By Maz Woolley
With thanks to Jim Cowen and Alan Audus for their contributions to this article
Most readers will be familiar with the highly detailed resin models produced by Jim Cowen’s Illinois based company Automodello in a variety of scales from 1:43 to 1:12. Automodello produces models of US and British vehicles which have not been modelled to a high standard before. The models shown below are available from www.diecasm.com, Automodello’s associated trading site, and their dealers. TVRs have been a favourite subject since their first model, a 1964 TVR Griffith Series 200. So the TVR Taimar recently released and shown in the manufacturer’s photographs below is an obvious gap filler.
What readers may not know is that by enrolling in their Enthusiasts Edition program it enables Automodello to paint an upcoming model in factory colours commissioned by an owner or collector. Indeed as we will see later they will also modify the mould in some ways to make the car even closer to the collectors requirements. This “made to measure” service is expensive, but then so is a hand tailored suit. The enthusiasts edition 1:43 scale models cost 399.95 US Dollars for the first model and 179.95 for additional models. Models to 1:24 scale are also available as Enthusiast Editions at 699.95 USD for the first model and 465.95 for additional ones. Each Enthusiasts Edition build is limited to 15 pieces.
British TVR owner Alan Audus enrolled in the programme as he had always wanted a model of his 3000M. Photographs of Alan’s beautiful car are shown below. The 3000M was one of the M Series cars like the Taimar and was powered by the Ford Three Litre engine used in the British sporting versions of the Ford Capri. Like all the M series cars it has a fiberglass body on a tubular frame .
Jim Cowen at Automodello kindly put your Editor in touch with Alan and I asked Alan some questions about the car and the process of having his car modelled. Our question and answer session is below with photographs of the model following them.
How long have you owned your TVR 3000M?
I have owned my 3000M from new. It was first registered on the First of August 1979 and is 37 years old this year.
Did you have it restored or was it bought restored?
Is there any particular reason for owning a TVR rather than another classic marque?
Have you ever owned, or do you own, any other classic cars?
No
Has anyone else in your family had/got interesting vehicles?
No
Is there any particular reason for having a 3000M?
What journeys do you use it for and how any miles does it do each year?
Do you collect models, and if so what types/scales?
Why did you decide to have Automodello make your car?
Was the process of getting the model produced an easy one?
How did they get the information needed to make the model?
I gave them close up pictures of all the differences between my 3000M and a Taimar.
Are you happy with the end result?
How many ways can you say Fantastic! I emailed Jim and said “Automodello = Automagic” or better “Automagnificant”. I still look at the model daily and think that they have done a brilliant job.
The photographs below shows pictures of the model Automodello created specially for Alan. It is a wonderful match for the beautifully maintained original.
Automodello have now created a series of TVR 3000M cars in other colours which are pictured in photographs from the manufacturer in the gallery below:
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