Inspirational Versus
In the weeks leading up to this issue
I had been consumed with a mix of anticipation and trepidation about the release of the film FordvFerrari. Anticipation, because if ever there was a story that had the ingredients to make the great racing movie, this was the one. Trepidation, because when it comes to racing Hollywood seldom seems to get it right. This time, however, they did! And as I contemplated why this film worked so well, it dawned on me that it wasn’t actually the racing—it was the rivalry. Whether it is dramatized racing on the big screen or real racing on Sunday, the builtin motivations and heightened tension of a good rivalry distills that which is best about motorsports. And just like that I knew the theme for this issue.
The story that inspired a great movie has inspired numerous a great models too, so it was only right that we look back on the Ford/Ferrari Le Mans duel and the cars that defined it—both full-size and in scale. We also examined a few of the more iconic automotive adversaries across several genres as represented in diecast. Rivalries come in many forms—bitter, friendly, or even those among siblings (which can be a little of both!) In the case of Mopar’s most muscular big blocks, the battle to see which—the big-buck 426 Hemi or the bang-for-buck 440 Six Pack—reigns supreme at stoplights and on drag strips is fiercely argued even today, nearly 50 years after production ended. We check out examples of each from the final year—a 1971 Road Runner 440-6 and a Charger R/T Hemi from Auto World. Chaim Haffner from themodelcarcritic. com examines the fight for the title of World’s Fastest Production Car featuring a pair of AUTOart supercars, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder.
The 1971 Cuda that Ronnie Sox drove to his 2nd consecutive NHRA Pro Stock title had no rival—winning six of eight national events. Supercar Collectibles is the authority when it comes drag cars, and this Cuda is the latest in their exclusive Sox & Martin series. In the customs category we have a 1966 Ford Ranchero that Rich Olheiser skillfully sculpted out of a GMP Fairlane, crafting the muscle truck that should have been factory built. Our friend Bill Bennett takes a look at ACME’s new Ford F-350 ramp truck wearing Shelby American race team colors, and Mike Zarnock shares the news on the Hot Wheels Team Transport haulers. And lastly, we chat with Sean Carney about the evolution of his company—Carney Plastics—into one of the premiere manufacturers of display cases for diecast collectibles of all scales.
All things considered, I think this issue’s story line-up rivals any in recent memory, and I hope you agree! And don’t forget to visit us online at DCXmag. com and on Facebook at Facebook/ diecastxmag.
Suzanne Noel
Bill Bennett, Peter Celona, Chaim Haffner, Alan Paradise, Justin Sharp, Bryan Swift, Dan Townsend, Mike Zarnock
David Pandy Alan J. Palermo Peter Hall
Holly Hansen
Ben Halladay 203.482.8093 benh@airage.com
Brian Vargas 203.939.9901 brianv@airage.com