What unusual autos should be done in 1/48-1/43 scale?

I would like to see someone offer an affordable 1950's Cadillac ambulance. The only ones I seem to be able to find are modern ones or European models. Unless I'm willing to spend in excess of $100 the pickings are pretty thin.

Jerry

The Knight Bus for the Hogwarts Express!

The three tone Packard Caribbean convertible.

Based on what is available now at reasonable prices, almost anything with a roof. Most everything is a convertible. Brooklyn makes very nice stuff, but not cheap for populating a layout. Good for the close areas, but $100.00 cars a a bit ridiculous in the back ground.

40's, 50's & 60's would be my preference. Don't want much do I.

Steve

Street Cleaners-Pelican or others, Power/ Utility Co vehicles of 40-60's era and off topic Prop type commercial airplanes to hang from the ceiling.

The Knight Bus was done in S scale, the Weasley Ford Prefect was done in 0. I'd like to see the Back to the Future DeLorean available here in the U.S. in the flying mode - Dinky made it for sale in Great Britain, haven't found it here at a reasonable price.

As far as real cars go, I'd like to get a better copy of the Studebaker Avanti (hardtop), and for something REALLY unusual: does anyone else remember the "King Midget"? I'd park it next to the Isetta for laughs.

A 1969 Dodge Charger R/T painted like the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.  Of course the specific Mag wheels that the car used, the CB antenna on the trunk lid, and the front push bar would be a must on the model.  I would prefer 1/43 scale over 1/48.

NONE! Speaking only for myself I don't want any unusual automobiles! No unusual cars such as convertibles.

I want every day cars of the '40s, '50s and '60s. I'm talking four door sedans, two door non performance versions and station wagons. Nashes, Hudsons, and Studebakers are cool as well as some plain old Chryslers, Chevies and Fords. Anything but flashy sportscars or ragtops! AND in 1/48 scale please!! They will be cheaper to make since they will be smaller than 1/43.

The ZZ Top Eliminator.  Figures from the video optional.

I would like to see a REASONABLY PRICED 1937 or 8 Chevrolet, Buick, Olds.  These were pretty common, should I say ubiquitous in my younger days.  I want cars that were present up to 1943, my date of birth.   Odd-d

Forget about 1:48 because it's not going to happen.

Most of the cars mentioned are available for usually a high price. The best thing you guys can do is go to ebay and search 1:43 cars and don't do it by a specific year or make and you can learn what's out there. Some high priced cars can be had in good used condition for less money then original.

Bob  

I agree with Phil. I would like to see ordinary cars from the 40s,50s,and 60s. 54 Plymouth,53 Mercury, 52 Chevy,61 Desoto or Dodge,61 Mercury Comet,Ford Falcon, etc. If they never offer another convertible or Corvette it would be OK with me I rarely saw these cars where and when I grew up. The only person I knew who had a Cadillac was the doctor who came to the house. I also remember in the 50s there were cars as old as ones made in the 30s still running.

Dale H

1993-1998 Toyota Supra

There seems to be a lack of 4-door models. And like some of the guys above I'd like to see more of the cars that baby boomer bought as their first rides: Nova, Dart, Duster, Skylark, etc.

Phil,

Boy am I with you.  How many Corvettes and Mustangs can you put on a layout?  How about some 4 door Chevy Impalas, Ford Fairlanes, and Plymouth Fury's?

2007-2009 Saturn Sky Redline.

Dittos!

I'll settle for any cars and trucks in 1/48 scale, and not necessarily unusual models.

I may be looking in the wrong places, but I simply cannot find any vehicles in 1/48 scale. As said before, 1/43 is just a bit too large for 'my taste' also.

Alex

We need the 1938/39/40 Chevy or Ford truck with the REA body.  This is not the truck that has been done in 1/43 with the separate cab and truck body.  This is the one where the driver's position is part of the truck body itself; the driver can reach back and get a package without ever leaving the truck.  This model is available in HO, but not any scale that will work for O.  I am very surprised that no one has made it yet because it will be huge seller.  It was the most prevalent REA truck during the entire era from 1940 until 1970, which so many of us model.  It's also the one I'm sure most of us remember seeing when growing up.  

I want to add ordinary cars of the '30s too. I agree with Dale that there were a bunch of these cars still running in the '50s (the most popular era modeled BTW). They would look good on a steam-diesel era layout.

I have encountered the same problem as Southwest Hiawatha. I have a K-Line Evans Car carrier from my 3 rail days. It is a scale car and the 1/43 cars don't fit in it width wise. This is my main gripe with 1/43 cars. They are too darn wide.

We need some Nashes and Ramblers.

    ED

That's a great choice, but don't forget the MK3 (1986-1/2 to 1992) supra too. All of the suggestions so far are great and I would love to see most of them made in O scale.

Almost everything you listed is available in 1:43, but you'll have to pay more than $5. for one. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I want every day cars of the '40s, '50s and '60s. I'm talking four door sedans, two door non performance versions and station wagons. Nashes, Hudsons, and Studebakers are cool as well as some plain old Chryslers, Chevies and Fords. Anything but flashy sportscars or ragtops!

I agree plus the 1970's and 1980's since modern locos are popular. I want to see 4 door For Fairmonts/LTD's Crown vics/ Vans/ Mini vans/ Buick/Chevy Olds estate wagons.

Everyone here recognises the need for 1/48th scale models, and I agree with that.   I also model British and European outline 'O' scale so when it comes to buying road vehicles to use with those models I'm spoilt for choice.   

Although it is generally recognised that 1:43.5 is the scale for mass market cars and trucks, it doesn't seem to be common knowledge that a lot of 1950's and 60's Dinky Toy production is actually at quarter-inch to the foot scale.  

'The Hornby Companion Series; Dinky Toys and Modelled Miniatures', Richardson & Richardson, pub'l'd by New Cavendish, London, 1981, and later editions, has a very interesting Appendix 2.  It is 'Scales of Dinky Toys'.    It shows that the vast majority of Ameriacn cars, Cadillac, Hudson, Packard, Rambler, etc were all made in 1/48th scale.   

Although model car collectors will pay fabulous prices for boxed examples in near mint condition, I have picked up some of these cheaply at toy car swap meets.   The early ones do not have windows, but that shouldn't be beyond the skill of most model makers to remedy.   

Placed in paint-stripper, and washed-off well, they respond to some attention with a needle file removing the odd flash lines.    Replacement tyres are easy to obtain and, and although I don't place them right at the from of a layout or display, they are good for the rear of a scene where they are in scale with smaller building structures.    No matter how batterred, they are something to consider, and reward the few hours spent on them.

Ed    

Ive been searching for years for one of these.

Guy

How about a Duesenberg SJ
An Auburn boat tail speedster
And a Delahaye like these:

Those guys really new how to build an automobile back then.
David

The Chariot from Lost In Space complete with a model B-9 Environmental Control Robot as a stand alone separate figure and the Moon Bus from 2001.

I'd like to see a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 T Bird Special in white/harvest gold.

Oh, boy...somebody on here wanted the 1943 and prior common makes, as do I, and to my disbelief, models of Duesenberg and Auburn boattails, WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE...and can be gotten from the ACD Museum in Auburn, Ind., FOR A PRICE, among other sources, but I agree also that big RARE classics; RARE in their era even,

and ragtops have been done, like some loco prototypes, to death.  Anybody who was on the street, except maybe at Hollywood and Vine, almost never saw those cars. The common 1940 and prior two door coaches chosen by young families, so the kids, prior to baby seats and seat belts, couldn't open non existent back doors and fall out, are rare except for Brooklin models of Buicks.  Some (many?) Fords can be found but Plymouths, Chevies, Dodges, Pontiacs, not to mention the wide and wonderful spectrum of choices, from Auburn to Windsor (by Moon, not Chrysler), that Americans once had, have not been offered.  My doctor as a kid drove to our house in a "Cheap" 120 series Packard, and my great aunt drove a 1937 LaSalle, with two progressively

older Franklins sitting in her buggy house. For larger cars, some LaSalles have been done, but not any for 1937, considered the ultimate LaSalle with the last floor shift, once sought by hot rodders, and the first return to the V-8 engine after  the 1933 fire in the Cadillac engine plant forced them to use another engine for several years. Since I model September,1940, I have model cars of that year and past including a model of a 1940 Graham dealership using expensive Brooklins.  I would have much preferred 1/48 and not the European 1/43 that is available, and if it is a generic "car", poor model, or after 1940, I walk on.  Somebody on here wants 1940 Chevrolet trucks, as do I, and other late 1930's trucks were once common... lucikly a few pickups, such as Reo and International,  have been done by Matchbox, but in the large 1/43rd scale, as has the Studebaker coupe/pickup from the late 1930's, this

last priced like Brooklin.  One brief, much cheaper, source for 1940 and prior cars was RexToy, who made a lot of Fords as well as 1940 Packards, and others, and who put out literature showing many more to come, but I heard the guy died and his widow shut it all down.  These were made in France and I was selling them at Wheaton and other train shows.  These can be found on eBay.

IMO all autos done for USA O-Gsugers should be done in 1:48 scale no matter the era.

Pete

Did I mention this before? It's not going to happen and let me be a bit clearer on that statement and say there will never be a large enough variety no matter the era.

Bob

I'm going to have to post some pictures soon to enlighten some of you guys.

How about a Rolls Kenardly?

Bob

I kenardly wait for the pictures

Steve

I would like to see the cars I owned:

1957 Chevy impala

1960 Dodge

1970 Mustang Mach 1

1972 Ford LTD

also more modern cars and trucks, 1/43 OK because we will never see 1/48 mass produced

A Greyhond bus in the new blue livery!

1959 BUICK

1:43 is just too BIG, they look out of place even next to scale size equipment, never mind semi-scale or traditional. They don't fit on many/most/any? auto carriers. Who has more room for their layout than they could want? There is never enough real estate on a layout, and with 1:43 cars your streets and parking spaces/lots need to be that much larger, wasting space that could be better utilized in other ways. Did I mention yet that 1:43 just looks lousy next to any locomotives or rolling stock?

 1:48 or 1:50(which at least to me, looks better than 1:43) would have demand if more were produced, especially if more work a day vehicles were offered.

BK notwithstanding, 1:48 would likely sell, and COULD happen.

Doug