This is my very last word on the subject of an American Car series to follow up the JBCC, I promise.
Bearing in mind the sales success of the Bond La Salle, the Country Squire and now the Plymouth Savoy, I think a new series based on stock US cars that are classic favourites in their own right AND in many cases, recognisable from movies and TV shows would be a tremendous hit. I've just spent a matter of minutes on IMCDb and compiled the following:
Recognise any of them?
Obviously there are many, many more - I could have spent days pulling out tens if not hundreds more examples. These are all (for the most part) stock US cars, the only licensing necessary would be from the manufacturers as long as the movie/TV title isn't mentioned. I think any partwork company would make a fortune out of a series like this and would be fools not to at least consider the idea.
Apologies for being off topic, people. It may not be relevant to James Bond in its most pure 'Ian Fleming Books' form, but it is certainly relevant IMHO to those who have been buying from, or subscribing to, the JBCC as general car enthusiasts or as mainstream movie/TV buffs.
I don't know its been properly done before,but i'd love to see a comprehensive collection of Bond figures,including all the heroes,villains,girls and of course the man himself.This would make a fitting follow-up to the JBCC,but on the downside could run on as long!
At the risk of veering off topic once again, can anyone (Dalkowski?) explain why whitewall tyres tended to be associated with higher end cars - I understand that any complexity costs money, but is the construction method of a whitewall more complex?
Well, it wasn't cosmetic only, at least not in the beginning. For those wondering why whitewalls existed at all, early cars either ran on cork, steel bands, inner tubes, or white rubber tires. Well, the latter tended to carry cars best but also tended to wear down pretty fast...so they got a black rubber outer part to them and the whitewall tire was born. In the 1920's, it was associated with technological progress, and so it gained popularity amongst the general public. However, it also looked really nice. When the Great Depression came around and ensured that not every tire could be a whitewall, pretty much only the big names like Packard, Cadillac, Lincoln, Duesenberg, etc. were able to keep making them. So, naturally, it got associated with those bigger, nicer cars. It was purely stylistic (think of a longer-lasting version of fins), but remained until the late 1960's. Then we had red-line tires and white-line tires, tires with big lettering, etc. Manufacturing techniques during the late 1950's-early 1960's allowed for single-sided whitewalls, as well. That is, purely for stylistic reasons, a whitewall was added to one side of the one-piece tire. These are often associated with narrow whitewalls and some of the tires you saw on Cadillacs, Buicks, Lincolns, Mercurys, and Chryslers into the early 1980's.
Though in the case of the Mercedes, quite how awful the driving characteristics of a 1970s diesel car must have been is something I would rather not spend much time thinking about. I don't even think it had a turbo; you might as well have a car powered by a coal burning stove!
You're tempting me to put up a pic of my Schucho Mercedes-Benz 170V (W136G) mit Holzvergaser (pretty much literally powered by a stove, albeit a wood-burning one)! ) But seriously, many of these things were taxis meant for fuel efficiency/longevity vs. handling, and not exclusively in Germany, either. In fact, I have a picture of a battered-but-presumably-still serviceable 200D on the older W110 chassis (i.e. the "Heckflosse") used as a taxi in Haifa in Israel!
Thank you very much - I thought you might have the answer. I would love to see the wood-burning car as long as it doesn't attract too much O/T ire.
PS: I rather not say what I think of the Mercedes ... 8-)
Each to their own; if you have an old taxi-type Mercedes then it's great that someone is preserving them; I hate to see cars die out completely, even if they are ones that I wouldn't want to own.
I don't know its been properly done before,but i'd love to see a comprehensive collection of Bond figures,including all the heroes,villains,girls and of course the man himself.This would make a fitting follow-up to the JBCC,but on the downside could run on as long!
There was the 'Corgi Icon' series which now sells on eBay for silly money, but one could argue that many of the JBCC vehicles were available in one form or another before the series started. There are currently partworks on the market offering very nicely sculpted superhero figures, so a Bond figure series is not only possible but would no doubt sell well judging by the current 'Icon' values. Whether they could get our Daniel to join in with it is another matter, he may have to be left out.
What I would like to see is the figures in diorama presentation, M in his/her office, Q in his lab, Honey Ryder on the beach, Jill Masterson painted in gold (someone posted a photo of a custom model like this some time ago) and of course all of the Bonds in action. Maybe even Nick Nack in a suitcase?
yes, agree 100 percent........i am certain there would be alot of interest in a set of Bond figurines along the same lines as the Corgi Icon series, i have most of them myself and , if done well, would present many opportunities for some brilliant dioramas........in fact corgi did the Dr. No cave diorama and that is brilliant.....perhaps now with eaglemoss taking the reigns, it might be a possibility......they have produced excellent figures from marvel and lord of the rings.....and dc..........when we were approaching issue 40 of JBCC ( long time ago)...fabbri sent out a questionaire ( hardcopy) to collectors and dealers........a bond figurine collection was suggested then.....along with the movie car collection.........would i be interested in either it said.........sadly nothing came of either series, but now that JBCC is in sight of the finish line, and the Marvel and dc figurines are nearing the end, eaglemoss might look into both sets.....lets hope so
on a revert back to topis ( lest one gets brought to task) i must comment that i have been very pleased with the standard of the cars lately............the mercs have been superb.......cant wait for the SAVOY........dealer told me the official release day is 8th august and every 2 weeks after that...........
I don't know its been properly done before,but i'd love to see a comprehensive collection of Bond figures,including all the heroes,villains,girls and of course the man himself.This would make a fitting follow-up to the JBCC,but on the downside could run on as long!
There was the 'Corgi Icon' series which now sells on eBay for silly money, but one could argue that many of the JBCC vehicles were available in one form or another before the series started. There are currently partworks on the market offering very nicely sculpted superhero figures, so a Bond figure series is not only possible but would no doubt sell well judging by the current 'Icon' values. Whether they could get our Daniel to join in with it is another matter, he may have to be left out.
What I would like to see is the figures in diorama presentation, M in his/her office, Q in his lab, Honey Rider on the beach, Jill Masterson painted in gold (someone posted a photo of a custom model like this some time ago) and of course all of the Bonds in action. Maybe even Nick Nack in a suitcase?
Oh please MCF, not a discussion about dolls and figures ... 8-) I am out! And no, I will not buy a partwork with figures. The figures belong inside the cars, Eaglemoss, if you still read here ...
What scale are the Icon figures; can they stand next to 1/18 cars?
Each to their own; if you have an old taxi-type Mercedes then it's great that someone is preserving them; I hate to see cars die out completely, even if they are ones that I wouldn't want to own.
I was thinking more of the model than the real car. But if I never ever see a /8 Mercedes diesel in my life I won't be too disappointed.
I think the model is terrible:
1. We had a white one already, and that was boring enough.
2. Plain diorama.
3. No figure.
4. Wrong model year, wrong taillights (which I don't find so bad).
5. The empty front number plate housing is ugly.
6. Much too large wheels (as on the white one) but here the dark wheel centers with oversized Mercedes star look even more wrong than on the white car.
Honestly, Ixo has successfully lowered the bar when some printed snowchains and sidemarker can get anyone excited. I mean, a car which is just a rehash of an existing Ixo mould, and not even then it was possible to add a figure ...
The Savoy also has no figures and a plain diorama - but at least it is a totally new mould.
I think a TV/movie car collection would be the one that could work best. Many films and TV series were inspired by James Bond so this could also be of interest to the more Bond-centric JBCC buyers. I think of Avengers, The Saint, Mission Impossible, Man from UNCLE etc.
I just am not sure if this future partwork suggestions should be discussed here or better in the off-topic section. While I think a TV/movie partwork could be discussed a bit because of loose Bond connections, others like an American or Russian or Rally cars partwork do not belong here in the James Bond Memorabilia & Collecting forum. Note: that is just my opinion. BTW, MCF if you really want a '69 Buick Riviera GS, this one is available from Neo (and is a great model which unfortunately can not be said of Spark's '65 Riviera). Oops, that was OT! ;%
RW: I'm sorry about the error re: the Plymouth Plaza. I thought it lasted into '59, but I was wrong, it only lasted into 1958. On the other hand, the Taxicab Special WAS a Belvedere (an absolute, extreme cut-rate Belvedere, but a Belvedere nonetheless; note the engine options)...
In this brochure, we see that there are three options for taxi operators...
1) 1959 Plymouth Belvedere Taxi (Which I can't find a good picture of, sorry)
2) 1959 Plymouth Taxicab Special (Wikipedia actually gets it correct...the Taxicab Special was based on the Savoy from 1960 onward. 1959, which is when the car was introduced, saw a "bare bones" Belvedere)
3) 1959 Plymouth Savoy Taxi (Made up for the Spartan looks of the Taxicab Special while sacrificing performance...note how little space is devoted to it.)
It's difficult to tell because they have the same livery, but the first black car and the first blue car to appear are Taxicab Specials, the second black car is a Belvedere (note the chrome trim on all three models), and the second blue car is a Savoy (the artist left off the door locks [which were standard on all models]...whoops!). Note that the chrome trim is regardless different on the Savoy and Taxicab special (artistic goof aside).
Again, I'm wrong. I think I confused the '58 Plaza/Savoy/Belvedere with the '59, sorry. Even then, however, I'm wrong, because the '58 Plaza had different rear turn signals as options (i.e. the light just flickering or alternately having another light). Front and rear turn signals were standard.
Also, upon closer examination, the '59 Savoy Taxi DOES have turn signals. You can see them (and just how tiny they are) here...
Considering they were right on the Black Sea and acted as middlemen for neighboring Iran (at the time a very pro-US country) and how much oil they themselves got from Iran, I can't imagine how cheap it must have been.
I think a TV/movie car collection would be the one that could work best. Many films and TV series were inspired by James Bond so this could also be of interest to the more Bond-centric JBCC buyers. I think of Avengers, The Saint, Mission Impossible, Man from UNCLE etc.
Such a series would be brilliant in my opinion (just look at my user name!) if they can sort out all the different licencing issues linked to each movie/TV show.
I just am not sure if this future partwork suggestions should be discussed here or better in the off-topic section. While I think a TV/movie partwork could be discussed a bit because of loose Bond connections, others like an American or Russian or Rally cars partwork do not belong here in the James Bond Memorabilia & Collecting forum. Note: that is just my opinion.
The question is whether anybody from the JBCC, or any other partwork, is likely to be reading the off-topic section looking for suggestions. This thread is about the JBCC, views on the successor to the JBCC are justifiable, surely?
BTW, MCF if you really want a '69 Buick Riviera GS, this one is available from Neo (and is a great model which unfortunately can not be said of Spark's '65 Riviera). Oops, that was OT! ;%
Thanks!
BTW, I received the Savoy today as a 'back order' so they are obviously on their way to some non subscribers. I also received the Merc by mistake (I ordered 2 Savoys) and have to say that although the base is a plain 'snow' finish, it's interesting to see that the snow has actually been sculpted into low 'drifts'. Not very exciting I know, but it shows Ixo are going beyond what could have been just a standard plinth painted white.
Thank you very much - I thought you might have the answer. I would love to see the wood-burning car as long as it doesn't attract too much O/T ire.
Given the recent circumstances, I will post a picture, and then IMMEDIATELY move on.
(Alterations made: front license plate changed to Sowjetische Besatzungszone [SBZ], purposely undersized and added over another plate because I saw this in a few period photos, plus I added a rear plate. The driver is a former Luftwaffe ground crewman Dad made from an Airfix kit and the NKVD officer [yes, they had the NKVD there in early 1946; the uniform is meant to be "worn-out"] is a conversion of Revell.)
I think the model [of the 200D] is terrible:
1. We had a white one already, and that was boring enough.
2. Plain diorama.
3. No figure.
4. Wrong model year, wrong taillights (which I don't find so bad).
5. The empty front number plate housing is ugly.
6. Much too large wheels (as on the white one) but here the dark wheel centers with oversized Mercedes star look even more wrong than on the white car.
The wheels unfortunately ARE problematic as well as the front plate, even if you do remove the bracket. I wouldn't call it "terrible" by my own standards since I generally pay no attention to figures/dioramas/etc, BUT I would call it a subpar effort based on reasons 5 and to a somewhat lesser extent 6, plus then there's the weirdly-tampo-printed-on front license plate...on a round bumper...the more I look at the front of this car, the more issues I have with it. Odd, as I really liked the 220 (W115) with RHD (and still do), despite the oversized wheels.
The question is whether anybody from the JBCC, or any other partwork, is likely to be reading the off-topic section looking for suggestions. This thread is about the JBCC, views on the successor to the JBCC are justifiable, surely?
I would agree, although, as Rainier Wolfcastle says, it's just my opinion. I think a Classic American Cars partwork, judging by the actual sales totals of things like the hearses, Country Squire, Impala Custom Coupe, and now the Savoy, despite 1/43 being a niche scale in the US (age 50-60 and up, for the most part), if it had a similar circulation to what the JBCC does NOW, would probably do well. I imagine you could even sneak some Bond cars in there that were on-screen for a few seconds.
By the way, I wonder how Issue 124 will sell, given how common the '73 Bel Air was as a police car, taxi, and just as a regular sedan. It may be an Airport Rent-a-Car, but the license plates pre-date (by one year) New York State's special charter vehicle plates for taxis. You could use this one as almost anything.
The Bel Air will sell well on the secondary market. I would be for US cars collection to follow and would probably even subscribe for that rather than buy when I want a particular model but I am car centric. Surely Fabbri/Eaglemoss have noted which vehicles have been runaway successes on the secondary market and how many have been Yanks. The JB figures in a diorama would not appeal to me generally but if done well would be really good for JB collectors. To my eyes the Corgi icon figures were not well sculpted and to succeed any figure collection would have to be well sculpted so they are convincing not painted blobs. But M behind his desk with Bond in front of him, Bond and Miss Moneypenny and several of the fight scenes like Rosa Kleb really would make super displays. If done in 1/43 they would display well with the cars and you could pack a decent fight scene into a box similar to standard IXO box. And yes you could do several for every Bond film making a big collection. Ms office would make a good kick off maybe sculpted in a bigger box and to ahigh level of detail....
On Savoy Cabs thx for references Dalko et al I will enjoy reading up.
Yep I agree a bond figure collection would sit nicely with the cars especially in 1/43 . This would be quite unusual as most figures I am aware are 1/72 or even 1/32.
The movie cars is an obvious choice as this could include a good number of the bond vehicles also.
Straight cars, super , yank, classic just on their own not really interested as they would role out the usual suspects readily available elsewhere and I am car centric .
Back to the collection I am looking forward to the next issue from live and let die.
The Bel Air will sell well on the secondary market. I would be for US cars collection to follow and would probably even subscribe for that rather than buy when I want a particular model but I am car centric. Surely Fabbri/Eaglemoss have noted which vehicles have been runaway successes on the secondary market and how many have been Yanks.
I would agree, especially because it wasn't really "the usual suspects" that sold well (I'm going to agree that things like the pre-1970 Ford Mustang have been done to death), but the standard four-door sedans, station wagons, and even hearses (likely could be re-used as ambulances, although Ixo would have to correct the badging for the '68 Cadillac hearse...it's a Miller-Meteor that they did [and actually very well] rather than a Superior which we saw in DAF). I can see these as being "the usual suspects available elsewhere" if you're well-off enough to collect Brooklin or Tin Wizard on a steady basis, but honestly, I don't think most people fit that demographic. I would advocate avoiding the "done a bazillion times" cars such as the Mustang (unless you're doing a Shelby King of the Road in 1/43 scale), '57 Chevy Bel Air, some of the stuff Yat Ming has churned out, etc. On the other hand, there are also certain models that don't particularly move because they're a bit too obtuse. The Brooklin 1954 Nash Ambassador Two-Door Hardtop comes to mind because almost everyone associated that car with police, fire chief, and taxi duties. It largely elicited the same "huh?" that a 1970 Chevy Malibu two-door hardtop might elicit IF you're not doing the '70 Chevelle.
By the way, to address Diecast007's concern over it becoming a "usual suspects" partwork, an alternate take on a US car partwork would be a Route 66 partwork. Think La Route Bleue except with 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's American cars and correctly scaled figures. LRB was the one and only partwork that seemed to appeal to American collectors regarding dioramas, so I would say use that as a model. It even made us willing to suspend disbelief regarding the scale of the figures. Plus, practically everyone else liked it. So, why not a redux but this time, with all-original cars (or recycled but well done Ixo moulds from the JBCC, PremiumX, and PremiumX Diecast)?
The JB figures in a diorama would not appeal to me generally but if done well would be really good for JB collectors. To my eyes the Corgi icon figures were not well sculpted and to succeed any figure collection would have to be well sculpted so they are convincing not painted blobs. But M behind his desk with Bond in front of him, Bond and Miss Moneypenny and several of the fight scenes like Rosa Kleb really would make super displays. If done in 1/43 they would display well with the cars and you could pack a decent fight scene into a box similar to standard IXO box. And yes you could do several for every Bond film making a big collection. Ms office would make a good kick off maybe sculpted in a bigger box and to ahigh level of detail....
Because I love making my own dioramas and have a father very capable of modifying the heck out of any figure he gets his hands on, I might be interested in this. However, if there were a figure partwork, I'd like it in 1/43 scale (as I suspect a lot of people would so as to be able to use it with the JBCC they've just collected), I'd like the figures made of either plastic or resin and not metal because 1) it would drive up the costs to use metal and 2) it would make the figures very difficult to modify. Maz is right: Corgi did a pretty poor job sculpting its figurines (made of metal, I should note) considering the final pricetag. I would also test-market it before going into full-scale production. It might have maybe 10 issues that sell well and then just drop off the table, otherwise. Certainly not unheard-of with "new concept" partworks.
On Savoy Cabs thx for references Dalko et al I will enjoy reading up.
Sure, no problem! Sorry about mixing up some of the 1958 info with the 1959 info, by the way. X-(
Oh please MCF, not a discussion about dolls and figures ... 8-) I am out! And no, I will not buy a partwork with figures. The figures belong inside the cars, Eaglemoss, if you still read here ...
What scale are the Icon figures; can they stand next to 1/18 cars?
Each to their own; if you have an old taxi-type Mercedes then it's great that someone is preserving them; I hate to see cars die out completely, even if they are ones that I wouldn't want to own.
I was thinking more of the model than the real car. But if I never ever see a /8 Mercedes diesel in my life I won't be too disappointed.
I think the model is terrible:
1. We had a white one already, and that was boring enough.
2. Plain diorama.
3. No figure.
4. Wrong model year, wrong taillights (which I don't find so bad).
5. The empty front number plate housing is ugly.
6. Much too large wheels (as on the white one) but here the dark wheel centers with oversized Mercedes star look even more wrong than on the white car.
Honestly, Ixo has successfully lowered the bar when some printed snowchains and sidemarker can get anyone excited. I mean, a car which is just a rehash of an existing Ixo mould, and not even then it was possible to add a figure ...
The Savoy also has no figures and a plain diorama - but at least it is a totally new mould.
I'm with you on the figures; it's not my bag at all, but for the Bond-centrics, it might well sell (though probably not as well as the JBCC for the reasons we've been over, ie JBCC appeals to all sorts of collectors with different collecting habits.)
As for the Mercedes, I went in one as a taxi in Egypt, and it was a complete heap, with a smashed windscreen, but it was still doing its best to keep going. I admired the old car (and its upbeat driver) for it. I wouldn't want to be the driver for even 5 yards however. It's like (for example) the Austin Maestro; I wouldn't want one, but when I see one I'm pleased to see that someone is keeping one going.
As for the model, I think you're basically right on all points, but for the usual £7.99 it's not that bad a model. Wrong model year is a pain, though I no longer expect figures. As usual however, I think of the expression "the best is the enemy of the good" , and despite the inaccuracies of this series, it is so far ahead of anything Bond-car related ever released in terms of coverage , quality, value and general appeal that I can't really complain too much.
Final point. Ixo! Listen please! As discussed a lot of late on this forum, American car models are currently very popular. Please make the LTK Lincoln MkVII Coupe - you will sell lots of them.
Myhandle, go back a page...I posted my Mercedes-Benz W136G for ya.
It's like (for example) the Austin Maestro; I wouldn't want one, but when I see one I'm pleased to see that someone is keeping one going.
Myhandle, I have about 800 model cars I could say that about, if ya know what I mean... )
As for the model, I think you're basically right on all points, but for the usual £7.99 it's not that bad a model. Wrong model year is a pain, though I no longer expect figures. As usual however, I think of the expression "the best is the enemy of the good" , and despite the inaccuracies of this series, it is so far ahead of anything Bond-car related ever released in terms of coverage , quality, value and general appeal that I can't really complain too much.
I can't speak for RW, but I could've taken it much easier without the "phantom license plate" and the front plate tampo-printed onto rather than actually attached to the front bumper. I suppose a Dremel Moto-Tool and cutting wheel would solve the first problem and a small piece of black plastic and a decal the second, however.
Please make the LTK Lincoln MkVII Coupe - you will sell lots of them.
I agree. This was a car that people loved to hate for being tacky-looking and poorly marketed (it got a bad rap; the LSC option Bond has in the film has a V8 engine and from what I know, it handled well), and for whatever reason, cars we poke fun at really sell well (the AMC Pacer, anyone? The Yat Ming Corvair? Heck, the JBCC's own AMC Matador Coupe and its "long nose"?). They're the cars that we always know we would never drive an example of, would never want to be seen driving because they're hideous, feel is radically unsafe, or whatever...but for precisely those reasons, we feel compelled to get ourselves a model of the car. I wouldn't buy a real 1987 Lincoln Mk. VII, but I'd love a model!
I think a TV/movie car collection would be the one that could work best. Many films and TV series were inspired by James Bond so this could also be of interest to the more Bond-centric JBCC buyers. I think of Avengers, The Saint, Mission Impossible, Man from UNCLE etc.
I just am not sure if this future partwork suggestions should be discussed here or better in the off-topic section. While I think a TV/movie partwork could be discussed a bit because of loose Bond connections, others like an American or Russian or Rally cars partwork do not belong here in the James Bond Memorabilia & Collecting forum. Note: that is just my opinion. BTW, MCF if you really want a '69 Buick Riviera GS, this one is available from Neo (and is a great model which unfortunately can not be said of Spark's '65 Riviera). Oops, that was OT! ;%
Dear Rainier, sure, there is a loose connection between TV/movie partwork and Bond, but the same connection exists between Russian cars and Bond. They DO appear on the movies (and some were even released in JBCC!).
Myhandle, go back a page...I posted my Mercedes-Benz W136G for ya.
It's like (for example) the Austin Maestro; I wouldn't want one, but when I see one I'm pleased to see that someone is keeping one going.
Myhandle, I have about 800 model cars I could say that about, if ya know what I mean... )
As for the model, I think you're basically right on all points, but for the usual £7.99 it's not that bad a model. Wrong model year is a pain, though I no longer expect figures. As usual however, I think of the expression "the best is the enemy of the good" , and despite the inaccuracies of this series, it is so far ahead of anything Bond-car related ever released in terms of coverage , quality, value and general appeal that I can't really complain too much.
I can't speak for RW, but I could've taken it much easier without the "phantom license plate" and the front plate tampo-printed onto rather than actually attached to the front bumper. I suppose a Dremel Moto-Tool and cutting wheel would solve the first problem and a small piece of black plastic and a decal the second, however.
Please make the LTK Lincoln MkVII Coupe - you will sell lots of them.
I agree. This was a car that people loved to hate for being tacky-looking and poorly marketed (it got a bad rap; the LSC option Bond has in the film has a V8 engine and from what I know, it handled well), and for whatever reason, cars we poke fun at really sell well (the AMC Pacer, anyone? The Yat Ming Corvair? Heck, the JBCC's own AMC Matador Coupe and its "long nose"?). They're the cars that we always know we would never drive an example of, would never want to be seen driving because they're hideous, feel is radically unsafe, or whatever...but for precisely those reasons, we feel compelled to get ourselves a model of the car. I wouldn't buy a real 1987 Lincoln Mk. VII, but I'd love a model!
Hello, I was going to reply to you too, but didn't want to post 2 consecutive posts. I agree 100% about the relationship between collecting models of cars you don't want. All best wishes!
Dear Rainier, sure, there is a loose connection between TV/movie partwork and Bond, but the same connection exists between Russian cars and Bond. They DO appear on the movies (and some were even released in JBCC!).
Dear Jag, I never said that Russian cars shouldn't be discussed at all in this thread, and I also didn't engage in the blahblah war a year ago. In fact I said before that I would like to see an UAZ in the Bond collection, and I also suggested way back the CR ZIL as I find state limousines interesting. (Although I wanted a ZIL with figures of the policemen and the final product then was not exciting enough for me to actually buy it ... 8-) )
A discussion of certain Russian (or American) cars can well be within the scope of this thread. But (only as an example - we didn't have this discussion yet) going from the ZIL to its predecessor ZIS which was based on the prewar Packard and then discussing the decline of Studebaker-Packard Corporation and the independent U.S. automobile manufacturers in general would bring us clearly off-topic somewhere in the middle.
Or taking the Ashes to Ashes Audi that MCF posted a few days ago in the Corgi 1/36 discussion: I wanted to add (but then didn't) that they could also reissue the Vanguards Life on Mars Cortina in a proper BBC licenced box in a twin-set with their Austin Allegro policecar. As this could also be a suggestion for the movie car partwork, on-topic, off-topic or on the outer border of the vast regions between?
In this brochure, we see that there are three options for taxi operators...
1) 1959 Plymouth Belvedere Taxi (Which I can't find a good picture of, sorry)
2) 1959 Plymouth Taxicab Special (Wikipedia actually gets it correct...the Taxicab Special was based on the Savoy from 1960 onward. 1959, which is when the car was introduced, saw a "bare bones" Belvedere)
3) 1959 Plymouth Savoy Taxi (Made up for the Spartan looks of the Taxicab Special while sacrificing performance...note how little space is devoted to it.)
It's difficult to tell because they have the same livery, but the first black car and the first blue car to appear are Taxicab Specials, the second black car is a Belvedere (note the chrome trim on all three models), and the second blue car is a Savoy (the artist left off the door locks [which were standard on all models]...whoops!). Note that the chrome trim is regardless different on the Savoy and Taxicab special (artistic goof aside).
First, thanks for the website but I think the Taxicab Special is an even lower Savoy version. On the first pages the cars look exactly like the Savoy on p.8 except that the Savoy script is replaced with a Plymouth. It certainly has the same side trim. So I think the taxi versions of the Belvedere and Savoy use the heavy-duty items from the Taxicab Special but have the higher trim levels (in case of the Savoy the interior trim only).
I can't speak for RW, but I could've taken it much easier without the "phantom license plate" and the front plate tampo-printed onto rather than actually attached to the front bumper. I suppose a Dremel Moto-Tool and cutting wheel would solve the first problem and a small piece of black plastic and a decal the second, however.
The "phantom license plate", as you put it so well, is the second major problem for me but most of all are the wheels in the side view. The proportions of wheels/wheel arches look very different. Have to look for good pictures to compare to the model.
But (only as an example - we didn't have this discussion yet) going from the ZIL to its predecessor ZIS which was based on the prewar Packard and then discussing the decline of Studebaker-Packard Corporation and the independent U.S. automobile manufacturers in general would bring us clearly off-topic somewhere in the middle.
Well, you knew you'd bring me out of the woodwork with that statement... )
The ZIL-117 was a shortened ZIL-114; both cars which were a somewhat radical departure for ZIL. I say that because for the first time since before World War II, they were stylistically based on a Ford product (specifically, the 1965 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Type 53A Limousine). Several photos exist of ZIL evaluating this particular car to actually get the ZIL-114's styling.
The ZIL-111G's styling was clearly inspired by early 1960's Cadillac, but internally, it was little different than the ZIL-111 and ZIL-111A. These latter two cars, along with the GAZ-13 Chayka, were indeed Packard-inspired (check out the '56 Packard Caribbean, specifically). Why? Because Stalin absolutely loved Packards. The ZIS-110 (later ZIL-110 right at the end of its production) was the first car inspired by the Packard (the interior was almost a straight knock-off of a Cadillac Fleetwood) where they basically knocked off the body. Ist Models, which released its models two days ago, just released the luxury taxi variant and the gray parade variant. I know for a fact, FWIW, that these are going to get re-used as Packards by some friends of mine (and not irrationally...Vector Models actually built a Packard-Henney Ambulance by using some of the parts!).
Before that (and before WWII) was the ZIS-101-series, which was based on a mixture of Buick and Dodge stylistic elements (in the case of the ZIS-101A, which was actually quite different from the "almost-all-Buick" ZIS-101). The ZIS-101 was ZIS's first modern limousine, and there you have that (sort of...the ZIS-101 was basically a redone Krasnii Putilovets Leningrad L-1, which was in turn a part-for-part copy of the 1932 Buick 32-90). There, did it without going to Studebaker-Packard.
First, thanks for the website but I think the Taxicab Special is an even lower Savoy version. On the first pages the cars look exactly like the Savoy on p.8 except that the Savoy script is replaced with a Plymouth. It certainly has the same side trim. So I think the taxi versions of the Belvedere and Savoy use the heavy-duty items from the Taxicab Special but have the higher trim levels (in case of the Savoy the interior trim only).
I admit, most of my info regarding the Taxicab Special is anecdotal. Believe it or not, the Taxicab Special was/is a rare car. Seriously. Try finding photos of the '59 model year Taxicab Special. From what I understand, however, the whole reason that the 1960 Plymouth Taxi Special (note the name change; this was the higher-end cab that looked like a '60 Savoy) and 1960 Plymouth Fleet Special (which had NO trim) was that the Taxicab Special being based around the Belvedere was quite frankly counterintuitive.
Also, regarding a side view of a real Mercedes-Benz W115...will this do?
Hello, I was going to reply to you too, but didn't want to post 2 consecutive posts. I agree 100% about the relationship between collecting models of cars you don't want. All best wishes!
Thanks! By the way, I just realized something regarding two cars that showed up in the just-released Ixo PremiumX Diecast series: they appeared for significant periods of time in Bond films, albeit in other colors.
Take the 1976 Chevrolet Opala SS. While we didn't see the SS option, we DID see a '76 Opala two-door coupe (you mostly see the front of the car, but you can see the side of it briefly) following the MP Lafer in MR and it got almost as much screentime. I wonder if this car was developed for (and rejected by) the JBCC?
Then there's the 1954 Pontiac Chieftain. Background car? Maybe. You see, it's one of the two civilian cars from GF that crashed in the Ft. Knox sequence (the red one not flipped over). The only difference is that it was the two-door model, not the four-door model. But we're not done yet. There was also the 1953 Chevrolet 150 four-door sedan that we saw Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce pull up next to, and then Red Grant's Citroen Traction 11BL goes past it. While it was a year off, the basic body of the car was roughly the same as the next year's Chevy (which the Pontiac Chieftain was in turn based on). Do you think this might be an amalgamation of the '53 Chevy 150 from FRWL and the Pontiac Chieftain Two-Door Coupe from GF? I'm wondering if Ixo, seeing the financial success of the ZIL-117 and (admittedly at the time anticipated success of the) 1959 Plymouth Savoy in extremely limited roles, tried their hands at making these three vehicles, got a "these are way too obscure" from Eaglemoss, and then converted the moulds into two cars for use in PremiumX Diecast. Thoughts?
Or are the Premium X models ones considered for 136-140 and then dropped when series closed early? I guess we will never know.....
Good point. One truly wonders what might have been, although according to the still-active dealer, he believed it was "mostly, not all" background cars that were under consideration.
Re Mercedes W115, here are two Mercedes press photos (hope the direct link to flickr works) and compared to the photos posted by James John Smythe and Dokk:
Looks like the body-coloured hubcaps are the right size (the Mercedes star could be thinner) but the silver wheel and tyres are larger as should be. The tyres should be completely visible, not partly obscured. The wheel arches should be more vertical to the front. This also affects the shape of the rear door. Maybe no silver paint on A- and B-pillars would be better?
The rest of the model is not bad. With a figure or two it would be a truly nice addition (particularly the red one with the snowchains). But so it just leaves me cold (like the original, kudos to Ixo for replicating that in 1/43 ).
What I want to add is that I, like Jag wrote earlier, also would like to read more from other collectors even if their country is behind. Discussing the real cars, the new issues just surfacing on Ebay or adding a suggestion to the wishlist is or would have been possible anyway. The German partwork is now at 116 or 117 (Lada Niva/Mercedes 220S), have to check at the shop in the next days.
However, a poster should be taken seriously when he voices his opinion regardless of how often he posts. In addition to "collector's fatigue" caused by this neverending partwork I also have times of "discussion fatigue" when I decide to only read and not post for weeks.
Looks like the body-coloured hubcaps are the right size (the Mercedes star could be thinner) but the silver wheel and tyres are larger as should be. The tyres should be completely visible, not partly obscured. The wheel arches should be more vertical to the front. This also affects the shape of the rear door. Maybe no silver paint on A- and B-pillars would be better?
Good suggestions. Minichamps also makes a model of this car, btw. I know it's not your favorite, but...
I'm wondering if they make it in any other colors.
(Lada Niva/Mercedes 220S)
Well, you'll either wind up with an accurate Lada Niva 1600L (I'm guessing it's a difference in the hobby culture, but the Russian modelists didn't like this one because...ready for it?...they didn't like the tampo-printed dirt. Not how it was done, just the mere presence of it.) or a fairly-okay Mercedes-Benz 180 (you might want to paint the grille and wheels as well as try and possibly find whitewall tires for it).
However, a poster should be taken seriously when he voices his opinion regardless of how often he posts. In addition to "collector's fatigue" caused by this neverending partwork I also have times of "discussion fatigue" when I decide to only read and not post for weeks.
RW, you may have missed it, but I did apologize to tibre007 at some length and even suggested how he might improve his Austin FX4 (T-Cut or similar product on the "AUSTIN" logo and a possible suggestion as to how to remove the antenna without wrecking the car).
A 1976 Chevrolet Opala SS was the first model of a Brazilian Cars partwork from DeAgostini. I don't think it was developped for the JBCC.
EDIT: Yeah, that must be it. The Ford F100 that PremiumX Diecast did was Brazilian, too. I didn't think they were the same series was earlier, but looking back on it, someone did (I'm serious and have the links to prove it) a "copycat partwork" consisting of the same cars in the same order, but with horrid details/pullback motors/opening doors. Type "1/43 Ford Maverick" into eBay and you'll see what I mean. If this is real...well, I can't wait for a '66 Ford Galaxie 500XL (same as in the US, but was a year behind), a VW Karmann-Ghia, and a '74 Ford Maverick Grabber.
Still, I think the '54 Pontiac Chieftain probably came out of an amalgamation of the same car with two doors seen rather prominently in GF as well as possibly the '53 Chevy 150 with four doors seen repeatedly as a prop in FRWL.
Another very good shot of the Merc c/o Diecast007 (how do you get pics to upload without them appearing as thumbnails that have to be clicked on to enlarge? I've never figured it out. Does it depend on what browser you use?)
I'd be interested to hear comments about 'delayed issue' releases from our friends who are a few issues behind too. As I commented earlier, sometimes certain characteristics/points can be picked up on that haven't been mentioned before. And even if there's some slight repetition in the remarks, I hardly think anybody's going to start shouting for a referee's decision over it.
And even if there's some slight repetition in the remarks, I hardly think anybody's going to start shouting for a referee's decision over it.
Seconded. I love revisiting the older issues (by the way, I heavily edited my last post...would you believe someone actually did a copycat partwork in Brazil of the one RW linked to, but of much lesser quality, detail, and attention to scale [plus opening doors and pullback motors]?).
(how do you get pics to upload without them appearing as thumbnails that have to be clicked on to enlarge? I've never figured it out. Does it depend on what browser you use?)
You use an image-hosting service like photobucket.com.
Take the 1976 Chevrolet Opala SS. While we didn't see the SS option, we DID see a '76 Opala two-door coupe (you mostly see the front of the car, but you can see the side of it briefly) following the MP Lafer in MR and it got almost as much screentime. I wonder if this car was developed for (and rejected by) the JBCC?
That's an interesting thought. I wonder what else might have been on the JBCC's list of rejects? They must have thought the idea of an old hearse, a woody station wagon and a Turkish taxi were pretty laughable at one point. You can just imagine them subsequently digging crumpled bits of paper out of waste bins to double-check previous suggestions that got thrown out.
And I wonder what howlers they made - "A Kenworth? Nah, let's do a Morris Minor instead - they'll love the idea"
I wonder what else might have been on the JBCC's list of rejects?
Probably a lot more than the three we know about (i.e. the AMC Matador Thai Police Car, the Aston Martin Vantage sans gadgets, and the decapitated bus). I'm guessing some of the military stuff in GF, a Yellow Moke, an UAZ-469B or UAZ-31512, a Lincoln Mk. VII, maybe some of the DAF police cars...at least.
Comments
This is my very last word on the subject of an American Car series to follow up the JBCC, I promise.
Bearing in mind the sales success of the Bond La Salle, the Country Squire and now the Plymouth Savoy, I think a new series based on stock US cars that are classic favourites in their own right AND in many cases, recognisable from movies and TV shows would be a tremendous hit. I've just spent a matter of minutes on IMCDb and compiled the following:
Recognise any of them?
Obviously there are many, many more - I could have spent days pulling out tens if not hundreds more examples. These are all (for the most part) stock US cars, the only licensing necessary would be from the manufacturers as long as the movie/TV title isn't mentioned. I think any partwork company would make a fortune out of a series like this and would be fools not to at least consider the idea.
Apologies for being off topic, people. It may not be relevant to James Bond in its most pure 'Ian Fleming Books' form, but it is certainly relevant IMHO to those who have been buying from, or subscribing to, the JBCC as general car enthusiasts or as mainstream movie/TV buffs.
Each to their own; if you have an old taxi-type Mercedes then it's great that someone is preserving them; I hate to see cars die out completely, even if they are ones that I wouldn't want to own.
There was the 'Corgi Icon' series which now sells on eBay for silly money, but one could argue that many of the JBCC vehicles were available in one form or another before the series started. There are currently partworks on the market offering very nicely sculpted superhero figures, so a Bond figure series is not only possible but would no doubt sell well judging by the current 'Icon' values. Whether they could get our Daniel to join in with it is another matter, he may have to be left out.
What I would like to see is the figures in diorama presentation, M in his/her office, Q in his lab, Honey Ryder on the beach, Jill Masterson painted in gold (someone posted a photo of a custom model like this some time ago) and of course all of the Bonds in action. Maybe even Nick Nack in a suitcase?
on a revert back to topis ( lest one gets brought to task) i must comment that i have been very pleased with the standard of the cars lately............the mercs have been superb.......cant wait for the SAVOY........dealer told me the official release day is 8th august and every 2 weeks after that...........
What scale are the Icon figures; can they stand next to 1/18 cars?
I was thinking more of the model than the real car. But if I never ever see a /8 Mercedes diesel in my life I won't be too disappointed.
I think the model is terrible:
1. We had a white one already, and that was boring enough.
2. Plain diorama.
3. No figure.
4. Wrong model year, wrong taillights (which I don't find so bad).
5. The empty front number plate housing is ugly.
6. Much too large wheels (as on the white one) but here the dark wheel centers with oversized Mercedes star look even more wrong than on the white car.
Honestly, Ixo has successfully lowered the bar when some printed snowchains and sidemarker can get anyone excited. I mean, a car which is just a rehash of an existing Ixo mould, and not even then it was possible to add a figure ...
The Savoy also has no figures and a plain diorama - but at least it is a totally new mould.
I just am not sure if this future partwork suggestions should be discussed here or better in the off-topic section. While I think a TV/movie partwork could be discussed a bit because of loose Bond connections, others like an American or Russian or Rally cars partwork do not belong here in the James Bond Memorabilia & Collecting forum. Note: that is just my opinion. BTW, MCF if you really want a '69 Buick Riviera GS, this one is available from Neo (and is a great model which unfortunately can not be said of Spark's '65 Riviera). Oops, that was OT! ;%
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Plymouth/1959%20Plymouth/album/1959%20Plymouth%20Taxi-08.html
In this brochure, we see that there are three options for taxi operators...
1) 1959 Plymouth Belvedere Taxi (Which I can't find a good picture of, sorry)
2) 1959 Plymouth Taxicab Special (Wikipedia actually gets it correct...the Taxicab Special was based on the Savoy from 1960 onward. 1959, which is when the car was introduced, saw a "bare bones" Belvedere)
3) 1959 Plymouth Savoy Taxi (Made up for the Spartan looks of the Taxicab Special while sacrificing performance...note how little space is devoted to it.)
The entire brochure can be found online here...
http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/brochures/Plymouth/1959/Taxi/index.htm
It's difficult to tell because they have the same livery, but the first black car and the first blue car to appear are Taxicab Specials, the second black car is a Belvedere (note the chrome trim on all three models), and the second blue car is a Savoy (the artist left off the door locks [which were standard on all models]...whoops!). Note that the chrome trim is regardless different on the Savoy and Taxicab special (artistic goof aside).
Again, I'm wrong. I think I confused the '58 Plaza/Savoy/Belvedere with the '59, sorry. Even then, however, I'm wrong, because the '58 Plaza had different rear turn signals as options (i.e. the light just flickering or alternately having another light). Front and rear turn signals were standard.
Also, upon closer examination, the '59 Savoy Taxi DOES have turn signals. You can see them (and just how tiny they are) here...
http://mama.indstate.edu/users/bondo/savoy/Picture%20156.jpg
Considering they were right on the Black Sea and acted as middlemen for neighboring Iran (at the time a very pro-US country) and how much oil they themselves got from Iran, I can't imagine how cheap it must have been.
Such a series would be brilliant in my opinion (just look at my user name!) if they can sort out all the different licencing issues linked to each movie/TV show.
The question is whether anybody from the JBCC, or any other partwork, is likely to be reading the off-topic section looking for suggestions. This thread is about the JBCC, views on the successor to the JBCC are justifiable, surely?
Thanks!
BTW, I received the Savoy today as a 'back order' so they are obviously on their way to some non subscribers. I also received the Merc by mistake (I ordered 2 Savoys) and have to say that although the base is a plain 'snow' finish, it's interesting to see that the snow has actually been sculpted into low 'drifts'. Not very exciting I know, but it shows Ixo are going beyond what could have been just a standard plinth painted white.
Given the recent circumstances, I will post a picture, and then IMMEDIATELY move on.
(Alterations made: front license plate changed to Sowjetische Besatzungszone [SBZ], purposely undersized and added over another plate because I saw this in a few period photos, plus I added a rear plate. The driver is a former Luftwaffe ground crewman Dad made from an Airfix kit and the NKVD officer [yes, they had the NKVD there in early 1946; the uniform is meant to be "worn-out"] is a conversion of Revell.)
But, moving along...
The wheels unfortunately ARE problematic as well as the front plate, even if you do remove the bracket. I wouldn't call it "terrible" by my own standards since I generally pay no attention to figures/dioramas/etc, BUT I would call it a subpar effort based on reasons 5 and to a somewhat lesser extent 6, plus then there's the weirdly-tampo-printed-on front license plate...on a round bumper...the more I look at the front of this car, the more issues I have with it. Odd, as I really liked the 220 (W115) with RHD (and still do), despite the oversized wheels.
I would agree, although, as Rainier Wolfcastle says, it's just my opinion. I think a Classic American Cars partwork, judging by the actual sales totals of things like the hearses, Country Squire, Impala Custom Coupe, and now the Savoy, despite 1/43 being a niche scale in the US (age 50-60 and up, for the most part), if it had a similar circulation to what the JBCC does NOW, would probably do well. I imagine you could even sneak some Bond cars in there that were on-screen for a few seconds.
By the way, I wonder how Issue 124 will sell, given how common the '73 Bel Air was as a police car, taxi, and just as a regular sedan. It may be an Airport Rent-a-Car, but the license plates pre-date (by one year) New York State's special charter vehicle plates for taxis. You could use this one as almost anything.
On Savoy Cabs thx for references Dalko et al I will enjoy reading up.
The movie cars is an obvious choice as this could include a good number of the bond vehicles also.
Straight cars, super , yank, classic just on their own not really interested as they would role out the usual suspects readily available elsewhere and I am car centric .
Back to the collection I am looking forward to the next issue from live and let die.
I would agree, especially because it wasn't really "the usual suspects" that sold well (I'm going to agree that things like the pre-1970 Ford Mustang have been done to death), but the standard four-door sedans, station wagons, and even hearses (likely could be re-used as ambulances, although Ixo would have to correct the badging for the '68 Cadillac hearse...it's a Miller-Meteor that they did [and actually very well] rather than a Superior which we saw in DAF). I can see these as being "the usual suspects available elsewhere" if you're well-off enough to collect Brooklin or Tin Wizard on a steady basis, but honestly, I don't think most people fit that demographic. I would advocate avoiding the "done a bazillion times" cars such as the Mustang (unless you're doing a Shelby King of the Road in 1/43 scale), '57 Chevy Bel Air, some of the stuff Yat Ming has churned out, etc. On the other hand, there are also certain models that don't particularly move because they're a bit too obtuse. The Brooklin 1954 Nash Ambassador Two-Door Hardtop comes to mind because almost everyone associated that car with police, fire chief, and taxi duties. It largely elicited the same "huh?" that a 1970 Chevy Malibu two-door hardtop might elicit IF you're not doing the '70 Chevelle.
By the way, to address Diecast007's concern over it becoming a "usual suspects" partwork, an alternate take on a US car partwork would be a Route 66 partwork. Think La Route Bleue except with 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's American cars and correctly scaled figures. LRB was the one and only partwork that seemed to appeal to American collectors regarding dioramas, so I would say use that as a model. It even made us willing to suspend disbelief regarding the scale of the figures. Plus, practically everyone else liked it. So, why not a redux but this time, with all-original cars (or recycled but well done Ixo moulds from the JBCC, PremiumX, and PremiumX Diecast)?
Because I love making my own dioramas and have a father very capable of modifying the heck out of any figure he gets his hands on, I might be interested in this. However, if there were a figure partwork, I'd like it in 1/43 scale (as I suspect a lot of people would so as to be able to use it with the JBCC they've just collected), I'd like the figures made of either plastic or resin and not metal because 1) it would drive up the costs to use metal and 2) it would make the figures very difficult to modify. Maz is right: Corgi did a pretty poor job sculpting its figurines (made of metal, I should note) considering the final pricetag. I would also test-market it before going into full-scale production. It might have maybe 10 issues that sell well and then just drop off the table, otherwise. Certainly not unheard-of with "new concept" partworks.
Sure, no problem! Sorry about mixing up some of the 1958 info with the 1959 info, by the way. X-(
I'm with you on the figures; it's not my bag at all, but for the Bond-centrics, it might well sell (though probably not as well as the JBCC for the reasons we've been over, ie JBCC appeals to all sorts of collectors with different collecting habits.)
As for the Mercedes, I went in one as a taxi in Egypt, and it was a complete heap, with a smashed windscreen, but it was still doing its best to keep going. I admired the old car (and its upbeat driver) for it. I wouldn't want to be the driver for even 5 yards however. It's like (for example) the Austin Maestro; I wouldn't want one, but when I see one I'm pleased to see that someone is keeping one going.
As for the model, I think you're basically right on all points, but for the usual £7.99 it's not that bad a model. Wrong model year is a pain, though I no longer expect figures. As usual however, I think of the expression "the best is the enemy of the good" , and despite the inaccuracies of this series, it is so far ahead of anything Bond-car related ever released in terms of coverage , quality, value and general appeal that I can't really complain too much.
Final point. Ixo! Listen please! As discussed a lot of late on this forum, American car models are currently very popular. Please make the LTK Lincoln MkVII Coupe - you will sell lots of them.
Myhandle, I have about 800 model cars I could say that about, if ya know what I mean...
I can't speak for RW, but I could've taken it much easier without the "phantom license plate" and the front plate tampo-printed onto rather than actually attached to the front bumper. I suppose a Dremel Moto-Tool and cutting wheel would solve the first problem and a small piece of black plastic and a decal the second, however.
I agree. This was a car that people loved to hate for being tacky-looking and poorly marketed (it got a bad rap; the LSC option Bond has in the film has a V8 engine and from what I know, it handled well), and for whatever reason, cars we poke fun at really sell well (the AMC Pacer, anyone? The Yat Ming Corvair? Heck, the JBCC's own AMC Matador Coupe and its "long nose"?). They're the cars that we always know we would never drive an example of, would never want to be seen driving because they're hideous, feel is radically unsafe, or whatever...but for precisely those reasons, we feel compelled to get ourselves a model of the car. I wouldn't buy a real 1987 Lincoln Mk. VII, but I'd love a model!
Dear Rainier, sure, there is a loose connection between TV/movie partwork and Bond, but the same connection exists between Russian cars and Bond. They DO appear on the movies (and some were even released in JBCC!).
Hello, I was going to reply to you too, but didn't want to post 2 consecutive posts. I agree 100% about the relationship between collecting models of cars you don't want. All best wishes!
A discussion of certain Russian (or American) cars can well be within the scope of this thread. But (only as an example - we didn't have this discussion yet) going from the ZIL to its predecessor ZIS which was based on the prewar Packard and then discussing the decline of Studebaker-Packard Corporation and the independent U.S. automobile manufacturers in general would bring us clearly off-topic somewhere in the middle.
Or taking the Ashes to Ashes Audi that MCF posted a few days ago in the Corgi 1/36 discussion: I wanted to add (but then didn't) that they could also reissue the Vanguards Life on Mars Cortina in a proper BBC licenced box in a twin-set with their Austin Allegro policecar. As this could also be a suggestion for the movie car partwork, on-topic, off-topic or on the outer border of the vast regions between?
First, thanks for the website but I think the Taxicab Special is an even lower Savoy version. On the first pages the cars look exactly like the Savoy on p.8 except that the Savoy script is replaced with a Plymouth. It certainly has the same side trim. So I think the taxi versions of the Belvedere and Savoy use the heavy-duty items from the Taxicab Special but have the higher trim levels (in case of the Savoy the interior trim only).
The "phantom license plate", as you put it so well, is the second major problem for me but most of all are the wheels in the side view. The proportions of wheels/wheel arches look very different. Have to look for good pictures to compare to the model.
Well, you knew you'd bring me out of the woodwork with that statement...
The ZIL-117 was a shortened ZIL-114; both cars which were a somewhat radical departure for ZIL. I say that because for the first time since before World War II, they were stylistically based on a Ford product (specifically, the 1965 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Type 53A Limousine). Several photos exist of ZIL evaluating this particular car to actually get the ZIL-114's styling.
The ZIL-111G's styling was clearly inspired by early 1960's Cadillac, but internally, it was little different than the ZIL-111 and ZIL-111A. These latter two cars, along with the GAZ-13 Chayka, were indeed Packard-inspired (check out the '56 Packard Caribbean, specifically). Why? Because Stalin absolutely loved Packards. The ZIS-110 (later ZIL-110 right at the end of its production) was the first car inspired by the Packard (the interior was almost a straight knock-off of a Cadillac Fleetwood) where they basically knocked off the body. Ist Models, which released its models two days ago, just released the luxury taxi variant and the gray parade variant. I know for a fact, FWIW, that these are going to get re-used as Packards by some friends of mine (and not irrationally...Vector Models actually built a Packard-Henney Ambulance by using some of the parts!).
Before that (and before WWII) was the ZIS-101-series, which was based on a mixture of Buick and Dodge stylistic elements (in the case of the ZIS-101A, which was actually quite different from the "almost-all-Buick" ZIS-101). The ZIS-101 was ZIS's first modern limousine, and there you have that (sort of...the ZIS-101 was basically a redone Krasnii Putilovets Leningrad L-1, which was in turn a part-for-part copy of the 1932 Buick 32-90). There, did it without going to Studebaker-Packard.
I admit, most of my info regarding the Taxicab Special is anecdotal. Believe it or not, the Taxicab Special was/is a rare car. Seriously. Try finding photos of the '59 model year Taxicab Special. From what I understand, however, the whole reason that the 1960 Plymouth Taxi Special (note the name change; this was the higher-end cab that looked like a '60 Savoy) and 1960 Plymouth Fleet Special (which had NO trim) was that the Taxicab Special being based around the Belvedere was quite frankly counterintuitive.
Also, regarding a side view of a real Mercedes-Benz W115...will this do?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3086706325_ca53bb97d3.jpg
Thanks! By the way, I just realized something regarding two cars that showed up in the just-released Ixo PremiumX Diecast series: they appeared for significant periods of time in Bond films, albeit in other colors.
Take the 1976 Chevrolet Opala SS. While we didn't see the SS option, we DID see a '76 Opala two-door coupe (you mostly see the front of the car, but you can see the side of it briefly) following the MP Lafer in MR and it got almost as much screentime. I wonder if this car was developed for (and rejected by) the JBCC?
Then there's the 1954 Pontiac Chieftain. Background car? Maybe. You see, it's one of the two civilian cars from GF that crashed in the Ft. Knox sequence (the red one not flipped over). The only difference is that it was the two-door model, not the four-door model. But we're not done yet. There was also the 1953 Chevrolet 150 four-door sedan that we saw Kerim Bey's Rolls-Royce pull up next to, and then Red Grant's Citroen Traction 11BL goes past it. While it was a year off, the basic body of the car was roughly the same as the next year's Chevy (which the Pontiac Chieftain was in turn based on). Do you think this might be an amalgamation of the '53 Chevy 150 from FRWL and the Pontiac Chieftain Two-Door Coupe from GF? I'm wondering if Ixo, seeing the financial success of the ZIL-117 and (admittedly at the time anticipated success of the) 1959 Plymouth Savoy in extremely limited roles, tried their hands at making these three vehicles, got a "these are way too obscure" from Eaglemoss, and then converted the moulds into two cars for use in PremiumX Diecast. Thoughts?
Good point. One truly wonders what might have been, although according to the still-active dealer, he believed it was "mostly, not all" background cars that were under consideration.
A 1976 Chevrolet Opala SS was the first model of a Brazilian Cars partwork from DeAgostini. I don't think it was developped for the JBCC.
http://www.planetadeagostini.com.br/colecionavel/carros-inesqueciveis-do-brasil.html
Re Mercedes W115, here are two Mercedes press photos (hope the direct link to flickr works) and compared to the photos posted by James John Smythe and Dokk:
Looks like the body-coloured hubcaps are the right size (the Mercedes star could be thinner) but the silver wheel and tyres are larger as should be. The tyres should be completely visible, not partly obscured. The wheel arches should be more vertical to the front. This also affects the shape of the rear door. Maybe no silver paint on A- and B-pillars would be better?
The rest of the model is not bad. With a figure or two it would be a truly nice addition (particularly the red one with the snowchains). But so it just leaves me cold (like the original, kudos to Ixo for replicating that in 1/43
What I want to add is that I, like Jag wrote earlier, also would like to read more from other collectors even if their country is behind. Discussing the real cars, the new issues just surfacing on Ebay or adding a suggestion to the wishlist is or would have been possible anyway. The German partwork is now at 116 or 117 (Lada Niva/Mercedes 220S), have to check at the shop in the next days.
However, a poster should be taken seriously when he voices his opinion regardless of how often he posts. In addition to "collector's fatigue" caused by this neverending partwork I also have times of "discussion fatigue" when I decide to only read and not post for weeks.
Good suggestions. Minichamps also makes a model of this car, btw. I know it's not your favorite, but...
http://www.diecast.org/data/sac_cars/mp400-034000.jpg
I'm wondering if they make it in any other colors.
Well, you'll either wind up with an accurate Lada Niva 1600L (I'm guessing it's a difference in the hobby culture, but the Russian modelists didn't like this one because...ready for it?...they didn't like the tampo-printed dirt. Not how it was done, just the mere presence of it.) or a fairly-okay Mercedes-Benz 180 (you might want to paint the grille and wheels as well as try and possibly find whitewall tires for it).
RW, you may have missed it, but I did apologize to tibre007 at some length and even suggested how he might improve his Austin FX4 (T-Cut or similar product on the "AUSTIN" logo and a possible suggestion as to how to remove the antenna without wrecking the car).
EDIT: Yeah, that must be it. The Ford F100 that PremiumX Diecast did was Brazilian, too. I didn't think they were the same series was earlier, but looking back on it, someone did (I'm serious and have the links to prove it) a "copycat partwork" consisting of the same cars in the same order, but with horrid details/pullback motors/opening doors. Type "1/43 Ford Maverick" into eBay and you'll see what I mean. If this is real...well, I can't wait for a '66 Ford Galaxie 500XL (same as in the US, but was a year behind), a VW Karmann-Ghia, and a '74 Ford Maverick Grabber.
Still, I think the '54 Pontiac Chieftain probably came out of an amalgamation of the same car with two doors seen rather prominently in GF as well as possibly the '53 Chevy 150 with four doors seen repeatedly as a prop in FRWL.
Another very good shot of the Merc c/o Diecast007 (how do you get pics to upload without them appearing as thumbnails that have to be clicked on to enlarge? I've never figured it out. Does it depend on what browser you use?)
I'd be interested to hear comments about 'delayed issue' releases from our friends who are a few issues behind too. As I commented earlier, sometimes certain characteristics/points can be picked up on that haven't been mentioned before. And even if there's some slight repetition in the remarks, I hardly think anybody's going to start shouting for a referee's decision over it.
Seconded. I love revisiting the older issues (by the way, I heavily edited my last post...would you believe someone actually did a copycat partwork in Brazil of the one RW linked to, but of much lesser quality, detail, and attention to scale [plus opening doors and pullback motors]?).
You use an image-hosting service like photobucket.com.
That's an interesting thought. I wonder what else might have been on the JBCC's list of rejects? They must have thought the idea of an old hearse, a woody station wagon and a Turkish taxi were pretty laughable at one point. You can just imagine them subsequently digging crumpled bits of paper out of waste bins to double-check previous suggestions that got thrown out.
And I wonder what howlers they made - "A Kenworth? Nah, let's do a Morris Minor instead - they'll love the idea"
Probably a lot more than the three we know about (i.e. the AMC Matador Thai Police Car, the Aston Martin Vantage sans gadgets, and the decapitated bus). I'm guessing some of the military stuff in GF, a Yellow Moke, an UAZ-469B or UAZ-31512, a Lincoln Mk. VII, maybe some of the DAF police cars...at least.