MINIATURES NEWS, November 1967

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MINIATURES NEWS

CAR miniatures appeal either because the real cars on which they are modelled are attractive or because the miniature has special attractions of its own. The latest Corgi Playcraft miniatures are in both categories. That which excells as an unusual mode! is Corgi Toy No. 262, of a Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson executive limousine.

The model is only 51 in. long but it includes plush carpeting and, when you open the boot, that’s carpeted as well; four opening doors, full interior luxury trim, plated console, opening bonnet revealing complete engine detail, jewelled headlights, simulated textured roof and, for the first time ever in a miniature scaled die-cast model, a ” Mom television set,” Which lights tip at the touch of a switch. What is more, alternative colour pictures are supplied in the pack!

This model will surely be in great demand—it costs 14s.. t td. As for the real car, Lehmann-Peterson Coach Company Inc. are the specialised coach-builders who have ” stretched ” this basically standard Lincoln Continental into -a limousine 2 ft. longer than the Rolls-Royce Phantom V and nearly 4 ft. longer than the big Mercedes 60o. The Corgi model is similar to the car used by the President of the United States, and is the same as that convened into a miniature throne-room for His Holiness the Pope when he visited the U.S A. in

1965.. One of these specially-built Continentals was Once seen in London : it belonged to Francis 1-1. I. Brown of I lawaii, tile Pineapple King, and when parked it stretched from oneparking meter to the next!

The other Very detailed Corgi model is No. 332, a 1.h.d. Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato, which has the fine lines of the full-size car and includes opening doors, tip-up seats, side-opening bonnet, die-east V4 engine, dashboard details, etc., although only 3-t. in. long. It sells for 6s. 3d.

Lesney has broken away from car min.atures, No. 38 in their ” Matchbox ” series being a replica of a Hondj racing motorcycle on two-wheeled trailer. The motoreycle has a folding stand under the ” engine ” so that it can stand up on its own. The scale is 41 t, making the trailer 3 in. long, and this model retails for the usual modest Lesney 25. Lesney also have a Mercedes-Benz 300SE coupe, to a scale 0166 : t or 27, in. long. In spite of its small size there are opening doors, arm-rests, map pockets, etc., and even the famous 3-pointed star above the radiator grille. This is ” Matchbox ” miniature No. 46, also priced at as.—W. B.

Wrong Winner : ‘The Rapier Register have brought TO our notice an error in the results of the V.S.C.C. Prescott Ilill-climb. The winner of Class a (sports ears 1,tot-x,500 c.c.) was Jonathan Abson in Elliott Elder’s Lagonda Rapier (51.39 sec.) and not Hamish Moffatt (53.0 sec.).