Across The Sea

We typed the words “Moscow Models” into our favorite search engine to garner some background color for this piece, and we were fairly, um, intrigued by what we found.

As entertaining as they were, none of the results had much to do with the model pictured here, other than the fact that the mastermind behind this outrageously beautiful 1:24 Bugatti Type 57 SC “Atlantic” is Mikhail Bashmashnikov. Mikhail commissioned the car for his B&G Models USA through old friend Igor Bortzov; Igor and Mikhail used to work shoulder to shoulder back in the day, as partners in a firm they called Moscow Models. No, don’t Google it.

Total Tanker: WEB EXCLUSIVE!

As businessman François Maquaire neared retirement, he decided to chase a dream. Partnering with long time friend and fellow diecast collector Christian Carcassonne, Maquaire wanted to create and manufacture a line of high-detail, high quality models of French commercial vehicles in 1:24.

Rocking in Resin

Ferrari’s ground-breaking engineer Carlo Chiti brought the science of using scale models in a controlled environment to Maranello in the late 1950’s. Red Line models (www.redline-model.com, distributed in America by Minichamps, NA, www.minichampsna.com) has brought the science of high-tech modeling to render the results in 1:24.

Rat On

Some like their rods pristine and clean, with mile deep paint and a best-of everything slant; others can’t be seen in anything that doesn’t wear a hundred-grand price tag. But for some rodders, slammed is glam - and primer is the color of choice.

Good Old Holden

When the GM-sired Holden was first introduced in 1948 as “Australia’s Own Car”, it was an affordable affair for almost everyone’s budget. The design - supposedly the refinement of a Chevrolet study for a post-war American sedan - soon became known as the “FX”; in 1953, the FJ “Special” sedan appeared - and brought out luxury items not usually seen on “Utes” and autos Down Under.

Last of the True Super Sports

Danbury Mint released this gorgeous Grecian Green 1968 Chevelle SS396 earlier this year in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the last Chevelle SS; running on beautifully executed Chevy Rallye Wheels wrapped in bias ply Red Line tires, the model replicates the 325-horsepower variant of the car.

Task Force

Chevy had a new idea in 1955: Take the concept of a passenger car, with all of its comfort, and combine it with the ruggedness of an open-back utility vehicle. The result was the Cameo pickup truck. Complete with a new 12-volt electrical system, the Cameo offered full function for family use or farm duty from 1955 until 1959.

Future Cruise

The 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was a prime example of the future-think of the 1950’s, with its multiple lighting sources, complex curves, and an array of buttons and antennae (most of which were functional) that provided more flash per running foot than any other car ever made. That stylistic gadgetry made it a true icon of the age of way-too-much - and a perfect, if challenging, car to replicate in scale.

Yeah, It’s Got A Hemi

One of Franklin Mint’s older molds gives us this Plymouth ’Cuda Convertible in a limited 5,000 piece run of 1971 Hemi versions. Painted Hemi Orange with a black convertible top (in either top up or the convertible boot), only 11 of these were built in ‘71 (and seven of those were shipped overseas). Franklin’s stateside variant sports white HEMI billboards on its quarters - a snazzy combination.