Reviewing the Brooklin 1953 Buick Skylark

I'll start looking for them.

Very nice review and photos Brian.

What a great review Brian, one of the best I have read on this type of vehicle.  I have never witnessed so much detailed information on the boxes the vehicle was packaged in, and the photo's you presented prove this.  The description of packaging material is priceless including photo of the foam pad and plastic bag.  It's better to have too much detail than not enough, giving the reader that much more meaningless information to take in.  Most posters don't go to this length.  Koodo's to you and your valuable review.  Keep up the good work.

 

Steve and Lady

Now that's what I call an actual review.

Thanks Ron, you will love them. It like potato chips, you can eat just one. 

Thanks Ken, I appreciate your comments.

Thanks Steve, if your are going to do a review, it should have as much detail as possible. 

Thanks Spence. I know you love your vehicles and I thought you would appreciate this review. 

How refreshing to read a "review" titled thread that is an ACTUAL review of a product that is OWNED by a forum member who also supplies interesting and useful information and photos.

 

Haven't seen this type of "review" since LEE WILLIS' memorable reviews of a wide variety of popular and varied products (locomotives, Menard's buildings, Menard's rolling stock, and many more)--I sure do miss LEE.

Thanks Carl. You are entirely correct.

Very nice BUICK, BRIAN!!!  \

 

Which brings the new Buick commercial to mind, the elderly lady saying, "that can't be  a Buick".

 

Nice review!!!  Keep em coming!!!

It is between Buicks & Caddies as to which 50's cars I like best. This Buick rally cathes the eyes.

 

I am glad that you liked the review. I tried to make it worthwhile for the reader who is kind enough to click on to this thread and then to not be disappointed by what they find.

Great review Brian! They are beautiful models for sure.  I never realized some could be had for a more reasonable price.  I'm not looking in the right places I guess? 

Wow!  I have been missing out by not keeping my eyes out for these awesome models.  Brian, thank for your excellent and very detailed review.  It's reviews like this that make this forum so worthwhile.  Now I am disappointed in myself for not buying the Brooklin model at half price at the last DuPage train show.

 

Art

Chugman so I know what to look for what and how much was the 1/2 price Brooklin?

Bob

one of my favorite cars of all times, real wire wheels and the original purchaser's name was engraved on the steering wheel center. check the model for a name

Brian, Great review. Let's have more of that on this forum.

Great job Brian!

The details are outstanding on that model.

I saw one of these this past weekend at the Dream Cruise held here in the Detroit Metro area.  If you want to see REAL classics running on the road, this is the place to come to do that.  Everything and anything was on the streets this weekend.

 

As a real review it was well done Brian.

 

In particular, I like the information on the box clearly indicating the scale, no guessing here.

 

On the production models shown, I like the prototypical ride height, no high water pants here.

 

Keep up the good work, can’t wait for the next review.

 

Charlie

Great review of a beautiful automobile!  Now how about a 1956 Buick Special 4-door hardtop?  I'm looking for one!

Thanks too for the company history. 

Really nice review Brian and a beautiful car. But did you ever drive one?

 

The second car I ever drove was my father's 1953 Buick Special. It had a straight 8, Dynaflow transmission and no other options. Not even a radio. A "plain jane" if you will. Now the design of the Buick was beautiful (Harley Earl, GM's head of design, was a master, right up there with the other great art deco designers). But its really something to look back at these great cars and recognize how far 60 years of engineering have brought us. Or to even recognize the differences between a car which was common in the early 50's versus the early 70's.

 

Our Buick (like a lot of our friend's cars) had no power steering; no power brakes; air conditioning wasn't even a thought; ash trays were important; you couldn't see the right front fender while driving (perhaps somewhat unique to the Buick, but on the other hand if you hit something the sheet metal and fender were just a tad short of being a tank); with the straight 8 a speed of 100 was way out of reach (you cannot underestimate teenage idiocy); and at about a quarter a gallon, it certainly used a lot of gas. It also used a fair amount of oil. But it was a beautiful design. And you didn't need to lift weights if you drove it a lot at slow speeds.

 

I find the design of cars and locomotives today to be boring. With cars, it's all about the drag to get a bit better EPA rating. And to make sure that if you hit someone, they go over the hood rather than under the hood. With locomotives, they all seem to be squared off.

 

So I really appreciate your review and the beauty of the '53 Buick.

 

Gerry

 

 

Quite a surprise to see a review of this model in 2015.I bought mine over 20 years ago.I have a bunch of Brooklin cars on display.Very nice models,but I have not bought a new one in a very long time.

Dan

Brian,

 

    Great review presented with excellent pictures. Although I tend to stay away from 1/43 scale vehicles these seem to be a quality product.  Fourum memberwho should use your review as a format to follow.

 

Thanks

JohnB

 

 

 

I wish I had the 1954 Buick Skylark model that Motor City USA made,or the real one that General Motors made.

Dan

Thanks for the review of this beautiful model.

Brian,

Very nice review of one beautiful model. Thanks for posting.

Thanks Chris, as I said, my best buys have come from train shows. In many instances, the seller was not a train person and wanted to just get rid of what they considered surplus of little value. This helped me purchase many Brooklin models.

I always appreciate comments from Art (Chugman). He is another master craftsman and his opinion means a lot to me.

 

It has been too long since I have seen him, but we will fix that at the upcoming York Meet. I have told Elizabeth so much about Art, she is anxious to meet him as well.

You keep up with all this motor vehicle talk and youll have to change your name to Passenger Car Collector

Bob - It was a $135 car that he was asking $67 for.  I should have bought it but I didn't want to spend $67 on a car.  It was a beautiful car though.

 

Art

Thanks, Brian.  It has been way too long and Dixie and I are excited about York and meeting Elizabeth. 

 

It's great to see content on the forum that is useful and has value instead of someone endlessly showing off the same pictures of the same things just to get attention.  Great review.

 

Art

Hey, I resemble that remark Art

BK, you must have a very good feel about model cars. I have one of yours on the layout and love it.

My favorite '53 Buick Skylark model is the 1:43 from Matchbox "Oldies But Goodies" series. Available in yellow or green, they go on eBay for as little as $10.

 

The Franklin Mint version (also about $10.) is OK, but the side trim is a bit "heavy".

 

While the Brooklin version has a removable top, the window and side trim is painted the color of the car (rather than silver/chrome).

"one of my favorite cars of all times, real wire wheels and the original purchaser's name was engraved on the steering wheel center. check the model for a name"

 

I'll check.   Thanks.

Great review Brian. Thanks for doing it so well. I was not familiar with these and will be on the lookout for them.

 

 

Thanks Eddie. look forward to seeing you at the York Meet. Bingo too!!!!!

I had a 53 Buick Super when i was 17. I bought it shortly after Dad passed away. I drove it back and forth to fort Knox when i was in the army. I drove that car for many years, best 200.00 i ever spent. She would keep up with the best of them and had very little trouble out of that car. Wish i still had it today.