O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle Jan 29

Richard,

Once again thanks for starting this thread every week.  You say that "1/43 Post war Chevrolet models are easy to find in every price range".  However,  to the best of my knowledge, no one, at any price point, makes a 4 door 1955-1956-1957 Chevy.  Do you know of anyone who makes one?  

I would like to populate my railroad with this very common and popular car, but I can't find any. I would prefer a run of the mill Chevy 210, but I'll settle for a 4 door Bel Air which I can "detrim"  to look more common

John

John Sethian posted:

Richard,

Once again thanks for starting this thread every week.  You say that "1/43 Post war Chevrolet models are easy to find in every price range".  However,  to the best of my knowledge, no one, at any price point, makes a 4 door 1955-1956-1957 Chevy.  Do you know of anyone who makes one?  

I would like to populate my railroad with this very common and popular car, but I can't find any. I would prefer a run of the mill Chevy 210, but I'll settle for a 4 door Bel Air which I can "detrim"  to look more common

John

John

I am surprised to see a 57 150 model, I think that is because they were a favorite with hot-rodders. They werw so striped down that they were a few hundred pounds less than the other models.
The model makers to often produce the top of the line de-luxe  versions, that is slowly changing. When was the last time you saw a Bel-Air police car or a 2 door Taxi.

Rich

I certainly second the motion about more Chevrolets. I do not know if it has anything to do with a previous hassle with GM over reproducing body parts and wanting a license fee (parts no longer available from GM, anyway), but I can find Ford models for about any pre-WWII year, and very little for Chevrolet, in a useable O scale size.  A Canadian company makes most of what I could want, but in HO.  I could use Chevrolet models back to about 1925 to 1940 (and others will want the 1941, as a lot of them were driven through and after the war).  I rode many a mile in my grandfather's 1940, until 1955,  and relatives owned many pre-war Chevrolets. Many people don't realize Chevrolet built a V-8 long before Ford.

Brooklin was building a series of Buicks, which seemed to have ended with only one, station wagon, for 1940, and I was hoping they would do similar series for Chevrolet, and the entire GM pre-war line...but, maybe that was not successful. (of course, cheaper sources would be appreciated)

I too would like to thank you Richard for your research and effort that goes into this thread each week.  The Barrett/Jackson Auto Auction is on this weekend on Velocity Ch from Scottsdale AZ and we've seen some really interesting vehicles. A couple of days ago there was a striking 1962 Dodge 'Power Wagon' that sold for an astounding $170,000. If appeared stock but had a 426 Hemi and 4 speed manual trans. Blue non-metallic paint w/black fenders.

Here are a few more 1/43 pre-1955 Chevys.

1941 by Durham and a 1937 by Brooklin. Note the size difference. I'm not sure if there's a difference in scale (both are 1/43 nominal) or if the real cars were really that much different in size. 

'41 convertible and coupe by Durham, with a Ford of similar vintage.

Three 1950 models by Solido, and a 1948 woody by Brooklin. I have read that the wood trim was an add-on kit that could be installed by the dealer or the owner.

Three 1951-1952 models. The beige and light blue ones are by Neo; the one on the right is from USA Models/Motor City.

A 1954 Bel Air by USA Models/Motor City. This is the same color scheme as the '53 210 sedan my mother had when I was a little kid. 

Southwest Hiawatha posted:

Here are a few more 1/43 pre-1955 Chevys.

1941 by Durham and a 1937 by Brooklin. Note the size difference. I'm not sure if there's a difference in scale (both are 1/43 nominal) or if the real cars were really that much different in size. 

'41 convertible and coupe by Durham, with a Ford of similar vintage.

Three 1950 models by Solido, and a 1948 woody by Brooklin. I have read that the wood trim was an add-on kit that could be installed by the dealer or the owner.

Three 1951-1952 models. The beige and light blue ones are by Neo; the one on the right is from USA Models/Motor City.

A 1954 Bel Air by USA Models/Motor City. This is the same color scheme as the '53 210 sedan my mother had when I was a little kid. 

I have a buddy that had a ’37 Chevy coupe, the body construction still used some wood framing. The later all steel bodied Chevys were indeed larger.
I have a USA Models 37 Chevrolet sedan. But I would like to see more 1940s models. I like that ’54, I wish someone would make a reasonably priced model. The were seen everywhere from the mid ‘50s to the mid ‘60s

Thank you Richard,   I love your stories about the  automobile industry ,  my grandfather worked for Gray-Dort  here in Canada well ( Quebec )

The history of all these gentlemen starting  with the  automobile  is just fabulous   and you do a wonderful job bringing it to our attention

COLORADO HIRAILER you posted a question for me on the buy/sell forum. I posted a reply but you haven't answered. I  can't answer your question because you have no email in your profile. Use my email in profile.

Bob

BK:  I think that question was about a 1936 Buick model, and I did a kind of different search than usual and discovered a lot of those, and the more expensive Brooklin versions, in several body styles, on the auction site.  

I also searched Chevrolet, and found that there is no shortage of 1955, 57, and 59 models available, different body styles and pickups.  The question is, which ones are good models, and which ones are crude.  For 1941, I found no coupes listed for sale, but several convertibles (none inexpensive) , and, of course, the Matchbox pickup.  I also found expensive 1954 Chevrolets, a hard top coupe and a sedan (had not seen that coupe model before).  I also found a 1954 Pontiac sedan by somebody misidentified as a Chevrolet.  If you model this end of steam era, the choices are good.  I just found one 1956 and a few 1958 Chevrolets.

One of the hardest Chevys to find in 1/43 is the 1956. The only one I know of is a turquoise and white Nomad made by Franklin Mint. I have one, but no photo so I can't post. 

BK posted:

COLORADO HIRAILER you posted a question for me on the buy/sell forum. I posted a reply but you haven't answered. I  can't answer your question because you have no email in your profile. Use my email in profile.

Bob

I don't know who ask you a question but that was not me, I seldom look on the Buy-Sell forum.  Ever sense OGR changed the Web site I have to search for everything I once knew exactly where to look. I could not find your e-mail in your profile.  To make matters worse, their gray typeface on a light gray background makes it hard for these old eyes to read.

Richard the question was not for you and has been answered. Email is in my profile.

Bob