Shite in Miniature II

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 12/02/2025 at 12:15, bunglebus said:

Rockets and Whizzwheels without sticky-out engine bits

 

 

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The casting is modified quite a bit. No cut outs for head lamps, reshaped side windows, wheel arches reshaped and extended rear bumper.

Here's the car at Spa in 1968.

It survives and has has appeared at Goodwood and other historic events.

Marcos Mantis XP | Marcos Heritage

  Quote

In 1968 the Adams brothers were commissioned to build a mid-engined, pure sports racing car for sister company Marcos Racing, with a view to competing in group six 3 litre GT racing and Le Mans 24 hours.

The design was typically Adams, with stunning angular lines utilising time proven Marcos engineering in the wooden chassis, fibreglass and masses of perspex. 

The construction included side mounted fuel tanks and radiators, the usual Marcos deep sills, and semi gullwing doors and a huge perspex engine cover. The car was initially powered by a 3 Litre Repco Brabham Formula One engine and fitted with state of the art fully independent suspension.

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[morrisoxide]

This looks like a good one.

It's based on a real car from Ol Blighty.

Looks ripe for customizing, that's if we can actually find them.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Well I spent £311 inc commission today. There were loads of Vanguards, some boxes of tat, boxes of days Gone and a couple more lots of the Corgi Club re-issues.

I bid on 8 lots today and only won three. I did originally have 26 on my target list, but most were bid higher on the web and through commission bids before the auction started.

The first lot I got was some of the Corgi re-issues. With commission the price was £170 for 11 Corgis and a box of figures.

Why did I get these? For the three Minis that were in the lot obviously.

The surfer isn't much good at holding his board up. He had to lean on the car.

At first I thought the colour was a bit bright, but it is an excellent match for a 60 year old original.

The new compares well with the old with only some very slight variation, the most obvious being the width of the tab that hold the base at the back.

The two rally cars

RAC old and new. Door decals were larger and the original had the smooth wheels.

Another detail that only a real Mini nerd would spot s the original has an Austin style badge on the bommet, the new version is a Morris style badge. However, Corgi got it wrong originally as the actual car was a Morris.

1967 Monte winner.

Again just some slight decal size issues...

and the rivets holding the spares on the roof are larger on the original.

 

[sierraman]

Again I’m wondering how hard for a dodge pot to graft an old base onto an Atlas Corgi? 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Now for the two Atlas Dinky lots. These were too cheap to ignore.

This lot was £45 including commission and include three Corgi Repros.

At that price it was difficult to ignore. Also it appears that they have never been out of their wrappers.

I'm interested in the French Dinky versions more than the English Dinky ones.

The third lot was £95 including commission, which means they were £5 each.

Again they are still in the original wrappings and include some interesting French Dinky Repros.

Also included was a tin that has all the certificates in.

I have released the Morris Mini Traveller from its box.

Manufactured by Norev, distributed by Atlas, copyright 2015 Mattel.

I did buy one of these when the were issued back in 2015. This was the first of this series of Atlas models. 

Next to an original it looks much the same.

Looking at the rear the casting is not so crisp on the new version or the paint is very thick.

The hinges and door handle are also not so crisp.

Original base

New base still has original patent numbers.

 

I will get some of the others out for a show and tell over the next few days, but first I must get on with the TR7 that I dismantled and stripped.

[bunglebus]

I popped into Entertainer today, where there were several brand new cases to pick over. They also had some new Moving Parts and a Transformers set - I've already got the Beetle in this one as I didn't think it would hit the shops

Smyths had the new Silhouettes series but the Porsche I wanted had gone

[FakeConcern]

  On 12/02/2025 at 15:48, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Well I spent £311 inc commission today. There were loads of Vanguards, some boxes of tat, boxes of days Gone and a couple more lots of the Corgi Club re-issues.

I bid on 8 lots today and only won three. I did originally have 26 on my target list, but most were bid higher on the web and through commission bids before the auction started.

The first lot I got was some of the Corgi re-issues. With commission the price was £170 for 11 Corgis and a box of figures.

Why did I get these? For the three Minis that were in the lot obviously.

The surfer isn't much good at holding his board up. He had to lean on the car.

At first I thought the colour was a bit bright, but it is an excellent match for a 60 year old original.

The new compares well with the old with only some very slight variation, the most obvious being the width of the tab that hold the base at the back.

The two rally cars

RAC old and new. Door decals were larger and the original had the smooth wheels.

Another detail that only a real Mini nerd would spot s the original has an Austin style badge on the bommet, the new version is a Morris style badge. However, Corgi got it wrong originally as the actual car was a Morris.

1967 Monte winner.

Again just some slight decal size issues...

and the rivets holding the spares on the roof are larger on the original.

 

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You did very well winning those lots (jealous!) I have a few of CMC & Atlas French Dinky and very pleased with all of them.

Regarding the Minis, the originals and the repros must vary a bit it seems.

I don't have a repro Sun Rally Mini, but my original is a later one with the cast wheels with ridges and it has a Morris bonnet badge

My Repro Monte Mini looks to have large rivets just like the original

On the Countryman as well as the base plate tab, the other big (ish) difference to the original is the aerial is much thicker on the new one

All in all though, I think they are great to recreate the experience of 60 or so years ago of opening a new Corgi Mini...

 

[bunglebus]

There were loads of new Hot Wheels in Entertainer, might have gone a bit mad 🙃

This one's part of a new Silverline series and is for a friend. The MK1 Escort is part of the set but they were all gone of course. I have it anyway as once again I wasn't sure it would hit the shops

Dodge Charger is for International Women's Day - I was trying to tell the Mrs but she couldn't hear me over the vacuum cleaner 

I bought this thinking the front would work quite nicely matched up to a pickup bed. I noticed the casting error when I got home

Serious geek-out at Mattel. Flamed KITT appeared in a single episode 

More pink

Chevette is flippin' awesome

Just needs a bit of extra detail 

New, generic casting with strong Japanese vibes. I'm seeing Silvia and RX7 here, anything else?

Rrrrrrrrrroadster is another generic I don't generally pick up, but I liked the colour and wheel combo

Tesla quad?

[bunglebus]

A few bits arrived today too

Polistil captured the shape of the MK1 Escort perfectly*

No complaints about this Matchbox RS2000 though, it's absolutely lovely

Skinny Superfast GT is also in good condition 

This is the left field buy of the week though, and although it looks tantalisingly familiar, I don't actually know exactly what it is, and Google Lens doesn't either! Has the two speed pull-back motor from a Turbo Specials

[Lord Sterling]

  On 08/02/2025 at 10:00, Lord Sterling said:

However, next on my list is a Danbury Mint '64 Aston Martin DB5.

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Not long after I typed this, an agreement was reached on eBay and I purchased this:

The Danbury Mint 1964 Aston Martin DB5. I've been wanting one of these since I first became aware of it a couple of years ago.

It's a lovely model, highly detailed with a lovely finish. Apart from a small area on the passenger door towards the A-pillar where the paint appears to be a little rough:

The colour is Dubonnet Red with a cream interior. The original James Bond DB5 [BMT 216A] was apparently originally Dubonnet Red and appeared in a very early episode of the 'The Saint' but seemingly appears to have changed colour.

Speaking of colour, these are available in Dubonnet Red, Aegean Blue, Gold-plated and a Silver Birch James Bond model with most of the hidden gadgets such as removable roof, lights with hidden guns etc...

In terms of scale, officially its a 1/24 but likely, realistically we're talking 1/25 maybe 1/26. 

It's got a nice weight to it. Nowhere near the Sterling but certainly one that reflects some quality.

The interior is lovely. The carpet appears to be a layer of thin leatherly-like plastic flocked with a dusting of material to appear carpetey. The seats appear to be the same kind of material but painted shiny to give that "leather" look.

It didn't come with original box or certificate which is probably reflected in the price I got it for.

These typically seen asvertised at anywhere between £60 and £450 for the James Bond or Gold Plated model with all the accessories such as plinth, display box, certificate. 

[junkyarddog]

  On 12/02/2025 at 17:33, bunglebus said:

Dodge Charger is for International Women's Day

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Interesting that they chose the Brazilian version for that!

[Split_Pin]

Turbo special looks like a MK1 MR2 but nowt like the actual MB one.

[Split_Pin]

In a smaller scale, Polistil were better sticking to square cars. I had a MK3 Cortina/Taunus and it looked nothing like anything but the Fiat 128 and Renault 6 I bought from bramz are fantastic. I always pick them up for a look!

[bunglebus]

  On 12/02/2025 at 17:45, Split_Pin said:

Turbo special looks like a MK1 MR2 but nowt like the actual MB one.

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I should have said it's also bigger than a normal Matchbox but smaller than a Special 

[bunglebus]

Here we go, 1988 catalogue - Power Lifters

 

[bunglebus]

And here's the other one in my collection, "Snaker" Camaro

 

[FakeConcern]

AC 3000ME?

Maybe

 

[andy18s]

  On 12/02/2025 at 18:11, bunglebus said:

I should have said it's also bigger than a normal Matchbox but smaller than a Special 

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Looks like a mashup of the Mr2 and the 222D,their group s rally prototype..

[Datsuncog]

  On 12/02/2025 at 17:33, bunglebus said:

I'm seeing Silvia and RX7 here, anything else?

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Little bit of Sapporo around the B-pillar?

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

AVAS

the headlights do not photograph at all well- they are not as bulbous as they look to the naked eye

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 12/02/2025 at 16:40, FakeConcern said:

I don't have a repro Sun Rally Mini, but my original is a later one with the cast wheels with ridges and it has a Morris bonnet badge

 

 

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So yours is like the new version.

I have seen the Austin and Morris badges appear on the 1967 Monte 177 originals. They must have had both the original castings modified for the rally cars.

[bunglebus]

Another batch of waifs, strays and weirdos going in my sales thread at 7pm. Everything must go!

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 12/02/2025 at 18:36, FakeConcern said:

AC 3000ME?

Maybe

 

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Top is an AC 3000 ME

Bottom is the AC 3000 ME Mark 2 prototype that was powered by an Alfa V6, hence the Alfa GTV6 wheels.

[andy18s]

https://www.facebook.com/share/19kHQiNqbe/

 

[sierraman]

  On 13/02/2025 at 11:14, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Top is an AC 3000 ME

Bottom is the AC 3000 ME Mark 2 prototype that was powered by an Alfa V6, hence the Alfa GTV6 wheels.

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I don’t think the AC 3000 was all that well regarded from contemporary opinions at the time. If I recall the Alfa engined one was some arse about tit plan to manufacture them in Scotland wasnt it? 

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 13/02/2025 at 13:14, sierraman said:

I don’t think the AC 3000 was all that well regarded from contemporary opinions at the time. If I recall the Alfa engined one was some arse about tit plan to manufacture them in Scotland wasnt it? 

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If you read the linked article I think the long long period between announcement and actual cars being delivered is what did for the 3000 ME. It was a good car, but the original price when announced in 1974 was supposed to be £3-4,000. Eventually in 1978, when production started it was £11,000. Also the 1970s was not the best time for making new sports cars with all the crap that was going on with strikes and inflation.

AC 3000ME – Cult Classic, Not Best Seller | Car & Classic Magazine

Also they managed to build 30 cars in the Scottish factory before it went bust in 1985.

  Quote

By the mid-eighties AC Cars wasn’t exactly doing well, financially speaking and after just over 70 cars were produced Derek Hurlock had had enough and sold the rights and tooling for the 3000ME to Scottish entrepreneur David MacDonald in ’84, who set up AC Scotland plc in a bid to continue production of the car. His heart was in the right place but unfortunately this new company had similar cash flow problems and after just a year in business and a further 30 cars built it too closed its doors, thus ending the story of the 3000ME with only 104 cars having been made in total.

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[MiniMinorMk3]

Here's a couple more old and new comparisons of those Atlas Dinky models.

Original Mail Van

Shiney new Mail Van

Not much to see here.

Only thing that I can spot is the ridge on the wheels is softer on the new and maybe the decal is slightly larger.

Slight difference in tab length on the base plate.

The lower stance on my old one is due to the base being bent.

New base includes the model number.

Not quite a direct comparison, but the casting was the same.

These new Atlas are so close to the originals it makes you think that they made the mould using an original casting.

The Atlas version does not have the model number this time which makes it easier to release more vans in different liveries and not have to make a new base with that models number.

 

One thing that is very different on both the Atlas Dinky and the new Corgi models is the paint. It is far far better than the thin coats the originals had. It looks thicker, deeper and shinier on the new versions, even when compared to a mint in box example of an original. Also the castings have less flaws in them.

[bunglebus]

A tip off by @155V6 lead me to a job lot of frankly knackered Matchbox Land Rovers, of which the Graffic Traffic is the only one I was actually interested in. It has been thoroughly grafficed

That one's off to the stripper tub this afternoon.

Another box contained these unusual Hot Wheels, which are going to need further research as I have no idea about them. Plastic body, metal base with a switch, and odd arms, as if to support a rear spoiler, sprouting out of the boot

Lastly this delightfully shonky plastic VW T1 Kombi, which appears to be from Hungary

[danthecapriman]

Just got my Bluebird from CMAC on eBay.

Not the easiest to get good photos of with it being that white resin stuff, but it’s a lovely little thing. Very nicely detailed and seems very crisp with minimal flash or pips to take off. Most likely will need a light rub down before paint. 
Chassis & interior is pretty good, the chassis will need thinning down slightly as it’s very tight fit into the body. I might see if I can remove the cast wheels and modify it to take some separate wheels/axles though. Maybe.

[bunglebus]

A blob of bubble wrap just got dropped outside the door, containing one of the more unusual SuperKings - the HiLux!

Never seen this colour before

Suspension has some serious squish