Scale Autos
During these difficult times we are effectively limited to mail order purchases to increase our model car collections. The accommodating trade warehouse, which allows me to borrow the majority of models featured in Scale Autos, is closed, so my access to new models is understandably limited. As a result, 1thought it would be fun to take a look at past reviews to see which models are still as desirable as they were originally.
As you'll appreciate, having penned Scale Autos for more than 30 years, I've retained few of the models I've reviewed, because of the obvious space and budget limitations, but mostly since the majority weren't mine. I relied heavily on model shops to loan me samples, without which the variety of vehicles featured would have been severely limited. That said, I did buy and still have some examples that particularly appealed.
One that came immediately to mind was this 1942 Chrysler Town & Country nine-seat station wagon, produced by Danbury Mint. Reviewed in February 2000, I waxed lyrical about this "termites' delight", a 1 :24 scale die-cast with exceptional detail and real wood for the sculptured side panels. My research, without internet assistance, indicated only one example of the 1649 built was configured as a nine-seater, as war production soon halted civilian car manufacture when the US entered the Second World War. To paraphrase, I said: "First introduced in 1941 it had an unusual 'barrel-back' rather than a conventional rear and was designed by Chrysler president David A Wallace. With its metal roof, white ash wood framing and mahogany veneered panels, it was a true 'woody' ... ".
I reckoned then and now it was the most detailed Danbury Mint model I had seen. With four opening doors, a complete interior with fuzzy carpets, woodgrained dashboard, sliding windows and folding rear jump seats, it's still exceptional. The engine bay is similarly detailed, the motor itself being wired and all ancillaries individually painted. The clamshell rear doors are hinged to reveal a spare wheel and a net luggage retainer. The price then was a tad under £90.
Prices for pre-owned Danbury Mint and the similarly marketed Franklin Mint car models vary enormously, depending on subject matter. However, a visit to eBay revealed a couple of the station wagons listed, plus several of the Town & Country convertible versions. All were advertised as mint and boxed at under £100. That seems pretty good considering their limited availability when new and their age. Before someone asks, the figures were individually sculpted and painted by my good friend Steve Attwood using Milliput epoxy putty.