Tag Archives: TSM

Diecast cars

Die-cast: TSM 1:43 1967 Chevrolet Impala Coupe

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TSM nails Chevrolet Impala with crisply executed body

Growing up in Indianapolis our neighbors across the street bought a new Chevy every two years, and yes, there was a bit of “bowtie” envy on our side of the street.impala

We had a green 1955 Chevy 210, a plain Jane Chevy. The neighbors always had Impalas, including a white 1967 with its sloping rear window that blended beautifully into the long trunk, sort of a fastback look. The car had excellent lines, especially for a big car, but in subsequent years Chevy ruined its looks.

A lot of other folks liked the Impala Coupe’s looks at the time, and now TSM mines that market with its crisply executed Impala Coupe, this one in “Marina Blue,” a medium metallic blue, and 1:43 scale, so a perfect fit for your display shelf.

The History

Chevy redesigned its long lean Impala for 1967 to enhance what was then called Coke-bottle styling. I never saw it that way, but there was a certain streamlining to the sport coupe’s profile, something that made it more than just another big car, and not as boxy as the Fords of the era. Continue reading Die-cast: TSM 1:43 1967 Chevrolet Impala Coupe →

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Diecast cars

Die-cast: TSM 1954 Buick Century Convertible

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1954 Buick Century: When massive was sexy

Back in the day, that’s pre-school days for me, a big gruff Broderick Crawford rounded up bad folks on the TV show, “Highway Patrol,” pursuing evildoers in a variety of Buick Century coupes and sedans. The car appeared as massive as Crawford and you just knew that you didn’t want to mess with this man, or his car.buick

Today TSM (True Scale Miniatures) Models creates a less threatening 1954 Buick Century convertible for us die-cast fans, this one in 1:43 scale and a glossy black with red interior – sharp!

The History

The Century exuded speed and muscle, in fact, its name marked the first Buick to hit the 100 mph mark back in 1936. But the name had gone dormant for a few years when Buick revived it in 1954 for its lineup of light (at the time) luxury speedsters. Century came as a sedan, Riviera hardtop coupe (Crawford’s first patrol car) and 4-door wagon in addition to the convertible.

But the convertible was rarest, just 2,790 being made in the first year of this body style. It packed a 322-cid V8 that pumped 200 horsepower. This was Buick’s Roadmaster engine that just kept gaining power until it reached 255 horses by the 1958 model that ended Century’s run, at that time.

You can tell a 1954 from a 1955 model by its three Ventiport holes in the front quarter panels. In 1955 Buick created a fourth hole. And the cars were long too, a full 206 inches and riding on a 122-inch wheelbase, near that of a full-size SUV today. Continue reading Die-cast: TSM 1954 Buick Century Convertible →

Diecast cars

Die-cast: TSM 1973 Tyrrell 006 (Jackie Stewart)

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tyrrell1TSM’s Jackie Stewart-driven 1973 Tyrrell 006 a winner

Picture a blue open wheel racer with Elf sponsorship and you likely think of Jackie Stewart in a Tyrrell F1 car circa the early 1970s.

No wonder then that TSM Models created that car, the Tyrrell 006 in 1:18 scale to tempt Formula 1 and open wheel racing fans. This was the car that Stewart wheeled to his third and final F1 World Championship in 1973. Stewart won 6 F1 races in his final season and 27 overall, a record at the time he retired to become a TV commentator, author and business spokesperson.

Everyone knows Jackie Stewart and race fans of a certain age loved the look of the 1970s F1 racers, back when ground effects were new and took varying shapes. Here the front and rear wings are large, but look planned. In the late 1960s and early ‘70s the wings often looked odd or like they were thrown on just before the race to see IF they would help.

The giant air scoop right behind the driver’s head also gives the Tyrrell 006 a unique, futuristic look.

The Model:

TSM’s Tyrrell is the car Stewart drove to victory in the 1973 Belgian Grand Prix, the No. 5 with just the Elf, Ford, Motorcraft (a Ford auto parts brand) and Goodyear sponsorship decals, plus the Team Tyrrell logo. At that, the car is beautiful in its simplicity, even though its shape is interesting, to say the least. Continue reading Die-cast: TSM 1973 Tyrrell 006 (Jackie Stewart) →