THarrison351

Yeah, I guess almost all of them must be getting sold and resold on eBay. lol

That looks nice. Like the one Suzanne Somers drove in American Graffiti.

OOhhh!! That's nice!

The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird was a very sleek car nicknamed the "Bullet Bird". Chosen to pace the golden anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, Danbury Mint has captured the car in perfect miniature. The official pace car, it's backup, and the 32 festival cars had unique Gold paint. The official pace car had Light Pearl Beige Leather interior, the backup had a black leather interior and the festival cars came with either black leather or black vinyl interiors. No special modifications were made to enhance the performance of the official pace car. The engine was the 390 Ford Edsel (FE) big block making 300 horsepower and 427 pound feet of torque. The only visible modification to the car were the brackets added to the front bumper for the flags. DM has included those brackets and flags to go in them. The convertible top completely disappears into the reverse opening trunklid, leaving a perfect smooth area for parade riders to sit on the deck. The car featured a swing-away steering wheel to help ease exit and entry into the driver's bucket seat. DM has captured that feature as well. There are also removable fender skirts in the rear. According to one website, only six of the real cars are known to exist and one burned up in a fire in 1999. I could find no evidence that the original official pace car still exists. It was given to the winner of the race, A.J. Foyt, who in turn gifted it to his mother. From there the cars whereabouts are unknown. As you can see I have two of these cars. I found one several months ago on eBay for a bargain basement price, but it had no top, box, or papers. So, I had been looking for a top in the meantime. All it needed was a really good cleaning and the windshield reattached. About a month ago a complete car with box, and papers came up for auction and I won it for less than I paid for the first one. Go figure! Anyways, all it needed was as usual a good polish. Here are the pictures. Skirt removed Steering wheel swung-away and passenger seat folded forward Top down photos of first car with flags Tomorrow's post Franklin Mint's 1989 Ferrari F40

I tried to post this yesterday, but I kept getting a 404 error after the website was unavailable for about 45 minutes. Turns out there was something in my text that was creating the error, because I still couldn't post today. After eliminating one sentence at a time here it all is. I'll be posting the T-bird as soon as I'm through writing it. So many things tied to this classic automobile. Surprisingly, it has a stretched 1961 Ford Thunderbird chassis. It also has the next to the last of the Mercury Edsel Lincoln (MEL) big block engine in a whopping 430 cubic inches. Not a lot of horsepower at 315, but gobs of torque at 475. Painted in Presidential Black with a crisp white convertible top, this car is simple elegance and Holly Golightly grace. The coolest thing about the Continental is the rear suicide doors and second coolest is it's a convertible. When's the last time you saw a convertible 4 door? This diecast from Franklin mint was released in 1996. It is sort of a nice transition piece from the old way FM was making diecast to a step up with more detail. There are more photo etched items such as the grille, hood ornament, and wipers. The under hood area has ignition wires, AC hoses and battery cables. There are still doglegs on the doors, but they're well integrated. Speaking of the interior, no instrument stickers! As you'll see on an upcoming post of an older FM car, the stickered dash gauges are just sad looking. The trunk is fully carpeted and has a hubcapped full spare. About the only thing that truly bothers me is there are holes in the rear deck when the top is off. Supposedly only 1000 of the black and white ones were made. Seems like a lot of them are for sale to be so few. These can be all over the place price wise, but I feel I got a bargain when I purchased this one. There was no damage in the pictures, unfortunately, the hood was not secured prior to packing in the foam shell. Because it opens backwards, the hood ornament was flattened after shipping. I was able to bend it back in place, but it will never be the same, and it will take little to damage it again. The only other need was a good polishing. On with the photos. Tomorrow I post Danbury Mint's 1961 Ford Thunderbird Indy Pace Car, which I managed to get two in less than six months. So one is going on eBay.

These seem to go for very low prices in good condition with boxes and sometimes paperwork. I got this one for $16.50, along with the 40 Ford hot rod, and Deuce Roadster from the same seller. Saved on shipping.

This popped up today in my search and it was too cheap to pass up. Unlike Randy's complete offering, I don't thing I'm getting the top, fender skirts, and the seller says no box and COA, but it was so pretty!

Who knew that in the '90s Chrysler, the company that almost went bankrupt and was saved by the K-car and the minivan. Would release not one, but two near exact copies of concept cars. One was the Dodge Viper, the nearest thing to a race car you could by from a dealer. The other was a modern hot rod called the Plymouth Prowler. I have to admit I was never a fan of the 1:1 Prowler, but this miniature from Danbury Mint is stunning! The details are amazing from the miles deep, metalflake purple paint, to the perfectly depicted articulating and sprung suspension. The interior is brilliantly captured with a working center console, all the dash gauges, buttons and knobs are labeled. The belts and latches are well defined and almost look like they could work. The seats are pliable and wrinkled realistically. There are even airbag warnings on the movable sun visors. Under the hood, the 3. 5 liter engine has all the correct wiring, hoses, belts, and pulleys of a modern day car. The trunk opens to reveal the folded top (permanent). It also comes with an up top. Even the one thing that was the biggest turn off for me, and probably most people, was well captured. I'm talking about those horrendous bumpers. They even have proper colored lens front and rear and tiny Plymouth Prowler scripts in the rear. Mine came with only the need for some cleaning and the interior had some super glue vapor marking on the center console (factory?). I was able to clean most of it off, but I can still see some traces because I know it was there. Any ways, here's the pictures. Tomorrow I post an elegant offering from Lincoln, the 1961 Continental by Franklin Mint

I agree Randy. There seems to be one exception as far as I can tell. Oddly enough it's the stock versions of this from DM. I can find no evidence of paint cracking on the stock Raven Black & Snowshoe White, Buckskin Brown & Snowshoe White, and Sea Sprite Green & Snowshoe White 1955 Crown Victorias. I think the problem lies with the paint itself and maybe where and how the cars are stored. I have the black and white version and noticed the paint is not super smooth. Now that the white paint has come off the custom, I can see why. The chrome is textured. On the other color combinations, this painted area looks super smooth. Not sure if they polished the molds or changed the painting techniques. As far as the FM black 57 Cadillac is concerned, I agree. I have the LE metallic blue one and knock on wood, no issues so far. It seems I recall another painted chrome mint car shedding paint. But I can't remember which one.

Were you able to finish your Caddy? It looks good so far. Sadly, I think this is the first year in a long time I didn't watch stream or listen to any of the 24 hours of Daytona and I didn't even have to work today. No Ford representation, so I have no care to watch.

Danbury Mint's 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Custom has very subtle, but tasteful modifications. It's painted in a beautiful metallic turquoise with excellent pin-striping front and back and the stock Crown Victoria top is painted white. From the front the most obvious mod is the toothy 1955 Desoto grille and the stock bumper is turned upside down. The hood is sans ornamentation and punched full of louvers. There are also twin dummy spots on the cowl and a sunken antenna. Factory chrome is removed from the body and a single, long, thin, spear runs the length of the side. The rear wheel wells are covered by large bubble fender skirts with a triple chrome strake intake. This custom also has functional capped lake pipes. The rear has custom taillights, chrome removed, and slashed baloney tail pipes below the custom rolled rear pan. Also, don't miss the authentic Pharaohs Car Club plaque. The wheels have wide whites topped with triple bar Dodge Polara hubcaps. The most subtle modification has to be the suicide doors. There are no exterior door handles, so if you didn't know it, you couldn't tell. The all white interior has custom front seats with the standard tuck and roll upholstery. There's also a pair of glasses on the center console and a tiny Little Tree royal pine air freshener hanging from the mirror. The engine is a Triple Deuce carbed, Ford Y-block with chromed valve covers, water pump, intake, and headers. The heater blower motor and plenum are chromed too. There's nothing special in the trunk, just a hubcapped spare. The chassis is essentially stock other than lowering and dual exhausts. I found this one at a discount because as you can see, the white paint is flaking off the chromed roof. This seems to be common and one seller was trying to sale his as a factory mistake that was never painted (you could still see tiny bits of overspray in the corners). Once it warms up a bit, I'm going to remove all traces and respray this one. I have an example of what it will look like after. On with the pictures. Missing Paint The magic of Microsoft's Paint 3D Suicide doors Where are my shades? Smell that? Tomorrow I'll post a car that was a concept from Chrysler that became a modern hot rod you could buy at the dealer.

This Convertible Shoe Box Custom from Danbury Mint has a magnificent bright metallic magenta color that you have to see. It's one of those colors from the wife's nail polish collection. Pictures don't do it justice.The boldest body modification is the chopped and steeply raked windshield, and another Carson top which really highlights the paint. The grill is 1953 Ford and the headlights are Frenched. It has fender skirts created from what looks like the same 1953 Ford quarter panels and chrome "intake" trim. I'm not sure exactly where the front fender and door chrome trim came from, but they resemble that of a 1958 Impala. The hubcaps kind of look like Cadillac, but I thick they're custom with a Cadillac center medallion. The rear bumper looks like 1953 Buick Skylark and the dual exhaust tips exit through the bumperettes. It also has what would be functional capped lake pipes. The interior is simple white narrow pleat, tuck and roll upholstery with wine colored carpet. The steering wheel isn't stock and I'm not sure of it's origins, maybe 1950 Cadillac? Anyways, the trunk is also lined with the same carpet as the interior. The spare is covered in the material too, and there is the ubiquitous chromed tools for display along with some don't touch placards. Under the hood you'll find a multi (4) carbureted Cadillac mill. Fully dressed in finned, chromed rocker covers and red plug wires, this motor is sharp. Surprisingly, the chassis appears to be only lowered with dual exhausts and Smithy glass packs, it's stock otherwise. This is another one that was pretty cheap and I may be on the look out for a better one. The paint on the skirts is cracking. I'm not sure how long it will be before it starts to pop off. looking at ones for sale, I've noticed several have this problem. None have lost the paint but like the chrome on a lot of DM cars, it's only a matter of time. All I had to do for this one was give it a good polish. Here are the pictures. All for now, tomorrow I'll post Danbury Mint's 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Custom

Hey Randy, Not sure if it's all there, because the seller didn't provide enough pictures or a clear description. https://www.ebay.com/itm/BEAUTIFUL-DANBURY-MINT-1936-FORD-HOT-ROD-1-24-MINT-IN-BOX/312956763006?hash=item48ddad3b7e:g:9GkAAOSwSdleJgYI

I It seems I've been immersed in car models and car related reading material since I was a able to read. I didn't like to read typical literature when I was a kid, but I loved magazines. My Mom indulged me with subscriptions to Rod Action when I was about 8 and I believe she kept it current until I entered the Air Force. I've never built 1:1 hot rods, but I've built and ruined plenty of scale cars. Oh yeah, I finally picked up a book after joining the service. I average about 60 novels a year.

Yeah, I used to live in North Carolina, NASCAR, ACC Mens Basketball and the Panthers. That's about it!

If this 1936 Ford Hot Rod from Danbury Mint shares anything from the 1936 Ford Deluxe Cabriolet, it's well hidden. This car screams Hot Rod! A well detailed, modified small block Chevy engine with capped headers exiting out the sides of the hood, through the front fenders and dual, almost straight pipes out the rear. If it was a real car this thing would rap loud! About a bazillion red-pinstriped louvers punched in the top of the hood panels and rumble seat lid. Raked perfectly with big and little whitewalls on red steelies, trim rings, and dog-dish hubcaps. 1937 Ford fenders and headlights, 1939 Ford teardrop taillights with bluedots. Other custom exterior touches are the chopped windshield without a header, chopped convertible top, and white running boards The interior has maroon and white tuck and roll seats, custom knobs on the 1940 Ford dash and a photo-etched steering wheel which I think represents a banjo steering wheel. There's also a wash bucket in the footwell of the rumble seat. The suspension was also not left untouched. Besides being obviously lowered, the front has a fully chromed dropped and drilled axle with chromed, and split wishbones. The rear appears to be a Ford nine inch, suspended on chromed four links and coil-over shocks.This one was hard to find at a good price. It was was pretty cheap and complete, but as typical of a lot of these, it exhibits minor rash on a few spots, most notably the rumble seat lid. All I had to do to this was give it a really good polish. Here's the pictures. This is the last one I take pictures before I clean and polish. Polished up for a trip to Mels drive-in! With top installed. Tomorrow I'm posting Danbury Mint's 1950 Lead Sled.

Thanks, I don't really know what possessed me to start seeking custom cars and hot rods from the mints. I occasionally see the Hirohata Merc start in my price range, but it never stays there. Maybe it was the really comical cartoonish cars from Jada. Those I never wanted. I wanted something a little more realistic. I have looked at a couple of the HW 1/24 Legends on eBay. They're either spendy or in really poor condition beyond what I want to repair. 36 will be posted shortly.

I picked up this pair of Datsun 240Z tribute race cars from Greenlight over the last two days at the local Hobby Lobby. Had to use that 40% discount. $29.99 retail price, Sheesh. Even at $19.34 after taxes it's about $10 too much considering the quality and content. I guess I don't have to buy them, but they do look pretty good. The BRE tribute has a "roll cage" and stock seats instead of a racing drivers seat. There was never a Gulf racing livery 240Z, but it looks pretty cool. No cage in this one and the same interior otherwise. There are no engines and the hood pins are silver circles. The chassis plate is plastic with minimal detail. I did polish both of them because the tampo printing was dull. I plan to Snake-Fu" both of them and detail that later.

Looks really sharp Snake!

That's pretty freakin' cool!

Outstanding!

This is Danbury Mint's 1950 Mercury Custom. This Kustom Kemp is Kool! It's also quite heavy! I really like the plum and lavender color combination with the white Carson top. If you go searching for these for sale be very wary of the Carson tops. The textured paint used on them is prone to failure. They become all sticky. This one is in good shape but I looked at a bunch for sale that were ruined and from what I have read there may be no way to strip the material off and refinish it. The only thing this one needed was a good polishing and the window glued back in the top. The Fuzzy Dice came in a little bag and some of the fuzz is shedding. I had a hard time getting it's string over the mirror because the visor was butt up against it. There is another variation I've noticed, a 1951 black primer and cream version with a Pontiac grill and flipper hubcaps. The engine is modified as well. Enjoy the photos! Big purple fuzzy dice! Snake eyes! All polished up and ready to cruise the strip! Next up Danbury Mint's 1936 Ford Hot Rod

So have I Randy. I got real lucky on this one. They usually go for more in this condition with a box, accessories and papers. Right time right place I guess. I paid $41 plus shipping and nothing was really really broken other than that exhaust tip which I missed. Well actually I don't see it in the supplied pictures. I'm happy, hopefully I'll eventually find the Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde cars in a condition and price I can live with.

Umm yeah paint is not the word I'd use, wrecked is more like it. No skills or patience trying to paint red plastic with jade green. Don't remember the model, but I do remember it was eventually fixed with firecrackers or model glue and matches.

The original T-Bolt. Awe you beet me to it!