"Barn find"?

[deja-view]

Is this a "barn find", a beat up survivor, or just a really bad build?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360352703133?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[Dr. Cranky]

I comes ready to be put into an 1/8th scale "Barn Find" diorama.

[deja-view]

LOL. I think you're right. But not for $479.

[The Creative Explorer]

for that money you should be able to find either a new one or partially built.

[midengineaddict]

9 offers... i hope those offers is arrond 0.99$

[Jantrix]

It doesn't look badly built it just looks like it has been in a garage or attic and is consequently a bit beat up. And yeah, seriously overpriced.

[scummy]

Geez it looks to have been built many moons ago and maybe survived many moves and storage . I liked the story about the guy who designed it and the history of the factory .

[hot ford coupe]

It's definitely got a lot of detail. I vote for beat up survivor. With a little work, it could be a nice looking model. I just don't like the price.

[sjordan]

It sure is missing some important parts to merit that price (no top, valve cover or oil pan, and who knows what else). Pocher builders may know the answer to this: Wasn't the Rivarossi/Pocher ID plate mostly found on factory-built display models?

[Harry P.]

The history of Pocher is kind of complicated. Apparently there was a fire at Pocher at some point, after which Rivarossi (a model railroad company) acquired Pocher, and sold Pocher kits under the Pocher/Rivarossi brand. Pochers were also sold under the Tyco brand at some point, I think after Rivarossi went bankrupt. But the exact sequence of fire/ownership/bankruptcy is kind of murky.

I have bought kits marketed as three different versions/brands: Pocher, Rivarossi and Tyco.

[sjordan]

This is what I meant about the Rivarossi/Pocher ID plate. I've seen it on factory-built display versions, but didn't know if it was among the parts for the kit versions.

[Harry P.]

I did a little research online. Here's what I found:

1911: Arnaldo Pocher born. Studied godsmithing/engraving in school.

1932: Moved to Turin to carry out his trade.

Late 1940s: came into contact with model railroading, began producing model railroad accessories for a local Turin shop.

1951: Founded Pocher Micromeccanica in Turin, producing model railroad accessories, and later, locomotives and rolling stock.

1956: Ocean liner Andrea Doria sunk, carrying thousands of Pocher locomotives and rolling stock destined for the US market.

1956: Italian model railroad company Rivarossi was commissioned by Fiat to produce scale models of the Fiat 500 and 600. They were sold in fully assembled form as "disassembly models." and included instructions on how to take them APART!

1961: Fiat commissioned Pocher to produce models of the new Fiat 1300, which was to be introduced at the Turin Auto Show in April 1961. The model was in 1/13 scale and featured operating steering and an opening hood with engine detail.

1963: Rivarossi and Pocher combine their operations to produce both automobile kits and model railroad products.

1964: Pocher/Rivarossi continue to produce new Fiat 1/13 scale models to coincide with each new model introduced by Fiat.

1966: At the Milan International Toy Fair, Pocher introduces its first 1/8 scale automobile kit, the 1907 Fiat F2 Grand Prix race car. The model was also sold in preassembled form in a glass display case.

1968: Pocher introduces its first 1/8 scale Alfa Romeo kit, the Monza. Arnaldo Pocher leaves the company.

1970: Pocher introduces its third 1/8 scale kit (and their first Rolls Royce), the Sedanca Drophead coupe.

1972: Fire destroys the Pocher plant. Plant is rebuilt.

1975: Pocher introduces its first 1/8 scale Mercedes kit, the 500 cabriolet.

1977: Pocher introduces the 1/8 scale Rolls Royce "Star of India" kit.

1980: Pocher introduces its first 1/8 scale Bugatti model kit.

1981: Pocher becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rivarossi, production moves to Como, Italy.

Late 1980s-early 1990s: Pocher introduces their "modern" series of 1/8 scale kits: Ferrari F50, Ferrari Testarossa, Porsche 911 and Volvo truck.

1995?: Rivarossi goes bankrupt, company is sold to English company Hornby; automobile model kit production ends. Not sure of what happened to all the tooling.

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Notes:

Some of the Pocher "classic" kits-Alfa, Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Bugatti-were also sold in preassembled form... not sure which ones, or for how long.

For a time, Pocher kits were also imported into the US by Tyco, who put their name and logo on the boxes along with the Pocher name. Not sure of the years that Tyco was involved with importing Pocher kits.

Pocher produced only four different chassis for their "classic" series of kits (Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Bugatti). The various kit versions of those four makes all had the same chassis/engine with different bodies, interiors and trim. For example, all the different Rolls Royce kits (Sedanca, Star of India, etc., share the same engine and chassis).

Pocher 1/8 scale auto kits in their "classic" series (Alfa, Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Bugatti) underwent changes/revisions over the years. The early kits had better quality, better stamped metal "chrome" parts, and real wire spoke wheels that had to be assembled spoke by spoke. Later kits have simplified, molded plastic spoked wheels, inferior metal "chrome" parts and worse parts fit due to aging molds.

[sjordan]

The first Pocher kit I ever saw was an assembled black Mercedes Cabriolet at FAO Schwartz in New York, back in the 70s. Regardless of its shortcomings, it was something awesome to behold (but I'd never attempt to build one).

BTW: Arnaldo Pocher must have been a saint if he was into godsmithing.

[Harry P.]

BTW: Arnaldo Pocher must have been a saint if he was into godsmithing.

Goldsmithing.