Category Archives: Daimler

Mercedes-Benz Museum Promotionals by Cursor Models

By Fabrizio Panico

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum promotional models looked at in the article were made for them by German firm Cursor.

The new Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, opened in 2006 just outside the Untertürkheim main plant, celebrates the history of the automobile invented by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler in 1886. The Museum’s origins can be traced back to the 1960s, when it was situated inside the main plant, near the central administration area (I remember being there in 1964).

Near the end of the 1960s the Museum, very likely following Volkswagen’s example, commissioned Wiking to produce a series of ultra-detailed 1:40 scale plastic replicas of vehicles exhibited at the museum. The first models were produced in 1969 and were then immediately taken over by Cursor, a German company well known for for making products for advertising promotions. Cursor was founded in 1945 by Dr. Hans Renner, together with his wife Irmgard. Perhaps inspired by the success of Dr. August Horch translating his name in Latin language (Audi) he translated his name to Cursor, meaning ‘the runner’.

The models were made of a styrene type plastic, which is rather sturdy and quite time-resistant. After fifty years there are no deformations or discolorations. They are usually moulded in two or three different colours, rarely with diecast metal (zinc) components, but some with realistic rubber tyres. Some of them have markings on the chassis giving the month/year of mould production. The box that they are packaged in is a cut and folded cardboard base with perforations for the tyres covered by a clear soft plastic cover, as shown below

Cursor card and folded plastic boxes

Printing on the bottom of the pack gives the specifications of the real vehicle in four languages as shown below.



It took me some years to complete the complete series, consisting of twelve vehicles. In addition to some of the ‘first of the species’ there are also some racing cars as shown below.

1 Daimler “Motorwagen” 1886 (by Wiking, the first Daimler, 1.1 HP at 600 rpm)
2 Benz “Patent Motorwagen” tricycle 1886 (the first Benz, 0.89 HP at 400 rpm)
3 Daimler 4 HP truck 1896 (the first Daimler truck)
4 Daimler fire appliance 1896 (the first Daimler fire engine, mould 4/70)
5 Benz bus 1894 (the first Benz bus, mould 2/69)
6 Daimler taxi 1897 (the first Daimler taxi, mould 3/71)
7 Benz 5K3 diesel truck 1923 (the first diesel truck, mould 4/74, more like 1/50th scale, fenders and chassis are metal, like the spoke wheels
7 Was also available later as number 7b, shown above, as a covered wagon in a different promotional livery
8 Blitzen Benz record car 1911 (a four cylinders 21,500 cc engine, 200 HP at 1500 rpm, mould 9/71)
9 Mercedes 120 HP Targa Florio racing car 1923 (a four cylinders 2,000 cc engine, mould 10/72)
10 Mercedes-Benz W196 formula 1 1954/55 (an eight cylinders 2,500 cc engine, mould 11/80, body is metal)
11 Mercedes 65 HP racing car 1903 (a four cylinders 9,200 cc engine, mould 9/69)
12 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial roadster 1936 (eight cylinder engine with compressor, mould 8/78)

When I visited Mercedes-Benz in the 1990s as part of my work they gave me some matchbooks (see picture below) illustrated with pictures of the Cursor models, clearly they were still highly regarded. Sadly, the Museum shop didn’t have them anymore.

At about the same time that Cursor produced the museum pieces they also made some other plastic 1:40 promotional vehicles like the Audi 100 saloon, and the Volkswagen 411 and K70. Nice companions to the beautiful Wiking Volkswagen, and a good subject for the next article.

In later years Mercedes-Benz commissioned Cursor to make promotional diecast models of their current vehicles. These came in a distinctive cardboard box in the shape of a shipping container, perhaps another possible subject for a future article?


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Corgi Toys 1960s Classics

By Pat Conneally

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Corgi’s management had high hopes for their new range of vintage and veteran vehicle models when it was launched, at a glittering reception in London’s Dorchester Hotel, in late January of 1964. Among the guests was a Mr Sammy Davis albeit not the Hollywood star as Marcel Van Cleemput makes clear in his New Great Book Of Corgi (New Cavendish Books 2001). The Mr Davis who attended the launch was justly famous in his own right as one of the drivers of the Bentley winner at Le Mans in 1927.

The glitzy launch wasn’t the only instance of Corgi throwing everything it had learned in eight years of model-making at its new range. No expense or effort was spared with new boxes being designed, the chief designer exiled to his office for five hours every day to work on the new models and some 13,000 hours of toolmaking going into the first two models alone.

It is hard to see the then new Corgi Classics range as anything other than an attempt to corner some of the market among adult collectors which Lesney had identified and developed with its Models of Yesteryear range which launched in 1956 and was a well-established and unique player in the world of British diecast models by 1964 with sixteen models in the range and a policy of regular updating and replacement.

Originally scheduled to launch in September of 1963, Corgi’s new range was intended to feature models  ‘even more sophisticated than Corgi toys,’ and it was stated at the launch that ‘Of particular significance is the fact that in the past no manufacturer has been able  to mass produce such completely authentic super-detailed models with such impeccable finish at this price. The aim in producing the Corgi Classics was to achieve the utmost realism regardless of cost.’ Clearly Corgi meant to put it up to Matchbox and, in fairness, their models really were a cut above as a comparison with Yesteryear models will confirm. New production capacity was said to have been added at the Swansea factory ‘to cater for the increased demand expected,’ but, as Marcel Van Cleemput admits, sales of the new Classics did not meet expectations. This was probably due to the fact that the models were more suited to fathers rather than the sons as well as being significantly more expensive than Yesteryears and the range was eventually discontinued in 1969.

The first car model released in the new range in January 1964 was, possibly predictably, a Model T Ford, in this case the 1915 year model which initially appeared in two colourways – #9011 black and #9012 yellow. The car was modelled in the hood down position and came with a shirt-sleeved driver and an elegant lady passenger with scarf and Easter bonnet. A hood-up version would appear in November of the same year as #9013, in blue and with a white-coated driver figure crank starting the car. All three versions sold for eight shillings and eleven pence (8/11) which would equate to just under 45p in today’s money! This was still approaching twice the price of the Yesteryear Model T which cost five shillings (25p).

Original Clasic Model T Fords as issued

Having recently restored a very poorly #9011, the Maroon car in the photos, I can attest to the detail and build quality of these models which comprised no less than 21 separate components (not including tyres and occupants and which are remarkably robust for such a delicate-looking model with a central pin on the front axle providing a degree of suspension.  Marcel Van Cleemput was particularly proud of the spoked wheels which, as he put it, ‘were so large and prominent that they made the model.’ In fact, as Mr Van Cleemput explains, the wheels and, in particular their tyres, presented the most demanding task at design stage. The problem was how to produce thin rubber tyres which would not roll off as the model, which was intended to be played with as well as admired, was pushed along. This conundrum was eventually solved by casting the wheel hubs with a deep central flange on the circumference and then injecting the tyre onto it in a mould. I can confirm that this approach worked as it failed me to remove the tyres from the Model T mentioned above…even after almost sixty years on their hubs.

Before and after view of restored Maroon Ford Model T

Minichamps Ford T left and Corgi right

Modelled at a scale of 1:40, the top-down version, #9011 & #9012, sold a combined 306,000 (plus unknown 1969 sales) while #9013, hood –up version, added a further 161,000 sales before the Classics range was withdrawn in 1969. There are no listed colour variations although, while both #9012 and #9013 usually come with yellow or blue wheels respectively, they can also be found with black wheels as on my own yellow car. This doesn’t affect present-day valuations which are modest anyway and seems to me to be a shame as these really are very nice models indeed as the photograph comparing them to a recent (and very fine) Minichamps model shows. Incidentally, the Minichamps car is a 1911/12 year model so the difference between front scuttles is accurate.

Boxed hood up with driver starting the car Corgi Ford T

The 1965 Corgi catalogue, which was the first to feature the Classic range, included some historical details of the actual cars modelled with the Model T being described as ‘having a unique character being cheap, sturdy, reliable, versatile and easy-to-repair even by the unskilled and with a two-point suspension system which enabled it to go anywhere – even to climb stairs!’ Corgi’s pride in their model was reflected in the description which listed ‘the spoked wheels, brass radiator and button upholstery’ among the model’s attractions.

The real Model T, which has a strong claim to have been the first ‘world car’ was produced by Ford between 1908 and late 1928 when the final Model T rolled off the assembly line in Ford’s Cork plant. Considered ‘the most influential car of the Twentieth Century,’ over 15 million Model Ts were sold during its lifetime, a record for a single model which would not be surpassed until 1972 (by the Volkswagen Beetle). Ford continued to produce Model T engines until 1941 for replacement and marine purposes and a final batch of six Model Ts was built as part of the company’s centenary celebrations in 2003. An ‘English’ version of the Model T named the Aeroford and with a modified bonnet and grille was produced in London for a few years in the early 1920s and sold for in the region of £200. It is estimated that in excess of 50,000 Model Ts survive in roadworthy condition.

The quote famously attributed to Henry Ford that a customer could have a Model T ‘in any colour he likes so long as it’s black,’ is apparently not entirely accurate as until 1913, the car wasn’t actually available in black but in grey, green, blue and red.

Before I leave the Model T, it is worth noting that a Lyons Tea van version which appeared in the 1967/68 catalogue as ‘Available Later’ and would, according to Marcel Van Cleemput, have featured opening rear doors never actually made it into production although Corgi did produce a very similar model  but without the opening doors in 1986 after a management buy-out led to the formation of Corgi Toys Ltd.

Catalogue page featuring new Classics Bentley

Marcel Van Cleemput opines that ‘I feel we got it about right’ in relation to the choice of vehicles to model for the new range and the second model to appear (in February 1964) was #9001 in green and #9002 in red; a 1927 3-litre Bentley Le Mans Winner. This was another car which, like the Model T, would have been instantly recognisable even to those with little interest in matters automotive. Unlike the Model Ts, the pair of Bentleys weren’t exactly identical apart from colour though.

Two Classics Bentleys side by side

#9001, the green car, was easily the more recognisable of the two being a replica of the car which won the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1927. This was Bentley’s second victory in the race, having previously won in 1924 with another 3 litre car. Mr Sammy Davis, who attended the Dorchester launch, and his co-driver  Dudley Benjafield who died in 1957, had to make on-the-spot repairs to their Bentley after being involved in a crash but went on to win the race. The company, based in Crewe, had been founded by W. O. Bentley in 1919 and quickly established a formidable reputation on the race track winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. Bentley was acquired by Rolls-Royce  in 1931.

Classics Bentley with box and showing chassis detail

Corgi’s 3 Litre is another splendid model with an impressive level of detail including wire wheels, detailed brake drums, re-enforced windscreen with opened driver’s panel, handbrake, airhorn and toolbox. Like all of the Classics, the detailing extends to the underside too with what the 1965 catalogue describes as a ‘detailed undercarriage with a long exhaust pipe.’ Even the tyres were ‘correctly patterned.’ The model came with a driver figure in racing overalls. By contrast, #9002 was in a rich red with no racing numbers and appears to be a civilian version although the apparently besuited and becapped driver in the catalogue painting has been replaced by the racing driver figure in my own red car. The red car also has red wheels as opposed to the silver wheels on the racing version. Both cars have detachable hoods. Combined sales of the green and red cars is quoted as 497,000 plus unknown 1969 sales.

In keeping with Corgi’s policy of never wasting a good casting, the Bentley made a couple of further appearances in the range, the first being in January 1966 as part of Gift Set 40 The Avengers based on a popular ITV TV series. This set comprised The Bentley (basically the 9002 car in red but with a folded-down hood and a John Steed driver figure) as well as Emma Peel’s Lotus Elan, a figure of Emma herself and three tiny furled umbrellas to represent Steed’s only weapon in the TV show. The Bentley generally has silver wheels although cars with red wheels can also be found and are more highly valued.  Sets with a green, instead of red, car are known but are rare. The set was on sale for three years and sold 190,000 plus unknown 1969 sales. It is now sought-after and likely to be an expensive acquisition. The Bentley’s final appearance in the 1960s range came in 1967 in another TV spin-off, this time based on the dramatization of P.G. Wodehouse’s  much-loved Bertie Wooster books.  Corgi #9004 The ‘World of Wooster ‘ Bentley was the car from Gift Set 40 (hood down) but, this time, in green and with Jeeves, the long-suffering and supremely capable butler at the wheel. The model also came with a standing Bertie Wooster figure in tweed jacket and plus fours. According to Marcel Van Cleemput, at least half of the ‘Wooster’ Bentleys were produced with a gunmetal grey chassis but I have been unable to confirm if this affects values. The model was in the Corgi range for just two years being withdrawn in 1969 and total sales amounted to only 45,000 plus unknown 1969 figures.

The third Classics model, #9021 1910 Daimler 38HP appeared in July 1964. This car was another fine example of high-quality modelling and came with four figures – a uniformed chauffeur and three passengers in Edwardian clothing who appear to be the Lord and Lady of the Manor and their young, straw-hatted daughter who sits up front beside the driver. The family seems to have been enjoying a day out judging by the picnic hamper strapped to the rear luggage rack. According to the Corgi Catalogue for 1965, some of the features ‘you must look out for’ included ‘spoked wheels, outside handbrake, authentic radiator, button upholstery and footrests for the backseat passengers.’ In common with the other classics, the Daimler had a ‘detailed undercarriage with long exhaust pipe.’ The car was only issued in orange red with yellow wheels and chassis and sold 200,000 before it was withdrawn with the rest of the Classic range in 1969. The Daimler cost ten shillings and sixpence (10/6) in 1965 or 55p in today’s money but this had increased to (10/11) by 1967. Oh for a time machine! Current values are a lot lower than they should be for such a fine model. The car in the accompanying photos is original but the passengers are reproductions painted by myself in colours which don’t quite match the originals.

Classics Daimler with Chauffeur and family figures

A proposed hood-up version of the Daimler which appeared as an ‘Available Later’ in the 1966 and 1967/68 catalogues as #9022 with an all-blue body, yellow wheels and grey or brown hood never actually made it into production so the 9021 Daimler, as the only 1960s Classic not to be revisited by Corgi in the 1980s, is literally the only show in town for this model.

Daimler was a British motor manufacturer founded by H. J. Lawson in 1896 and based in Coventry, the company having bought the right to the use of the Daimler name. Daimler was purchased by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company) in 1910, and was the preferred supplier of cars to the British monarchy for over four decades before being supplanted by Rolls-Royce. Daimler occasionally used alternative technology which may well have included the ‘power unit of sleeve valve type’ mentioned in the historical details in Corgi’s 1965 catalogue and which apparently gave the car ‘great quietness of running but a considerable thirst for oil.’ Also according to the catalogue note, the Daimler had a top speed of 50 mph plus which ‘was quite high enough for the people of wealth and position favouring this car who found luxurious accommodation and perfect running of prime importance.Jaguar cars acquired Daimler in 1960 and the brand was subsequently merged with BMC in a company renamed British Motor Holdings (BMH) which then became part of British Leyland. Once part of Jaguar Daimlers became the luxury trim level of the Jaguar range with the exception of the Daimler Limousine which constructed using many Jaguar parts from the Mark 10 and others. Ford acquired the Jaguar/Daimler brands in the 1990s and ceased use of the Daimler brand some years later. In 2008, Jaguar, along with Land Rover was sold by Ford to Tata Motors which now owns the rights to the Daimler brand.

There was just one new Classics model in 1965 but, like the Model T and the Bentley, the 1910 Renault 12/16 which joined the range in April, came in two different colourways with separate numbers. The Renault is a bit of an outlier in the Corgi Classics range having no obvious British connection apart from perhaps being familiar to older Londoners from the company having provided a significant number of taxis to the city in the early years of the century. Perhaps its selection might have been a nod by Marcel Van Cleemput to his own French heritage? But if Mr Van Cleemput had an input into the choice of model it appears that it didn’t extend to the choice of paint colour as he describes the colourway of #9031 as ‘an awful lavender colour’ and didn’t include a photo of the model in his New Great Book of Corgi. That colour did have an impact, though, as it is the one I remember from toy shops and catalogues in the 1960s even though it only lasted for a single year in the Corgi range, being withdrawn in 1966 having sold 70,000 units. Corgi continued with the floral theme for its sibling, #9032 an identical car but in a primrose shade. Of this prettier sister, Mr Van Cleemput commented that it was ‘a very nice and realistic representation of the car.’ Both models are nicely detailed both as regards upper bodywork and undercarriage and are modelled in the hood up position. In the case of both cars, the colour of the spoked wheels matches the car’s body colour. #9032 was withdrawn in 1967, making the Renault the only Classic model to be deleted before the whole range was withdrawn in 1969. The primrose version sold 120,000 units. As is, sadly, the case with all the Classics models, present-day values for the pair of Renaults are very modest.

The new Renault Classic model appears in the Corgi Catalogue

The Renault corporation was founded on 25 February 1899 as Société Renault Frères by Louis Renault, an engineer, and his brothers Marcel and Fernand and was later renamed Société des Automobiles Renault (Renault Automobile Company) when Louis assumed overall control. 

Renault vehicles became popular as taxis and were also used as troop transport during the First World War. Some, as previously mentioned served as taxis in London and the brand was also successful in the U.S., where it was the best-selling foreign make in New York by 1907. By the end of the first decade of the Twentieth Century, Renault was France’s leading car maker.

Renault gained a reputation for innovation from its early years. In an era when the motor car was still evolving, designers felt free to experiment and this gave rise to some approaches which would be considered idiosyncratic today. One such feature of Renault vehicles was the positioning of the cooling radiator for the engine – behind rather than up front as in the case of most competitors. This led to the distinctive ‘inverted coal-scuttle’ shape of early Renault bonnets and can be clearly identified on the Corgi model where the radiator filler cap can be seen just in front of the windscreen. On the real cars, the outer extremities of the radiator are exposed for airflow and this feature, too, can be identified on the model although it does require that one look closely.

I am indebted to Andrew Wood’s chezbois.com website for an explanation of the purpose of the rounded silver bulge under the model’s engine. I had assumed this to be the sump, albeit an unusually large one but, apparently it is an enclosure under the sealed engine bay to control the flow of air dragged over the engine by a large fan and used to assist in cooling the radiator. Mr Wood also explains that the bonnet handle, which can also be discerned on the model, was actually a brass cabinet handle on the real cars.

While I feel that all of the Classics models are unfairly underrated, the Renaults seem to suffer particularly badly. In fact they, like the rest of the range, are superbly well-made and, in my opinion anyway, are very pretty little models – even the lavender one!

Corgi got one more run out of its Renault casting albeit in a form the Renault Frères would neither have recognised nor, in all probability, approved of. This was #808 Basil Brush’s Car released in December 1971 and withdrawn two years later having sold 187,000 units. Inspired, if that is the word I’m looking for, by the Basil Brush Show a popular BBC children’s TV show which featured the eponymous laughing fox. The poor old Renault was ‘mutilated and jazzed-up.’ as Marcel Van Cleemput describes it, losing its roof and brass headlights and having its elegant spoked wheels replaced by those used as front wheels on Corgi’s farm tractor models. This was a toy, not a model, and was aimed at a very much younger audience. The car came with a Basil figure in the driver’s seat and a ‘Laugh’ tape and sound box to replicate Basil’s trademark ‘Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho!’ Not one of Corgi’s finer moments, the model sold 187,000 units and was withdrawn in 1973. Ironically, this is now a relatively sought-after model and mint in box examples can fetch high prices – much higher than those for the original Classics!

What was to be the final model in the Classics range, #9041 1912 Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Ghost’ was released in May 1966. This, biggest of the Classics, is a substantial and solid model at just over 4½ inches in length. The solidity comes from the construction method which, unusually for Corgi, featured a plastic body and a separate roof moulding (also in plastic) which included the brown window surrounds. Assembly was completed by inserting the window unit into the brown mouldings and securing the entire assembly by means of concealed clips prior to attaching it to the chassis.   Marcel Van Cleemput describes the Rolls Royce as being ‘in my view the nicest Classic model ever produced at that scale’ and it is hard to argue. Corgi’s Silver Ghost is a splendid thing in a suitably understated silver finish over a dark grey chassis and with some incredible detail notably the lattice work on the roof and the faithfully-reproduced Silver Lady on the radiator top.  The Rolls-Royce was withdrawn with the rest of the Classic range in 1969 having sold 199,000 units plus unknown 1969 sales.

Catalogue page showing shortly to be launched Classics Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce shown in front and rear views

The car on which Corgi based its model, 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Double Pullman Limousine with coachwork by Barker, a prestigious coachbuilder with two centuries of experience including the building of Royal coaches, is still extant and sold at Bonham’s in 2012 for 4.7 million UK Pounds! The car is the only known survivor with this coachwork and has the exterior finished in cream with green accents and roof unlike Corgi’s all-silver version,   When Mr John M. Stephens of Croydon ordered his Rolls-Royce in 1912, the ‘Silver Ghost’ name, which originated with Mr Claude Johnston’s pet name for his 40/50 (the thirteenth car to be built) had become attached to the entire line but wouldn’t be officially recognised by Rolls-Royce itself until much later. The auction prospectus tell us that the Rolls-Royce boasts a 7.3 litre, six cylinder engine capable of 6 mpg with a top speed of 60 mph, interior fittings in silver and ivory, door panels trimmed in embroidered silk and brocade tassels on the window shades, delicate china tea sets and sterling silver decanters were included for picnic purposes.

The Rolls-Royce with its box

Introduced in 1906 and described by Autocar magazine as ‘the best car in the world,’ the Rolls-Royce 40/50 remained in production until 1926 with a total of 7,874 cars being made in that period. Like all luxury cars of the era, the Silver Ghost could be specified in a variety of body styles many executed by specialist coach builders. The cost, as the auction notes also inform us, was ‘prodigious.’

In a twist that will, no doubt, be appreciated by model car collectors everywhere, the subject of Corgi’s model which has been described, in less deferential terms than those of Autocar, by Sports Car Market magazine as ‘a masterpiece of elephantine Edwardian elegance,’ and is widely known today as ‘The Corgi.

The old Rolls-Royce made a brief final appearance in the Corgi range in June of 1970 after the rest of the Classic range had been discontinued. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that it made two final appearances as a small number of the original #9041 were released at this time alongside #805 The Hardy Boys’ Rolls-Royce. The latter model, released by request for the U.S. market  caused Marcel Van Cleemput no little annoyance as he considered it a ‘soulless’ sacrifice of a beautiful model‘. It was certainly garish in red and yellow with a bright blue chassis or what Mr Van Cleemput described as ‘an awful combination of so-called psychedelic colours.’ The model which came with figures of the five members of The Hardy Boy’s group and a green plastic base which clipped onto the car’s roof for them to perform on, sported solid disc wheels and over-bright, gold-plated trim. I remember the Hardy Boys as a series of junior detective books but, by the time that they made it to television in the U.S., they had morphed into a pop group with a girl singer who solved mysteries on the side! The model was in the Corgi range for a single year being withdrawn in 1971. Total sales were low at 40,000 units, 11,000 of those in the U.K. where the model became available later in 1970. Astonishingly, this model is now worth multiples of the value of the original #9041 Silver Ghost.

And that was that for the Classics…or almost. Following a management buy-out of Mettoy in the mid-1980s and the creation of a new company, Corgi Toys Ltd., a new Classics range of 19 models was launched in 1985 and Corgi revisited its original 1960s range for four or them – #C860 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, #C861 Bentley 3 Litre, #C862 Renault 12/16, and #C863 Model T Ford. The new models appeared in a wider range of colours than the originals some of them quite unusual and, in the case of the Renault even more garish than the 1960s lavender version. Over a decade later, the Bentley casting was the last Classic to appear in the Corgi range as #C00101 John Steed’s Bentley.

As I have already indicated, current values for the Classics range are modest so that they seldom show up in auction house sales. A trawl on eBay suggests that a very presentable example of any of the 1960s Classics can be had for under 20.00 UK Pounds and, if you are really lucky, it might even come in one of the original stiff board boxes with lift-off lid. Playworn versions can be picked up for a couple of pounds but be warned that replacement parts for the Classics, apart from the accompanying figures and some parts for the Bentleys including windscreen and toolbox/airhorn, are not currently available and I was very fortunate to have a skilled friend who made the replacement windscreen I needed to complete my own Model T restoration. Thank you, Mikaela. Values for the 1980s reissues are even lower and these seldom sell for more than a few pounds. As a limited and very attractive range of models, it seems to me that the original Classics offer a very attractive option for collectors as a complete set can be acquired with comparatively little trouble or expense.

There are a few Classic models which sell for reasonable money though and these include the World of Wooster Bentley (around 30 UK Pounds unboxed or 120 plus UK Pounds boxed) and the Avengers Gift Set (around 300 UK Pounds complete) although a presentable example of Steed’s Bentley on its own can be had for in the region of 25 UK Pounds f you search carefully and a nice example of the green Bentley with red wheels (and John Steed figure) recently sold for a relatively modest 70 UK Pounds.

I was astonished to see a mint in box example of Basil Brush’s Renault sell for 130 UK Pounds, but presentable unboxed examples can be had for under 20 UK Pounds although, as this was a toy and not a Classic as such, many can be heavily playworn. A very tidy unboxed Hardy Boys’ Silver Ghost sold recently for 50 UK Pounds and a mint in box example complete with all figures and base made 80 UK Pounds.


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A Royal Car

By Maz Woolley

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Here in the UK this week will be marked by a series of celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee including a rare double bank holiday. Beacons will be lit and several days of celebrations will be held in many communities across the UK. Events will also be held in other countries where she is still recognised as their Queen. So with the Royal focus this week this article looks at a handmade model which has appeared in several ranges and currently appears to be most often listed in its Top Marques form with its hood up. The model shown in the article was sold in the Milestone Models range and is labelled RC1 Daimler 2½ Litre Drophead Coupe 1939 King George VI’s private car WWII. As the King’s private car the young Princess Elizabeth made family journeys in it from time to time as shown in the photograph below where the car has a blackout fitting to one light.

Period photograph from Daimler Classic Car Parts website.

The Daimler 2½ Litre

The DB18 chassis was introduced by Daimler in 1939. It was a development of the 2.2 Litre New Fifteen introduced two years earlier in 1937. From 1949 it was called the Daimler Consort . Initially offered mainly as a chassis to body builders by the end of its run it was more likely to be bodied by Daimler’s own Body Builders. The 2,522 cc in line six cylinder engine was originally developed to power the Daimler Scout Car. The car was fitted with a fluid flywheel and Wilson pre-selector gearbox.

King George VI was not the only famous person to have a drophead coupe on this chassis. Winston Churchill had Carlton Carriage Company build him one in 1939 and it was used during election campaigns in 1940.

Photograph by Les Williams from Flickr of a preserved 1939 DB18 Drophead Coupe

The Model

The Milestone Models car shown in the photographs below shows the Drophead Coupe with its hood down. This generation of DB18 is the last car to have the classic upright Daimler radiator as post war the grille was smoothed out and curved in the new look adopted for the Consort.

A nicely detailed hand made model of a Royal Car which still exists and has been worked on by David Beales Engineering. And one of a number of Royal cars State and private which can be collected in 1:43 scale.


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Stardust from Matrix

By Maz Woolley

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

MX50402-041 from Matrix is a model of the 1954 Daimler DK400Stardust‘ as prepared for display at the London Motor Show. It was one of a number of ‘Docker Specials‘ created for publicity and known for their outrageous features. Their impact was high as post war rationing only ended in 1954 and it was a period of austerity with new cars difficult to come by and the very basic ‘sit up and beg’ Ford Popular launched in 1953 being the highest aspiration of many motorists.

At this point Daimler was part of the BSA Group (Birmingham Small Arms) and Hooper and Co. were their in house coachbuilders. The outrageous show cars showed off Hooper’s capabilities and created a sensation at motor shows. The force behind the creation of these specials was Nora Docker the wife of the BSA Chairman Sir Bernard Docker. who had been made ‘Styling Director‘ at Hoopers and was on a personal crusade to make the Daimler brand more exciting and desirable. This began with the DE36 Golden Daimler‘ shown at the 1951 London Motor Show and special cars were shown each year with the final one being the DK400 based Golden Zebra shown in 1955. This is also made by Matrix as MXLM01-0402. The models gained extra publicity as Nora Docker attended the shows to show them off and she was an ex-showgirl, dressed glamorously, and was just the type of exuberant figure that the popular press liked to feature. How much all this showy publicity contributed to the Queen and Prince Philip’s shift of loyalty to Rolls-Royce has to remain a matter for speculation.

Stardust‘, the penultimate car of the series, was built on the DK400 limousine chassis and bodied by Hooper at a reported cost of 12,500 GB Pounds. The coachwork was finished in royal blue and silver, with five thousand silver six-pointed stars on the sides, while the huge dancer bonnet mascot was modelled on Lady Docker herself. The interior featured hand-woven silver-grey silk brocatelle upholstery for the rear compartment and blue crocodile skin trim for the aluminium cabinets. The central division and double-glazed side windows were electrically operated, as was the sliding shutter beneath the fixed glass sunroof above the rear seats. There were four crocodile skin suitcases in the boot. For all its opulence, the relatively restrained ‘Stardust’ exhibited surprisingly good taste, and a similar car was made by Hooper for the Queen Mother in 1955.

By the mid 1950s the Dockers‘ extravagance was causing discontent within the BSA Group board and on 30th May 1956 a special meeting was called that resulted in Sir Bernard being voted out of office. The board concluded that the five ‘Docker Daimlers‘ had been commissioned, not to generate publicity for the company as the Dockers claimed, but for the couple’s personal amusement. Sir Bernard ended up with a £50,000 bill for their construction, to which the Inland Revenue added a further £20,000 tax bill. Daimler stripped the cars of their trimmings and sold them.

Stardust‘ was eventually abandoned on a Welsh farm with a frost-damaged cylinder block, but in 1980 it was restored to show condition and Geoffrey Francis, the heraldic artist who had worked on the car in 1954, was commissioned to reapply the stars to the coachwork. By this time, of course, crocodiles had become an endangered species, so blue-dyed lizard skin – a Norah Docker favourite – was used instead for the interior trim. The car has since changed hands a few times and was sold in 2014 by Bonhams for 110,140 GB Pounds.

Photograph of the real car after restoration from Bonhams Website

The photographs produced by Bonhams in 2014 show that the Matrix model captures the shape of the car and its details very well.

This model is made in resin to 1:43 scale in China for Matrix of the Netherlands.

The huge faired in front lights are beautifully modelled as is the grille and the Docker emblem on the radiator. It is probably no coincidence that the dancer mascot is larger than a Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. Even the small air intakes are neat photoetch items.

The ‘stardust’ effect has been well replicated and is applied as a well fitted decal.

A wealth of additional parts are applied to recreate body fittings like door and boot handles, lights and fuel filler cap. Well applied photo etch has been used to create the window trim and body trim. The interior of the car can be seen through the clear sunroof and it is fully detailed with dashboard and other fittings nicely recreated. There even appear to be mirrored air vents in the rear pillars which are often left off models.

One nice touch is that the etched mirrors have reflective surfaces fitted to make them more realistic.

All in all a lovely model of a spectacular car which is an important part of the post-war social history. Now its time to save up for a Golden Zebra show car to join it on the display shelves.


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News from the Continent – Norev February 2021

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

This article looks at the recent releases from Norev all due in February 2021. Norev are a French firm with manufacturing facilities in China. They produce many models in various scales under their own brand as well as supplying models for part work producers like Hachette. They also provide dealer boxed models to several car makers.

The images shown below have been provided by Norev. We look at the members of each scale in the release in turn.

1:64 Scale

318993 Blister pack with Citroen 2CV and 3 cyclists

310921 Peugeot 2008 2020 Artense grey

1:87 Scale

158512 Citroen SM 1972 silver green metallic

1:43 Scale

158705 Citroen SM Presidentielle 1981/1985 with figure of Francois Mitterand

158706 Citroen SM Presidentielle 1995 with figure of Jacques Chirac

351351 Mercedes-Benz SL 350 2012 – black

472863 Peugeot 2008 GT 2020 – elixir red

750060 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe

840132 Volkswagen Golf 2020 silver metallic

1:18 Scale

183700 Daimler Motorkutsche 1886

183744 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster 2019 white metallic

183742 Mercedes-AMG GT R 2019 dark grey metallic

183740 Mercedes-AMG GT S 2019 blue metallic

183785 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6,9 saloon 1976 silver metallic

183791 Mercedes-Benz GLC 2015 black
185266 Renault 20 TS 1978 beige


Note that this item was an e-shop special and is now showing as out of stock.


182709 Ford Capri 2.8i Injection 1983 – silver metallic

Note that this item was an e-shop special and is now showing as out of stock.


183718 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL 1989 green metallic

Note that this item was an e-shop special and is now showing as out of stock.


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Vanguards Jaguar and Daimler Releases

By Maz Woolley

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

It seems a long time since Hornby announced their intention to make the Jaguar XJ Series 2, and the Daimler counterpart, castings. They have now reached the shops and this article will look at two of the releases. In addition to the saloon cars shown the model has also been released as a 4.2 litre Police car as used by Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Further releases are planned in different colours and police liveries.

Some collectors have questioned why Corgi should model this vehicle when there are so many other cars completely unmodelled and Matrix and others have done this XJ series already, as did Solido many years ago. Other collectors claim that all Corgi has done is modify the moulds from the original XJ that they already had in the Vanguards series. It would be nice to think that Hornby intended to model all the series of the XJ Jaguar in the Vanguards series which would make a nice collection which would be more robust than the resin models currently available. I have included photographs of the Vanguards Series 1 XJ SWB by way of comparison and can only say that there seem to be many points of difference which persuade me that it is a new mould as shown by all the 3D work shown by Hornby during development.

The Series 2 was introduced in 1973 and ran until 1979. The Jaguar was available with 3.4 or 4.2 litre straight 6 engines or the V12 5.3 litre unit. Daimlers were not available on the UK market with the 3.4 litre unit. The main visual difference to the previous series was the raised front bumpers designed to conform to US safety legislation.

The cars sold well and were widely used by Police forces in the UK as Motorway and pursuit units, and they would have used LWB cars after 1975 as the SWB version was dropped then. Sadly, as Rod Ward noted in our recent editorial this was a period of industrial unrest and management failures in the UK car industry and the build standards of the original cars left much to be desired and tarnished Jaguar’s name.

VA13900 Daimler Double Six Series 2 Vanden Plas

This model has been launched in a caramel paint colour very typical of finishes in the 1970s. The metallic finish is well done without over large flakes seen on many models. The matt vinyl roof is represented with paint but is nicely matte even if not textured.

The shape of the car seems to be excellent when compared to pictures online. Detailing is good too with the headlights having a suggestion of bulbs but without the visually disruptive square in the centre many cheaper models have. The grille and bumper units are good. Though the grille inserts seem to have large gaps on this close up photograph this is not noticeable when viewing the model at a normal distance.

One annoyance is the wipers which scarcely sit on the windscreen. In my view manufacturers should make sure that they are assembled in a parked position not left stranded on the screen expecially when they are flat etchings with no realistic shaping. What do you think?

As can be seen below the rear end lights are very well done with the reversing section which extends onto the back panel well moulded. The badging at the rear is neatly printed. Bumper and exhausts are realistically moulded separate parts.

One neat feature of this car is the well printed number plates which reflect the period typefaces and spacing well.

The side view shown below shows off the sleek side view of the long wheel base car. The coachline is neatly printed and the wheels represent the large domed units fashionable at that time and have a printed ‘D’ in the centre too small to be readily seen.


VA13902 Jaguar XJ12 Series 2 LWB

Slightly down market from the top of the range Daimler Vanden Plas the XJ12 LWB was still full of leather and wood and had a slightly more sporty image. The Corgi captures the car well with the Juniper Green paint so typically 1970s giving a real period feel.

This car too has the matte black roof so typical of the period. And again the windscreen wipers are not properly parked. Indeed as they arrived here one was waving a scale 6 or so inches away from the screen. Corgi needs to sort this out as it is not acceptable on a product at this price point.

Again the car sits well and the tapering rear of the car has been very well caught as the photograph above shows.

Again the side view shows off the neat flush fit glazing unit with all the chrome very neatly printed on. The door mirrors are well made and fitted separate parts. The door handles and locks are printed over raised features in the casting. This gives a robust and neat set of handles. These characteristics are common to the Daimler too. The wheels and hubcaps are excellent and have the Jaguar head logo on the hubcaps, again so small it can only be seen by magnifying photographs.

The front grille inserts again seem to have large gaps in close up photos that are not at all noticeable on the model viewed from a normal distance. All the Jaguar badging is nicely printed on the grille with the black outlined Jaguar head on the grille top and the ‘V’ badge for the V12 version printed in the central grille bar. Again the number plates are neatly done.

The rear of the XJ12 is as good as the Daimler with the ‘Fuel Injection’ and ‘XJ 5.3’ badges clear and readable in close up. The boot lid chrome mouldings are different on the XJ12 and Daimler as they were on the real cars.

A quick comparison to the older Vanguards Series 1

From above the longer wheelbase of the new casting is obvious, as is the similarity between the Series 1 and 2.

The earlier car has its wipers properly parked but the air intake grilles on the front are crooked!

So these new models from Corgi are nice and seem to have few flaws. I have heard of quality control issue s from at least one reader so I hope that they are not widespread. I am sure that many MAR Online readers share my hope that sales of these models will encourage Hornby to invest in further new castings as there are so many UK made vehicles which are still not modelled in an affordable and robust form.


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Corgi Classics Daimler Restoration

By Kees

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Corgi Toys #9021 Daimler 1910

Corgi introduced a Classics series in 1964. Most of these came in a sturdy lift-off lid box, which included a leaflet specific to the model. The numbering is a story on it’s own, because from the start the model numbering had 3 digits, but later a 4 digit system was used. This was because new colour variations were made with each release which did not fit in the old numbering system.

Boxes were used for more than one model, and they got a sticker on them saying which model was inside. The other models in this series were the Model T Ford, a Renault,a Rolls-Royce, and a Bentley. Some were used to create new sets like The Avengers, Hardy Boys and the World of Wooster. They were sold in various colours, and I doubt if some of those colours were ever actually used on a real car. With the Daimler featured second hand items often have the figures missing and glazing damaged.     

As a kid I always choose the well known Corgis like the Batmobile, the Bond Aston and the UNCLE car. My parents  also gave me this Daimler 1910, which I did not really like. In later years I learned to appreciate it, as it was not only an icon of an era, but also it has a lot of detail.

This model came with no less than four figures. The older couple in the rear are obviously the owners, and the car is driven by their chauffeur. I always found it strange that the girl is dressed in a summer outfit while her parents are wearing winter coats. The couple and driver/girl were originally connected by a sprue, but mine did not sit very well in the seats, so I cut them loose. Look at those impressive headlights and mudguards, the separate exhaust from front to rear, the horn, steering and brake lever, extra lights, and hood ornament! There are even footrests in the rear, of which the Cleemput bible keeps says are movable, but they are not. Corgi probably mixed things up, as in real car the body could tilt to get access to the chassis for maintenance! The real treat is in the rear: a straw picnic basket in black! I imagined there was also black straw, and oh, I spent hours trying to find a way to open that basket………    

The mint version I bought a few years ago has the leaflet, slightly burned at the sides. As the Corgi factory was destroyed by fire in 1969, see photograph above. A closed version with detachable roof was advertised, but never appeared, see photograph below.

After I bought that mint one I decided to restore my original bleached one. The satisfactory result made me do a lot of these after that. The front glazing is self made, and I also used figurines which came from China in packs of 100.

Original sun bleached model
A dismantled model
Body and chassis stripped and sprayed
Rolling chassis prepared
Body test assembly under way
Assembly completed
Side view of the completed model
Completed car drives away.
Impressive chassis detail
More derelict models for restoring
And the box of bits to use for restorations
Above and below: The results of the additional conversions with a variety of different figures bought in a pack of 100 from China.

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M4 Model Cars Italy March 2019

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

M4 Group in Italy both design and manufacture in Italy. Models are diecast to 1:43 scale unless stated otherwise.

February 2019 Releases

We start with the releases made in February across their ranges.

ART Models

ART400 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta

As run at the Grand Prix of Luxemburg, Findel in 1949 – driven by Luigi Villoresi – R.R. Winner


ART401 Ferrari 857 S

As run at the 1000 km Paris/Monthlery in 1956 – 5th position driven by De Portago and Hill


BEST Models

BEST9738 Lancia Beta Montecarlo

This is a Group 5 test car Varano 1979 this was driven by Riccardo Patrese and has been issued in a limited edition of 79 pieces with figurine.


BEST9739 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1200 HF

As driven in the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally by Cella and Lombardini. It finished 5th over all and 1st in their class.


BEST9294/2 Ferrari 275 LM

A driven at the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1968 by M.Gregory and C.Kolb


RIO Models

RIO4588 Fiat 1500 – 1936

Here the existing Fiat 1500 Casting is fitted with a roof rack carrying skis and a container for their fittings.


RIO4589 Ford 999

As used in Baltimore in 1904 to set a world speed record by Henry Ford. This is one of the early speed record holders produced by Rio over the years.


RIO4590 Lamborghini Miura P400S 1969

Another release of the Muira 400S. Here painted gold.


RIO4591 Mercedes-Benz 20-35 Landaulet 1909

Here the model is based upon a car featured at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. However, the Rio product manager has had the name stated incorrectly. This car is a Daimler as it was produced before the company merger that formed Mercedes-Benz took place in 1926..


March 2019 Releases

ART Models

ART034/2 Ferrari Dino 246 SP

Here modelled as the winner of 1000 km Nurburgring 1962 driven by Hill and Gendebien.


ART402 Ferrari 212 Export

Here the car is finished as first in class winner and fourth in class and second overall at SCCA Pebble Beach in 1952 driven by A. Stubbs


BEST Models

BEST9740 Porsche Carrera Abarth

Finished as the car which finished 7th at the 12 hour race at Sebring in 1962 driven by Gurney and Holbert.


BEST 9741 Lancia Fulvia F&M Special HF

A very unusual open Fulvia as entered in the 1000 km at Nurburgring in 1969. It finished 1st in the 1.6 class driven by Munari and Aaltonen.


BEST9742 Ferrari 308 GTS 1980

The Best 308 GTS finished in the colours used in the US TV series Magnum.


RIO Models

RIO4592 Fiat 128 Rally 1971

Another release of the 128 Saloon from Rio. Here in a pale blue and in Rally trim level. Looking at the photograph I hope that production models are not as heavily painted as this as the shut lines seem to lack crispness on the photograph. The front sidelight created by simply tampo printing a silver square also looks like a compromise that reduces the quality of the model.


RIO4593 KdF (Volkswagen) Cabriolet

Here is a KdF modelled after the car given as a gift to Adolf Hitler on his 50th birthday on 20.April 1939. And accompanied by a period publicity photograph.


RIO4594 Fiat Balilla Ambulance car Africa 1935

This must have been of limited use as a military ambulance as it is a very short van body. It would also have been limited use off road as it was a conventional two wheel drive chassis.


RIO4595 Mercedes-Benz SSK

The Rio SSK casting here finished as a car that ran at Le Mans in 1932 driven by Foucret and Foucret. This wire wheels on this model reflect the age of the casting and need upgrading to meet current standards.


Matrix Models October 2018

By Maz Woolley

All text by, and copyright of the Author. All photographs supplied by the Manufacturer. 

Matrix Models continue to release news of new models very close to the date of release presumably in an effort to make sure that their small batches of models sell before similar models can be produced by competitors.  This removes the sense of anticipation that some other ranges offer, though sometimes the awaited model from others never arrives! It replaces it with releases that have more impact as their choices continue to find nice new prototypes for collectors. All Matrix models are highly detailed based on resin mouldings produced in China for the Netherlands, models are usually in 1:43 scale though a smaller number of 1:18 scale models are also made

1:18 Scale

Here we have two different versions of the classic 1958 Ferrari 250 GT which is a highly collectable car with real ones costing hundreds of thousands of US dollars at auction.

These are new models and this is a new announcement by Matrix.

MXL0604-031 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Pininfarina silver 1958

MXL0604-032 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Pininfarina red 1958

 

1:43 Scale Models

 

Daimler cars have often appeared in the Matrix range and here Matrix present some of the most outrageous coachbuilt cars form the years when Lord Docker owned the company and his publicity seeking wife exerted a great influence on the top of the range cars shown at motor shows.

MX50402-041 Daimler DK400 Stardust Lady Docker Hooper blue 1954

This model was announced last month but is now available. The shape is similar to the Empress already made by Matrix but the faired-in front lights and massive grille of this car are distinctive.

 

MX10402-022 Daimler DE36 Hooper DHC Green Goddess red metallic/silver

Only a photograph of the real car has been supplied by Matrix so we cannot judge the standard of the model to come. Here we have a car which has already been modelled beautifully by Pete Kenna in white metal and supplied with parts to show it hood up or down. This is the first time Matrix have announced that they will be modelling it and they appear to have chosen to model it with a two tone paint finish which disguises the sheer bulk of this car. It will be a large model as the Kenna is.

 

MX51705-171 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Aero Coup de Foudre #3BU184 blue 1937

Here is a new model of a coachbuilt Rolls-Royce, another type of vehicle Matrix have specialised in producing. This is a new moulding and this is the first time that it has been announced. The vehicle itself has the rather staid and upright Rolls-Royce front end grafted on to a rather extreme coupe body influenced by the contemporary French styling mode. Whether one views the result as a complete success seems irrelevant as it captures the days of coachbuilt cars so well.

 

 

MX50304-051 Citroen DS Safari BBC Camera Car green 1973

This model has been announced before but we now see the model for the first time. The camera car shown was featured on some BBC footage in the 1970s and it was created for the sole purposes of filming horse racing. It would run round a track round the outside of the course filming the horses as they ran. A Citroën was chosen because of the levelling settings and compliance built into the hydro-pneumatic suspension system. The model has caught the period green and grey colour scheme and Logo very well.


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Neo Daimler DB18 Barker Special Sports

By Maz Woolley

All photographs by the Author.

The DB18 chassis was introduced in 1939 and lasted until 1953. Its 2.5 Litre straight six engine was shared with the Daimler Scout car which was built in considerable numbers during the war. Almost all DB18s were built after 1945 as production was halted as war was declared. Fitted with the characteristic pre-selector gearbox and fluid flywheel the cars were capable of reaching about 80mph which was respectable at that time.

The chassis  carried everything from formal six light saloons to low and sleek convertibles. Most formal bodies were built by Hooper and dropheads by Barker. The Neo model is of a Barker Special Sports of which about 600 were built post war. It is made in resin to 1:43 scale in China for Germany.

As can be seen in the photograph above the Daimler grille and lights with the typical Lucas details have been beautifully modelled. The wing top side lights are also very finely made and have lenses and are not just painted in.

The wheels are also very nicely finished with the body coloured rims and chrome hub cap with central area for the “D” badge in black.

The model has captured the flowing lines of the bodywork well, and has not missed the slight “nick” in the front wing behind the front wheel which is a feature of this car. The rear spats are well represented too.

At the back, the badging and Daimler logo are well printed and the lights neat with separate lenses.

The interior is well presented though the wood grain does seem to be a little larger than life. The side facing seat in the rear, which could be removed to allow a bigger luggage capacity, is modelled well. The steering wheel and printed instruments on the dash are all very nicely done.

Again another good model from Neo to complement the Daimler Majestic Major, Conquest, and Sovereign already in their range.


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