014-dcx2015summer-dl

Loved Bug: Herbie in 1:18 ››› THE PASSION, PRODUCTS & PERSONALITIES THE CARS OF DAN GURNEY p. 40 BRITISH INVASION! ENGLAND’S BEST FROM ROAD TO RACE CMC Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Century Dragon Land Rover Defender 110 Exclusive! 88 Automodello MUST-SEE Display until June 2, 2015 Jim Clark Lotus 49 COLLECTIBLES SUMMER 2015 $6.99 US $8.99 CAN TWO-WHEEL ONE-OF- DIY DECALS DCXMAG.COM TRIBUTE A-KIND RECREATING DUCATI SPORT AUTO WORLD MODELS THAT 1000 BY AUTOART 427 IMPALA SHOULD HAVE BEEN







CONTENTS DIE CAST X | VOL. 11 | ISSUE 3 FEATURES 20 20 | British Invasion e English accent of America’s car culture 40 | Diecast Essentials: Dan Gurney Racing’s renaissance man OUT OF THE BOX 50 58 28 | Awesome Aero Aston DCXmag.com — e ultimate diecast community CMC Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato What’s on the web this time around? Well, models — lots of them. It’s true: we can’t fit all the cars we’d like into every issue, and several of the releases appear at our doorstep between printings. anks to the 32 | e Delivery Vehicle DCXmag.com website and the Die Cast X Facebook page, we can keep putting those cars at the top of our for Worldwide Adventure list, with on-the-spot reviews, photos, and the occasional video up for you to enjoy. Just click over to the site, or “like” our Facebook page to join the coolest community of collectors on the web! Century Dragon Landrover Defender 110 36 | Clark’s Final F1 car was the Shape of ings to Come Automodello 1967 Lotus 49 Jim Clark Dutch Grand Prix winner 46 | A Bigscreen Bug Worth Loving Hot Wheels Elite “Herbie” Volkswagen Beetle 50 | High-tech Homage to Ducati’s Sporting Roots AUTOart Ducati Sport 1000 58 | Raging Bull AUTOart Lamborghini Aventador J QUICK LOOKS UP FRONT REGULARS 62 | GreenLight “Tommy Boy” and “Joe 6 | Editorial 54| Hot Wheels Highway Dirt” ’67 Plymouth Belvedere GTX Summer Can’t Come Fast Enough! Star Wars/Walmart Eight-Car Exclusive Convertibles 8 | Scale Mail 66 | In Search Of 63 | Kyosho BMW X1 xDrive28i Questions, answers, comments Racing Replicas at Should Have Been 64 | Auto World Hemmings Muscle 10 | Showroom Machines 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 New releases & first looks ON THE COVER:Englandcolonizesourcoverwithatrioofgorgeousreplicas: Automodello’s exquisite 1967 Lotus 49 Dutch Grand Prix winner, CMC’s seductive Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, and Century Dragon’s formidable Land Rover Defender 110. Die Cast X (ISSN 1551-854X) published quarterly by Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Copyright 2014, all rights reserved. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Wilton, CT, and additional offices. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008153. CONTRIBUTIONS: All materials published in Die Cast X magazine become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc., unless prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. Descriptions of products were obtained from manufacturers or their press agencies and do not constitute an endorsement by the Publisher or guarantee their safety. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Call (866) 298-5652. Outside the U.S.: (386) 246-3323, or go to our website: DCXMag.com. Rates one year (4 issues): U.S. $25; Canada, $28, including GST; all others, $32. All international orders must be prepaid in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. ADVERTISING: Advertising rates are available on request. Please send advertising materials to Advertising Dept., Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA; phone (203) 431-9000; fax (203) 529-3010; email: advertising@ airage.com. EDITORIAL: Send correspondence to Editors, Die Cast X, Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Email: [email protected]. We welcome all editorial submissions but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. To authors, photographers and people featured in this magazine: all materials published in Die Cast X become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc. unless a prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: To make sure you don’t miss any issues, send your new address to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420134, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 USA at least six weeks before you move. Please include an address label from a recent issue, or print the information exactly as shown on the label. For faster service, go to DCXmag.com/cs, and click on the customer service link. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420134, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 USA.



EDITORIAL MGs for days! One of the quintessential sports cars in our British Invasion feature. SUMMER 2015 | VOLUME 11, NO. 3 Summer Can’t Come Fast Enough! EDITORIAL Executive Editor A s I sit at my desk writing this, here in the northeast we are experiencing a late Matt Boyd ›› [email protected] season cold-snap and seemingly endless snow. I am so ready for summer—for Editorial Director/Surface Group sunshine and especially for top-down driving weather. Fueling those visions of Peter Vieira ›› [email protected] better, warmer days is this issue’s big feature story “British Invasion” by our good Editorial Manager friend (and former Editor) Alan Paradise, chronicling the post-war influx of British sports cars Kayla Parent ›› [email protected] into the American automotive landscape, among them several perfect machines for winding through back roads with the wind in your hair! CONTRIBUTORS Bill Bennett, Peter Celona, Wayne Moyer, Accompanying that feature are reviews of three eminently English models. First up is an Alan Paradise, Dan Townsend, Mike Zarnock exclusive look at Automodello’s 1:12 1967 Jim Clark Lotus 49. Influential in so many ways, it will be remembered as the car that introduced the Cosworth DFV to F1, as well as the final win of ART Jim Clark’s all-too-brief F1 career. Automodello’s model is a fitting tribute, with impressive Creative Director Betty K. Nero detail throughout. Following that we have Wayne Moyer’s insightful take on the fabulous CMC Art Director Kevin Monahan Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato. In typical CMC fashion, the car features staggering craftsmanship Photographer Peter Hall in replicating one of the most beautiful Astons of all time. And finally we say goodbye to the venerable Land Rover Defender with Century Dragon’s classy 2014 Defender 110. e traditional DIGITAL MEDIA Land Rover will cease production after 67 years at the end of 2015; this model captures the Web Producer Holly Hansen essence of what has made the Defender so admired for so many years. ADVERTISING We have tons more to share as well. In Diecast Essentials Bill Bennett gives us an overview Advertising Director Mitch Brian ››203.529.4609 of many of Dan Gurney’s greatest racing machines produced in scale over the years. We give Senior Account Executive Ben Halladay you the latest news and releases in Showroom, including photos from this year’s Nuremberg ››203.529.4628 and New York Toy Fairs. We look under the bonnet of one of Hollywood’s most beloved movie Account Executive Pamela Dawkins cars—Hot Wheels 1:18 Herbie from the original 1968 film e Love Bug. Our two-wheel guru ››203.529.4654 Pete Celona’s day job is with the Ducati Preview Tour, so he was the perfect guy to analyze the AUTOart Ducati Sport 1000. CONSUMER MARKETING e Media Source, a division of TEN, e Enthusiast And don’t forget to check us out online at DCXMag.com and follow us on Facebook and Google+. While you’re checking out the online content, be sure to sign up for our free Die Cast X Network Newsletter. We have lots more models, reviews and breaking news between issues, plus videos and multimedia content. MARKETING & EVENTS Associate Creative Director Leslie Costa Matt Boyd Marketing Assitant Erica Driver Executive Editor Event Manager Emil DeFrancesco [email protected] PUBLISHING 6 DCXmag.com Group Publishers Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr., Yvonne M. DeFrancesco HOW TO REACH US EDITORIAL MAIL 88 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 USA Phone (203) 431-9000; Email [email protected] FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS, such as Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to DCXMag.com/cs. You can also call (800) 827-0323 or + (386) 246-3323 (outside the U.S.) Magazine Publishers RCX.com of America PRINTED IN THE USA



Scale Mail We received a couple of questions this YOUR FEEDBACK | WRITE TO US AT DCX AIRAGE.COM issue asking about the dark art of diecast collectible prognostication: WE WANT TO HEAR I was excited to read about the return of GMP in the Spring is- FROM YOU! sue. I used to collect them a few years ago and they’re great. QLooking through your magazine, I find myself Do you know which castings they will be bringing out again? having trouble pinning down exactly what makes a Tell us what you like, what I am mainly a Ford guy, but I collect a little of everything. model collectible. I see famous cars, and then oddballs you don’t and why Die Cast X that most people have never heard of. I see different is the best diecast maga- anks! Tyler W. brands, price ranges and scales. How do you guys know zine ever! Send snail mail to Tyler, we were thrilled to see GMP return as well. As a Ford what models are going to be collectible or valuable “Letters,” Die Cast X, Air Age fan, you’re in luck—GMP has a couple of Blue Oval castings down the road? —Mike O. Media, 88 Danbury Road, they are firing back up. ey have announced two upcoming Wilton, CT 06897 USA, or versions of their Fox body Mustang, a ’93 LX 5.0L in Vermillion AMike, I wish there was a formula to it. e reality is email us at [email protected]. Red, followed by a black ’91 FBI Pursuit Special. Muscle car that there are numerous factors involved—some We'll edit letters as needed, fans should rejoice at the return of one of GMP’s best ever of which you named—plus a host of other intangibles. and though we will read them castings—the ’66-67 Fairlane. First up will be an evil-looking Some things are straightforward—like quality, the size of all, we don't have room to black on black R-Code ’67 Fairlane 427. And they’ve got a the production run and the price. Quality is self-explan- answer or publish every one. couple of Chevys in the works too, in case you decide to break atory. Less production means rarity, and lower prices ranks with Ford! Most everything is available for pre-order mean more potential buyers—all of which enhance over at GMP’s distributor ACMEdiecast.com. —Matt Boyd collectability. After that it gets subjective. Great cars are those that capture the imagination, but great cars are not always good cars. (Just take a look at the British Invasion feature on page 20 and the parade of classic English sports cars bedeviled with Lucas electronics that didn’t start half the time)! Great cars often make good collectibles, but sometimes, terrible cars make great collectibles; (An Edsel for example). If there is one overriding theme that gives a car collectible potential, I would say it is distinctiveness. Good or bad, memorable cars inspire the imagination. ey have a story. ey trigger nostalgia. ey set themselves apart. at’s hardly a perfect answer, but it’s a start. —Matt Boyd e piece about the Mustang Wagon from Matrix in the Spring 2015 issue [“ e Mustang at QIt always seems to take a couple decades before Wasn’t”, p13] was quite interesting. After checking on the matrixscalemodels.com website, I we figure out which cars from a given era are the am wondering if there is an outlet here in the United States where one might look into obtain- good ones to become diecast models. What will be the ing the model? anks!—Garry T. hot model from this time period?—Curt K. Matrix is one of those brands carried sporadically by several retailers here in the US. A good AWay to put us on the spot Curt! In the near term place to look is Replicarz.com. For the Mustang Wagon in particular, you might need to scour there are a few that seem likely. For the muscle car secondary sources as well because demand for it is higher than with other Matrix pieces. crowd I’d bet on next year’s Shelby GT350 Mustang. A number of smaller vendors list new models on eBay—that would probably be your best Sports car fans should go for the C7 Corvette Stingray in source at this point. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your local dealer if they can acquire one for you. its various forms, and possibly the Porsche 918 Spyder. Sometimes, a dealer can trade among his network of suppliers and colleagues in other regions But like you say, it will probably take the perspective of to track down a model that is out of production. Even in this age of the internet, there is no 20 years before we see which machine of today ulti- replacement for good old-fashioned personal customer service! Good luck with your hunt. mately proves to be most noteworthy. If I had to take a shot in the dark right now, I’d look at Tesla—believe it or Matrix's Intermeccanica not. If it proves to be the brand that makes electric cars 1965 Ford Mustang Sta- both exciting and practical for the general car-buying tion Wagon can be tough public, it will be big 20 years down the road. to track down. Find Us On Facebook Naturally, we want you to be regulars at DCXmag. com, but if you want to see the latest diecast news and info in your Facebook feed, be sure to Like us! Click over to Facebook.com/diecastxmag and give us the blue thumbs-up.



SHOWROOM NEW RELEASES & FIRST LOOKS Arrivederci 458! It seems only yesterday that the 458 Italia stormed onto the supercar scene, but Ferrari has an- nounced its replacement—the forthcoming 488 GTB—so its time to say ‘arrivederci!’ to the 458. It’s Hot Wheels Elite Ferrari 458 Speciale not going out quietly, though. e final variant is the 458 Speciale, and it is indeed that. Sharper handling, lighter weight, and more power mean the Speciale is everything we love about the 458, only 1:43 & 1:18 | $65 & $130 more so! Hot Wheels Elite is sending it off in style with diecast versions in 1:43 and 1:18, available in three colors: Rosso Corsa (red) and Giallo Modena (yellow)—each with a contrasting triple stripe down the center—and a stripeless matte black version.. Engine and interior detail on par with the best of the Elite series is also part of the package. Hotwheels-elite.com Raising a Toast to the Six Pack Auto World American Muscle 1969 ½ Plymouth Road Runner 440-6 1:18 | $85 How ironic is it that one of the greatest competitors to Mopar’s mighty 426 Hemi ended up being produced by… Mopar? Chrysler’s performance engineers were looking for a less-expensive alternative to the Hemi to energize the budget-conscious performance market. In February 1969, they released a hotter version of their staple 440 Magnum with all-new triple 2-barrel carburation—dubbed the ‘440 Six Pack.’ It was produced by both Dodge and Plymouth, but only in the intermediate Road Runner/Super Bee platform, under code A12. at got you a beefed up 440 (underrated at 390hp) under a lift-off fiberglass hood, the heavy-duty driveline and axle out of the Hemi, plus the fattest performance tires Chrysler offered off the showroom floor. Auto World has released this Road Runner 440-6 in bright R4 (Charger) Red with a 4-speed. It captures the A12 details with wide redline tires on painted steel rims, the lift-off hood with jumbo scoop, and extra detail on the 440. Autoworldstore.com 10 DCXmag.com

Dan’s Last Dan’s Last Riverside Winner Riverside Ride Spark 1968 NASCAR Dan Gurney Spark 1970 Plymouth Superbird “Dan Gurney” Ford Torino 1:43 | $75 1:43 | $75 Dan’s long association with Ford ended in 1969 and he switched to Plymouth Dan Gurney was so dominant in the NASCAR Motor Trend Barracudas in the Trans Am and stock-block Plymouth engines in Indy racing. 500 race at Riverside Raceway that it became known as the Naturally, Chrysler wanted him in a Plymouth at Riverside, so Petty Racing “Gurney 500.” Driving a Wood Brothers Ford, Dan won 5 of prepared a Superbird carrying no.42, but painted in Dan’s All American Racing the 6 races between 1963 and 1968; the last at the wheel of dark metallic blue instead of Petty Blue. Dan put the big ’Bird on the pole, but finished a 1968 Ford Torino. Spark’s series of NASCAR winners now 6th, one spot behind Richard. Although Spark’s new series of NASCAR models looks a includes this fine resin model of Dan’s ’68 winner. Like the whole lot like the old Starter models, there are small—but significant—changes in the body of this others in this series, it looks, in photos, like the old Starter Superbird, much better detail, and much more interior detail, including a complete roll cage with clean, model. It is not! Panel lines are crisp and clean and the smaller-diameter tubes, full harness, fire bottles, rear axle cooler, and a very well detailed instrument fastback shape is right from any angle. e white and very panel. e paint is excellent and the carefully applied graphics are complete and accurate. Window dark blue paint are excellent; the gold numbers appear to be retaining clips and straps are photo-etched, as are the hood pins and cables. anks to Wild About foil while all the rest of the accurate and complete graphics Wheels (215-322-7593; [email protected]) for supplying the sample.—Wayne Moyer are carefully applied decals with a clear gloss top coat over spark-model.com everything. Bumpers and door handles (still required in ’68) are chrome-plated while quarter window frames are photo- Eye-grabbing etched. e accurate roll cage bars may be plastic; they’re too Graber thin, uniform, and flash free to be resin unless someone did a lot of cleanup work. ere’s a lot more interior detail than Automodello 1934 Duesenberg the Starter model, all of which matches photos very well. For J Graber Tribute Edition collectors who missed the Golden Age of Starter models, or simply want a better one, Spark has it. Wild About Wheels 1:24| $334 supplied this very accurate sample.—Wayne Moyer Some would say that a Duesenberg is a one-of-a-kind machine spark-model.com by definition, but this release by Automodello proves that it is indeed possible to have a vehicle that is more specialized and even more exclusive than your ho-hum “production” Duesy! Witness the Duesenberg J Graber speedster. Adapted from a chauffeur- driven 1930 towncar version, the car was extensively reengi- neered and rebodied by Swiss builder Graber Coachworks in 1934. Lower, smoother, more flowing lines suited the machine, which was capable of 160mph—the fastest pre-war road car ever built— not to mention among the most luxurious and expensive! e car remained a speedster for the rest of its time, and was completely restored in 1998, following which it won “Best of Show” at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. e model you see before you is Automodello’s Tribute Edition. It has special black and silver colors with a red interior, limited to just 80 serial-numbered pieces! ( ere is a standard edition of up to 499 pieces in black and blue that retails for $299.) Automodello.com Diecasm.com SUMMER 2015 11

SHOWROOM Fine Feline Superb Stutz Spark 1968 Series II Jaguar E-Type Coupe Brooklin 1933 DV-32 1:43 | $75 Weymann Super Jaguar had a winner when they introduced the E-Type Coupe Bearcat and Convertible (known on this side of the ocean as the XKE), in 1961. Even Enzo Ferrari called it “the most beautiful car ever 1:43 | $129.95 made.” Jaguar made mechanical improvements on a running Although already basis, but wisely left the shape alone until American regula- in financial tions required changing the headlights in 1967. e “Series II” trouble, Stutz was introduced in 1968, incorporating all the earlier changes introduced an along with a larger nose opening, radiator and more rake to all-new engine in the windshield. Spark’s new resincast Series II E-Type is 1931, the highly advanced unusual in representing a home-market car; the vast majority “Dual Valve” straight-eight were exported to the U.S., and most models are of left hand DV-32, along with a less power- drive XKE’s. Spark has done their homework very well; this ful single-cam (SV-32) version RHD coupe has all the visible Series II identifying features, at the 1931 New York Auto show. while the lack of side marker lights and seat belts is correct Hoping to revive sales, the Bearcat name was revived in 1932 for for British cars. Crisp panel lines, delicate louvers, and the au- a speedster that could be ordered with either engine. e short- thentic Opalescent Gray Metallic paint is as good as you’ll find wheelbase Super Bearcat DV-32 with a lightweight Weymann in this scale. Major brightwork parts are plated, the fender- fabric body followed in ’33. But Stutz didn’t have a low-price, high- top trim and windshield frame are bright printed chrome, and volume car for the Depression market and production ceased in the side window frames, wipers, and gorgeous wire-spoke 1935. Brooklin’s 200th “standard” model is this really fine ’33 Su- wheels are photo-etched (no brake disks behind them, sadly). per Bearcat. e heavy white-metal body’s lines match available Interior details are as complete and correct as the exterior, documentation from all angles and its glossy maroon paint is and there’s crisp relief chassis and drive-train detail on the excellent; (has Brooklin changed their paint process?) baseplate, with chromed exhaust tips. Wild About Wheels All exterior trim except the relief door hinges is provided our gorgeous review sample. —Wayne Moyer done with separate plated pieces; only the spark-models.com spare tire braces and vertical stripes on the leading edge of the rear fenders are miss- ing. Brooklin has the wood-grain painted dash correct, with the central instrument panel cast in relief, but the seat should have big pleats and door panels should be the same color. ere are big chromed drum brakes behind the cast-metal wheels and good chassis detail on the baseplate. Dimen- sions are right on the money, too. Brooklin’s Super Bearcat is a very welcome addition to their line. —Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com Cleaned-up Corvette Spark 1960 ‘Vette with Hardtop 1:43 | $75 An all-new body and the addition of the small-block Chevy V8 saved the Corvette in 1956. For the next several years, GM stylists added a variety of fake scoops, bulges, and useless trim to the body while Zora Arkus-Duntov and his engineers made continuous suspension and powertrain improve- ments that made the Corvette a force in American sports car racing. Most of the useless trim was re- moved for the 1959 model year, and the ’60 models had few changes. For the past 20 years, the best 1:43 scale ’60 Corvettes have been the long out-of-production (and expensive) hand-crafted white- metal models from Mini-Marque 43. ‘Vette collectors can celebrate; Spark’s new resincast model is simply better in every category. Its shape is right on, details are all there with excellent scale fidelity, and the white paint with correct semi-gloss silver coves is excellent. e hardtop’s window surrounds, thin side cove trim, and even thinner fender-top stripes are printed in bright chrome, badges and crossed-flag emblems are tiny photo-etched pieces, and the remaining brightwork is plated. Check out the really thin chrome lines in the faired-in taillights. at hardtop makes it difficult to see the inte- rior, but it’s all there; accurate and realistic upholstery, correct dash with detailed instruments and tach below the speedometer, chrome trim, and even the reverse lockout on the shifter. Accurate wheels with fake knockoffs, correct narrow whitewalls, and well-done relief chassis detail complete the best 1960 Corvette in this scale. anks to Wild About Wheels for this sample. —Wayne Moyer spark-models.com 12 DCXmag.com

Ultimate Street Machine Muscular Malibu ACME Trading Co. 1968 Pontiac “Blackbird” ACME 1965 Chevelle Malibu SS 1:18 | $135 As soon as 1968 Firebirds were available, the parts manager at a 1:18 | $130 Detroit dealership ordered one he intended to build up for street Chevrolet introduced the new mid- racing. Delivered in black with “Light Peach Gold” trim, it had sized Malibu in 1964 to fill the gap the Ram Air 400 engine, “three on the tree” column shift for its between the compact Chevy II and Hydra-Matic transmission, and air conditioning! Although the full-size Chevrolets in response to black Firebird became a familiar sight at Detroit street races, it Ford’s similar Fairlane. At the top of wasn’t until Jim Wangers, legendary marketing maven for Pontiac, the line was the Malibu SS, available bought it in 1970 and dropped in a “backdoor” experimental as either a two-door hardtop or con- Pontiac 455 cid V-8 with all the hop-up parts his friends at Pontiac vertible. Surprisingly, the Chevrolet got a substantial facelift in 1965, becoming could provide that the “Blackbird” gained such notoriety as the longer and lower in the process. What you see here is an early color sample of absolute ruler of Woodward Avenue that it was featured in the ACME’s new 1965 Malibu SS. e 2-door hardtop lines are right on the money, March 1971 Popular Hot Rodding and January 1972 Super Stock with accurate ’65 front and rear clips, clean body sides, and all the trim details for the top-end Malibu SS 327. is early sample’s glossy Danube Blue paint matches paint chips very well and looks ready for production. e badges, nameplates, and red accent lines on the authentic three-bar flipper caps are crisply printed, but all other trim is done with bright chrome pieces. Everything opens and the 327 V-8 has chrome valve covers, ignition wiring, battery cables, master-cylinder plumbing, and much more. Interior detail is just as good; the SS package bucket seats have authentic two-tone upholstery patterns, belts are fabric with plated hardware, and the inner handles, window cranks, and door locks are chrome-plated. Naturally, the dash has a full set of detailed gauges and the SS’s dash-mounted tach is right where it should be. —Wayne Moyer acmediecast.com and Drag Racing magazines. e Blackbird’s reputation among Handsome Hisso Firebird enthusiasts, coupled with the fact that it still exists, made it a natural choice for the first release in ACME Trading Companies Minichamps Mullin Collection Hispano-Suiza J-12 Cabriolet new series of ’68 Firebird models. What you see here is one of the first “color samples” to reach these shores, and as such, there 1:43 | $95 will be many changes made in production versions. e Black and Hispano-Suizas were designed by Swiss engineer/designer Marc Birkigt and most were built in Spain Peach Gold paint matches photos very well, with crisply printed (hence the name), but the most luxurious were built in a Paris suburb. at’s the case with Birkigt’s “400” numbers; nameplates, portions of the side window trim, final masterpiece, the V-12 powered J-12, which was sold only as a rolling chassis (for $12,000 1935 lamp housings, and the rear fender trim are all printed chrome dollars!) which lucky buyers then took to their favorite coachbuilder. Chassis 14004 originally carried with other brightwork done with plated parts. Everything opens, a limousine body, which was soon replaced with a rather formal cabriolet body by Vanvooren. It still of course; under the hood of this early sample is a stand-in small- carried that coachwork, and photos show that Minichamps’ new resincast model is a very accurate block and manual gearbox, but ACME says production models miniature of the car as restored by Peter Mullin. Its smooth resin body has a very good two-tone blue will have correct big-block engines and Hyda-Matics—possibly finish with the separation line provided by an exceptionally thin bright printed chrome stripe. Every in both “original” and “Jim Wangers” versions of the Blackbird. detail is there with excellent scale fidelity; even the boot cover snaps are pinpoints of chrome. e tiny Interior detail is just as good, with nicely done upholstery (includ- photo-etched stork mascot and even smaller multi-color radiator badge are especially noteworthy. ing the oft-neglected headliner), plated handles and cranks, fabric Interior detail is crucial in an open model, and Spark has done this one full justice with realistic uphol- belts, wood-grain console trim, and detailed instruments. Chassis stery, wood-grain dash and door sills, authentic instrument panel with seven detailed gauges, sepa- detail includes separate hydraulic and fuel lines, good suspension rate plated interior handles, and pedals, shift lever, and handbrake. Drivetrain and separate exhaust detail, and correct skinny front wheels and tires with wide rear system components are picked out in at least four different metallic shades. —Wayne Moyer rims carrying slicks. Blackbird’s massive traction arms are missing CarVillemodels.com and hopefully those will be on the production models, too. If ACME makes the necessary changes while preserving the paint quality and level of detail, Pontiac fans are in for a treat. —Wayne Moyer Acmediecast.com SUMMER 2015 13

SHOWROOM SHOWTIME! 2015 Nuremberg and New York Toy Fairs February is show time in the diecast world. e New York International Toy Fair follows just a week or two after “Spielwarenmesse,” otherwise known as the Nuremberg Toy Fair—the biggest event of the year for the diecast community. Die Cast X was at both this year, and we snagged a few pictures of the prod- ucts and goings on at both events. Actually, much of what you see elsewhere in Showroom—and in the rest of this issue for that matter—derives directly or indirectly from these two shows, but we thought we’d give you a little extra. Here are some of the interesting models on display: e biggest news of the show for many was that of Bburago e good news over at GreenLight is bad—Breaking Bad. ey’ve securing the exclusive Ferrari diecast license, taking over got a licensing agreement to produce vehicles from the hit series from Hot Wheels in 1:18, 1:43 and 1:64. is is a big, in 1:64, including the infamous “Crystal Ship”—Walter White’s big deal for Bburago, whose roots as an Italian brand Fleetwood Bounder-based mobile lab! place Ferrari dear to its heart. To celebrate Bburago is launching a new upscale Signature Series, with more Ferrari is their focus, but detail and refinement than the company has ever produced. Bburago has other new models Prototypes of one of the first releases—a California T—look in the works, including versions fantastic! of Porsche’s Macan and 918 supercar. Other GreenLight highlights are the Hitch & Tow series of trucks and trailers. We swung by Carrera’s booth to admire the new accurate slot car replicas—especially the larger scale 1:32 ough our focus is usually on automotive models, the Toy Fairs have and 1:24 stuff. ey have some cool new GM and Ferrari pieces for 2015. collectible diecast of all genres. Video game fans will recognize the prototypes of Dark Horse’s forthcoming HALO spacecraft. 14 DCXmag.com

e guys at M2 Machines were excited about their new 1:24 hobby-grade 1960 Volkswagen Microbuses— one weathered and one pristine. Lots of opening panels and extra detail on both! If you’re into aviation models, these new Art of Flight diorama book- ends from Flight Plan Collectibles are worth a look. “Tropical Trollop” is a B-24 Liberator, while “Ack Ack Annie” is a B-17G Flying Fortress. ey match up nicely with the 7-inch figures from Series 3. SOURCES e guys at Motorhead Miniatures have a new deal with Autoworldstore.com Ford, and a new line of 1:43 cars called Genuine Ford Parts. Bburago.com Two of the first releases are this 1959 Ranch Wagon and this Carrera-toys.com 1960 Starliner. Darkhorse.com Flightplancollectibles.com Greenlighttoys.com Maisto.com M2Machines.com Motorheadminiatures.net Most of the buzz at the Maisto booth concerned sister brand Auto World had all sorts of Bburago’s big Ferrari news, but Maisto has a new upscale line as well. scales on display. In 1:64 they It will be called the Exclusive Series, and the first three off the line will showed off their new 2015 Mus- be the Z51 track pack Corvette Stingray, the 2015 Mustang GT, and the tang GT, among others. ere’s forthcoming Mercedes AMG GT. a new 1:24 series of classic Richard Petty NASCAR racers like this Plymouth Satellite. And in 1:18, a sweet T-bird! SUMMER 2015 15

SHOWROOM Drop-top Conti French Curves Sun Star Platinum Series Lincoln Mark III Minichamps Mullin Collection 1937 Continental Convertible Delahaye Type 135 Figoni et Falaschi Torpedo Cabriolet 1:18 | $100 1:43 | $99 Last issue we reviewed Sun Star’s 1958 Mark III Hard Top, Depending on a buyer’s requirements, the Delahaye 135 could be purchased as a very competitive race and they just released preview pix of the next in the series— car or as a rolling chassis with a somewhat detuned engine and a road-tuned chassis ready for be- this drop-top in silver. Check out the Spring 2015 issue for spoke custom bodywork. Virtually every major coachbuilder in Europe clothed at least one Type 135, the details on the…um…details. We expect the finish, trim, but there’s no question that the most stunning were the cabriolet and coupe bodies created by French interior and engine detail to equal that piece—which is to coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi. Chassis 49150 was purchased by international entrepreneur Casimir say, among the best Sun Star has produced. It’s available for Jourde and taken to Figoini et Falaschi where it received an aerodynamically clean dark red torpedo preorder now, so see your favorite dealer in person or online. cabriolet body. After being displayed at the 1939 Paris Auto Show, Jourde shipped it to India for his Sunstarmodelcars.com use while in Bombay. It quickly became known as “ e Star of India” and was sold to an Indian prince before the war, then disappeared for decades before being found in 1982. After an incorrect English Hail to this Taxi restoration, it was purchased by Peter Mullin, who returned the car to its original configuration—except for a two-tone blue paint job that highlights its voluptuous curves. Sun Star 1981 Checker Marathon A11 New York Cab Minichamps resincast model is a knockout; its spectacular body and details are done with excellent scale fidelity, and the paint is as good as you’ll find in this scale! e very thin chrome fender welting 1:18 | $80 and tiny F&F badges are printed chrome, and you can read (with strong magnification) “DELAHAYE” in e A-series Checker Marathon is probably the most recognizable the radiator badge that’s not much bigger than a pinhead. Interior detail is just as complete (check out the chrome bezels around the gauges) and accurate and photo-etched wire wheels are tucked inside Taxi in automotive history. No wonder—it was in production virtu- the spatted fenders. —Wayne Moyer ally unchanged (externally) for nearly a quarter century, from 1958 CarVillemodels.com until 1982. Sun Star has had a Checker casting for quite some time, and they have just released a new version, dressed as a New York ey Figured Right City Taxi circa 1981. e year designation doesn’t affect the exteri- or much beyond the livery, but the power plants changed a lot over Motorhead Miniatures Bikini the years. For its last three years of production (1980-82) Car Wash Girls and Ford the Checker cab utilized GM’s then new 3.8L “Corporate” Figurines V6, which Sun Star has detailed in its model. Hood, trunk, all four doors open, and the passenger compartment 1:18 | prices vary even features folding jump-seats. ere’s Whether you’re crafting a scale garage a spare in the trunk and a meter on the display, or something slightly less… dash. If taxis and fleet vehicles are formal, Motorhead Miniatures and their your thing, you must own a Checker new sibling Ford Figurines has just what Marathon NYC Taxi! you need. Ford Figurines is a new brand, Sunstarmodelcars.com and the focus with its first two offerings is a classic garage vibe, although really they can be used with virtually any era car. ere’s a trio of techs in red, white and blue Ford regalia comprise the Ford Service Center c.1965. e two-man mechanic set with a tool box is the Ford Service Center c.1945. e Bikini Carwash Girls—well, you don’t really need us to explain those, do you? ey come in pairs, with appropriate car wash accessories and semi-appropri- ate car wash attire! Motorhead miniatures.net 16 DCXmag.com



SHOWROOM Classy Caddy Convertible Brooklin 1960 Series 62 1:43 | $129.95 When Brooklin released their model of the ’60 Cadillac Six-Window Sedan, its plated “birdcage” window frames with separate drop-in top made it a very good bet that a convertible version would follow. at model, however, drew a fair amount of criticism for the shape of its fins, and Brooklin has corrected that, as well as made all the right changes, to do a very accurate Series 62 Convert- ible. e most obvious are the “down” top and switch from four to two doors, but the fins have been extended to correctly end at the rear of the body on this version. ere are a lot more changes inside; side panels have been added to the interior tub, and those have the pockets for the folding top bows and a correct narrower rear seat. Upholstery patterns are correct but switch panels and handles are still missing. e steering wheel angle is now more realistic and sun visors have been added to the windshield frame. Brooklin’s smooth, glossy Lucerne Blue paint is just a shade darker than paint chips indicate, and there are no printed or photo-etched details. Front-fender scripts have been omitted and the fender-top trim is cast in relief and painted over, but all other brightwork is done with separate chromed pieces. It’s really nice to see a company respond to constructive criticism and noticeably improve the next version of a model. —Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com Big Cats Exceptional Service Norscot Caterpillar TH407C Telehandler Eligor IVECO Eurocargo VSR Camiva AluFire 3 SDIS 48 Fire Truck and 308E2 Excavator 1:43 | $119 1:32 | $92 each ere’s just something about fire trucks. From any country, any era, in any Norscot is upping its game in terms of detail in the 1:32 class of industrial models. Just released are these two Caterpillar scale—fire trucks capture the imagination. e nobility of their purpose (and construction vehicles—a TH407C Telehandler and a 308E2 the drama that often accompanies it), coupled with their supreme utility puts CR SB Mini Hydraulic Excavator. e TH407C features them in a class by themselves. Eligor makes moving wheels and forks, realistic hydraulic lines and all a diverse array of European service ve- the authentic Cat logos and insignia. e Excavator, which hicles with striking levels of detail for comes with a bucket, an auger and a hammer work tools for 1:43 scale. is one, a Camiva AluFire the moving boom and stick. It also has working tracks and 3, is done in the colors of the SDIS dozer blade. ere’s a lot here for the money. If construction 48 and includes adjustable signage, models are at all your thing, these are definitely worth your a detailed cab and chassis, and a attention! removable hose reel dolly. Norscot, distributed by 3000toys.com Eligor, distributed by 3000toys.com Low-Volume Buick Brooklin Buick Collection 1934 Series 60 Convertible Coupe 1:43 | $129.95 In 1924, Buick introduced an entirely new entry-level series, the Model 40, along with me- chanical improvements that included a front suspension so good that Rolls Royce bought the rights to use it! Styling changes were minor; the most obvious was the change from vertical cooling doors in the hood to a series of horizontal louvers, three for the Model 40 and four for the rest of the Buick line. Brooklin’s 29th Buick Collec- tion release is this good-looking Series 60 Convertible Coupe. Only 245 were built, making it the rarest 1934 Series 60 Buick. Its heavy white-metal body is smooth and clean and Brooklin has the basic shape and all the model 60 details correct. e glossy “Freedom Blue” paint is excellent—maybe the best yet from Brooklin. And with the exception of the missing lower body molding, every piece of exterior brightwork is done with carefully fitted separate plated parts. Interior detail includes accurate leather-colored upholstery with separate plated window cranks (but no door handles) and faux wood-grain dash with crisp relief gauges and glove-box mounted clock. As usual for Brooklin, there’s good relief chassis detail on the baseplate and the wide whites and steel wheels look just right. —Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com 18 DCXmag.com



BRITISH INVASION THE ENGLISH ACCENT OF AMERICA’S CAR CULTURE BY ALAN PARADISE

There is an indelible and historic tie between Great Britain and the United States. Aside from being allies in war, major trade partners and societies linked by common goals and ideals, perhaps the most famous connections between the two countries can be summed up in one word; “Invasion.” Three significant British Invasions have had a major effect on American history and its way of life. The first resulted in the Revolutionary War that gave birth to a little thing called the Declaration of Independence. The third happened in the 1960s and gave us The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who, and many others that marked a musical revolution with a defined English accent. The middle “British Invasion” on the surface seemed subtle, but was also very significant. In place of Red Coats or Mop Tops, this influence from across the pond involved Racing Green and Drop Tops. This was, of course, the desire for, and the popularity of, British sports cars in America. SUMMER 2015 21

BRITISH INVASION Prior to World War II, Britain English cars shipped stateside. had a very robust auto industry. As England rebuilt after the From places like Abingdon, Coventry, Middlesex, Blackpool, relentless German bombing Lancashire and Manchester during the war, its auto industry came everyday practical sedans, was among the first to get as well as many elegant luxury back on line. e observant automobiles and short-run and opportunistic managers of two-seat roadsters. During MG, Triumph, Rover and Jaguar the war, many car companies (formally SS), saw the United converted over to manufacturing States as a prime new market needed supplies for British for its unique brand of sporty troops. Meanwhile, American cars. Each would develop special servicemen, stationed in various distribution and marketing plans parts of England, discovered aimed directly at the World’s how cheap and plentiful the foremost powerhouse economy. fun-to-drive, Triumph Dolomite, SS 1, MG TA, and Astons were. e result was a flood of beautiful and nimble cars aimed at the e hook was set. When the war gentleman racer or sportsman. ended, many officers and even some enlisted men had their little us the title “sports car” was born. Aspwatboysiostlphvitno-etgwr:htaesanrcreduMa1gerG9gnre5sge.v3diAnoMremloueGateridiroTnisncDgta.embnrrsaeafrnaekkdlelifditrnostlhmpoeavreked Above, top: Austin Healey developed it’s 100 with the goal of selling as many in America as it did in Europe. Management badly underestimated demand, as it took more order for left-hand drive cars than it was capable of producing. Above, middle: Not everything British had a successful American debut. Land- Rover found the U.S. far more challenging than expected. It would take decades for the brand to catch on. Above: Triumph came stateside in a big way with its new TR2. Priced at the same level as the MG, it thoroughly outclassed the antique-like TF. It was refined each year and became the TR3 in 1955. Aston Martin was so popular in the United States market that in debuted its DB2 at the 1950 New York Auto Show. is response laid the foundation for the future of the DB3, DB4, and DB5.

The Formative ‘50s The Bond Advantage The first Brit to make its mark Many British cars have become famous appearing in one or more of in the States was the MG TC. the 007 James Bond movies. It all started with an Aston Martin in Directly after the war, the “Goldfinger” and, ironically, ended (so far) with the same Aston Martin Abingdon plant began to produce in “Skyfall.” Along the way 007 has taken a few detours – most notably with a slightly modified TB model. BMW, Toyota, Ford, Honda motorcycles and even American Motors. But, as you Still rugged and antique looking, will soon see in “Spectre”, Bond always returns to his British roots. Here are some of with freestanding headlamps Bond’s most notable British cars: and an upright radiator, the car was now produced with right Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5: Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, or left-hand drive. More than Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow The world is not enough Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall 10,000 of these primitive sports Aston Martin DBS: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service cars were produced from 1945- Lotus Esprit The spy who oved me Aston Martin Vantage Volante: The Living Daylights 1948 – a record production run Aston MArtin DB10 Spectre Aston Martin V12 Vanquish: Die Another Day for MG. In 1949, MG released the Aston Martin DBS V12: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace TD with slight styling but huge Aston Martin DB10: Spectre (November 2015) engineering upgrades. More Bentley 1935 3.5: From Russia With Love refined sports car enthusiasts Bentley 1937 4.5: Never Say Never Again loved the fully independent Jaguar XKR: Die Another Day front suspension, box chassis Jaguar XJ: Skyfall and the smaller, sleeker steel Jaguar XK8: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace wheels. The body was lower and Land Rover Classic: Octopussy, The Living Daylights wider with swooping fenders Land Rover Series II: The Living Daylights flowing over the front tires. This Lotus Esprit: The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only would become the classic MG. MGB: The Man With The Golden Gun At about $2,000, the TD was Range Rover: Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall priced considerably more than Triumph Stag: Diamonds Are Forever a new Ford or Chevrolet sedan. Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith: From Russia With Love Still, they sold well, especially in Rolls-Royce 1937 Phantom III: Goldfinger America. In fact, more were sold Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow: On Her Majesty’s Secret in North America than in Europe! Service, The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II: For Your Eyes Only While MG slowly refined its Rolls-Royce Phantom III: Octopussy T-series two-seaters, Jaguar Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II: A View to a Kill burst onto the American market Roll-Royce Silver Shadow: License to Kill, The World Is with the XK140. This was a Not Enough milestone car that truly and Sunbeam Alpine: Dr. No forever turned the tide toward image and power. The XK was a massive departure from the old SS styling. It featured a sexy envelope body with integral fenders created by William Lyons. A long hood flowed to a mounted windshield as the beltline dipped at the doors then back up to a narrowed trunk. The chassis was completely new with torsion bar front suspension. At $3,500, they cost Above left: It’s not what you think it is – but it soon would be. This 1955 AC Ace was the foundation for Shelby’s Cobra. The Ferrari Barchetta influenced its styling. Above right: In 1962, following the success of the XKE, Jensen attempted to capitalize on the British allure with its CV8. The styling was no match for the XKE and the soon to be released Corvette String Ray. The CV8 was brutally fast, as it was fitted with a 361 Chrysler V-8, but very few were sold in America. SUMMER 2015 23

BRITISH INVASION Above left: Aston Martin’s DB4 was a dream machine for the middle class and a mark of success for the upper crust. Aston appeal was aided hugely by the Goldfinger movie; James Bond made the evolutionary DB5 a timeless classic. Above right: As the MGB and TR3 aged, Lotus jumped into the market in 1963 with its Elan. e fiberglass body, weather tight top, roll-up windows and a tuned suspension made for a pretty popular little machine—until MG and Triumph started shipping the new MGB and TR4. more than a Cadillac Sedanet Show. While few of the 410 DB2s construction. It offered a quicker built in small numbers (just convertible but sold just as well. were seen on American roads, steering box and by 1954, a true 225), it was a very important it laid the seed for future sales four-speed gearbox. model, as it was the basis for at fact made U.S. automakers, of the DB Mark III and DB4. Such Shelby’s Cobra a decade later. especially General Motors, stand was not the same for Austin Between 1953 and 1955, a up and take notice. Healey. e 100 model was aimed full-on British car invasion e aforementioned Jaguar at the rapidly growing American commenced. ese three model XK140, the more refined MG TF Also taking notice was every market. It was everything the MG years saw a wave of brands and were mainstays with upstarts other British car company. A wasn’t, sleek like the Jaguar XK, models come across the Atlantic. from Morgan, Sunbeam and struggling Aston Martin went so and just as fast due to lightweight Notable makes and models Swallow. Land-Rover, like Jeep, far as to debut its all-new DB2 at included the AC Ace. Although became famous for its military the 1950 New York Automotive British car sales languished in the 1980s. Jaguar was the only marque with a significant U.S. presence. e XJ-S was the brand’s halo car. Although it had sports car roots, it was more of a luxury touring car by this point. 24 DCXmag.com

vehicles. And like its American with the DB series and the CV8, The MG / counterpart, after the war respectively. Aston Martin got Triumph War Land-Rover created a consumer the better of the deal when the version of its go-anywhere, do- movie Goldfinger was released. Not long after the end of World War anything all-wheel drive vehicle. When James Bond drove through II, MG and Triumph engaged in another While selling like hotcakes in the Alps on the big screen in a overseas battle—this time on U.S. roads. The Europe, Americans didn’t take gadget laden DB5, it marked a back and forth fight for American consumer to the flat-paneled English 4x4. new era of sophistication. Being dollars resulted in a flurry of fun little two-seaters Thus, it took a couple of decades British was in. that helped create the sports car market. Here’s how for Land-Rover to become a that stacked up: serious player in the States. While Jaguar, Aston Martin and Jensen fought for high-end 1945-49 54-bhp $1895 10,000 made But, the market was most buyers, the wrestling match at MG TC 68-bhp $2950 2000 made greatly impacted by Triumph, the mid-range and entry-level which hit it big right from the sports car market really heated Triumph 2000 beginning. When the clunky up. As MG and Triumph battled 2000 roadster was replaced with it out with their MGA and TR3, 1950-52 57-bhp $2000 8500 made the TR2 in 1953, American sports upstart Lotus jumped into the MG TD car enthusiasts ate it up. Nearly game with the stylistically $2100 9600 made 9000 were made in ’53 and ’54 modern Elan. Featuring a 1953-55 63-bhp $2500 8628 made with the majority coming to the fiberglass body, smooth beltline MG TF 90-bhp U.S. When the TR3 was released and pop-up headlights, the $2500 98,970 made in ’55, it all but buried MG’s new peppy little machine was offered Triumph TR2 $2675 72,944 made A before it was introduced. with a both closed- and open- The more refined styling and body versions. The convertible 1956-61 86-bhp $2500-8000 515,000 made increased creature comforts of proved far more popular. It was MGA 100-bhp $2850-6500 174,768 made the new MG would find its sales better looking than either of stride a few model years later. the more established Brits and, TR3 $2000-5200 190,363 made From 1957 until the demise of with 105-horsepower, had more $1800-7365 314,152 made both brands in the 1980s (under spunk than either the MG or 1963-1980 95-bhp the control of British Leyland) Triumph. But those established MGB the two brands were fierce rivals. brands did not wait to respond; You could say this was the British the new MGB and TR4 became Triumph TR4/TR6 150-bhp version of Ford versus Chevy. available less than a year after the Elan’s debut. 1961-1980 65-bhp The back half of the ‘50s MG Midget brought competition for the If the MGB, TR4 and Elan were niche sports car market from still out of one’s price range, Triumph Spitfire 75-bhp German (Porsche, Mercedes- MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey Benz), Italian (Alfa Romeo, Fiat) and Sunbeam all offered even Above left: Nem fuga. Apidebis corio blab intiunt volest, te voluptatem =incimpe and American automakers smaller, less expensive models. re quiande bitatiorem est arum inim Above right: Nem fuga. Apidebis corio blab (Ford, Chevrolet). The exposure The MG Midget (made by Austin- intiunt volest, te voluptatem accumquam et a dit pration sequisi and popularity of British sports Healey) was a 46-horsepower cars allowed for the opportunity roadster that could be had for Martin models. However, by the vibrant and fertile fields of for the success of coupes and about $2,000. The Austin-Healey back half of decade the biggest America, once bountiful profit sedans in the decade ahead. Sprite was also an option – albeit obstacle facing the niche was makers for many British far less accessible as MG dealers the emergence of the American automakers, had become a THE SEXY ‘60s had a much stronger network. made Muscle Car. Marketing barren wasteland. Once thriving Triumph countered with the changed the game as brute dealerships closed or scrambled There is little doubt that without Spitfire fitted with a whopping force in domestic coupes and to obtain franchises rights for the Jaguar XK140, there would 63-horsepower engine and hardtops were increasingly more little-known Japanese brands have not been the Corvette. By sold it under the two-grand appealing than sweet, sexy, like Datsun, Mazda, Toyota and 1960, the Corvette had evolved threshold. Finally, the Sunbeam swoopy lines and wire wheels. Honda. Gone from the landscape into the halo car for America—it Alpine came to the states in 1963. Sunbeam followed Shelby’s were such notables as Austin- even started competing in It was a bit larger and quicker lead by offering American V-8 Healey, Bristol, Morris, Rover, international sports car racing than the Midget, Sprite or Spitfire, muscle in an English body when and Sunbeam. As the decade with the best from Ferrari, Aston and could be had for around it introduced the Tiger in 1964. rolled on, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Martin, Mercedes-Benz and $2400. The party was coming to an end, Lotus, Land-Rover, Morgan and Jaguar. It was for this world stage although MG and Triumph would TVR were often combined into that Jaguar created the D-Type As the ‘60s progressed, things have a battle yet to be fought. specialty dealerships selling low racer and XKSS roadster. The changed in a major way for volume with limited margins. desire for this dream machine British cars in America. The once THE SINKING ‘70s Only MG, Triumph and Jaguar led to the creation of perhaps the exciting Austin-Healey 100 had maintained a real presence—now sexiest car ever built – the 1961 grown up to become the 3000 By the dawn of decade, the Jaguar E-Type –better known in (1959). While the mechanicals the United States as the XKE. This had been upgraded, the styling sports car was a game changer. was stuck in the ‘50s. The Jaguar It began an influx of more high- XKE experienced a dimmed end British brands such as Aston halo due to challenges from Martin and Jensen to invest in the Corvette Sting Ray as well competing for American buyers as various Ferrari and Aston SUMMER 2015 25

BRITISH INVASION Above left: Once a prim and proper luxury brand, Bentley now enjoys life on the daring and sexy side with high-performance grand touring cars like the GT. Above right: Ford also acquired Aston Martin and instantly turned its fortunes around. New styling and powerful new engines propelled models like the Virage, DB7 Vantage and the Vantage GT to the top of the car culture consciousness. consolidated under the British THE DARK DECADES e bloom was off the rose. that, without a major buy-out, Leyland flag. en two events took place that both marques would suffer the For the next 25 years, British cars brought light back to the once same fate as MG and Triumph. As dismal as the ‘70s were for in America fell to a level not seen soaring brands. In 1989, Mazda British automakers, collectively, since the beginning of World War introduced the Miata. is was a is made the Ford option the they still had a few tricks up their II. Displaced on the luxury end small, two-seat open-air sports lesser of two evils. sleeves. Triumph’s TR6 came of by the likes Mercedes-Benz and car that harkened back to the age and proved to be one of the BMW, and on the sports car side golden days of nimble, British e fears proved largely best all-around sports cars of by Porsche, Nissan, Toyota and machines. Inspired by the Lotus unfounded, as Ford invested the era. It featured a rock solid Mazda, the demise was about Elan and MGB, the Miata was heavily in preserving and 2.4-Liter inline-six cylinder as dismal as one could imagine. an instant sales success. e growing the Jaguar image. engine and rugged suspension. Only Jaguar remained a viable second big game changer came Instead of hamstringing them It gave way to the wedge-shaped brand. Not even halo marks on November 3, 1989 when Ford with Ford components, they, TR7. It had the ideal sports car Roll-Royce or Bentley could instead, worked to keep the purchased Jaguar—for a cool 2.38 brand heritage, but added a huge A peek at what the British cars’ future muster enough loyalty or sales billion. is was the biggest in a dose of quality and reliability. e holds. e Aston Martin DP-100 Vision figures to keep importers from string of British acquisitions by results altered the course of how concept car is now available for test surrendering their dealerships. Ford and General Motors. Earlier the U.S. market embraced the drive—through the Gran Turismo video in the year GM acquired a large new British automobile. game series! Jaguar kept some level of share of Lotus and Ford bought respectability with the XJ-S 75-percent of Aston Martin. FROM THE ASHES image for American buyers with sports cars and XJ6 sedans. it sloped nose, chopped roof One of the British public’s With Ford’s formidable R&D styling and nimble performance. e XJ-S was a beautiful biggest fears was that Ford was and marketing budgets, Jaguar It proved to be a moderate sales machine in either convertible or going to cheapen two of its most led the parade from British success with 112,000 units coupe version. It offered more beloved auto brands by covering car obscurity to rediscovered finding homes. On the other horsepower than the Corvette American Ford chassis and prominence. New XK8 and XKR hand, MG carried its basic B for about the same price. New engines with Jaguar and Aston sports cars turned heads and shape right to the bitter end. By MGs and Triumphs were just Martin bodies. e other was fortunes. ese were followed by 1982, both MG and Triumph were a memory and prices severely an upgraded XJ/XJR, and S-Type. nothing but a memory—chased softened on the resale market. Aston Martin was also given out of the American sports car a shot in the arm and the DB7 market in part by the Datsun/ became a dream machine for the Nissan Z-car, Mazda RX7 and world. Both makes shared screen Toyota Supra. time, once again, with 007. As the new century marches on, Roll-Royce and Bentley are not only back on the affluent radar screen; both have become big sellers – especially Bentleys. Even Land-Rover has found record sales in the Land of the Free. Yes, it’s once again hip to drive British. If there is any doubt of that, just ask any teenage boy if he’s heard of a McLaren. Chances are he’ll not only give you the details, he’ll show a die- cast model then boot up Forza or Gran Turismo on his game console and take you for a drive! 26 DCXmag.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY WAYNE MOYER Awesome Aero Aston N ot long after their landmark 1-2 overall victory at Le Mans with the DBR1/300 CMC ASTON in 1959, Aston Martin began a full FIA GT class racing program with their DB4, MARTIN DB4 but quickly found that it was no match for the Ferrari 250GT Short Wheelbase GT ZAGATO (SWB). A shorter, lighter 2-seat version with a hotter cam, twin spark plugs per cylinder, and three dual-throat Webers soon followed, but even that car—dubbed the “DB4 1:18 | $467 GT”—couldn’t keep up with the Ferrari, especially with Stirling Moss at the wheel of Rob Walker’s semi-factory SWB. So Aston commissioned Carrozzeria Zagato to create a still lighter, all-aluminum body for the DB4 GT. 28 DCXmag.com

Only 19 DB4 GT Zagatos were Zagato was already known. At to a new car), because buyers themselves suggested that CMC built, with the first two going to 314hp, the DB4 GT Zagato was couldn’t be found. Over the next make a “generic” Zagato rather Aston’s favored privateer team, somewhat more powerful than quarter century, the Zagatos than try to pin down one chassis Essex Racing Stable, with Le its Ferrari competition, but it was became the most desirable (read: at one point in time. As a result, Mans winner Roy Salvadori and heavier and didn’t handle as well, expensive) Astons, so in 1987 CMC’s model has competition “new boy” Jimmy Clark at the and therefore it was much harder Aston built four more “Series II” side windows, number lights, wheel. Full-race versions had on the skinny tires of the day. It Zagatos using the unassigned and other racing details, with fixed Perspex side windows with never won a major GT race. serial numbers from the original the side trim and the chrome sliding panels and no bumpers, planned 25. grille surround usually only seen but a few “street” cars were Due to the cost of its hand- on street cars, but no bumpers built with wind-up glass and built body, the Zagato was AN ASTON FOR THE AGES to spoil that aggressive look. bumpers to protect the thin considerably more expensive CMC has chosen the DB4GT We will soon see a pure racing aluminum at both ends. Some than a standard DB4 GT and Zagato as the subject of its first version from CMC (Essex’s white had large air scoops on the more prone to casual body Aston Martin model, and it is with red and blue trim “1VEV” hood, while others had double or damage (Zagato used really unquestionably a museum- or “2VEV” Le Mans cars would triple bulges (depending on the thin aluminum!). e result quality masterpiece. As noted be most welcome)! Meanwhile, month they were built), to clear was that, while Aston had above, every DB4GT Zagato was this road version is simply the overhead cams and ignition planned to build 25, only 20 different in some detail from its superb. Its muscular shape is wiring. Curiously, none of them were actually built (officially 18 siblings. Race cars, of course, picture-perfect from virtually had the frontal area-reducing 19, since one of the first was had detail changes on an almost any angle; the big Aston grille, “double bubble” roof for which totally destroyed in a crash and race-by-race basis, and even the oddly shaped quarter windows, it’s serial number transferred few street Zagatos were modified and other details match the often over time, so Aston Martin photographed Zagatos precisely. CMC’s paint is the standard by which other models are judged. is model’s flawless medium metallic green paint appears to have been clear-coated and then hand rubbed. And yes, the color SUMMER 2015 29

A spare tire with leather tie-downs atop the fuel tank and a fuel filler neck leading up to the opening fuel cap make the boot interesting. is exactly right for the “Almond all there! Dual ignition wires Above: Aston’s 3.7L inline-6 outgunned its GT competition with 314hp. CMC outmatches Green” shade of British Racing run from twin rear-mounted its diecast competition with its scale realism. Below: Functional knock-offs for the Bor- Green Aston used back then. distributors to tubular chrome rani wire wheels afford an excellent look at brake and suspension detail. Every bit of exterior trim is there looms and then exit individually with excellent scale fidelity; to proper plug boots. Fuel lines filler pipe leading to the cap, and The tires have complete sidewall number lights, hood pin bases, and throttle linkages can be seen hoses leading to and from the detail; originally, these Dunlop and headlight cover surrounds connecting the highly detailed electric fuel pump, which in turn 15-inch tires were used only on show rivet detail while the tiny Webers. Coolant hoses have has a line leading to the engine. the four “continuation” Zagatos, ‘Zagato’ badge is photo-etched. separate metal clamps. There’s But we are nowhere near but Series I cars may well also It’s a CMC model, so of course a data plate on the bare metal done. Turn this beauty over; a wear them now. everything—including the radiator shroud and a lot more— full three-dimensional chassis competition gas cap—opens. everywhere you look there is with complete suspension detail, FINAL THOUGHTS And panel lines are near to scale another bit of realism to behold! most of which is held together Pick a dimension, any dimension; when they’re closed, too. by tiny bolts and screws. Push this Aston is right on 1:18 scale. SUMPTUOUS INTERIOR up on a rear tire and watch CMC says there are 1825 parts RACE-READY POWER Doors pivot open (note the the scale-sized trailing arm and more paint steps than bears Prop the hood up on its pivoting leather snubbing straps) to suspension and transverse thinking about, but every piece support and there’s the 3.7 reveal seats, door panels, and Watts link deflect. The front is perfectly aligned, there’s not a liter DOHC straight-six with its dash (yes dash) correctly suspension is just as complete scratch around any screw, nor is three side-draft, dual-throat upholstered in real black leather and functional, too. Those big there a smudge or even a hint of Webers. Every wire, hose, fuel with chromed door pulls. Don’t dual pipes are anchored by adhesive to be seen. It’s a good line is represented; it would take look for belts; drivers were real metal clips held in place bet that the full-scale originals a DB4 GT maintenance manual expected to hang onto the big by screws. Fuel and hydraulic weren’t built this well. CMC’s to figure out what some of the wood-rimmed wheel back in lines, shift linkage, handbrake gorgeous Aston Martin DB4 GT wires and hoses are, but they’re 1961. Speaking of which, the linkage, flexible hoses to the big Zagato continues CMC’s tradition “wood” parts of the three-piece Girling brake calipers—it’s all of building the best, most highly wheel are probably plastic, but there! Speaking of brakes, you detailed “mass produced” they sure look like wood. There’s can remove the knock-offs to miniatures available at anything soft carpet on the floor; the dismount the gorgeous Borrani close to their price. photo-etched pedals and Aston’s wire wheels (they have separate spindly shifter are just right, too. machined air valves) to take SOURCE There’s a full complement of a better look at the big discs, cmcmodelcarsusa.com legible instruments on the dash, calipers and plumbing, as well as each with a separate chrome the suspension at each corner. bezel and clear lens. The variety of switches and dash controls match photos too, and a turn signal stalk protrudes from the steering column. All that’s missing is an ignition key, but perhaps the race cars didn’t have them? Lift up both spring- loaded trunk lathes, raise the lid, and secure it with the functional over-center support. There is a complete spare held in place by leather straps with functioning buckles atop the big bare-metal fuel tank—which, of course, has a Real leather upholstery is among the scale finery on display in the CMC Aston. 30 DCXmag.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD WTHEODERLIVLERDYWVEHIICDLEEFORADVENTURE CENTURY DRAGON LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 1:18 | $200 P lenty of vehicles have carved out their little place in history over the years, but how many have made history, and on the scale that the Land Rover has? e boxy Brit— which predated the concept of the SUV by decades—has been the conveyance of choice for industrial, military, rescue organizations, adventurer seekers, and virtually every other group that needed indestructible, unstoppable all-terrain transportation the world over. e machine that so many institutions have come to rely upon has become an institution unto itself. And now, after 67 years of continuous production, it’s coming to an end; 2015 will be the final year for the traditional Land Rover. And yet, even after two thirds of a century of evolution, the Land Rover bears a striking visual and mechanical similarity to the model that rolled off the assembly line in Solihull, in the English West Midlands in 1948: a box-section steel ladder frame, solid- axle 4-wheel-drive with a 2-speed transfer case driven through a manual transmission by a diesel 4-cylinder power plant. 32 DCXmag.com

Quite a bit has changed as terrain that would leave Jeeps 110 Wagon. lensing, badges, and carefully well. e modern Land Rover— and Hummers whimpering for Looking at the rich Firenze molded trim items (mirrors, now called the Defender, and mercy. Even without the optional door handles, wipers and available as the 90, 110 and 130 intake snorkel, the Defender Red Metallic paint and stylish even bumpers), all add to the (denoting the three available can safely wade through 2 feet alloy wheels, one could be sophistication of the Defender’s wheelbases in inches) for a total of water (with the snorkel that forgiven for mistaking the presentation. of 10 body configurations—can more than doubles). It has more Defender 110 for a cushy luxury be had with a host of luxury than a foot of underbody ground SUV like its sibling Range Rovers. Tug on those door handles—at and styling appointments that clearance and can surmount But the Defender has more least on the front doors and the rugged utilitarian models greater than 45 degrees of in common with Mercedes’ back hatch door—to get a nice of yore that trundled across approach angle. It’s an amazing Geländewagen, another über- look at the interior. e model arctic tundra, slogged through vehicle, and it’s been an amazing ute that emphasized utility captures the contradiction of jungle swamp, or safaried across run. It’s in this, its final year in first. Century Dragon’s version the 2014 Defender 110 wagon. sub-Saharan plains could only production, the time is right to retains clues that this is still a Leather seating surfaces are dream of. Still, the modern celebrate the venerable Land function-over-form vehicle, simulated by soft-touch plastic, iterations have lost little if any Rover, and Century Dragon has with visible rivets cast into the and the well-detailed dashboard of their formidable off-road done the job with a handsome roof and rocker panels. e rear features the optional sound prowess, effortlessly traversing 1:18 replica of the 2014 Defender compartment side windows system upgrade along with a are bifurcated to allow them well-decorated gauge cluster, to be manually slid open for (although Century Dragon ventilation. e external spare stopped short of including the tire, prominent mud flaps, available Alpine subwoofer on diamond-plated running boards the console or Recaro bucket and an abnormally high ground seats)! Contrast that with the clearance—all well represented rubber floor mats and bare on the model—also speak to the metal benches in the rear Defender’s off-road chops. Light compartment. Up front is a SUMMER 2015 33

manual transmission gear Left: e Defender’s interior presents an interesting dichotomy: luxury like simulated leather and a premium stereo along side manual selector and a secondary lever transmission and transfer case controls. Right: Century Dragon does a fantastic job with molding, texture and paint on its fully 3-dimen- for the transfer case (no wimpy sional 2.2L turbodiesel. slushbox for the Defender)! No way to tell on the model, but I imagine this vehicle would have been spec’d with the Cold Climate Pack that includes the heated seats and windshield though! My only complaint is the sealed rear doors—a replica of this caliber (and price) should definitely have all five doors open. Lift the hood with its scale flat hinges that allow it to fold back all the way to the windscreen (there’s a prop rod too if you prefer) for an excellent look at the sole engine option for the final years of production: a 122hp 2.2L 4-cylinder turbo diesel. With a vehicle weight I LIKE THE TIMELY CHOICE OF SUBJECT, AS WELL AS THE DEFT EXECUTION OF THE DETAIL WORK. IN ITS LAST YEAR ,THE LAND ROVER DESERVES THIS FITTING TRIBUTE. approaching 5,000 pounds, and hoses running to and fro and transfer case assembly. vernacular. In the case of the that doesn’t exactly make for a throughout the compartment, as Take a moment to appreciate the Land Rover, they are absolutely hotrod. But the little oil-burner’s well as various fluid reservoirs lovely workmanship on the box warranted. After 67 years in 280 lb-ft of torque moves the and overflow bottles give that chassis and the suspension as production there has never Defender along adequately, and little extra realism. Densely well. In the final revision of the been another off-road vehicle in adverse conditions it is nigh packed though it is, the engine Defender design, Land Rover as ubiquitous, as capable, or as unstoppable! Century Dragon’s is a fully modeled 3D piece, switched to a coil spring setup unconditionally dependable. If engine execution is outstanding, complete with motor mounts that is depicted with exceptional you have to drive through terrain with nicely rendered satin finish and a full exhaust system. accuracy, although I was slightly no vehicle has any business on the simulated aluminum disappointed to discover the driving through, you want to be components like the prominent e latter you can appreciate coils are merely for show, (they in a Land Rover when you try air conditioning compressor more fully when you flip the do not compress). it. I really enjoy this model. I like and the turbo plumbing. ere Defender over; the exhaust the timely choice of subject, as is a full complement of lines system is well molded and Words like ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ well as the deft execution of the painted, as is the transmission get overused in the automotive detail work. In its last year, the Land Rover deserves this fitting e rear door swings open to reveal tribute. Century Dragon has been metal benches and rubber floor around for a while, but this is mats in the rear cargo area. easily the nicest model by them I’ve seen to date. I hope they don’t stop with just the luxurious 110; (currently they offer it in 3 colors in both left- and right- hand drive, but all are appointed otherwise the same). I’d love to see a safari-grade version with steel wheels, drab colors, and adventurous options like a fording snorkel, roof rack and a brush bar! Even a pickup version would be welcome. With so many variations this casting could have a long, successful run—just like the original Land Rover did! SOURCE Centurydragonshop.com 34 DCXmag.com



out of the box by matt boyd Automodello 1967 Lotus 49 Jim Clark Dutch Grand Prix Winner 1:12 | $899.95 R ace fans the world over have heard tales of Jimmy Clark’s singular talent and engaging personality, which made his untimely death in 1968 at just 32 years old, that much greater a loss. Clark’s legacy will forever be intertwined with that of Lotus, the marque that he drove for his entire Formula 1 career, winning two World Championships (in 1963 and 1965)—the first two of Team Lotus’s career as well. It is fair to say Clark and Lotus made, and were made for, each other. Built around the guiding principles of team principal Colin Chapman, Lotus cars emphasized light construction above all, constantly pushing the technology envelope in search of weight savings. But that strength of purpose made for exceptionally nimble, pitchable cars that perfectly suited Clark’s driving style. That culminated in the 1963 Lotus 25, the diminutive Chapman design that brought the monocoque chassis architecture to F1 and championships for Clark and Lotus. From there the technology race was on. Other teams soon copied Lotus designs, so Chapman continued to innovate and Clark continued to win, all the while charming fans and racing media with his charisma. 36 DCXmag.com

Following the second drivers/ debuted in the third race of the was to be the final car of Clark’s to see already! The finish on the constructors championships season: the Dutch Grand Prix at F1 career; (he was killed in a car is excellent, with the yellow for Clark and Lotus in 1965, Zandvoort. Clark’s new Lotus Formula 2 race in Hockenheim accent stripe decal offsetting the several teams lobbied the FIA teammate Graham Hill took the following the first race of the eminently British green nicely. to move away from the small- pole position in his 49, while 1968 F1 season in South Africa, The production version will have displacement 1.5L formula that Clark scored the fastest race lap which he won in the 49). It was a slight revision to the spacing Lotus had dominated for several on his way to victory—a clean the first F1 car to use the engine between the stripe and the no. 5 seasons. The FIA adopted a sweep in the 49’s first outing! as a fully stressed component roundel on the nose. Everything new 3.0L engine rule for 1966 The scorching fast Lotus took of the chassis, and the car for is clear coated, including the and longtime Lotus engine every pole for the remainder of which the Cosworth DFV—the imbedded Lotus badge on the supplier Climax abruptly left F1. the season, although reliability most successful engine in F1 nose. The fuselage-like body Lotus had to scramble to find a issues with the brand new history—was developed. Suffice casting includes the rows of powerplant, and tried multiple engine kept them from turning to say, it was not a hard decision rivets that attached various configurations of BRM engines that speed into victory until for Automodello to select this as components to the monocoque with limited success. For 1967, midseason, when Clark won in the subject of its gorgeous 1:12 beneath. I also love the external Lotus secured Cosworth Ford Britain and twice more in the last replica. I got the opportunity to coolant hose that runs the length power, being the development two races of the season. Clark’s examine the very first prototype of the car down the left side; the team for the then new—and now 4 victories were the most of any to land here on US soil, and red-painted couplings are held legendary—Cosworth DFV V8. driver in 1967, but the pair of while it will undergo a few more by thin metal clamps for added Colin Chapman went to work Brabham drivers—Denny Hulme tweaks before its official release, realism. designing a car around the DFV. and Jack Brabham himself—were it is already a must-have for Lotus race cars were known He used the robust block as a more consistent, and Clark serious collectors of F1 diecast. for their supine driving position stressed member, functionally finished third behind them for This represents a departure and the 49 is no different. It making the engine double as the championship. for Automodello, in scale, given helped reduce frontal area, the rear section of the chassis Despite falling just short for its large 1:12 presentation, and which aided aerodynamic upon which the gearbox and the title, the Lotus 49 is the most in material, in that it is primarily efficiency. There’s a nifty yellow rear suspension was hung. interesting and significant car of metal (Automodello’s smaller windscreen shielding the driver, Dubbed the Lotus 49, the design the 1967 season, and one of the scale offerings frequently utilize with air channel slot at its base. was light, strong and fast! It most influential in F1 history. It resin casting). It is nominally Generously sized round mirrors a sealed model (no opening bracket the recumbent driver, panels) but that is common with and an equally generous (and open-wheel, open-engine race round) red-rimmed steering cars. All the goodies are plain wheel dominates the cockpit, clarskh’sapfeinoafltfh1icnagrs wtoacsotmhee summer 2015 37

behind which sits a thin but e Lotus 49 was the development car for the Ford Cosworth DFV. is scale version shows all the features that made it the most suc- immaculately detailed dash cessful F1 engine of all time: free-flowing 4-valve cylinder heads, Lucas fuel injection , and an engine block that was a stressed member. panel with four excellent gauges and a pair of toggle switches. ere’s a stubby gear lever jutting from a notch in the side panel. ere are even wires leading off the back side of the gauges into the firewall! About the only letdown is the pedal arrangement—they are just painted on rather than molded as three-dimensional pieces. I am hopeful a more substantial pedal set will make it to production. e Cosworth DFV is out in the open for all to see, and it is a beauty. Copper-colored mesh of scale weave tops the intake trumpets for the Lucas Mk1 mechanical fuel injection system. Plug wires trace from the center of the cam covers to a detailed distributor mounted IT WAS AN AMAZING CAR, PILOTED BY AN AMAZING DRIVER, DURING AN AMAZING TIME FOR MOTORSPORTS. AND IT HAS NOW YIELDED AN AMAZING MODEL. in the valley between the strong enough to support the heads—along with the fuel model—the opposite of the usual metering unit and the alternator. situation with scale replicas. e head bolts are cast into e tires are likewise the cam covers and hand- authentic dead ringers for the painted. Ceramic-coated tubular Firestone race tires and two- exhaust headers drop straight piece wheels. ere are some down from the heads and out minor glue marks inside the to chrome tips—no chassis wheels, but that sort of thing is structure to interfere with the to be expected on a prototype. smooth routing of the spent Of greater interest is the brake gasses! e Hewland 5-speed system; detail on the Girling gearbox dominates the rear, ventilated disc brakes, and their threading neatly through the associated calipers, lines and latticework of rear suspension hardware is exquisite. Details like links. It’s fairly rigid on the these are what make an open- prototype, but the structure wheel car most appealing, and will allow for some flexing the Lotus delivers. and settling on the real metal springs. e front suspension FINAL THOUGHTS tucks the springs up inside the e Lotus 49 is a part of so many bodywork, but they are there. Interestingly, the exposed nature firsts: the first Cosworth DFV, the of the suspension setup proved first F1 car to use the engine as to be the biggest challenge a fully stressed member, and in for Automodello designers its second iteration—1968’s 49B— in rendering the Lotus. Collin the first Lotus to employ wings Chapman’s original was so well for aerodynamic downforce. engineered to enhance light Of course it’s also known for weight that Automodello strived being the last F1 car that Jimmy mightily to build suspension that Clark drove, and for me that was both authentic looking and inspires a “what if” scenario. Following Clark’s death, his e 49 placed the driver in a recumbent position, to minimize frontal area and reduce aero drag. Note the stubby gear lever on the right and the nicely detailed instrument panel. 38 DCXmag.com



Diecast D an Gurney was born with great genes. At Essentials Oberlin College where his mother Roma Sexton and father Jack did their undergrad Dan Gurney: Racing’s studies, they were known as the “Golden Renaissance Man Couple”: smart, athletic, rich, talented and beautiful. His father went on to earn his MBA from by BILL BENNETT Harvard, but instead of joining Dan’s grandfather at Gurney Bearing, the family business and predecessor to SKF Bearing, Jack went to Paris to take voice lessons and became the lead basso for New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company. He also sang for the Ziegfeld Follies. Jack was hugely successful, but after 15 years in the music business he’d had enough of the constant travel, so he retired to spend more time with his family. He purchased a commercial orchard in Riverside, California specializing in citrus and avocados. From the collections of Ford Motor Company. Lotus Ford Test, Indianapolis, IN, 1963. Dan Gurney poses with the Lotus Ford he was testing. Dave Friedman, Photographer 40 DCXmag.com

Dan graduated from Manhasset High Below: In 1964, Gurney, driving a Shelby Co- School on Long Island, then made the bra Daytona Coupe no. 5 with co-driver Bob trek with his parents to the West Coast Bondurant, won first place in the GT (over 3 just as the post-WWII “Golden Age of Hot Rodding” was blooming in Southern liters) class and fourth place overall behind California. Like most young men his three prototype Ferraris. Made by Exoto. age in So-Cal, he fell in love with cars, and even built a Ford flathead-powered Above: e 1962 804 was the only race car that he drove to 138mph at the winner for Porsche as a Formula 1 constructor. Bonneville Salt Flats. Dan went off to Menlo Junior College, a feeder school for e 804 won the ‘62 French Grand Prix at Reims Stanford University, but got snatched up with Dan Gurney driving the no.30 (shown from AU- by the US Army and did a tour in Korea. TOart.) Powered by a flat-eight air-cooled engine, Returning to California after his service, this was the car’s only win in the 1962 championship he began racing a Triumph TR2 in West season, although Gurney won another non-points race Coast amateur events in 1955. In 1957, in Stuttgart. At the end of the season, Porsche shut down Dan’s 2nd place drive in Frank Arciero’s their Formula 1 program. fast but ill-handling Maserati/Ferrari/ Mistral race car at the first Riverside Right: Shelby Cobra no. Grand Prix so impressed US Ferrari 15; 1963 Sebring co- importer Luigi Chinetti that he arranged driven by Phil Hill. a Ferrari factory ride for him at the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans! is is GMP’s 1:12 version. A factory Ferrari drive meant Dan was on his way, and Formula 1 soon found Below: CMC Maserati him. He drove for most of the prestigious Tipo 61 Birdcage no.5; F1 teams of the day: Brabham, BRM, 1960 Nurburgring winner Ferrari, and Porsche. Later, and most co-driven by Dan Gurney notably, he raced—and won—in his and Stirling Moss. own Gurney Eagle. But F1 wasn’t his only focus; he also raced and won in NASCAR, Sports Cars, and Indy Cars. At his home track, Riverside International Raceway, he was almost unbeatable in anything he drove and many came to call Riverside “ e Track at Gurney Built.” e handsome, likable Dan was so popular with the fans that Car and Driver Magazine actively promoted him as a candidate for President of the United States until they found out he was too young to run for the office. POSSIBLY THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT HE EVER RECEIVED CAME FROM THE FATHER OF JIM CLARK—AT HIS SON’S FUNERAL. HE TOLD GURNEY THAT HE WAS THE ONE DRIVER HIS SON TRULY RESPECTED. Lotus 38 no. 17; 1965 Indy 500 2nd Place by Carousel1. SUMMER 2015 41

From the collections of Ford Motor Company. Daytona 24 Hour Race, Daytona, FL, 1966. Dan Gurney in the cockpit of a Ford MarkII. Dave Friedman, Photographer During his 15 year driving Left: GMP’s 1:18 Lola T70 Spyder no. 30; career Gurney won 7 Formula One 1966 CanAm Bridgehampton Winner. races, 7 Indy Car races, 5 NASCAR races and placed 2nd twice at the Left: e 1966 Le Mans Indianapolis 500. He was also pole-winning Ford GT40 competing and winning in the Mk II no. 3 co-driven by Sports Car World Championship, Jerry Grant in 1:12 by GMP. Can Am and Trans Am. Possibly the greatest compliment he ever received came from the father of Jim Clark—at his son’s funeral. He told Gurney that he was the one driver his son truly respected. Over his 60 year career in motorsports, which continues today, he has been an innovator and trailblazer that deserves recognition for many diverse racing firsts: He was the first American to design, build and win in his own F1 car. He was the first F1 and Indy Car racer to wear a full- face helmet. He was the first race winner to spray champagne from the podium. He worked actively Right: After being a dutiful Ford employee for the 1966 Le Mans and playing “hare” to get the Ferraris to chase him and use up their cars, Gurney and teammate Foyt were “allowed” to win the 1967 24 hour race in their GT40 Mk IV no. 1 (Exoto 1:18 shown). e relaxed Gurney and the mer- curial Foyt were an unusual pairing, but they made the best of it and brought Ford their second Le Mans win in two years. 42 DCXmag.com



to bring rear-engined cars to the Right: Bobby Unser’s Jorgensen Left: Ford Mustang no. 2; Indy 500, helping to elevate both Steel-sponsored Gurney Eagle 1975 1969 Trans Am by Welly. safety and performance. He was a Indy 500 Winner by Carousel1. leader in creating CART to replace Above: One of the most beautiful Formula 1 racecars ever USAC as the sanctioning body designed, the aluminum, magnesium and titanium Eagle for Indy Car racing. His “Gurney with its nose designed by Dan, his dad, Jack and Len Terry Flap,” also known as a “wickerbill,” to represent the eagle’s beak, won two races during the dramatically advanced the science 1967 racing season, the Belgian GP at Spa and the non- of race car aerodynamics, and is point Race of Champions at Brand Hatch. is is the no. 36 used worldwide in automotive and Spa winner by Carousel1. aviation applications. Dan’s company, All American Racers, has won 8 championships and 78 races with their in-house- designed Eagle race cars, including the Indy 500, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Although he has turned over day-to-day operations of AAR to his son, Justin, he still plays an active role in the company. His driving talent and technical innovation across numerous series and disciplines thoroughly qualify him as racing’s Renaissance Man, so let’s look at some of his most notable machines replicated in scale. THE “GURNEY FLAP\" DRAMATICALLY ADVANCED THE SCIENCE OF RACE CAR AERODYNAMICS, AND IS USED WORLDWIDE IN AUTOMOTIVE AND AVIATION APPLICATIONS. Above: Mercury Cougar no. 98; 1967 Trans Am Green Valley Winner by Sun Star Left: McLaren M8B no. 1 ; 1969 Can Am by GMP. 44 DCXmag.com



out of the box by matt boyd A Bigscreen Bug Worth Lovi ng Hot Wheels Elite “Herbie” Volkswagen Beetle 1:18 | $160 46 DCXmag.com

F or many of us “serious” collectors, our interest in cars started with a decidedly less than serious film. I’m talking about Disney’s e Love Bug; the whimsical 1968 racing yarn that established “Herbie” as the most famous VW of all time. Herbie returned for three sequels, a made-for-TV movie, and a modern reboot in 2005. e original is the best, of course, and the subject of Hot Wheels’ Elite series replicas. You might think that focusing on that single film would simplify things, but not so fast! You see, the film crew built eight to ten Herbies for the original film—a selection of hero cars, stunt cars, and film rigs for interior scenes. Herbie is nominally a 1963 Beetle, but in reality, several model years were employed, ranging as far back as 1959. At least one car, used for the high-speed racing scenes, had a Porsche 912 flat-4 swapped in place of the standard VW power unit, plus upgraded brakes and suspension pieces! Hot Wheels’ model is sort of the default Herbie, a ’63 rag top in the standard movie configuration. SUMMER 2015 47

Left: When not scooping up villains or helping Herbie communicate, the boot houses a fuel tank and a removable spare tire. Right: Herbie is powered by heart more than horsepower, but the model’s VW 1200cc flat-4 is packs a scale punch, with a nicely molded and painted block, heads, and ac- cessory drive. e defining symbols for Herbie— Disney to avoid trademark issues) hidden hinges and detailed it appeared in the film. aside from the VW Bug silhouette and the correct vintage gold-on- interior panels. Herbie’s interior e films tells us that Herbie itself—are the red, white and black California license plates color was not stock in the films. blue offset stripe and the no. 53 with “OFP 857” tags. e stripes triumphs in racing, not due to roundels on the hood, boot and and number plates are decals, e cinematography crew extra horsepower, but rather by doors. e underlying color is a bit convincing for the most part, with determined that the factory virtue of his heart. Still, the heart controversial. Mattel’s literature one minor wrinkle on the hood white upholstery would create of any race car is its engine, and calls the color “Apricot”—which is where it goes over the center distracting flares and reflections this model has a highly detailed odd, both because it doesn’t look trim strip. ose trim pieces on film, so they painted the powerplant to admire. As the much like an apricot, and because are cast into the body and then interior a flat, non-reflective gray, film’s script establishes, Herbie there is no such color in the VW covered in foil. At this price point which the model replicates quite has a stock VW 1200cc motor catalog. Herbie’s actual color is an it would have been nice to see accurately. Floorboards are bare out back, good for all of 40hp. off-white called L-87 Pearl White. separate trim castings, but the foil but painted black. ere are a few (It would have been cool to see To my eye, the model’s color is is well applied, and the window other uniquely Herbiesque cues the Porsche engine swapped in, a touch too dark, looking more surrounds are separate pieces. as well—there’s a big jerrycan on but this is definitely the more like VW’s L-343 Kalahari Beige the backseat, and woven 4-point representative). e details are or perhaps L-472 Beige Gray. e e headlight bezels are also foil, safety harnesses in both the back a lot more powerful, from the gray ragtop is spot-on, as are a and the lenses themselves look and in front. e dash is really aluminum and magnesium block handful of minor custom touches, great. sharp, with a legible single gauge and heads buried low but still like the badge deletes (done by dominating the instrument panel. easily recognizable beneath the e interior presents very engine’s accessories and intake well. Access is via doors with e puck-like shift knob matches system. e single-throat Solex the exterior paint hue and tops a carb is perched atop the vertical chrome gear lever with a rubber upper section of the intake boot. ere’s also a choke knob manifold, which drops down tucked under the dash and a behind the nicely appointed nicely molded floor-hinged pedal alternator and distributor, the set. latter of which comes rigged with plug wires. e heater hoses Onscreen, Herbie frequently have real metal hose clamps. employs his front bonnet to defeat obstacles—or villains—so Herbie is about fun, and the thankfully Hot Wheels’ version model you see here captures opens and the compartment that playful nature, even as it inside is fully detailed. ere’s a triggers the nostalgia that so chrome gas cap atop a filler neck many of us feel for the films. for the fuel tank that dominates And while the focus is not on the rear half of the compartment. strict technical accuracy, it is gratifying to see that Hot Wheels e front half is filled up with a paid considerable attention to fully detailed spare tire, and it that aspect in crafting Herbie is removable if you prefer it not in 1:18 (they did a version in to! Interestingly, it is crafted as a 1:43 as well). Hot Wheels Elite is standard-depth wheel, whereas emphasizing more movie cars the four that Herbie has mounted than ever these days, but few are special widened wheels have more charm than Herbie, to accommodate more race- something that’s sure to make appropriate tread widths, just as this a sought-after collectible. e well-crafted interior matches the flat SOURCE gray color that the movie crew selected Hotwheels-elite.com to reduce reflections. Four-point racing harnesses and a jerrycan on the backseat are the only other non-stock items. HERBIE IS ABOUT FUN, AND THE MODEL YOU SEE HERE CAPTURES THAT PLAYFUL NATURE, EVEN AS IT TRIGGERS THE NOSTALGIA THAT SO MANY OF US FEEL FOR THE FILMS. 48 DCXmag.com