I’ve written a few articles on car collecting and a couple covered collecting model cars. I’m particularly fond of dealer promotional cars ( click here: Car Collecting Scaled Down – Promo Cars ).
As with any hobby you have to be aware that sometime what is offered for sale might not be the real thing. If you do a quick search on Ebay you’ll find hundreds of model cars for sale. Look closer and you’ll see many labeled “Dealer Promotion” models. But look even closer and you’ll see there are many that misuse that label.
Promotional models were model cars used by dealership at the time a car was new (or new for the year) and they were often staged around the showroom for customer to touch and look at. Many of the models had a list new features listed on the bottom.
Bottom of a Ford Galaxy.
This is the bottom of a 1960s Ford Galaxy. You can see a list of features.
The models were normally one color with minimal detail and no real functionality outside the rolling wheels.
For example, take a look at this:
Plain non-functional model – chrome wheels and rubber tires that roll.
Much like the Galaxy above it is plain and non-functional.
Nondescript white box.
Stamped “1984 Corvette” – first year of the C4 body style
Now look at this:
Here is a 1950 Chevy Pickup. Supposedly a dealer promo.
It’s in a newer box with warning on it…not something printed on toys back in 1950.
If you really can’t tell this shows it was made by Ertl in 1995.
See the difference? How can these be ‘true’ promotional models if they were produced in 1995?
Clearly the Ertl model is not a true dealership promotional model but a replica.
I failed to realize that as the seller advertised it as a “promo” model. Not to say it’s not a nice model it is and depicts a 1950 Chevy pickup closely. However, it is not a dealership promotional model.
Caveat emptor!!!
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Do you have a collection of model cars? Let us know.
… wheel swings to the side. You can notice that the tires are rubber, the wheels are plastic and they are on metal rods. Do you have a sale car collection? Let us know. Thanks for reading. Tim. dealer promo car models …
dealer promo models, Edsel, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Pacer, Paul Daniel digital marketing, promo car models, promotional model cars, savageonwheels.com, Teletouch. ← 2013 Acura ILX Premium · Diecast: CMC Ferrari …
1/25th scale model promotional cars, Buick, Buick Electra, Electra, General Motors, paul daniel creative digital marketing manager, promo car models, promotional car models, savageonwheels.com, Wheat’s Nostalgia.
A few years back I pick up a 1984 Corvette…my first Corvette ever and it was my daily driver. I did a lot of work on it and it brought home two trophies best in class.
While looking for display items for a car show set up (brochures and the like) I ran across what the dealer ships called “Promo Cars” These were basically scale model (1/24 or smaller scale) cars given out to promote the car that year. They were plastic and normally no movable parts (doors, hoods, trunks didn’t open), most had rubber tires that turned and a detailed interior. So I picked up a couple for my ’84 Vette along with the boxes, in fact two of them were ‘red’ that matched my car color. Eventually I sold the C4 and purchased the my C6.
1984 C4
2007 C6
Just recently I ran a cross a batch of promo cars and realized that there were a lot of car manufacturers that produced these back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I thought they’d make a good addition to my current collection.
They all varied in quality and detail especially when a 1960 model is compared to a 1980’s model. I recently ran across a promo car for the 1961 Thunderbird and I purchased it for $10.00.
1961 Thunder Bird
Some Nice Detail
Door don’t open but detailed interior
Rubber tires with White Walls
Nice detail there
Not great quality looking at the front scoop
The really interesting view is of the bottom of the model.
Pretty Good Detail of the undercarriage.
What’s up with all the text? They promote the options for this model year!!!! Very cool! Let’s take a closer look.
On Tank it states “Thunderbird…unique in all the world” Hey…”Triple Life Aluminized” Mufflers
unmistakably New – Not a Hair Wider unmistakably Thunder Bird – not 1/10 longer
Notice that is has “Special Three-Phase Rust Prevention Treatment”. Sports a “Cruise-o-Matic Drive, Power Steering and Self Adjusting Brakes – All Standard Equipment”
“Welded, Integral Body and Frame for Quietness and Strength” “New Wing-Away Steering Wheel (Optional)” (BTW that actually function on the promo model – you can push the steering wheel to the side.
“Wider Tread” on the axle
Gas tanks reads “New 12,000 or 1 Year Warranty
“New Thunderbird 390 Special V8”
Oil pan says “4000 Miles Oil Service Changes”
The seats are two-tone and the steering wheel swings to the side.
You can notice that the tires are rubber, the wheels are plastic and they are on metal rods.
I happen to live where the weather is nice nearly year round. You could almost always work on your car. But even here in Southern Arizona, we get a cold spells….HEY…36 degree (morning temperature) is cold!!!!
Ok…enough whining. There are many of you that live a bit North of here and driveing much less working on your project car is more like Man vs. Wild in the Antarctic – I know I’ve lived in Nebraska and up-state (way up) New York.
So one cool way to spend the winter it collecting model cars (actually you can do that any time). I wrote a piece about 3 years ago (Yikes I’ve been writing this blog for that long!!!) about collecting model cars. Here a link: When You Just have to have that Classic/Muscle Car?…Think Small!!!! http://wp.me/p2YxYx-1rV
As you can see (compared to 3 years ago) my collection has grown a bit.
The Mustangs
The Vettes
Few others
More of the collection.
These are only a few that I have room to display. Of course these were all purchased and unless you are big in to dusting, this isn’t really going to help those winter months speed by.
But building your own can be rewarding. Here are a couple I have on deck for building.
This is a 1963 model kit of a Stutz Bearcat and a Model T
The Stutz model pieces are not there, but yes I’m gong to but the Model T together.
After that I have this one coming up:
1930 Packard. This is a 1960’s model – the original box is long gone
What am I working on now?
How about an Edsel? Yup love those cars.
Here’s the body in the first stage of painting:
Edsel in paint
This is an experiment. It’s the first model car I’ve painted by spraying on the paint. This is the first coat and it will be sanded and re-sprayed. I want this two toned with the rear quarter panel inserts will be black or white. So I experimented with some liquid masking that my wife uses when she is doing her rendering.
Art Masking Liquid
This actually worked very well. After it’s applied it rubberizes and protects the area from paint spray. It comes right off when you are done. I used a pencil eraser (exactly what my wife uses on her hand rendered drawings and I used a tooth pick to get around the lettering.
So spend you winter building a classic, or a hot rod, or a muscle car!
This is a repeat – it got lost in the move to the new domain – I had to add it back to the archives so I could refer to it in my up and coming post on Model Cars.
I should throw “collecting” in the title of this blog (but it’s really long enough), because, although it’s about 2.5 months old, I have mentioned collecting a bunch of times. But really that is part of hobby as well.
Of course if I were to list all the cars I’d love collect, it would be fairly long and in reality (my reality) unaffordable..unless you are Jay Leno… I hate that guy. Ok..I don’t hate him…not really..the green-eyed monster made me say that.
Since I’m not as funny as Jay and I have to work for a living….what?…..ok..ok….I’m sure Jay works very hard…I guess…it’s tough reading funny newpaper clips….ok…Sorry Jay, I have “substituted” this alternative method of obtaining the cars I’d love to own.
You all figured it out yet? I’m talking about models, scale diecast replicas. There is an entire industry out there that produces, imports and markets these items. Some of them are extremely well done.
Here are some shots of my collection. I’m concentrating on the Mustangs and Corvettes in the sizes 1/18 or 1/24 scale.
These are a few of Mustangs
And these are a few of the Corvettes.
A Few of the Vettes
Most of these are Danbury Mint and GMP pieces, I do like what they produce, lots of details and they are affordable (around $100.00 each).
Here is a few shots of the 1967 GT 350.
GMP 1967 GT350 Interior
GMP Mustang GT350 Engine compartment
The Franklin mint produces cars, Greenleaf, Motormint, just to name a few.
It’s fun and affordable and they do increase in value. It’s gotten so popular that even the mainstream car magazines like Hemmings (they normally have at least one article in every Motor News edition), Mustang Monthly and Corvette magazine have articles that discuss this portion of the hobby and even rate the quality of individual brands and their offerings.
If you collect already or want to get started drop a comment to this post. Toss in some pic as well.
This one is for the C4 crowd (You digging this one Tony Z.?) There will be two winners one from Corvette Pals and one from my blog. Here is what I’m looking for. I use to auto cross my 1984 Crossfire (still do SCCA with my C6) and I love to see the C4 in action.
So post of a video of your C4 in action (action photos are ok too!) – Nothing illegal (snicker) or unsafe, mind you. Burn outs, auto cross, drag strip…Looking for some action shots. Post them up at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Average-Guys-Car-Restoration-Mods-and-Racing/185827701454279 and mention The Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing blog.
OH…what’s the prize? How about a 1984 Red Corvette promo model in the original box or a 1984 Silver C4? These are the model cars the dealerships give away. Can’t win if you don’t play…can’t win if you ain’t got a C4!!!! Game on!!!
1984 Silver C4 Promo Model - Yes those are Mustangs in the back ground!!!
If I were able to collect any number of cars, I’d need 3 football fields just to park them side by side and end to end (length and width). Since I don’t have that kind of acreage, I collect a few die-casts, mainly from the Danbury Mint and 1/8 or 1/24 scale.
Here are a few pics of my 1965 T-Bird:
1965 T-Bird
Love the white walls and red stripe tires.
Tails lights are great.
The detail is pretty good. In the first image you can see all the trunk hardware.
I’m not a photographer and got some tips from my son.
