Model Factory Hiro Porsche 550

[Terry Jessee]

Hosted on Fotki

This is a 1/24 kit of the Porsche 550 Spyder. This particular car is the "Little Bastard," the car James Dean was driving when he was killed in 1955. The main body and chassis (this is a curbside) is one piece. It's an amazing casting. The interior slips up through the bottom and completes the chassis pan.

This kit has complete decals for the Dean car, along with some nice photoetch, plated metal castings, and a figure of James Dean--nicely done, too.

By the way, the Jimmy Flintstone "James Dean" 550s you may have seen for sale on the 'bay are actually 550A race cars. You'll need to do a bit of work to make them into a street version.

More to come....

Terry

[CAL]

Hosted on Fotki

This is a 1/24 kit of the Porsche 550 Spyder. This particular car is the "Little Bastard," the car James Dean was driving when he was killed in 1955. The main body and chassis (this is a curbside) is one piece. It's an amazing casting. The interior slips up through the bottom and completes the chassis pan.

This kit has complete decals for the Dean car, along with some nice photoetch, plated metal castings, and a figure of James Dean--nicely done, too.

By the way, the Jimmy Flintstone "James Dean" 550s you may have seen for sale on the 'bay are actually 550A race cars. You'll need to do a bit of work to make them into a street version.

More to come....

Terry

Sweet. by far the sexiest car ever!

I still say there is a market for a mainstream plastic kit.

I suspect, though, since there is only a handful of them left in the whole world they are hard to get a hold of for study.

[crispy]

Terry, I look forward to seeing this!

At the last car show I was at their was a replica there. Not that you need the reference, but I'll post a link to the pictures and you can look at them for yourself.

Chris

Page 2 Little Bastard Pics.

[MrObsessive]

Man that sure is a nice kit!

I love all of Model Factory Hiro's cars.............'cept they're a little too expensive for me right now.

I had wanted the Aston Martin Zagato ('61?) when it was out but now I believe they're no longer making 'em.

[Terry Jessee]

Man that sure is a nice kit!

I love all of Model Factory Hiro's cars.............'cept they're a little too expensive for me right now.

I had wanted the Aston Martin Zagato ('61?) when it was out but now I believe they're no longer making 'em.

Check here, Bill.

http://www.hapico.com/02_24th/HIR/079-K122/00.htm

Think you can still get one although they're still expen$ive!!!

Terry

[MrObsessive]

Thanks for the link Terry!

I almost forgot about them........I get 'em bookmarked now!

Their translation to English is a SCREAM!! You've got to check out their "Health" section if you've not seen it!!

And yes, they're still expensive, but dang it-----I WANT one!! I'm gonna have to break the bank it seems! Incidentally, I have a resin body transkit that I got from Creative Miniatures years ago, I just need the rest of the parts to finish it.

It was meant (I think) to be used with the Aurora/Monogram Aston Martin kit, but I don't think the chassis' are the same between the Zagatos and the regular Aston Martins.

Maybe someone familar with Astons knows for sure?

[novadose71]

Should turn out cool when your done Terry. Are you doing the Dean car? Keep us posted and if could I twist your arm a little and get you to include a pic of the figure that came with the kit with your next update, that would be cool.

Hey Bill, not real familiar with Aston Martin (so don't quote me on this ) but Zagato being a coachbuilder probably got the running/rolling chassis from Aston Martin and built a cage on it and skinned it in aluminum or whatever, and probably had the same chassis, unless it was a special or race version. That's the way they did it with Ferrari(which were all coachbuilt and no secret), the Ferrari 250 Zagato had a 250 GT (TDF) chassis under it, and they were also bodied by Scagleitti, Pininfarina, etc., etc.

A little off topic, but this thread reminded me of a neat story my X-boss told me of an old coachbuilder in the early to mid 50's, I can't remember which one but they did one(or all 2 or 3) of the Ferrari 857 Sport's, anyhoo, they were located in the forest in Italy somewhere, and as you drove towards their building the forest was cleared around the building, all that were left were 3-4 foot stumps, with the tops carved into different shapes and curves......the builder would figure out the shapes he needed, go outside, find the right stump and start forming....go back inside test fit..and go back out....and repeat until the panel was shaped correctly...talk about old school.

[Harold]

That is sweet, Terry. Remember- drive safely- the life you save may be mine.

[Nick F40]

Hosted on Fotki

This is a 1/24 kit of the Porsche 550 Spyder. This particular car is the "Little Bastard," the car James Dean was driving when he was killed in 1955. The main body and chassis (this is a curbside) is one piece. It's an amazing casting. The interior slips up through the bottom and completes the chassis pan.

This kit has complete decals for the Dean car, along with some nice photoetch, plated metal castings, and a figure of James Dean--nicely done, too.

By the way, the Jimmy Flintstone "James Dean" 550s you may have seen for sale on the 'bay are actually 550A race cars. You'll need to do a bit of work to make them into a street version.

More to come....

Terry

Ok, absolutly love the name and love the car, always one of my favorite, PROMISE I will keep on this thread!

Sweet. by far the sexiest car ever!

I don't know about that! One of the tops

Edited July 22, 2008 by Nick F40

[CAL]

I don't know about that! One of the tops

I do.

[curt raitz]

The Porsche 550 is one of my favorite cars...

this model looks fantastic in resin before paint has even touched it

gonna have to pony up the bucks

I've been past the location of the James Dean accident.

Highway 41 has been widened a little bit...you can still visualize how the accident happened

looking forward to seeing you complete this model

thanx

[mademan]

if possible can you please email me @ speedbird_tbird@hotmail.com with info on where to aquire one of these kits. I must have one!!!

[Zoom Zoom]

Looks fantastic! Should be a fun build, as simple as it is. Their prototype photos of the finished model look great.

I have the Flintstone body...I think I'll have to make it as a bit of a custom, making it accurate too much work, and I do have the Fujimi parts needed for it.

[FamousCarz]

Hi Guys,

I know this is an extremely old topic but I am looking for one of these kits currently.

If anyone is aware of a company that still has them in stock OR if they are willing to sell me one, please contact me.

The Flintstone body is so far off from this that I don't really want to start with it.

Thanks!

[sjordan2]

The 1:18 Maisto diecast is a good start, but you'll need to paint the interior red and the steering wheel black, do a slight modification to the windscreen and open up the vents under the nose. At this scale, you'll need to make your own Lil' Bastard decals.

http://i1-18sca.ipower.com/0Porsche_550_Spyder.htm

You'll find some pretty good 1:1 reference here, though it's in somewhat unusual racing trim and has the banjo steering wheel. Unfortunately, there's not much on the actual Dean car to find, and the remains of the destroyed car have disappeared, probably stolen.

http://www.autosalon-singen.de/en/archiv-Porsche%20550%20Spyder.html?fahrzeugid=02388_0005_03_02

If you ever get a chance, check out the cable movie "James Dean," which catapulted James Franco to stardom, who literally channels Dean. It's available on DVD.

Edited August 9, 2013 by sjordan2

[IMSANUT]

The Flintstone body is a very specific race version. The rear deck is bumped up around the rear grills. Not too hard to correct if a racing version is what you're after.