Category Archives: GMC

Forthcoming Ixo Models

By Maz Woolley

PCT Industries is a major producer of diecast models under contract for partworks and for brands with no production facilities of their own like White Box, Triple 9 and others. They also produce models under their own brands like Ixo. Ixo produces a wide range of different models often using castings previously seen in part works but when issued under their own brand they are usually made to a higher standard of finish and at a premium price.

The models announced are in three separate ranges. Classic Cars, Rally and Trucks. Ixo models span a very wide range of models with particular emphasis on the production of many versions of rally cars. Their truck range is also to 1:43 and they are large items on the shelf. They cover US and European trucks and even include some historic Czech trucks in this release.

Classic Cars


CLC503 VW 1600 TL Beige 1969

CLC504 Volvo 165 Red 1983

CLC505 VW Polo Coupe GT Metallic Blue 1985

CLC506 Ford Mustang Light Blue 1965

CLC507 Volvo 66 Green 1975

Rally Cars


The highly successful Hyundai i20 Rally car appears here in two driver/navigator combinations at the Acropolis and Ypern rallies in 2022

RAM868 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 #11 WRC Rally Acropolis 2022 T.Neuville/M.Wydaeghe

RAM869 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 #6 WRC Rally Acropolis 2022 D.Sordo/C.Carrera

RAM872 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 #8 WRC Rally Ypern 2022 O.Tanak/M.Jarveoja

RAM875 Hyundai i20 N Rally2 #2 WRC2 Rally Ypern 2022 O.Solberg/E.Edmondson

Trucks


TR166 GMC General SBFA Metallic Grey 1988 Big Sleeper

TR169 International Eagle Cabover Black 1995

TRU041 Tatra 813 6×6 Olive/White NVA 1968

TRU042 Tatra 111 D030 A Red 1958

TRUD005 Praga V3S and 6 WD Grey 1962

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Ixo Q1 2023

By Maz Woolley

Announcements of models for the first quarter of 2023 are being made by Wholesalers who must be confident that the goods were made and made it to a container ship before the Chinese New Year shutdown started recently. We will no doubt hear of many more proposed releases next week when the Nuremberg Trade Toyfair opens.

PCT Industries continues to release models under its Ixo brand. Many of the models are based on castings that have already been seen in various partwork series, but when released under the Ixo brand they are generally in new colours and often incorporate a little more detail. This is appropriate as the UK suggested retail price of an Ixo model is often twice the price of a partwork issue.

PCT models are made in China, and in Bangladesh, for Macau and are generally sealed diecast models in various scales.

This article looks at just a few of the many models Ixo intend to ship. Please note that these are pre-production colour test models so there may be some changes before they went into production.

1:43 Scale

February Scheduled Releases


GMC General Beige 1980

One of the few producers of trucks to 1:43 scale. This GMC is in period colours and should be popular with collectors of US vehicles. At this scale it will be an impressive model.


BMW Alpina B6 3.5S Metallic Red 1989

Some nice detailed printing and flush glazing but it still has a hint of partwork about it.


Jaguar XJ 8 (X 308) Green 1998

I believe that this casting was used in the Atlas Jaguar Collection several years ago when it was produced in British Racing Green. It is a nice model and is RHD which will please UK buyers.


Saab 99 EMS Metallic Silver 1972

Ixo already sells this in rally livery and as a red saloon car. This casting would appear to be derived from the casting used to produce several models in the Atlas Saab Collection.


Lada 1500 Green 1980

This casting has been used in several partworks made for former Comecon bloc countries. Here it is badged as a Lada , a brand used mainly on export cars at this time, rather than as a Soviet market Vaz.

Although nicely finished this model may struggle to sell as ex-part work models abound on eBay at a considerably lower cost.


March Scheduled Releases


Scania 142 M Blue 1981

These Ixo trucks model a cab that is already popular with collectors of 1:48 scale models from Tekno and others. It is nicely detailed and made and is very much cheaper than the 1:48 scale models.

Scania 142 M Green 1981

MAN F 2000 Red 1994

MAN F 2000 Blue 1994

This nicely detailed model is again of a popular subject as modelled by Italieri to 1:24 scale and Model Car Garage to 1:18. Given the size and detail included these models are a very reasonable price here in the UK.


Mercedes 280 SE 3.5 (W111) Metallic Grey 1969

This looks to be the same casting used to produce the Greenlight model based on the car seen in the movie ‘The Hangover‘. Considerable printed detail is used which includes US specification separate front lights and side amber lights. A neat model of an impressive car.


Volvo 240 GL Red 1989

Again I think this is derived from the 240GLT casting produced for the Atlas Volvo Collection. Though here there are a few changes with a set of roof bars fitted. It is a good model capturing the boxy shape of the original car and sure to be popular as the Atlas Volvo Collection only sold in a limited range of countries so models are not easy to come by.


Simca 1301 Special Metallic Green 1972

The 1301/1501 casting has been seen in several different French market partworks from the Route Bleu series to the Hachette Simca Collection. Here the windscreen wipers look finer than on the partwork cars but the finish is otherwise similar. The side chrome stripe seems rather crude by current standards.


Renault 5 Alpine Gr. 2 Silver 1978

Models of the Renault 5 abound in part work and rally series. This model seems to be fairly basic despite the abundance of extra lights. The wide wheel arches seem to have rather small wheels within them too. It is a shame this is so basic perhaps in full Group 2 rally livery it would be more impressive. Personally, I would much prefer the lovely Ixo Renault 5 GT Turbo previously released which looks really good.


1:24 Scale Releases February


Talbot Sunbeam Lotus #16 Rallye WM Rally Monte Carlo 1981 G.Frequelin/J.Todt

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus #8 Rallye WM Rally Monte Carlo 1981 H.Toivonen/F.Gallagher

This model was originally expected late in 2022 but has slipped to 2023. The Talbot Sunbeam was a successful rally car which was a surprise as the Sunbeam had been created as a stop gap in the Chrysler range. It used a shortened Avenger chassis and part bin fittings from other Chrysler models. Once taken over by Peugeot-Citroën the Sunbeam was soon dropped as it overlapped the new Horizon and was made in Linwood in Scotland which was shut in 1981.

The Ixo model as appeared before in various rally ranges and is quite a nice representation of the rally car but the front lights seem to be too small and flat to me when compared with pictures of the real cars at Monte Carlo.


1:18 Scale


Fiat 131 Abarth Blue 1980

Another homologation special here. 400 were built to allow the car to qualify for group four rallying. It took the combined efforts of Fiat, Bertone, and Abarth to produce them. The simple badging shows it as an Abarth as do the body modifications. Ixo have already released this in yellow.

The Ixo model is a bit stark in it’s civilian finish and it will look much better in rallying livery.


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Topping Models Lacrosse Missile and Launcher

By Dick Williams

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

On a visit to the Factory Antique Mall in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, a place that bills itself as ‘the largest antique mall in America‘, I saw a plastic display model of a U.S. Army Lacrosse Missile Launcher in one of the display cases along with a small number of old military diecast models.  The only information on the model was a price tag for $275.00. (Antique ‘malls’ in the United States are run by a small number of staff who have keys to cases in the many separate sales ‘booths’ rented by dealers who usually are not physically present, and the staff usually doesn’t have information about specific items.)  I had never seen this model before; it clearly was a simplified display model, probably made for The Martin Company, the manufacturer of the Lacrosse, whose name appears on the side of the model (which for sure would not be there on the real vehicle, unless it was a prototype used for testing by the company).  Two plastic kits of the M398 Guided Missile Launcher Truck and the MGM-18 Lacrosse Missile (by Renwal in 1:32 scale and Revell in 1:40 scale) had been released in the 1950s and reissued several times since, but this model appears to be in about 1:35 scale and is less detailed than the kits.

After some Internet sleuthing, I tracked down the maker, Topping Models, a now-defunct company based in Akron, Ohio, that specialized in plastic display models, mostly for aircraft manufacturers.  They made several models of missiles for The Martin Company (eventually merging with Lockheed to form Lockheed Martin Corp.), including the Lacrosse and its launcher.  I also found to my surprise that Topping had donated one of these models in 1958 to the National Air and Space Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, where it resides in the collection today (but not on display). Edward ‘Bill’ Topping’s company produced finished plastic models from the 1940s until it went bankrupt in 1964, then later he resumed small-scale production with another company.  Precise Models Inc., owned by a former business partner of Topping’s, bought the Topping tooling, molds and models in 1965 and continued producing mostly aircraft display models until 2005.  A new company formed in 2013, Precise Models LLC, remains a source for replacement parts for Topping and Precise models, including small parts for the Lacrosse launcher.

The Lacrosse was a short-range (19 miles/30.6 km) surface-to-surface, radio-guided artillery missile that could carry a one-ton conventional, chemical or nuclear warhead. The M398 launcher was based on the chassis of the M45 2.5-ton cargo truck. Terminal guidance was provided by a Jeep-mounted forward observer team. The Martin Company became the prime contractor for the Lacrosse system in 1955, although it didn’t enter field service until 1959.  Nine battalions were planned (seven in Europe, one in South Korea and one for training in the United States) – the sources I found differ on how many actually were established, and one source says it also was used by the Canadian Army. Nearly 1200 missiles were produced, many of which were fired in development and training.  The U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum said the project was plagued by unreliability and heavy maintenance requirements and was very susceptible to electronic jamming of its radio guidance.  The project also suffered from budget cuts. The U.S. Army canceled procurement of the Lacrosse in 1961, ceased further development in 1962 and retired the last units in 1964.

The model is made entirely of plastic (except for three steel axles and six metal hubs) and at least the entire cab and fenders comprise a single piece. The tires appear to be rubber or rubber-like plastic. The model probably represents the prototype XM-398 launcher because the body has arches above the rear wheels; photos of in-service vehicles show a straight opening in the bodywork that covers both rear wheel units.  The two prominent ladders on either side of the launch rail seem to be molded in the stowed position as part of the body, rather than moveable as on model kits of the vehicle. Rails and other details on both the chassis and the body have been omitted, but the overall effect, while toylike, is attractive and pleasing, at least to me.  I wish Corgi or Dinky had made a diecast Lacrosse launcher as a companion to both companies’ Corporal Missile launchers (#1113 and #666 respectively) and Dinky’s #665 Honest John.  

Two finished models of the Lacrosse were made in HO (1:87) scale, one by Roco of Austria in its Minitanks line and the other by EKO in Spain.  The latter was based on a Second World War truck chassis and cab, while the Roco version was more accurately modelled on a postwar truck.

Picture Gallery

My photo taken in The Factory Antique Mall in Verona, Virginia

A photograph of the missile and launcher taken from the Topping Models website

Model, Missile, La Crosse with Launch Truck (A19580072000).
Model, Missile, La Crosse with Launch Truck (A19580072000).
Two photos of the Topping model donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958

An actual M398 Lacrosse Missile Launcher on display at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. (Note the slight difference in the shape of the body over the rear wheels; also, the cabinets with the control equipment are missing from the rack behind the cab.)

A photograph of the Lacrosse launcher from a U.S. Army technical manual of the period

A finished example of the Revell 1:40 scale plastic model kit from the Worthpoint auction site.

The Roco Minitanks HO (1:87) scale model of the Lacrosse; like all the other models, it appears to have been based on the early prototype XM398. (Taken from an old eBay listing)

Eko 4027 from Spain. 1:86 scale based on a wartime GMC Truck – Photograph by the todocollection

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A look at Motormax

By Maz Woolley

Manufacturers and wholesalers mailings are full of items of interest in a varied range of scales. This article looks at a few from Motormax in 1:24 scale diecast in China. 1:24 is a popular scale for toys and entry level collectors in the US. It offers many US Subjects and popular imports to the US. These are sold at budget prices little more than the price of the cheap 1:43 scale models and often include opening parts to add play value. Here in the UK such products are sold in shops which do not specialise in models but carry them as part of general offerings.

Castings stay in the range for a long period of time, but are regularly re-coloured or refinished. The fit of opening parts and quality of finish are to a ‘budget’ level but the models are often quite impressive none the less. The subjects covered often include vehicles on sale in the US which are not generally seen on the roads in Europe. This article looks at some currently available models.

73331BR Chrysler Le Baron 1979 – Brown (shown)
73331BE Chrysler Le Baron 1979 – Beige

The 1970s were the years of huge vehicles on the US roads and plastic body trim on station wagons to create ersatz woodies. In 1:24 scale these US land-barges are large and impressive models. The Chrysler Le Baron was an upmarket model within the Chrysler range and the model reflects this with the chrome trim and fake wood.


Large Pickup trucks are extremely popular in the US. The full size trucks are rarely seen in Europe as the big V8 engines are extremely heavily taxed, and the cost off fuel makes their thirst very expensive. Given Motormax‘s large US market pick-ups new and old are common.

79357S RAM 1500 Crew Cab Laramie 2019 Silver

The RAM, formerly the Dodge RAM, was Motor Trend‘s truck of the year 2019,2020, and 2021. Available with a wide range of engines from large V6’s up to very large V8s. These are big sellers in the US but seldom seen here.


79361R GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Crew Cab Red 2019

This is the same vehicle as the Chevrolet Silverado and another full size pick up truck. Again the vehicle starts with a modest specification with a V6 engine, but can be specified with many other engines and extras and vehicles shown in advertising often sell for twice the basic price.


79364K Ford F-150 Limited Crew Cab Black 2019

The final of the US big three motor manufacturers contenders for the full size pickup market. This is Ford’s big seller which is said makes a large contribution to its income. This is made in many different versions each more expensive than the other with the range topping Limited selling for over twice the price of the basic XL.


The Motormax range also continues to include older pickup trucks shown below.

79344B Ford F150 Raptor 2017 – Blue

79346B Ford F-150 Custom,1979, met blue
79315PR Ford F-100 Pickup Plain Red 1969

Another interesting truck in the Motormax range is the classic Toyota FJ40.

79323R Toyota FJ 40 Hard Top – available in red and two shades of green


Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 40 Open-Silver Grey or red

One hopes that production models will have the Toyota badged grille the correct way up, unlike the photograph.


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Goldvarg Greyhounds

By Maz Woolley

Sergio Goldvarg has announced the introduction of a new range for collectors. This will be a range of classic Greyhound buses produced for him to 1:43 scale. These will be made in diecast metal rather than resin like other Goldvarg Collection Models. As is usual the models will be fully licensed, in this case by General Motors and Greyhound Bus Lines.

The intention is to produce models with rubber tyres, a detailed interior, and accurate livery to sell on his website for under 110 US dollars. As these are diecast metal and to 1:43 scale, rather than the 1:50 scale buses are often modelled in, they will be very substantial items. Initially each vehicle will come in two different liveries and will be in a limited edition of around 1,200 models. Though as development continues there could be some variations from the original intentions as circumstances dictate.

The photographs shown below have been supplied by Sergio to illustrate the types of Greyhound buses that he intends to produce. We look forward to seeing the first colour trial photographs in the future.

This should prove to be a very popular range as I know that the PCT Industries produced partwork Greyhound bus was sold on eBay to many North American buyers. Although the Goldvarg models will be dearer than European part work models I expect them to be produced to a higher standard of authenticity and detail, something that many collectors are prepared to pay a premium for.

GC-GH-001 Greyhound Bus “Buffalo”

GC-GH-002 Greyhound Bus GM 4104

GC-GH-003 Greyhound Bus GM 4106

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Politoys DUKW

By Robin Godwin

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

Back in 2017, I wrote about the early Mexican McGregor version of Politoys #18, Auto Anfibio (DUKW), which may be read here. I reviewed my latest acquisition, but still had not discovered which mainstream European manufacturer Politoys had copied for this model. Well, I recently acquired the Made in Italy Politoys DUKW, and also recently stumbled upon the answer to the mystery of who they copied.

Firstly, I had compared the McGregor version which I had in hand to photos of the Politoys and described the differences, the most evident of which were the horrible McGregor wheels, removal of the spare the from the rear deck, and body colour.

McGregor, left, removed the spare, presumably because the nasty “speedwheel” they fitted to the model simply wouldn’t look right on the rear deck

McGregor wheels just visible here

My Politoys version has an intact propshaft and rotating three-blade propeller. This is a very fragile assembly in plastic, so if you are planning on buying online, confirm its presence before bidding. Note Politoys indicated scale of ‘1/41’.

Here is the Politoys with an Atlas Editions 1:43 scale DUKW for size reference. The Atlas is a beautiful and substantial model, and clearly illustrates Politoys scale error. Compare the more realistic wheels/tires on the original Politoys model to the McGregor photo above

There was lots of speculation on which manufacturer Politoys had copied in the production of their DUKW, and many assumed it was the French Dinky DUKW. I own the French Dinky, and compared it to the McGregor version in the previous article. While Politoys did exercise some artistic license in copying other manufacturers, one could easily discern the provenance of the copies. Not so with the Dinky DUKW. Then an eBay listing for SIKU #v183 Duck-Amphibienwagen showed up for auction, and the vendor’s photos show that it is unquestionably the inspirational model.

A quick check of production dates with Paolo Rampini’s book, backed up by Matthias Braun’s “Modellauto Katalog SIKU” indicate that the SIKU was introduced in 1962, and the Politoys arrived in 1964, so the dates work. I didn’t buy the listed SIKU model as it had been painted by a previous owner, so I can’t do a side-by-side comparison, but the two models are near identical in size and execution, and the photos clearly show the similarities. Notable differences are: the SIKU has a steering wheel and half the soldiers, whereas the Politoys has no steering wheel. The SIKU has six support struts for the inclined side splash guards and the Politoys has only five. Lettering on the base is different, of course, but that’s about it for differences. The plastic SIKU range was done to 1:60 scale, and Braun gives the length of the vehicle as 129mm, whereas the Politoys is slightly larger at 139mm, so perhaps its real scale is closer to 1:57 or so.  A quick look at photos of the SIKU will convince you.

Body details are identical on the SIKU except where noted above. Even the wheel access panel lines (more noticeable on the box here) are the same (photo internet)

SIKU DUKW. Politoys even copied the shape of the anchor on the left rear deck. Winch is identical on both models as is the positioning of the spare (photo internet)

Here is absolute proof, with all running gear being identical (photo internet)

This photo of the Politoys is deliberately inverted to show the similarities


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News from the Continent November 2019 – Busch

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

All the models shown below are moulded in plastic and are made to 1:87 scale. Busch issues models in several ranges including their own brand as well as EsPeWe and Mehlhose.


September 2019 Releases

44511 American Bus 1959 “Fishbowl” – white

44512 American Bus 1959 “Fishbowl” – orange

44513 American Bus 1959 “Fishbowl” – blue

44518 American Bus 1959 “Fishbowl” – yellow

45411 Chevrolet Corvette Cabriolet -open top – blue

45428 Chevrolet Corvette Cabriolet – closed softtop – black

46018 American LaFrance Pumptruck closed – Fire Department

46030 American LaFrance Pumptruck open – Fire Department
46031 American LaFrance Ladder truck – open – Fire Department

46900 Auto-Union Type C – megamodel – Silver Arrow racecar

48238 Chevrolet Pick up – Fire Department

50369 Land Rover Defender – lifestyle brand roadsign, Australia

50370 Land Rover Defender – Dog rescue relay team East-Westfalia

51140 Mercedes-Benz Vito – Police of Northrhine-Westfalia

51278 Framo V901/2 Halfbus “Circus Aeros, DDR”

51413 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 1990 – Nuremberg Airport Fire Brigade

51426 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 1990 – Munich Airport Fire Brigade

EsPeWe Modelcars

95246 IFA W50 LA with box – Pneumant

The real truck was a test vehicle fro many years for the East German tyre manufacturer Pneúmant.


95247 IFA W50 LA box truck – German Red Cross

95248 IFA W50 LA3SK – three sides tipper NVA (DDR Army) with snow plough

95249 IFA W50 LA – fire brigade

October 2019 Releases

46902 Auto Union Type C Hill climb racecar Schauinsland 1937

The car was driven by the winner Hans-Joachim Stuck Sr,


47602 Chevrolet Caprice Monster-truck “Mud Patrol”

48306 Mercedes-Benz SSK “Megamodel”

51023 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 with Palfinger loading crane

52400 Ford Transit Custom box van – red (Impression)

52401 Ford Transit Custom box van – blue (Impression)

52410 Ford Transit Custom box van – Hermes Versand (Impression)

52411 Ford Transit Custom box van – DHL parcel service (Impression)

52412 Ford Transit Custom box van – DB ( German Railway Company) (Impression)

EsPeWe Modelcars

95174 IFA W50L MK furniture transport

95177 IFA W50L/LDK pick up with loading crane

95539 IFA L60 3SK three-sides tipper with loading crane THW Cottbus

95541 IFA L60 DSK ND three sides tipper with loading crane

95607 IFA S4000 TLF16 Fire brigade

95608 IFA S4000 TLF16 street service

95609 IFA S4000 TLF16 NVA (DDR Army)

95710 Robur LO 2500 bus “German Post TV”

95711 Robur LO 2500 bus – white

95712 Robur LO 2500 bus – yellow

95713 Robur LO 2500 bus “DRK” German Red Cross

95714 Robur LO 2500 bus – blue/white

95715 Robur LO 2500 bus “NVA” DDR Army

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Autocult June to August 2019

By Maz Woolley

This article takes a quick look at the last three releases of models by Autocult: Releases six, seven and eight of 2019. As usual the vehicles chosen are a mix of unusual and rare vehicles helping to tell a story of the development of the motor vehicle over time. All Autocult models are moulded in resin and hand assembled with photo etched detail to 1:43 scale in China for Germany.

June

Ford A “Juan Manuel Fangio”

Category – early beginnings

This car was borrowed from a taxi driver to allow Fangio to race for the first time. The car was heavily modified by Fangio and his friends for the race but the engine blew up part way through the race so not only didn’t Fangio win but he had some explaining to do when returning the broken car to its owner.

Fangio went on to be one of the greatest drivers of all time and that ensures that the Ford is exhibited and cherished at the museum ‘Museo Juan-Manuel Fangio‘ in Buenos Aires.


Adler Diplomat Stromlinie Autenrieth

Category – Streamliner

Autenrieth, foounded in 1912, became one of the biggest car body builders in Germany. At its peak it employed 400 workers in Darmstadt bodying BMW, Trumpf, and Standard chassis.

The car modelled was designed by an unknown British Businessman and built on an Adler chassis incorporating all the hallmarks of the streamline shapes then in vogue.


Sabra Sport Roadster

Category – engineers/small series

Sabra was founded in 1957 in Haifa Israel in an attempt to build a local car industry. A partner was sought and Reliant of Tamworth in the UK were chosen and a car designed for Sabra. Initially kits of knocked down parts were shipped to Israel for assembly and the intention was to gradually make more parts locally.

The cars designed by Reliant were were generally developed specially for Sabra and designed to use Ford and other proprietary parts. The sports car was different relying on the Reliant Sabre as its inspiration, though there were a number of detail differences between the cars. Sabra had intended to send the car to the US market, and even showed it there at the New York Auto Show in 1961, but exports never took place. Local sales were small and the car was discontinued in 1968.


Audi quattro® Gr.B Mittelmotor-Prototyp

Category ‘Engineers/Small Series’

Even 35 years later thoughts of this car still creates a sense of excitement. In 1985 Audi tested a special quattro protoype in Austria but sadly it was seen by photographers and photographs quickly appeared in magazines leading to Audi terminating the project.

Sadly this mid-engined car, probably destined for Group B rallying if it had been developed, never saw production. Although looking at the model the Lancia Delta seemed to pick up many of the styling features.


July

DAF 40 GT

Category – Prototypes

One prototype of this car exists today in the DAF museum, and that has no engine in it. It was said to have been created in 1965 but it never saw production.

DAF was not known for its sportiness, although their cars did enjoy some minor successes in rallying. In the 1960’s DAF decided to retain Michelotti, firstly to update the styling of the 33 to give them the more modern in appearance 44, and then to style a sports car. Michelotti did that and the prototype even got a name allocated 40 GT. Given its nice styling it is sad that it never went into production.


Maserati 124 Coupé 2+2 Italdesign

Category – engineers/small series

In the early 1970s Maserati was in a financial mess. Things were so precarious that one unsuccessful vehicle would have brought the company down. To hedge their bets they brought in Italdesign Giugaro to create a car based on a shortened Indy chassis and the biggest engine they had in production.

The car appeared at the Turin Motor Show in 1974 and was very well received but it never entered series production as Maserati’s debt mountain meant there was no money available to tool up for production.


VW Käfer “Follow Me” Berlin-Tempelhof

Category – emergency vehicles

There are photographs of a specially equipped Volkswagen Beetle working at Tempelhof airport in 1954, though no survivors exist. The Beetle is actually an earlier model perhaps from 1952. It is not known who converted them, though probably not Volkswagen as the yellow used never appeared on a Volkswagen shade chart. It is also not known how many were built as all air side vehicles are run unregistered and tax free and have no number plates to uniquely identify them.

To the rear of the car it could display either ‘Stop’ on a signal light or ‘Follow Me’ on the board.


Awtowelo Type 650 Sokol

Category – racing cars


In 1949 the automobile engineering department of the Russian Awtewelo organisation was ordered to build a racing car. This car was reserved for the Soviet Head of State Stalin’s son Wassilij to race in Formula Two.

Using pre-war Auto-Union technology two monopostos were built in the GDR and powered by a twelve cylinder two litre engine giving 152 hp. Flown back to Russia carburettor problems prevented them racing and they were returned to Germany.

After the death of Stalin in 1953 his son fell out of favour with the authorities and the project backing was quickly withdrawn. The cars stayed in the DDR and were used for filming and fell into obscurity. Today one car is on display in the PS Speicher museum and the second one is now only a chassis and is in the Saxon Industrial Museum in Chemnitz.


August

Citroen 2CV Wood Tryane II

Category – small cars

The 2CV is not a car associated with wood. The car is a utilitarian device with only sparing use of plastics and much steel showing in the interior as well as externally. But this vehicle powered by a 600cc engine, as used in the 2CV and Dyane, is the opposite. It is all wood, even the fuel tank, except for the suspension and engine.

The car was built by a British cabinet maker called Friend Wood and took 2,000 hours to make. It still exists and has even survived a barrel roll and been repaired. It is capable of doing over a hundred miles on one gallon of fuel.

The appearance is unique all polished wood in a smooth and stylish form.


BMW 1600ti Coupé Paul Bracq

Category – prototypes

This car only existed as a mock up and never reached running prototype stage. It was intended to meet the need to compete with British carmakers in the US where two seater British sportscars were very popular. Lacking confidence in their own design centre’s ability they engaged the French designer Paul Bracq who had previously worked for Mercedes-Benz.

In fact the production of the car was envisaged as being undertaken under contract by Brissonneau & Lotz Bracq‘s employer. The mock up was made and designated 1600Ti Concept which implied the fitting of the standard four cylinder BMW engine unit not a V8 as originally considered. In any event BMW decided not to proceed with the concept.


Skoda 532 Autobahnbus

Category – buses

This bus designed by Skoda to meet the challenge of constant high speed travelling in the age of the Autobahn only ever existed as a prototype and that was destroyed during Allied bombing in the Second World War.

Driven by an eight litre, six cylinder petrol engine producing 108hp the streamlined shape allowed it to maintain speeds of around 100 km/h. The rounded shape and faired in rear wheels all contributed to its aerodynamic properties.

Comfort was also addressed with the use of fully independent suspension across all three axles. Even the driver’s position was placed centrally and well forward in the curving screen to give exceptional vision.


GMC L´Universelle

Category – delivery vehicles.

The ‘Dream Truck’ designed by Harvey Earl and Chuck Jordan at GMC in 1955. Whilst most US trucks were standard cabbed pickups with a front engine driving rear wheels Earl and Jordan saw that in Europe the cab over engine designs were popular and provided for a better load space. Here the Pontiac derived 4.6 Litre V8 sat over the front axle in a very low chassis.

The truck created a great deal of interest when shown to a selected audience at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and even more when shown to the public later in the year.

GMs enthusiasm for putting the van into production vanished when the accountants said that it would have to sell for the price of a Cadillac to make a profit.


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Hachette Italy World Buses Part 25

By Fabrizio Panico

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

Parts 73 to 75

After a short delay (sorry), here is the 25th part of my summary of the Italian Hachette partwork “Autobus dal mondo”, a collection of eighty 1:43 scale bus models, very similar to the French one “Autobus et autocars du monde”, produced in Bangladesh for Ixo. Here we’ll see another GM “New Look”, an interesting (but not very successful) Italian Fiat and an iconic Chausson.


No. 73 (no. 96 in the French collection) General Motors “New Look” TDH-5303 1965 – We have already seen the GM history and how the New Look bus (see part 20, no. 59) was introduced in 1959 to replace the previous transit buses, soon becoming an iconic North American sight, and gaining the “fishbowl” nickname after its six-piece rounded windscreen. The huge window surfaces, the higher and longer body and the more “dynamic” styling (a bit reminiscent of the Scenicruiser) made the New Look very welcome to the public, especially when compared to the slightly clumsy “Old Look”. The denomination (TDH-5303) says it all: a transit bus (T), diesel engined (D) and with a hydraulic transmission (H), a long chassis (53 for 12,20 metres), third series (03). Indeed the four series are all aesthetically very similar, only the GM monogram and the interior design underwent modifications.

This scale model sports the dark green and grey livery of the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority, with a plastic body and metal baseplate, it is well detailed and has an added silver exhaust. It is a very large model, with a correct interior and driver’s area. Based on the previous model of the New Look TDH-5301 (no. 59) the only difference seems to be the addition of a box on the roof, very likely an air conditioning system, plus new rear lights and engine panel. A few reflectors have been added on the sides, but the chassis still indicates TDH 5301. The route is 41, from White Plains Road (Bronx) to 142nd Street (Upper Manhattan). There are no apparent differences to the French edition. Another smart re-use of a previous mould, but we would have preferred something new!


No. 74 (no. 97 in the French collection) FIAT 412 Aerfer 1961 – A double decker in Rome? Why not! In 1905 a Thornycroft 24 HP double decker bus was seen on Roman roads used bySocietà Romana Tramways Omnibus (SRTO), and in 1930 the Lancia Omicron Duplex was seen in Campidoglio Square, only to be surpassed in 1932 by a gargantuan “two deckers and a half” on the road from Rome to Tivoli. Beautiful pictures of them all can be found at the following web page. Established in 1909 as AATM, the Roman transport company changed its name almost immediately to ATM (Municipal Tramways Company) and started its commercial service in 1911. It then gradually absorbed SRTO‘s lines and rolling stock, which ran most of the urban tramways network. In 1926 the City of Rome was replaced by the Governorship of Rome, ATM changed its name to ATG, and two years later to ATAG (Bus and Tramways Company of the Governorship). In 1944, the city returned to its original status, so the ATAG became ATAC.

In the 1960s, following the withdrawal of the tramways network there was a drastic reduction of transport capacity, ATAC decided to try double deckers again, which had not been very successful in the 1930s. Two prototypes were tested in 1964, built on a Fiat 412 chassis, derived from the contemporary 410 and improved through a double skeleton of longitudinal and cross beams (for the Fiat history see part 8 no. 23). The bodywork was of aeronautical type, developed by AERFER of Naples using a stiffened shell structure in light aluminium alloy (Costruzioni Aeronautiche e Ferroviarie, Aeronautical and Railway Constructions, later merged in Aeritalia). The engine was a six cylinder diesel developing 176 HP, installed in a semi-horizontal position and placed transversely at the rear. The floor was partially lowered between the two axles, with three quadruple doors and two inside staircases to the upper floor, the front one for the ascent and the rear for the descent. But the 412 had been designed for characteristics entirely different from the Italian ones (a South American order, later cancelled), and soon the 412 revealed itself to be unsuitable for the road network of Rome. The people, fearful of being unable to get off at the desired stop, preferred to crowd the lower floor (which could contain 12 persons seated and 80 standing), leaving the 45 seats of the upper deck unused. Only 58 of these buses were used by ATAC, out of the ten years production total of only 127 units. Many large Italian towns tested the 412 (Bari, Bologna, Florence, Naples, Verona), but with poor results.

The scale model is based on a bus from Florence, route 17 from Viale Duse to Piazza Puccini (roughly from Coverciano to the Cascine park). The model is superb: made with a metal lower body and plastic upper body and chassis. It is well detailed and quite heavy. Livery is the typical green bicolour of Italian buses of the era, enhanced by an aluminium fascia, and the printed lettering is accurate. However, the interior is poor, spoiled by metal supports, and the staircases are only partially modelled. Good value for money despite this. There are no apparent differences to the French edition. Hachette must be congratulated for the choice of such a rare vehicle.


No. 75 (no. 98 in the French collection) Chausson APH 47 1947 – Nice to meet Chausson and its products again. After the 1950 APH (see part five, no. 14), the 1956 ANG coach (see part eighteen, no. 53) and the 1953 APU/53 (see part twenty two, no. 66), it is now the turn of the 1947 APH 47 to appear in the collection. Based in the Paris region from 1907, and a initially a supplier of components to the automotive industry, after the 1930s Chausson started producing car and unitary bus bodies. During the post war boom Chausson supplied thousands of buses to many French cities, but in 1959 Saviem acquired all their bus related activities and Chausson left that market. After the Second World War the first Panhard engined buses were soon joined by a petrol Hotchkiss engined one, this choice needed to extend the bus front cover to accommodate it. So was born the “nez de cochon” or “pig’s nose”, which later became the standard design. In 1947, APH 47 was the new name of the previous APH2, powered by a four-in-line Panhard diesel engine, developing 100 HP. A light and efficient vehicle, it was constantly improved in the following years leading to strong sales. It was employed by the RATP mainly on suburban lines, but it was found everywhere else in France.

A plastic body and metal baseplate feature on this model sporting the classic RATP livery: dark green and cream. There is a well detailed baseplate, and the model has all the usual small added parts. Again this model has a poor interior, the seats seem to lack any space for the passengers legs. It is quite similar to the APU/53 (no. 66), but it is likely that they are from different moulds. The route shown is 297, from Porte d’Orléans to Chilly Mazarin, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, about 17 km from the centre of town, near Orly International Airport. The adverts on the side are very interesting: Dubonnet Quinquina was an aromatised wine-based aperitif, containing a small amount of quinine. It was created in 1846 in response to a competition run by the French Government to find a way of persuading French Foreign Legionnaires in North Africa to drink quinine (It is very bitter, but was needed to combat malaria). In the Italian partwork booklet the model is shown with a smaller decal, but the model sports the wider one, like the French model. On the rear of the bus there is an ad for the “Le Chat” soaps, cube-shaped soaps produced originally in Marseille, but now taken over by Henkel.

There are no apparent differences to the French edition. A model of a bus much loved by all the French.


Hachette Italy World Buses Part 20

By Fabrizio Panico

All text and photographs by, and copyright of, the Author unless otherwise stated.

Parts 58 to  60

Three very interesting buses : from France, Germany and USA/Canada. All of them are from the Italian Hachette partwork “Autobus dal mondo”, a collection of sixty 1:43 bus models, very similar to the French one “Autobus et autocars du monde”, produced in Bangladesh for Ixo.

No. 58 (no. 50 in the French collection) Panhard Movic IE24 1948 – At last a vehicle from the oldest vehicle manufacturer: first to produce petrol engines (1887) under a license from Daimler, Panhard et Levassor sold their first automobile in 1890. Their first vehicles set many modern standards, it had four wheels, a clutch pedal to operate a chain-driven gearbox, a front-mounted engine and radiator, the first modern transmission and the steering wheel. This “state of the art” layout was called the “Système Panhard”. Before the Great War Panhard et Levassor was already one of the largest and most profitable manufacturers of automobiles. Between 1910 and 1924 Panhard et Levassor offered plenty of models with conventional valve engines, alongside cars powered by sleeve valve power units, a technology patented by the American Charles Yale Knight, and from 1924 till 1940 all Panhard cars used steel sleeve valve engines only. After the Second World War the company was renamed Panhard (without “Levassor”), and produced light cars making the bodies and several other components out of aluminium, mainly because of postwar government steel rationing. A false evaluation of production costs using that material pushed the firm close to bankruptcy, forcing a hurried return to steel. The last Panhard passenger car was built in 1967, after assembling 2CV panel vans and selling ownership progressively to Citroën. From 1968 Panhard only made armoured vehicles, and were then absorbed by Auverland and from 2012 by Renault Trucks Defense, a division of Swedish Volvo Group. Panhard built trucks from the 1910s, and during the Second World War made technical investigations for a new diesel engine, using the Lanova type of cylinder head in order to achieve an higher efficiency and a reduced noise. These engines were named 2HL, 4HL and 6HL according to the number of cylinders and where HL stood for “huile lourd” (heavy oil or diesel fuel). After the Second World War as part of the “Plan Pons” Panhard was grouped into the U.F.A (Union Française Automobile) together with Somua and Willème and entrusted with the manufacture of medium tonnage heavy goods vehicles.

In 1952 Panhard presented a vehicle with a seven tons of payload called Movic, a vehicle particularly well adapted to the reconstruction needs of the time, powered by either a 85 or 100 hp diesel engine, or a 90 or 110 hp petrol engine. Like many other firms Panhard used a five letter system to designate the vehicle class in order to facilitate orders (hence the Movic name), and a combination of letters and numbers to identify the chassis type (like IE24). The Panhard Movic IE24 used a 5 meters wheelbase and was able to transport fifty passengers, powered by the 4HL engine, with bodies by Currus or Besset. But production was always very limited and 1962 saw the end of any production of civilian trucks and buses.

The model is shaped accurately and the cream and green livery appears authentic and neatly printed. As usual there is a plastic body and a metal chassis with basic detail. A basic interior is fitted,and there are many small separately inserted parts, like wipers, mirrors, lights and chromed bumpers.

The red spot indicates that it is a regular line service. It sports the insignia of a transport firm from Mouthoumet, a small village in the Aude department, Occitaine region, in the south of France, and it is fitted with an accurate French registration plate, from the Aude department (11) prefecture of Carcassonne.

There is a very nice baggage rack on the roof, and a well modelled large rear ladder. There are no apparent differences to the French edition. A nice model of a simple tourist bus typical of the 1950s.

No. 59 (no. 48 in the French collection) General Motors “New Look” TDH-5301 1959 – We have already seen the GM history and its TDH-3610 (see part 10, no. 29) and its PD-3751 (see part 14, no. 41), Scenicruiser (see part 2, no. 4) and type 6000 School Bus (see part 3, no. 7), and how the more usual GMC badges did not appear until 1968, replacing GM, GM Coach and Yellow Coach badges previously used. The GM New Look bus (an official term used by GM), was introduced in 1959 to replace the previous transit buses, like the TDH-3610, and was available in both Transit and Suburban versions (less than 3,300 made). More than 44,000 units were produced by 1986 (from 1978 production in Canada only) and it soon becoming an iconic North American sight, and gaining the “fishbowl” nickname after its six-piece rounded windscreen.

The air-sprung self-supporting monocoque structure with aluminium frame and riveted body panels was powered by a rear transverse engine, a two-stroke V6 diesel by Detroit-Diesel, 238 cv, usually with an angle-drive single ratio automatic transmission. Its whole design, an airplane-like stressed-skin construction, was patented by GM (U.S. Patent D182,998), to avoid any unwarranted competition. As usual its denomination (TDH-5301) was a full technical description : T for transit bus, D for diesel, H for hydraulic transmission, 53 for the number of seats and 01 for the series. The first city to take delivery of the New Look was Washington D.C.. The New Look was particularly appreciated in Canada, with a local production of more than 11,000 units, while its heir, the RTS (Rapid Transit Bus), was almost rejected in Canada, pushing GM to resume production of an updated New Look (the Classic) from 1982.

The scale model is based on one of the Canadian buses, with the red/silver and ivory livery typical of the Toronto Transit Commission. It has a plastic body and metal baseplate which is detailed and has an added silver exhaust. This is a very large model in 1:43 scale and is fitted with a correct interior and a nice driver area.

Very well reproduced side windows with silver frames are included. The usual added plastic parts can be found: lights, wipers, mirrors, bumpers. There are nice wheels with the correct twin rear ones.

The line number is 71, from St. Clair Avenue to Runnymede station (Runnymede is a residential neighbourhood on the western side of Toronto’s downtown core, not far from the shore of lake Ontario). The registration plate is a correct one for Ontario from 1961 (white on black). Again there are no apparent differences to the French edition. A nice reproduction of a much loved Canadian bus.

No. 60 (no. 49 in the French collection) Borgward BO 4000 1952 – The origins of the company go back to 1905 with the foundation in the Bremen area of NAMAG, maker of the Lloyd car, and of Hansa Automobilgesellschaft, due to merge in 1914 to form the “Hansa-Lloyd-Werke A.G.”. After the Great War the company soon faced bankruptcy, but Carl Borgward, already owner of the Goliath-Blitzkarren business, took control of it, greatly expanding the scope of his auto business and broadening the products range. 1939 saw the first use of the Borgward name as a brand, while the Second World War saw the production of many military trucks, half-tracks and munitions, but also lead to the destruction of Factories due to heavy Allied bombing. Notwithstanding the buildings destruction, the tools were almost untouched and it was possible to restart truck production before the end of 1945, and cars from 1949.

Like many other buses in the aftermath of the Second World War the BO 4000, launched in 1951, was strictly derived from the B 4000 truck, in turn heir to the B 3000, produced in large numbers during the war. Powered by a straight-six five litre diesel engine with ‘turbulence’ combustion chambers, it was very efficient. The bus was produced for three years only, and sold less than two hundred units, so it is a rare bus indeed.

But it must be said that though Borgward produced in total only 631 buses it made more than 43,000 trucks. Borgward buses were very expensive and often created to order: clearly the company had difficulty in amortising production costs on such small production volumes, leading to troubles in competing in the marketplace and in assuring the needed cash-flow. This despite being a pioneer in air suspension and automatic transmission. In 1961 the company was forced into liquidation by creditors, even if they were then paid in full. Many spoke of a conspiracy, but it is doubtful if Borgward trading beyond 1961 would be able to generate sufficient cash to repay existing debts and any new borrowing needed.

The scale model is an accurate reproduction of the only existing BO 4000, a preserved bus still in use on the Sylt isle, the fourth-largest German island in the North Sea, nowadays connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm, an 11 km-long causeway joining from 1927 the North Frisian island to mainland Schleswig-Holstein, which is exclusively a railway corridor. The model is shaped accurately and the blue and light grey livery with a black roof appears authentic and neatly printed. The body is plastic, as usual, with a metal baseplate which is well detailed and has an added silver exhaust. Due to the large side and roof windows, which are well executed, the interior appears full of light and is fitted with nice seats. Many small plastic separate parts are used, like mirrors, lights and bumpers, plus width indicators at the front and a towing hitch at the rear.

It is fitted with accurate British occupation zone registration plates. On the sides we see the logo of the Wander Falke (the peregrine falcon) and a very small plate, probably identifying the coachbuilder. Nice chromed hubcaps are fitted and the correct twin rear wheels. There are no apparent differences to the French edition. A good choice, a rare and likeable bus .


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