Model Auto Review 204
Publication 7 August 2006
CONTENTS(Of the print edition of Model Auto Review 204 • Publication 7 August 2006)
04 Ford Mustang 65 Dave Turner, England 07 Bugs Bunny Don Elliott, USA 10 Safari Maz Woolley, England 11 News: Milestone, Western 12 News: Spark, Bizarre, Redline, Eligor 13 News: Siku 14 Correspondence 16 Johnny Lighting Mercury John Whitehead, USA 18 Gavin Lyall: Midnight Plus One Maz Woolley, England 22 Slantback II Graeme Ogg, England 23 Austin John Hanson, England 25 Spot-On Horst Macalka, Austria 26 Hitachi dragline Tony Steenmeyer, NL • Radar Graeme Watt, Scotland 27 News: Trucks, captions to page 29 30 News: Cars, captions to page 32 31 News: Cars, captions to page 33 34 News: Cars, captions to pages 36, 37 38 News: Cars 40 Avia Mini Cessna Aircraft 42 JGTC Cars Maz Woolley, England 43 Competitions 44 Book Reviews 46 News: Germany: Schuco Ben van Roode, NL. Busch, Minichamps, Hans- Georg Schmitt, Germany 47 Club News Rod Ward, England 56 Witches, Ghosts and Hobgoblins: Part One Don Elliott, USA 58 News: Military captions to page 60: Emergency 59 News: Bus Stop Captions to page 61: Buses and taxis
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardHERE WE GO AGAIN
We are back from our two week annual vacation (it’s not long enough) feeling slightly refreshed for the next five MAR issues. Once again we holidayed in Britain. Not too long a drive to south west England, even from Yorkshire, and no distance at all compared to those driven by our friends in Australasia or North America. I hear from the USA that they don’t want to pay $3.00 per gallon for fuel. We already pay more than $6.00 per (US) gallon, though the thrifty Peugeot HDi diesel coupe gives me a lot more bang for my buck than my old petrol Jaguar did. Maybe if fuel cost $6.00 per gallon in the USA, they would also regard a 700 mile round trip for vacation, as we had, as far enough to go.
A BIGGER MEW GULL
Further to the piece in MAR 203 on the Aerotech Percival Mew Gull, John Simons points out that his model is 1:32 scale, not 1:72 as described. My only excuse is that when I received the photos, there was no note of the scale, so I made an assumption, which turned out to be wrong. Sorry about that.
MORE ARTICLES NEEDED
As we start the second half of 2006 with this issue, once again I invite you to submit articles. features and news for future issues. If you have already had work published in MAR or not, now is the time to send in that piece you always intended to write. Photo prints or digital versions are acceptable.
PLACES TO VISIT
This issue of MAR bears a publication date of 7 August, but it is in circulation a lttle earlier in the month than usual (it gradually gets later as the year wears on, until MAR 208 will appear almost at the end of November). So some of you will be reading this in time to be reminded to visit Modelex 2006 on 22 and 23 July at the Sussex Classic Motor Show at the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum near Lewes. For more information, see the advertisement in the previous issue of Model Auto Review, on page 203.48. I’m sorry I can’t be there (we are hosting my father-in-law’s 90th birthday party on the Saturday, and I am participating in an art exhibition on the Sunday), but I hope you all have a lot of fun at the show. On the same weekend, on 22 July, Transport Collector Auctions @ The SAS Rooms summer sale includes a 1:10 Ferrari 350 P4 CanAm scratchbuilt by Maurizio Conti; estimate £9,000-11,000. They also have a one-off fully working 1:10 model 1904 Rolls-Royce scratchbuilt; Dr Hubert Haderthauer’s first foray into the model field over 35 years ago, estimated value £9,000-£12,000. Hundreds of other models and toys are also included in this auction. For further information just contact Oliver Strebel-Ritter on 07739 514171 oliver@tc-auctions.com . Their website at www.tc-auctions.com includes images of lots. So, there’s no excuse for staying at home sunning yourself; get out and visit one of these events, to stimulate your collecting interests.
Personal Column
by Rod WardThanks to Dana Johnson’s Toy Car Collector Magazine, we have details of the accident to regular MAR correspondent Pete Foss when holidaying in Hawaii in February with his family. Whilst riding down a volcano on Maui (don’t ask) Pete fell off his bicycle onto some rocks. ‘I almost died two days after the accident’ he says, ‘I spent a month in a hospital on Maui. Then I came back to Michigan to recover. Now I am getting better’. Dana also publishes details, from the Courier-Post, of the horrific accident in April to Matchbox collector Everett Marshall III of New Jersey. Everett was Mayor of Newfield, NJ for over 20 years, a prominent local citizen who owned a petroleum delivery business, where he was cleaning a tanker which exploded with him inside it, breaking the cylindrical tank wide open. The explosion could be felt over a mile away and rescuers could not get to him because of the heat, so he had to drag himself out of the tanker. He was taken to hospital with severe burns, but the outcome is unknown. Everett owned the Matchbox Road Museum in Newfield, said to be the world’s largest Matchbox collection, with an estimated 30,000 items.
Our loony Balham-based Scot Graeme Ogg wants to contact our pickups correspondent Robert Gunn by email, but I can’t seem to find Robert’s email address (if indeed he has one). We assume that everyone has email these days, but a lot of MAR readers don’t; must be the age profile. But any reader who would like to be contactable by email (or would like email Modelauto stock updates in future) send me an email, and I will build up an email address book. It will never be published in MAR, because of privacy issues.
Michael Seaword thanks me for the notes on his nuptials and asks if I had heard about his uncle's latest car. For those who don’t know, his uncle is MAR stalwart John Hanson. Michael says, ‘John’s new car is a Daimler Conquest. Nice and desirable 50 years ago; but in 2006? It makes his brother's Wolseley 1500 seem positively sensible’. Well, we only live once, Michael. We old farts have to get our pleasures where we can.
I have to report with sadness that white metal pioneer John Day has died. We owe a lot to John as ‘creator’ of the artisan model car industry in the early days. He returned in recent years with a 1:76 kit range, but only time will tell what becomes of that project.
NEWS
MILESTONE MINIATURES
Further to the short news item in MAR 202, Graham Du Cros of Milestone Miniatures has sent us further news from his range, though he does comment that ‘We really do not have to advertise to sell our products nowadays, as we cannot make enough to supply more customers at present. We are, however about to move to larger premises, and we will then increase our current production’. Some recent and proposed products are listed below:
Gems & Cobwebs Rover 3.5 Coupe V8 Ford Model C saloon 1935 Jaguar Mk X (incl P J Proby version) Jaguar S Type current Austin Maxi series I and II Daimler Sovereign hearse Jaguar XK140 convertible Vanden Plas Princess Isetta three wheeler Jaguar SSII 1933 Morris Oxford Bullnose 1924 Ford Jeep RAF Vauxhall series Vauxhall J type 1938 Vauxhall 30/98 Wensum 1926 Brooklands series Birkin Bentley Bobtail Bentley Malcolm Campbell’s Bentley Royal Collection Daimler King George VI 1937 McLaughlin Buick King Edward VIII 1936 Gems Le Mans series Jaguar XJR5 Quaker State Chequered Flag series jaguar D Type LM 1957 Milestone Austin Seven Saloon Auto Whisper Hearse 1966 Jaguar World series Jaguar 2.5 litre saloon Beaulieu Collection Sunbeam Bluebird 43rd Avenue AMC AMX 1969 (three different versions) DeSoto 1947
WESTERN DESOTO EIGHT
Western Models’ next American car release will be a 1:43 scale handbuilt white metal model of a 1950 DeSoto Eight sedan.
SPARK, BIZARRE, REDLINE
New models proposed in these ranges:
SPARK
059 Dome S101H Mugen LM 05 #5 Michigami-Ara 060 Lotus 119A soap box racer 2002 200 Pagani Zonda F Spider dark silver 2006 223 TVR Griffith LM 62 #31 Bolton-Sanderson 280 Dodge Travco motor home Team Lotus 368 Morgan Aero 8 black 2005 377 Aston Martin AR1 metallic green 2003 378 Aston Martin AR1 metallic black 2003 397 Alfa Romeo 8C spider metallic red 2006 437 MG SVR Xpower 2005 441 Volkswagen W12 spider red 2002 631 Lister Storm LM 95 # 52 Lees-Keegan 635 Lister Storm Spa 2004 #27 636 Lister Storm GT 2005 #14 Keen-Halliday 707 Gemballa GTR 650 2006 783 Marcos LM600 LM 96 #81 Euser-Erdos-Dro 786 Marcos LM600 1998 #70 Euser-Becker 800 Austin-Healey 100S 1955 810 Austin-Healey 100S 1954 World Record 862 Dodge Caliber 2006 metallic orange 863 Dodge Caliber 2006 black 865 Cadillac CTS-V SCCA 2004 #16 Angelelli 866 Dodge RAM SRT-10 commem edition 2005 871 Dodge RAM SRT-10 quad cab yellow fever 2005 911 Porsche 911R 1965 920 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR LM 04 #85 Ortelli-Dumas 921 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR LM 04 #86 Vasiliev-Nearn 922 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR LM 04 #81 Nielsen-Fisken 931 Porsche Carrera RSR LM 73 #46 Müller 932 Porsche Carrera RSR LM 73 #47 Joest-Haldi 933 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR 2005 #66 Lieb 937 Porsche 962C LM 88 #7 Hobbs-Theys-Conrad 938 Porsche 962C LM 88 #8 Winter-Jelinski-Dickens 1110 McLaren M6A CanAm 67 #4 McLaren 2402 Aston Martin DBR9 LM 05 #58 Enge-Cox-Lamy 2403 Aston Martin DBR9 LM 05 #59 Brabham-Sarrazin 2405 Aston Martin DBR9 2005 #17 Bouchut-FomenkoBIZARRE
223 Inaltera GT LM 76 #1 Pescarolo-Beltoise 224 Inaltera GT LM 76 #2 Christine Jassaud-Rondeau 230 Allard J2 LM 51 #1 Allard-Cole 231 Allard J2 LM 51 #2 Hitchings-Reece 269 Ford GT40 Ring 64 #140 Hill-McLarenREDLINE
062 Ferrari F40 LM 96 #56 Pilot Ferté-Thévenin 076 Ferrari 365 GTB4 LM 71 #58 Grossman-Chinetti 077 Ferrari 365 GTB4 LM 72 #39 Andruet-Battlot-Lena 085 Ferrari 365 GTB4 LM 72 #75 Migault-Rouveyron
FIRST GEAR NEWS
Recent diecast releases from First Gear of the USA, all manufactured in China:
Chevrolet Nomad station wagon1955 green 1:25 Mack B-61 dumptruck with plough 1:34 International Diamond Miller race recovery 1:34 Mack three axle Waste Management skip 1:34 Mack Granite three axle refuse skip 1:34 International TD-25 tracked dozer forest fires 1:25 International 560 Payloader with log forks 1:25 International Travellall station wagon US Postal 1:25
NEW ELIGOR RELEASES
1:43 models announced by Eligor of France:
100960 Citroen Berlingo Gendarmerie dog van 100988 Citroen Berlingo facelift van Zapa 101002 Citroen H van Javador coffee 100990 Citroen H van fire Pont L’Eveque 101023 Citroen H van Propagaz 101026 Citroen H van Rossignol ski van 101019 Citroen H van Salins du Midi 100994 Peugeot J7 minibus Le Bourget Airport 100995 Renault Frégate saloon taxi beige-black 100996 Renault Frégate cabrio Letourneur & Marchand 101013 Renault 4cv saloon La Poste 101015 Renault 1000kg van La Tole Ondulee 101021 Renault 4cv saloon Lessive La Croix 101029 Renault Juvaquatre van road service 101030 Renault Juvaquatre van Nina Ricci 113055 Mercedes-Benz Actros MP3 McLaren F1 113116 MAN TG-XXL Toyota team transporter 112936 Volvo FH restyle Geodis BM 113121 Renault Magnum Michelin Racing (radio control) 113122 Renault Magnum Renault F1 2005 (radio control) 113086 Renault Master Police BAPSA 113103 Renault Master CRS riot police
HO SCALE FIGURES - by Hans-Georg Schmitt
Newly released plastic figures from Germany:
Preiser 1:87 figures: 0010491 Belgian Railway staff 0010511 Walking Travellers 0010513 On the Platform 0010514 Walking Couples 0010515 Standing Cyclists 0010516 Walking Travellers 0010517 Walking Travellers 0010518 Paramedics 0010521 Funeral Mourners 0010522 Seaed Women, Pram 0010523 Phone box queue 0014062 Ship’s Crew 0014063 Ship’s Crew 0014064 Workers 0014065 Young Passers-by 0014066 Young Women 0014067 Passers-by 0014068 Travellers in hurry 0014069 Passers-by 0014070 Walking Rail travellers 0014071 Waiting on Platform 0014072 Sitting Rail travellers 0014073 Sitting Persons 0014074 Schoolchildren 0014075 Workers 0014076 Spectators 0014077 Wanderers 0014078 Joggers 0014079 Spectators 0028032 Truck driver 0028033 Toll collection staff 0030448 Sleigh and Santa 0031020 Chemical protectiont 0031021 Paramedics kit) Merten 1:87 figures: HO 2544 Wanderers HO 2550 Travellers HO 2551 Passers by
More JGTC Cars Found - by Maz Woolley
I recently spotted a pile of small brightly coloured models in a local discount store. These turned out to be 1:72 models of Japanese Touring Car racers (JGTC) from the 2000, 2001, and 2002 seasons. All were based on the Toyota Supra which ran in th GT 500 class, and most were from the 2002 season. I bought the four 20002 season cars pictured here. These models are branded Saico and are marked 1:72 on the base. This is the first time I have come across Saico cars this small. They are better known to me as makers of large Morris Minors and Ford Anglias found in gift shops around the country. Looking on eBay I cannot find any more 1:72 scale models but entries show that Saico also made the JGTC cars in 1:32 scale. All the models have detailed tampo printing, down to the drivers’ names on the roof. All are very colourful and have a high level of detail, but they are let down a little by the wheels, which are too small. Cars I have are:
Tom’s Tokuhon GT Team Ceruno GT Tom’s Zent GT Team Sard Denso
AN INSIGHT INTO SCHUCO? - Uwe Weiler interviewed by Ben van Roode
Uwe Weiler, 46, is on the board of directors of Simba-Dickie-Group, one of the largest toy firms in Europe., where he is responsible for Dickie Toys, Dickie Tamiya and Schuco.
BvR: What is your toy business background?
UW: I started 23 years ago as a trainee in a large department store and ended up there as a toy buyer. At that time Bburago introduced their 1:18 scale . I still have one of the first production samples of their F40. Hong Kong was my next stop. I joined Simba Toys in 1993 as a managing director for their Hong Kong office. After that I was sales director worldwide for Simba, based in Germany, and then I moved to my current job.
BvR: How do you explain Schuco’s success?
UW: Schuco is a very old name in the toy history, rich with tradition and history. But there is also the tradition of quality, continued by the highly skilled people working for Schuco.
BvR: What about orders from industry, like the Maybach Exelero you made for Fulda?
UW: They are very important to us, because they give us a period of market exclusivity, as opposed to the situation where many model makers simultaneously release models of the same new cars in all scales and qualities. Also, industry orders strengthen the Schuco brand, because their models are made to best levels of quality and detail, improving our reputation.
BvR: The future of model cars?
UW: Apart from rising prices for commodities like zinc, which mean higher retail prices, the future looks bright. In my opinion children and adults will always be fascinated by cars and other vehicles. We cater for adults, but try to reach for the youth market with our Junior Line, positioned above the toy ranges, yet much cheaper than other Schuco models.
BvR: How do you choose vehicles to make?
UW: Our product development team has close links to collectors, clubs, museums and real car collectors. There is continuous contact with model experts and the hobby press. We spend a lot of time on research and market studies, and choices to suit our markets. Germany is the biggest, followed by Holland and France, in that order.
BvR: Your favourite current Schuco product?
UW: That must be the Distler Porsche.
LATEST BUSCH HO MODELS - By Hans-Georg Schmitt
1:87 plastic models from Busch of Germany:
40646 Tempo Three wheeler Ella’s Flower Power 40728 Mercedes-Benz LP809 Bavarian Red Cross 40915 DKW 3=6 bus 41952 Citroen H Posterijen Dutch Post 43004 Toyota Land Cruiser Police Macao 43908 Volvo 544 Historic touring car trophy #72 44530 US Bus Fishbowl Oakville 44654 Dodge Ram Fire van 44981 Caravan Advertising Schöller/Nestlé 46024 American LaFrance Pumper Niagara Falls 46025 American LaFrance ladder truck Niagara Falls 46414 Chevrolet Blazer Emergency Medical Niagara 46855 Mercedes-Benz W123 Saloon 48221 Chevrolet Pickup Flower Studio Schmitt 48521 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class DRK Rescue-dogs 48616 Mercedes A-Class Automobile club of Germany 48967 Smart City Coupe Mr Brown’s coffee drink 49303 Smart Roadster Crazy Cars” 49502 Smart Forfour First Response
LATEST MINICHAMPS - By Hans-Georg Schmitt
New Minichamps diecast releases:
1:43 scale 400 723401 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6,8 racing car Team AMG Nurburgring 1972 Heyer-Betzler. 400 111410 Citroen CX Break 1982 gold metallic. 400 688193 Ford Escort Mk I, Ring 1968 Hahne 430 039109 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 1968 silver. 430 062090 Porsche 911 Coupe Police Stuttgart 78 436 871201 Audi Sport Quattro S1 Pikes Peak 87 Röhrl 400 051392 Audi R8 ADT LM 05 Biela-Pirro-McNish. 400 051304 Audi R8 Oreca, Spa 05 Ortelli-Gounon 400 042342 BMW M3 GTR Ring 04, Müller-Müller-Stuck 430 752974 BMW CSL 3,5 IMSA Team BMW North America Riverside 1976, Posey-Redman. 400 688192 Ford Escort Mk I TC, Ring 68 Mitter. 400 051394 Audi R8 Oreca, LM05 Ortelli-Gounon-Montagny 400 042343 BMW M3 Ring 04 Lamy-Said-Huisman-Stuck 400 688136 Ford Escort Mk I TC; Alan Mann Racing Ring 1968 Gardner-Glemser. 400 841312 Jaguar XJ-S TWR Spa 1984 Heyer-Percy 400 053504 Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Team. DTM 2005 Jean Alesi. 400 054609 Opel Vectra GTS V8 GMAC OPC. DTM 2005 Marcel Faessler. 400 046216 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup; AASCO. Daytona 2004 Murry-Stanton-Sugden-Dodge. 1:18 scale 530 731808 McLaren Ford M23 Formula One Yardley Peter Revson 1973, McLaren Collection. 100 050003 BAR Honda 007 F1 Jenson Button 2005 530 731807 McLaren Ford M23 F1 Yardley Dennis Hulme 1973: McLaren Collection 100 728104 Ford Escort Mk I RS 1600 Rally Clark- Mason, winner RAC Rally 1972.
LATEST FROM EFE • By Frank Joyce
Through the past year I have been asked what would happen to the 10T10s produced last year for my daughter's wedding. Diane and Terry decided that the 30 models left would be put up for auction, the proceeds to go to a charity, In an attempt to make the auction as fair as possible to collectors with limited budgets the available models were halved; 15 models to the top bids and 15 drawn at random from the rest of the bids, regardless of the amount offered. Bids closed on 3 July. We have produced two special models for London Transport Museum Acton Depot Open Weekend last May. They are the Guy GS bus (GS 64), which is kept at the museum, depicted on route 807 to Letchworth Station and route 386 to Hitchin. For further details and availability of 30504B and 30504C contact London Transport Museum. A fund-raising model 17305A has been made to mark the re-opening of the North West Museum of Transport, a Widnes Corporation Leyland National in the museum collection. The Museum was due to re-open on 11 June but re-opening was delayed for repair work to the building. This model is available by mail order; ring 01925 637511, A model produced for Sutton United Football Club, its tenth annual fund raiser, is 30004A is T504, a red 10T10 with adverts for Sutton United Football Club and Exclusive First Editions. For price and availability ring 01372 386998 or write to: Sutton United FC, 10 Hurst Close, Hedley, Surrey, KT18 6DZ.
Book, CD and CD-ROM Reviews
The Cobra in the Barn by Tom Cotter 256 pages, 163 photos, hardbound with dustjacket. 160 x 235 mm ISBN13: 978-0-7603-1992-5. ISBN10: 0-7603-1992-8. Published by Motorbooks, an imprint of MBI Publishing; Galtier Plaza Suite 200; 380 Jackson Street; St Paul, MN 55101-3885, USA, or from Grantham Book services, Isaac Newton Way, Alma Park Industrial Estate Grantham NG31 9SD UK. The ‘forgotten car in a barn’ myth comes true on a surprisingly regular basis. This collection of stories of such discoveries includes a Vanderbilt-owned town car found in a barn in Long Island, a 1954 Corvette with 1368 original miles, and a 1963 Shelby Cobra guarded by a manic raccoon in a barn near Indianapolis. After reading this book, one is tempted to check out every barn. Hans-Georg Schmitt
American Beauties: Famous Cars in Sound and Vision by Stefan Böckler, English text, 104 pages, 49 photographs, 4 Music CDs, Hardbound 285 x 285 mm. ISBN 3-937406-06-9. Pub: Verlag Edel Classics GmbH, Neumühlen 17, D-22763 Hamburg, Germany. The book contains colour photos of legendary cars; the CDs include songs by Ben E King, Little Richard, Percy Sledge, the Drifters and others, to evoke the period. Hans-Georg Schmitt
Brooklin Standards: a desk reference for Brooklin collectors. 88 pages softbound. Written and published by Roger Mateo, PO Box 61018, Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA, email sfbbc@ix.netcom.com Roger is the founder of the San Francisco Bay Brooklin Club, and he recently published this book. He has been a collector of Brooklin models since 1987, and founded the San Francisco Bay Brooklin Club. It lists all Brooklin models been produced in the last 30 years, now numbering over 645 distinct versions, including 117 ‘authorised’ models and an additional 30 alternative castings, known colour trials, one-offs, authorised Code 2 models, and unauthorised Code 3s. Each listing includes the BRK number, make and model of car, quantity produced, and description of colour and markings. Colour photos of all ‘standard’ models, from BRK1 to BRK117 are included, as well as summary lists of models by make and by year. Other sections of the book include a brief description of how Brooklin models are made, stories behind some famous makes of US automobiles, and stories of how some Brooklin collectors got started. Reflecting modern interests, this book aims to help in identifying models at a toy show or on eBay., so that the rarity and value of any model can be quickly determined. A list of winning bids on eBay for Brooklins in the past five years is also included. Rod Ward
Around the Houses: The History of Motor Racing in Western Australia 1902–79 by Terry Walker, originally written in 1979 and adapted to CD- ROM by him in 2005. 140 x 120 mm; 700 photographs, most never before published. Available from Pitstop Bookshop; 33 King Street; Perth WA 6000, Australia. This is the CD-ROM of Terry Walker´s out of print and much sought- after history of motor racing in Western Australia, many of the races held around the streets of country towns, hence the title. It is a great reference work for anyone interested in the history of motor racing in Australia. Hans-Georg Schmitt
Standard Catalog of Cadillac 1903-2005 by John Gunnell, 400 pages, 400 photos. 220 x 280 mm. Paperbound. ISBN 0-87349-289-7. Published by kp books, an imprint of F+W Publications Inc, 700 East Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001, USA Always a leader in automotive innovation, Cadillacs were the measure of fine cars, regarded as the Standard of the World. With the specifications of all the cars from 1903 to the present day, this is the third edition of a valuable reference work Hans-Georg Schmitt
Mit Tempo durch die Zeit (With Tempo through Time: from Hamburg to the World) by Matthias Pfannmüller, German text. 144 pages, 227 illustrations. Hardbound with dustjacket. 210 x 285 mm. ISBN 3-7688-1729-6 / ISBN 978-3-7688-1729-5. Published by and available from Delius Klasing Verlag, Siekerwall 21, D-33602 Bielefeld, Germany. The book tells the story of the Tempo three-wheelers made by Vidal and Son in Hamburg. Production started in the second half of the 1920s with three-wheelers, but with two at the front initially, unlike the later vehicles. There was a truck or van, with two wheels under the load area and one under the driver’s seat. Then in 1933 first prototypes of the more successful layout with one front wheel and two at the rear were built. Four-wheel vehicles then followed. During the Second World War, Tempo built military vehicles with four- wheel steering. After the war, they built three and four wheel vehicles, many of which were widely exported. For the German police and border police, they assembled left hand drive Land Rovers under licence between 1953 and 1955. Tougher competition led to economic problems. Like many such firms who amalgamate with other struggling outfits, they took the Hanomag factory on board, but then they both went down together. Mercedes-Benz took over both concerns, and today Mercedes cars are built in their factory. The Tempo three-wheeler vehicle survives in India, where the manufacturing tools were sold, and it is still in production today. Hans-Georg Schmitt
OPEL Typenkunde (Opel type reference) by Eckhart Bartels and Rainer Manthey, German text. 144 pages, 141 pictures. Hardbound 180 x 245 mm. ISBN 3-7688-1726-1 / ISBN 978-3-7688-1726-4 Published by and available from Delius Klasing Verlag, Siekerwall 21, D-33602 Bielefeld, Germany. In December 1947, the first Opel cars left the assembly lines at the heavily damaged plant in Rüsselsheim, developments of prewar cars, first the Olympia, and later in 1949 the Kapitan. But the range was soon enlarged and modernised and new factories built. In the 1990s Opel abandoned conventional names for newly created ones; Vectra, Sintra, Frontera and Signum. All Opel cars from 1947 to 2005 are covered in this book, plus the Opel-based Bitter designs as well. Hans-Georg Schmitt
Wheels: A Passion for Collecting Cars by Stuart Leuthner, photos by William Taylor, English text. 240 pages, 300 colour illustrations. 305 x 254 mm. Hardcover with dustjacket. ISBN 0-8109-5596-2. Published by and available from Harry N Abrams Inc, Market Building; Third Floor 72-82 Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4RW. This book visits 11 private car collections, which are rarely open to the public. One collection houses more than 100 postwar bubble cars from Europe and Japan in a Georgia barn (he bought a complete museum in Germany), another is a collection of top sports cars in a Napa Valley vineyard; all will appeal to classic car enthusiasts. Hans-Georg Schmitt
Porsche 911: For ever young by Tobias Aichele. 544 pages, 373 photographs, 65 drawings. Hardbound with dustjacket. 235 x 270mm. ISBN 3-613-02353-9. Published by and available from Motorbuch Verlag, Postfach 103743, 70032 Stuttgart, Germany. Between a 1960s Porsche 911 and one from today are not only 40 years, but a whole world of design and technology. They still, however, retain the character of real Porsche 911 sports cars, just like the first cars at the Frankfurt auto show in 1963. Continuous development kept the 911 fresh and attractive down the years. The author is the first writer to get access to secret Porsche documents on the 911. Another Porsche 911 book, but this one has the most interesting photographs, especially of development and pre-production. The text is in German, but for Porsche fans the photos alone are worth the price. Hans-Georg Schmitt
CLUB NEWS
Collated by Rod WardMaidenhead Static Model Club April club night’s display theme was for smallest models. First place went to Peter Carpenter’s tiny Sunderland flying boat. John Garside took second place with a CIJ tanker. Third was Hilary Gatward’s box of Tuf-Tots. The latest edition of Cliff Maddock’s new-look Wheel Bearings, the MSMC organ, includes a feature by Pat Tanner on the NMM exhibition at Beaulieu on ‘Weird Cars’, including Isetta, Scott Sociable, Leyat, BMC Sphinx, GSJ180, Scootacar, Messerschmitt Kabinscooter, Africar, Pennington Autocar, Peel P50, Atco Trainer, Sinclair C5, Aurora and Zoomer. Now for a range of models including those which haven’t been made... If you’d like to join the MSMC, or to just attend a future club night as a guest, contact Membership Secretary Alan Simpson on 01494 813903.
South Hants Model Auto Club: The Club organises a barbecue every year, and Stu and Sue leake, joint Editors of the club publication, ask who will be attending, ‘As we need to order meats’. No veggies, then? Sounds like the Natal Club. (Though Geoff Sear of the NDMC thinks his newsletters are not interesting enough to be appraised here, but we need to know what they eat at their Braais, so we may yet get to hear more about South African eating habits). But, back in Hampshire they are such a companionable lot that one member had an ‘open house’ for Le Mans weekend, so that anyone without Sky could watch there. With drinks and nibbles, of course. (All meat-related?). Secretary Dave Painter can tell you how to join the chummy SHMAC: phone 01264 366408.
Wessex Model and Toy Collectors: The WMTC Club Model for this year, made for them by Brooklin, is the Lansdowne 1957 Humber Hawk estate in cavalry beige and burgundy. It is only available in this colour to club members, so now is the time to get your application in. The WMTC newsletter, Smalltalk, edited by the irrepressible Barry Lloyd is always packed with articles, pictures, and above all, jokes, including a Ladies’ bum size survey. 10% thought their bum was too small, 85% thought their bum was too big, but 5% didn’t care, he was a good man, so they married him anyway. If you’d like to measure up to the Wessex bums, contact membership secretary Doug Male on 01225 755043.
West Australian Model Collectors Club: Ian Hind, Club Secretary and Editor of Showcase, the WAMCC Club publication, notes that Corgi are selling Vanguards diecast cars on their own sales website at half price. Ian says, ‘Collectors who recently purchased these models at full price must be scratching their heads; and this type of behaviour does the brand huge damage. No doubt many collectors will question the wisdom of rushing out to buy a new model upon release, if they expect to be able to purchase it at half price several months later’. Corgi used to enforce ‘recommended retail prices’ on their exclusive retailers. The VAT-inclusive prices at which Corgi are retailing these models are lower than retailers pay when they buy the models at wholesale prices. But with so few retailers left on the high street, perhaps Corgi don’t think they have to consider the views of their erstwhile stockists? Ian notes the closure of yet another long- standing shop; Dianne’s Models of Queensland. To join the WAMCC phone 934 9369, or email jhind@iinet.net.au
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