ford. The Airstream design was radical for its time and much critized. Sales were not great but in the mid-1930's it gave Chysler much needed publicity. Our 1:32 scale precision diecast replica 1936 Chrysler Deluxe Airstream Sedan was built on the bigger 133 inc wheelbase. Powerd by the 273.8 cubic inch Inline 8 engine.

YAT MING 1/18 1962 OLDSMOBILE STARFIRE DIECAST MODEL

1962 Oldsmobile Starfire Diecast Model Black 1/18 Die Cast Car by Yat Ming

Late in the 1961 model year, Oldsmobile introduced the Starfire convertible as their personal luxury car. Sales and interest were enough that for 1962 Starfire became its own model line with the edition of the Holiday coupe. This hardtop became one of Oldsmobile's best selling models with 34,839 produced, compare to only 7,149 convertibles.

With its feature-light steering, pillow-soft ride and leather upholstery it had the luxury as advertised. Dual exhausts and a 4-barrel Rochester carburetor made the 345hp. V-8 a rocket launcher. And the brushed aluminum side trim didn't hurt either. In all, the Starfire helped Oldsmobile to its best year since 1956.

VANGUARDS 1/43 ROVER 2000

The Rover 2000 was introduced in 1963. It was one of the most innovative Rover models ever and a turning point in the design of the modern car. It had an all new overhead camshaft four cylinder engine, an all disc brake system and a deDion rear axel and was the first British car to be fitted exclusively with radial tyres. Its advanced engineering and styling earned it the accolade of ‘car of the year’, in the first year that this award was made. Later on, the 2000 range was extended with the V8 engined 3500 model which put Rover on the map as a high performance car.

BRISTISH RAIL SERVICE VANS OF THE 50’s AND 60’s

British Railways came into being in 1948 as an amalgamation of the four regional companies: Great Western (GWR), Southern (SR), London Midland & Scottish (LMS) and London & North Eastern (LNER). For about three years BR’s road transport fleet remained in the old companies’ liveries with ‘BRITISH RAILWAYS’ painted over the obliterated company names.

As new vehicles were purchased, these were painted in BR’s first standard livery colour of all-over maroon.

BR Southern Region Service Van

This Austin A40 van is in British Railways original all-maroon livery and carries the ‘double-sausages’ logo. This single-colour livery-colour livery was superseded during the 1950s by the so-called ‘blood and custard’ colour sheme of carmine and deep cream which itself was replaced by a ‘stone’ livery.

British Transport Hotels Van

The Morris Minor van in this set represents a light van in service with British Transport Hotels in the 1960s. It is in the all-over ‘stone’ livery that was used by British Rail from 1961, and carries the double-arrow logo—sometimes unkindly called ‘the arrows of indecision’. This logo persisted in use until early 1996.

CORGI 1/43 LAND ROVER - HARRIS'S GALLOPERS

The present day Harris's Old Tyme Fair is run by brothers Ted, Robert, John and Fred.Tracing their origins to great - grandfather John Harris, of Chuckfield, Sussex (1833 - 1901) a timber merchant and haulier who also operated a Doby set of horses in the summer months .Frederick Harris, son and grandfather whose name is still carried on the Gallopers he built, moved to Ashington, Sussex in 1901 and the brothers continue to operate out of this original yard.

Back to a British circus for this attractive Land Rover and trailer set, which fatures some clever printing but a rather plasticky flag. A fun piece to add to the collection. Shop here

CORGI 1/76 PLAXTON PREMIERE - BLACKBURN

The compass logo on the side of this Blackburn Transport Premiere is extremely well reproduced. The rest of the tampo printing is a treat, and the interior, as always, looks very inviting! Shop here

WELLY 1/18 BMW 330i DIECAST MODEL CAR

BMW 330i Diecast Model Car 1/18 Silver Die Cast Car by Welly

The E90 is the new body style available from 2006 model year to present, and is available as the sport sedan E90, sport wagon E91, sport coupe E92, and sport coupe convertible E93.The E90 series is completely re-engineered from the E46, including changes to motor choices, transmission, the passenger compartment comfort, suspension technology, as well as a host of high tech features and options. This stunning 2006 Siver BMW 330i Diecast Model Car will make a fine addition to any collection. 

KYOSHO 1/18 FERRARI 250 GTO DIECAST MODEL CAR

Ferrari 250 GTO Diecast Model Car 1/18 Black Die Cast Car by Kyosho

The 250 GTO was designed to compete in GT racing. It was based on the 250 GT SWB. Chief engineer Giotto Bizzarrini installed the 3.0 L V12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa into the chassis from the 250 GT SWB and worked with designer Sergio Scaglietti to develop the body. After Bizzarrini and most other Ferrari engineers were fired in a dispute with Enzo Ferrari, development was handed over to new engineer Mauro Forghieri, who worked with Scaglietti to continue development of the body, including wind tunnel and track testing. Unlike most Ferraris, it was not designed by a specific individual or design house. The rest of the car was typical of early-1960s Ferrari technology: hand-welded tube frame, A-arm front suspension, live-axle rear end, disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels. The five-speed gearbox was new to Ferrari GT racing cars; the metal gate that defined the shift pattern would become a tradition that is still maintained in current models. The interior was extremely basic, to the point where a speedometer was not installed in the instrument panel. Many of its switches came from the Fiat 500, and it was said that as the car was rushed into production, the original cloth seats were made from workers' overalls.


This model has the following features: Open Door, Hood, Trunk,Has Steerable Wheels.Workable Steering Wheel.Rubber Tires.Made of Diecast With Some Plastic Parts.The Interior is Extremely Detailed.