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< Back 1967 Ford Mustang Hardtop 18 - AV104 - 20 - 01 Model Description When I first started the museum, which would be about 12 years ago, I picked up this model. It’s a 1:18 scale die-cast metal 1967 Ford Mustang done in that green colour, which was used in the movie “Bullitt”. It was part of what I called Distressed Models. Those are models that have slight defects that can be repaired. This is one such model. As part of my rules, I work by the vehicles that you see in the museum, the museum owns. We do not simply take information from anywhere and all the use details in the model description are from that model. We tell it as it is. Any faults we will tell you. But remember, that fault lies with the model we have. But by giving you that view of the model, it will allow you the option of deciding if you wish to add it to your collection. The Body Looking at first glance at this model, if you have seen that movie with Steve McQueen, you will see the car that is accurate in all details. Right down to the wheels and rims. So we look first at the paintwork, that special green and at first glance it appears good. One of the most important details for makers of these and other models is the quality control. That inspection of each model before dispatching it to collectors, is to ensure it stands in all collections with pride. However this quality control was missing on this model. The evidence of bubbling on the paint work is visible to anyone looking at it. If it's on this model, then the paintwork on others is suspect. This is a 2-door vehicle, which both open wide to allow excellent access to the interior. The bonnet which opens reasonably wide enough for a good view of the engine. It also has a boot/trunk that also opens reasonably wide. All opening parts fit with good clearance all around. All lights on the front and rear with that distinctive grill with the Mustang badge have been done just as the original vehicle. The Interior The interior is great to see. Looking at it closely, you cannot see any faults. First, the colour of both the seats and other interior parts is done up in that white look. The real Mustang would have had real leather, and a good job has been done to replicate that. The steering wheel and some of those parts, like the gearshift, handbrake and floor pedals, have been replicated well. The instrument's details are quite realistic, and the controls and switches on the console are believable. The Engine The quality and amount of detail of this engine is excellent. This is one of those engines that a great deal of effort has been made to make it as near to the look of the real vehicle. And in this case, they have succeeded. You can see this in even the smallest part on that motor. Even the use of decals on the air cleaner gives it that look of realism that collectors want. Collectors of these models want that attention to detail to bring that model to life. The more realistic it is, the better it looks. This engine in this model has been reproduced nicely, and makes those small faults not so bad. The Boot & Undercarriage The boot is normal in that it has no extra features than the original vehicle. There is nothing more to add here. The undercarriage is another matter. The detail here continues, just like the engine detail. You can clearly see the underneath of the engine, and that detail continues with the gearbox and with the shaft. With this going to the real axle and to the final dive, and with the exhaust system finishing it off nicely. The Conclusion This model should have been a better model. In so many areas, it works well. To have it spoiled because of a breakdown in the maker's quality control spoils what should be a great model. That fault with the paintwork is that it distracts from the other excellent features. That interior coupled with that great engine for this model saves it. It’s collectable for those who love that movie. Even so, I will give it a 4.5 / 5.0. Robin Finlay 27/04/2023. Previous Next

Click & Return Home WELCOME Cars & Station-Wagons Cars & Stationwagons Personalize your gallery, add your text here. Fiat 500 (Early Model) Vehicle & Model Description Project Manager

< Back 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 18 - AV113 - 23 - 02 Shelby GT500 (2020–2023) In addition to the Bullitt edition Mustang GT, the Shelby GT500 moniker returned in 2019 as a 2020 model, after a six-year hiatus. The new GT500 has a supercharged motor based on the GT350's 5.2 L V8 block, but with a cross-plane crankshaft as opposed to a flat-plane crankshaft (as in GT350), which generates 760 hp (567 kW). Mach 1 (2021–2023) The Mach 1 returned as a 2021 model, marking the first time the nameplate has been used since 2004. The Mach 1 uses the GT's 5.0L "Coyote" V-8 producing 480 hp (358 kW) at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb⋅ft (569 N⋅m) at 4,600 rpm, borrowing several parts from the Shelby models. Ford engineers were originally targeting 525 hp (391 kW) and 450 lb⋅ft (610 N⋅m). The lightweight TREMEC six-speed manual transmission, intake manifold, oil-filter adapter, engine oil cooler, and front and rear sub-frame are shared with the Shelby GT350, while the rear axle cooling system, rear toe link, and rear diffuser are shared with the Shelby GT500. Model Description Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 This is a 1:18 scale model in die-cast metal with plastic parts. This model shows off in that there is no doubt that this is a Shelby car. With the Shelby name everywhere, this is a well made and crafted model. It's solid and with a minimum of small plastic parts that one would normally see on these models, but even so you still need to handle carefully. The Body The paintwork is excellent. I like the metallic colour, and this is the same colour you would get on the real car, and care has been taken to ensure paint quality. There are no problems such as cracking or any bubbles with no chipping. This is a 2-door vehicle, and this model has both doors, bonnet and boot/trunk opens. The doors open reasonably well which gives a good look into the interior. Both doors are fitted well with excellent clearance and no over gaps. The external mirrors have been attached solidly, but still needs to be handled carefully. The main reason that models like these external parts is that they can break easily, and you cannot in most cases get replacement parts. The bonnet is a perfect fit. This is a premium model in which great care has been taken in the assembling of this model. The front of the model shows a distinctive radiator grill, but also it leaves no doubt that this is a Shelby Mustang. On the bottom air scoop and that famous cobra, this model shows us a powerful car. All the lights both front and rear have been fitted nicely. Those wheel rims with those tires are especially done in black and you can see the discs and also the brake callipers. All those decals have been done well to scale and fitted with care. And that includes the twin white stripes right from the front to the rear. The boot/trunk is fitted well and also opens reasonably. Nothing really to find fault with this model. The Interior In a lot of models, the interior detail can be something to desire. But this model has a very good interior in that just about all those features that are on the original car can be seen. Black works well with the blue. The seats show good detail with the addition of the seat belts a nice touch. The rear seat shows the same quality as in the front seats with its detail. The consol between the front seats shows good detail that continues to the dashboard. The detail showing all those screens and radio are extremely well done. The air vents in that greyish colour add more realism to that dashboard. I am surprised that considering the tiny size, you can read the instruments. That steering wheel will turn the front wheels, but it can be a little difficult. I wouldn't do it as I think it is fragile. That steering wheel is typical Ford but has that added Shelby features like the cobra that makes it definitely unmistakable. The Engine This engine I find fault with. To me its the same look that you would get in a 1:24 or a 1:32 scale model. This is a premium car that would cost a lot and would be regarded as something special. That Shelby Cobra name should show not in the excellent body and interior, but also in that engine.While the motor detail is good, that is spoilt by the outer parts of the engine like the radiator, air intake battery, and those other parts that would give it more of that real engine a better and more realistic look. That special engine needs that attention to detail. As it stands, it's more like an ordinary Mustang engine that does not show that real Shelby Cobra GT500 engine. The Boot/Trunk & Undercarriage That finish is as well done as the other opening parts. The boot/trunk opens reasonably and has a good gap when closed. There is no indication on what the spare looks like, but simply on the model is an empty space. That air spoiler on the boot/trunk lid has the carbon fibre look and feel. The undercarriage is quite basic in that it shows the underneath of the motor as well as the gearbox. The most impressive part is the exhaust system that starts up on the side of the engine and right to the tail pipe outlets. Done in a more light chrome it gives it that more realistic look. There is only a basic look at the other parts like the rear differential and the suspension. The Conclusion This is a good model. It has its faults that are mainly in the presentation of the engine.Just looking at this model it gives a very good impression. Comparing the model with the real Shelby, shows that it copies it in the most important areas and its quite realistic. I like it. Ours is that metallic blue with black interior, which gives this model class and shows again that Shelby Cobra that this is a performance car. I give it a 4.75 / 5.00. Robin Finlay 14/03/2023. Previous Next

< Back 1955 Ford Thunderbird Hard-Top 18 - AV107 - 23 - 01 Previous Next

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection 1969 Ford Mustang (Blue) 18 - AV101 - 23 - 01 Previous Next Model Images

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Sealed Body) 18 - AV114 - 23 - 02 Previous Next Model Images

< Back Australian Designed & Built Collection Click to return Home 2024 Chevrolet Camaro (Part Sealed Model) Australian 500/Bathurst Collection Scale: 1:18 Material: Die-cast metal with plastic parts Museum Number: 18 - SC130 - 25 - 04 Year Of Production: 2024- Manufacturer: GM/Chevrolet USA 18 - SC130 - 25 - 04 Previous Next 2024 Camaro ZI Australian 1000/500 Racing Series Collection 2024 Bathurst 1000 Winner Scale: 1:18 Material: Die-cast metal with some plastic parts Museum Number: 18 - SC130 - 25 - 04 Technical Data Engine 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, producing 650 horsepower Transmission 6-speed manual Produced: 2024 Country: USA Gallery Video

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 18 - AV107 - 18 - 01 Model Description Previous Next Model Images

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XT Open Convertible 18 - AV137 - 26 - 04 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Open Convertible American-Built Vehicles Post-1950 Collection Scale: 1:18 Material: Die-cast metal with plastic parts Museum Number: 18 - AV137 - 26 - 04 Technical Data Engine 223 cu in (3.7 L) Mileage Maker I6 260 cu in (4.3 L) Windsor V8 289 cu in (4.7 L) Windsor V8 292 cu in (4.8 L) Y-block V8 352 cu in (5.8 L) FE series V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE series V8 406 cu in (6.7 L) FE series V8 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE series V8 Transmission 2-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic 3-Speed Manual 3-speed manual and overdrive 4-Speed Manual Previous Next Model Images

Click & Return Home WELCOME Cars & Station-Wagons Cars & Stationwagons Personalize your gallery, add your text here. Mercedes Benz E320 Saloon Vehicle & Model Description Mercedes-Benz E-Class 320 Saloon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Mercedes-Benz E-Class The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive cars manufactured by German automaker Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. Produced since 1953, the E-Class falls midrange in the Mercedes line-up, and has been marketed worldwide across five generations. Before 1993, the E in Mercedes-Benz nomenclature was a suffix following a vehicle's model number which stood for Einspritzmotor (German for fuel injection engine). It began to appear in the early 1960s, when that feature began to be utilised broadly in the maker's product line, not just in its upper tier luxury and sporting models. By the launch of the facelifted W124 in 1993 fuel-injection was ubiquitous in Mercedes engines, and the E was adopted as a prefix (i.e., E 220) and the model line referred to officially as the E-Class (or E-Klasse). All generations of the E-Class have offered either rear-wheel drive or Mercedes' 4Matic four-wheel drive system. Historically, the E-Class is Mercedes-Benz' best-selling model, with more than 13 million sold by 2015. The first E-Class series was originally available as a four-door sedan, five-door station wagon, 2 door coupe and 2 door convertible. From 1997 to 2009, the equivalent coupe and convertible were sold under the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class nameplate; which was actually based on the mechanical underpinnings of the smaller C-Class while borrowing the styling and some powertrains from the E-Class, a trend continued with the C207 E-Class coupe/convertible which was sold parallel to the W212 E-Class sedan/wagon. With the latest incarnation of the E-Class released for the 2017 model year, all body styles share the same W213 platform. Due to the E-Class's size and durability, it has filled many market segments, from personal cars to frequently serving as taxis in European countries, as well special-purpose vehicles (e.g., police or ambulance modifications) from the factory. In November 2020, the W213 E-Class was awarded the 2021 Motor Trend Car of the Year award, a first for Mercedes-Benz. Model Description This is a 1:18 Scale die-cast with some plastic parts. This model from Sun Star continues this manufacturer's highly detailed models it produces. A model that is detailed in every section. Compared to other more glamorous models, there's less. This is a model that examines one of Mercedes Benz vehicles that was a big seller in what would be described as basic. Its detail shows the vehicle that you as a purchaser would see as if you were out buying the real thing. The Body The first thing that you will notice when you pick this model up is that it's a heavy model. This is due to the fact that its die-cast body is quite large. It's a 4-door saloon with only the front doors opening. Both the bonnet and boot open. One detail that one notices straight away is that the bonnet does not open properly to allow you to inspect the engine. The other opening parts, like the opening 2-door, open quite wide, and the Conclusions allow you good access to the interior. The boot also lifts up but like the bonnet could open wider. The paintwork is flawless, with no cracks , bubbling or any cracks anywhere on the body. Just a note of warning, you must be careful in respect of that Mercedes Benz emblem on the hood. Being finely made to its scale, it is fragile and can break easily. All other parts like the front and rear lights, window wipers have a good fit with no problems, with additional parts such as the radiator grill, external mirrors and the antennae on the roof firmly attached. Again the need for care as not to break them. The wheels with their tires and in this case normal rims with wheel covers, these vehicles in the Mercedes Benz class are built for the volume market. The Interior The interior is true in every detail as the real vehicles. The use of a soft felt type feel to the front seats to the floor mats add to the authenticity of this model. As we are unable to view the tear of the interior we cannot see if this continues in the bact. One of the rare faults in this model's interior is the lack of seatbelts which I would have expected. The door panels are one would expect, but again a small fault in that details such as door handles are hard to see as they are plastic moulded. The centre console between the front seats shows wood grain finish with the gear lever and also shows the switches.The dashboard continues up to the dashboard with incredible detail that shows the air-condition controls with the radio and CD player. An extra feature is the inclusion of a mobile phone remarkable retail considering its size. The instrument module shows all of the instruments in great detail. Steering wheel turns the front wheels and is very detailed like the indicator lights. The Engine With the bonnet not being able to open properly, details of the engine are very hard to see. But what detail you can see is an engine that shows off its potential. It has only 2 engine parts in a different colour than the actual black colour of the engine. It however has a Mercedes Benz logo in silver on the engine head You can clearly see it has been made in one piece with the 2 smaller parts added separately. I would have thought more attention should have been spent on this section of the model. The Trunk/Boot & Undercarriage The boot floor has the soft felt type plastic, but shows little else. The spare tire is located under this floor mat so there is nothing that makes it more interesting than other models. Underneath is a little better with the bottom of the gearbox shown. The exhaust has been done in great detail that includes the catalytic converter which shows the remainder of the exhaust continuous to the exhaust pipes. The suspension on the rear of the car is a lot more detailed than the front. Never having seen the underside of this vehicle, exactly how it should look I cannot comment. But one of the things that impressed me was that it did not use that chrome colour that so many others use. This was a more subtle colour that is way more natural. The Conclusion This is a well constructed model. And just like a real Mercedes Benz well made. But it has its faults. It's built to a price rather than for the serious collector. What would I have done differently? For a start this is a 4-door vehicle, and I would have made it that and not a 2-door. I would have made both the bonnet and boot/trunk lids open a lot wider. The interior apart from not accessing the rear seats everything is okay. The engine could be more detailed with minor components such as other plastic white parts you would see on the real vehicle. I would make the actual engine the same colour as used on the exhaust system. It is in my opinion not the best model to display. Only 2 out of 4 doors opening as well as both the bonnet and boot not opening properly, it cannot reveal that good interior which is its saving grace. This is a vehicle built for the mass market but it still is a Mercedes Benz which is a vehicle made to quality rather than quantity. So I feel that this model fails to give that impression. I will give it a 4.0 / 5.0. Robin Finlay 05/04/2023. Project Manager

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 18 - AV121 - 23 - 03 Previous Next Model Images

< Back American-Designed & -Built Post-1950 Collection 1955 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible 18 - AV129 - 25 - 03 1955 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible American Vehicles Post 1955 Collection Scale: 1:18 Material: Die-Cast Metal & Plastic Parts Museum Number: 18 - AV129 - 25 - 03 Technical Detail Engine 303 cu in (5.0 L) Rocket V8 Transmission 3-speed manual 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic Produced: 1955 Country: USA Previous Next Model Images