Toyota, Yamaha teamed up for racy 2000GT … Since its beginning Toyota has wrestled with the perception that it makes reliable, economical, but boring, cars. That changed in 1967, as it chose to fight that battle head-on by developing and producing a halo car. Others had done it. Think Chevy’s Corvette, Ford’s GT, Nissan’s Z... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Porsche 911 GT3 a rare racer … Porsche 911s are a dime a dozen in the real world, but the GT3 RS model is rare indeed, except the German automaker has been cranking out these race-ready models since 1999. That translates to about 14,000 of these high-priced babies rolling out of the Stuttgart plant’s doors.... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Chevy Corvette Grand Sport
Striking look makes Corvette Grand Sport a winner … Corvettes of late are little rockets that cost less than pricey European rockets that are capable of on-track racing, but usually end up in an upper class suburban driveway instead. But that would be a waste for Chevrolet’s famous muscle car, especially in Grand Sport trim.... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Nissan GT-R LM Nismo
Nissan GT-R surprisingly put the engine up front ... Since the mid-1960s most Le Mans-style prototype racers have put the engine behind the cockpit. Certainly the winning cars have featured this layout. So it was a surprise in 2015 when Nissan opted to swap that layout, putting its muscular twin-turbo V6 back in front of... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Bugatti EB Veyron (chassis No. 001)
Bugatti Veyron wows in 1/18 scale ... Some numbers can’t be ignored. Bugatti’s sleek Veyron has a top speed of 258 mph, according to Road & Track magazine, with 1,184 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet. of torque. Cost? $2.6 million. That’s monster! One also can’t ignore the Veyron’s rocket ship styling and its giant Bugatti grille... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Rocket Bunny Toyota 86
Rocket Bunny Toyota 86 rocks ... You gotta admit, the name Rocket Bunny sticks in the ol’ memory banks. So when I saw Autoart has a new 1:18-scale model of the Toyota 86 in Rocket Bunny trim, well, I requested one to see just what a Rocket Bunny Toyota looked like. The History What is... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin Vanquish = automotive art ... Some cars are rolling art right from the get go. Such is Aston Martin’s Vanquish, which was introduced in 2013 to coincide with the British luxury car maker’s 100th anniversary. As with all Astons, the goal was to combine beauty and performance on four wheels. Likewise Autoart has... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s 2014 LeMans, Toyota TS040 Hybrid
Toyota's LeMans hybrid racer looks good in 1/18 scale ... LeMans prototype racers press the envelope of styling and power to compete at the highest levels of the World Endurance Championship that includes the famous 24 Hours of LeMans in France. Audi has dominated that race for the past decade and Porsche has had its run... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s Mercedes-AMG GT3
Even as a model Mercedes-AMG GT3 is sexy ... Some cars are sexy, some are nasty, some are fast. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 racer is all of the above, a lawn dart of an automobile with a long nose and a monster rear wing. Looks like it could nail any competitor to the pavement. Autoart creates... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s 2013 Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak rally car a sexy winged warrior ... I have to admit that European rally cars, the little high-powered mini racers with big engines and wings to match, fascinate me visually. They look tough and aggressive and fast and fun. Now Autoart releases a sharp all black 1/18 scale version of the Peugeot 208... Continue Reading →