Richard ConeyScaleautos★Awiderange of die-cast models and American range plastic kits areavailable online at competitive prices. However,you should be able to source most
modelsreviewed in Scale Autos from http://www.modelstore.co.uk or see American Classic Diecast at http://www.american-classic-diecast.co.ukIt’sremarkable that Brooklin Models has been
trading continuously since the Seventies, despite
many significant changes in hobby interests in
general and the model car business in particular.
Most of the company’srivals have fallen by the
wayside. It’sclear that there’sstill amarke tfor
limited production, high quality,hand-made
model cars. Perhaps one reason for its continued
success is its choice of subjects.
Brooklin doesn’ttakethe easy way out,
choosing instead to replicate unusual and
generally under-appreciated cars to build.
Take for example this 1:43 scale 1953 Ford
Customline four-door sedan in Pale Green. Many
companies would have offered the upmarket
Crestline, Victoria and Sunliner coupes and
convertibles, rather than the more mundane
andconsiderably more common Mainline and
Customline versions. That said, most people
opted for the more affordable sedans, as
evidenced by the 700,000 Customlines sold in
1953, more than all the others combined. This
was the last year Ford offered the venerable, but
outdated, flathead V8, it being replaced by the
first of theY-blocks in 1954.
It’snot surprising that the American Ford
looks remarkably like its British counterparts,the Zephyr and Zodiac, though in actuality they
differ considerably in size. The paint on Brooklin’s
rendition is typically flawless, enhanced by
chromed side trim, door handles and emblems,
in addition to the sturdy bumpers and horizontal
grille. How many real Customlines were supplied
with whitewall tyres is debatable, but they
complement the body-coloured wheels and
simple chromed hubcaps. The dark green interior
providesawelcome contrast and looks the part.
Well packaged and withamicrofibre cloth to
remove fingermarks, expect to pay around £150
for this attractive Ford.BROOKLIN NEWS
If it wasn’tfor the ludicrously unsubtle red and
white ‘under cover’ police car that was featured
prominently in the Seventies’ American cop
show Starsky&Hutch, Ford’sinter mediate
Torino might have been all but forgotten,
overshadowed by its stablemate, the Mustang.
Yetdespite this, theTorino, named after Italy’s
equivalent of Detroit (Turin), was produced
from 1968 to 1976. Initiallyasub-series of the
Fairlane, the tables turned in 1970 and the
Fairlane becameasub-seriesoft he Torino. It
was dropped completely the following year,all
intermediates becomingTorinos.
They were successful cars, selling well and
on the track winning in both drag racing and
NASCAR. Produced asafour-door saloon and
two-door coupe, the latter is the subject of
Revell’srecently tooled 1:25 scale kit. First
offered, inevitably,asS tarsky’s car,itw as
reissuedashort whilebackasastocker,with
new decals.With an opening bonnet,a351
Windsor base engine, detailed interior and
stock wheel covers, it makesanice change to
the more common TV car.Consisting of 93
parts, it’smoulded in white, with clear lights,
appropriately tinted indicators and rear lenses
and vinyl tyres withTampoprinted narrow
whitewalls. Prices varyfrom £20 to £30, so
shop around. Remember,int hese instances,
Google is your friend!CARDED COMPACT –CHARLIE’S
ANGELS MUSTANG II
In the UK we tend to look back on Ford’smid-
Seventies Ford Mustang II with distain. Less
powerful, strangled by the new and inefficient
emissions-reducing ‘smog’ equipment and
considerably lighter and smaller in size compared
with its predecessors, the car was even compared
unfavourably with our UK Cortina.
It wasavictim of the times, when the
Middle East fuel embargoes caused widespread
rationing, rising insurance premiums deterred
the younger buyers of performance machines
andthe legislators were still flexing their legal
muscles, having effectively killed off the
muscle cars.
Derived from the sub-compact Pinto, itself
reeling from partly justified safety claims, it was
available asacoupe and three-door hatchback
during its four-year production run.
It may have left Mustang enthusiasts
unsatisfied, but nevertheless it sold more than
one million units and competed successfully
with the deluge of importedToyotas, BMWs and
even our Ford Capri. Inevitably,there were TV
promotions to be exploited, which brings us to
this diminutive 1:64 scale Cobra II version of the
Mustang, as driven by Jill Munroe in the hit series
Charlie’sAngels.
Made by prolific manufacturer Greenlight
Collectibles, it replicates what was essentially
aMustang with an ‘appearance package’,
including front and rear spoilers, louvred rearwindow covers and racing stripes. It looked
good, especially with blonde actress Farrah
Fawcett at the wheel. The car appeared regularly
and there’sthe usualcontroversy about how
many cars were used in filming and what
happened to them.
Agood source of information can be found
here: http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.
com/2013/01/lost-star-cars-what-happened-to-
jill.html
The model itself looks good and is to
Greenlight’susual high standard. However,it’s
the packaging that makes it interesting, so dare
you open it? Prices hover around £15.REVELL 1976
FORD TORINO
Googleisyourfriend!68 classic-american.com