Unicorn Promo Models

How a $2 investment generates a 2,000% return One of my favorite episodes of Fast N' Loud on Discovery channel is when Richard Rawlings and his friend Dennis Collins (who is also a big Jeep guy) go look at a Shelby Mustang they are looking to buy only to find more Mustangs, one of the... Continue Reading →

February 20, 2018 0

Exactly like your car down to the paint code

Carpeting and paint codes As a kid my first promo model was a pink '63 VW Bug. I had my eye on this at the local hobby shop for the longest time lusting over it although I doubt at age five I knew what lust was. Dad said is was mine if I would give... Continue Reading →

December 10, 2016 3

The toys we had as kids

Oh, I had one of those....... Bet I could count on one hand the amount of guys who never played with model cars growing up. We had them because there was a connection. Our parents, relative, or the guy down the street had one. Yup, he was the cool guy. We smashed them, burned them,... Continue Reading →

October 14, 2014 0

Barn Find for AMC Enthusiasts

More like a closet find I love American Motors' products. Part of my sickness comes from my dad working for the company. Sure they had the clunkers but also had some cool cars. Dad brought home tons of stuff and now it's time to thin things out a bit. My collection includes full-line catalogues mostly... Continue Reading →

May 8, 2014 0

The car that nearly killed GM, the 2nd time

And has virtually no value beyond sentimental I remember when the Chevy Citation was introduced by General Motors in 1980. This X-body car was Chevy's front wheel drive car. Because of the transverse mounted engine, no transmission hump, it had tons of interior space. My experience comes from working at two TV stations where the... Continue Reading →

December 14, 2013 0

The 60’s: Big hair, cheap gas, and colorful cars

Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday While that isn't true so much anymore, it was huge in the 60's as all the manufacturers were into racing, mostly the Trans Am series, even tiny American Motors. The Javelin had just been introduced in '68 as AMC's entry into the pony car category. The colors were red,... Continue Reading →

July 26, 2013 0

Bank on collecting metal promo models

For the heavy metal collectors Up until this point, all of the promo models I have written about have been plastic but there are a segment of collectors who concentrate those made of metal, most of them banks. Produced mostly in the 40's by Banthrico Company in Chicago, IL. Banthrico models painted in authentic Big... Continue Reading →

July 18, 2013 0

Mercury Breezeway: When a Merc wasn’t a Ford

Another unique automotive innovation of the '60s I hate to see a car company go out of business, or car line dropped, especially being such a big AMC guy. Most likely the cars they produced utilized several innovations to separate them from their competition. The rear engine Chevy Corvair, Unibody Construction by American Motors, and... Continue Reading →

June 12, 2013 0

Chrysler Imperial: When fins were in

Automotive ArtI love some of the cars of the late 50's and early 60's. Some were huge and of course there were the fins. Fins were in at the time because designers were taking their cues from the jet age. The luxury cars all had them like the Chrysler Imperial. Early on these cars were... Continue Reading →

May 7, 2013 0

1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible: Young lust

That woman in the convertible I remember 1963 for the good stuff. My favorite band, the Beach Boys, were cranking out hits along with a new group from England. Of course I know it's the Beatles. '63 was also the year dad packed up the whole family and moved us from Madison, WI., to Milwaukee,... Continue Reading →