A few photos of the more obscure 1/43 scale die cast Mercedes 300SL roadsters. Though we've heard a lot about this being the 75th anniversary of the Ford deuce coupe, to me the 300SL roadster is more interesting and this is the 50th anniversary of the car. This one is a very crude Japanese Diapet from the '60s.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/diapet40th.JPG

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/newray43rd.JPG
Here is another rather crude model of the famous 300SL roadster. This one is by New Ray from 1997. It is maybe half as good as the wonderful Schuco and Minichamps models of the car but it cost about 1/20th as much as those excellent, best ever 300SL roadster models.

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/hongwell43rd.JPG
Finally a model of the 300SL roadster with the removable hardtop installed. This casting is from Hongwell and was released in about 2004. It has been sold as a Schuco and as a Mercedes promo model and it was available also (in other colors) as a top down roadster and soft top up roadster. It is a good model and was very reasonably priced. It is probable that it can still be found on the net.

All diecast cars were crude in the 60's ranchero, but I still love 'em. Hey, they were toys for kids to play with! It was not like it is now where we criticize the detail of a model car and put it in a display never to be played with. I admit I'm guity of the latter, but I like 1/43 scale cars that are sort of semi detailed from the late '70s to the late 80's. You didn't have to worry about losing a part from the car, or even breaking a part off the car, which is true with current 1/43 scale high quality models.

I do like the silver Mercedes 300 SL roadster!

Love the 300SL - do you have a model of the Gullwing?

Re the Hongwell - whilst also sold as a Schuco Junior, there is a different Schuco casting in their main 1:43 range, which is more detailed.

Jinx - Yes, I have dozens and dozens of gullwings and many more roadsters too. These were just some of the rather obscure ones. I've got the good Schuco roadster too; mine is silver. The Minichamps are probably the best roadsters; the old Teknos are the most intriguing. I like 'em all. I love the styling of both gull & roadster; it is amazing that it was in house Mercedes. Of course it was done to fit the birdcage type frame as rather an afterthought.

Here is an even more obscure one in about 1/43 scale - a Tomte from Norway. It is a soft rubber type material. I've got it in blue too. Also very crude and dating back at least to the early '70s (when I bought it in Denver) if not earlier- ranchero -

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/tomte46th.JPG

All diecast cars were crude in the 60's ranchero, but I still love 'em. Hey, they were toys for kids to play with! It was not like it is now where we criticize the detail of a model car and put it in a display never to be played with. I admit I'm guity of the latter, but I like 1/43 scale cars that are sort of semi detailed from the late '70s to the late 80's. You didn't have to worry about losing a part from the car, or even breaking a part off the car, which is true with current 1/43 scale high quality models.

I do like the silver Mercedes 300 SL roadster!

I agree with everything except the first comment - if you ever hold a Corgi 1969 issue Jaguar XKE in your hands it is hard to match the design ,finish and features today - let alone the beautiful blister they came in.Some other Corgis also met these high standards, and some Politoys exports werent shabby either.

Yes, agreed. And the Teknos were exquisite - including the 300SL, 230SL and especially the E-Type roadster. Many Solidos from the 1960s were also fine.

All diecast cars were crude in the 60's ranchero, but I still love 'em. Hey, they were toys for kids to play with! It was not like it is now where we criticize the detail of a model car and put it in a display never to be played with. I admit I'm guity of the latter, but I like 1/43 scale cars that are sort of semi detailed from the late '70s to the late 80's. You didn't have to worry about losing a part from the car, or even breaking a part off the car, which is true with current 1/43 scale high quality models.

I do like the silver Mercedes 300 SL roadster!

Hey there Stutz -
Aside from the wheels, do you think '60s Matchboxes are crude?
I think especially the later '60s ones were beauts!
Just wondering what you thought - :wave:

And Ranchero - that silver rdstr w/top is great!

Hey there Stutz -
Aside from the wheels, do you think '60s Matchboxes are crude?
I think especially the later '60s ones were beauts!
Just wondering what you thought - :wave:

And Ranchero - that silver rdstr w/top is great!

I think the '60's Matchbox were crude lummox, but I love 'em! :thumbsup: I wish I still had mine. I also wish that I still had some of my Matchbox Yesteryears. They were close to 1/43 scale. I still have a few dozen Yesteryears left, but they are from 1969 to the '70's. I like the 1930 Packard, Auburn, Mercedes, and '50's MG models. They aren't the old
Yesteryears. :cry:
About 25 years ago I sold about 150 Matchbox Yesteryear cars to make room for my collection of Brooklins which was growing. The older Brooklin cars weren't very detailed, but the I feel they are of excellent quality. If your ever tried picking up a box that has 100 Brooklin cars in it, you would be surprised how much it weighs. Brooklin Models remind me of the Matchbox Lesney models......made in England......quality, but not not highly detailed like many new 1/43 scale diecast cars made in China. For some reason, I like "Made in the USA", "Made in England", "Made in Canada", and "Made in Italy" better the "Made in China", even though many of the models made in China are of excellent quality. Look at the JL diecast cars that we both collect (EXCELLENT quality on the newer castings!). I love 'em! :wave:

Here is my Tekno Denmark Mercedes 300SL featuring original wheels with stainless steel embossed hubcaps and white tyres which have gone flat after 30 years on a toyshelf without driving.The excellent Tekno 66 Olds Tornado is in the background. Real cars had chrome trim, not silver paint, so i actually prefer the undetailed 1960s spec to silver which clearly isnt chrome
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2007-06jun221.jpg
Here is the stunning 1969 Corgi Jaguar XKE with a woody Ford Cortina - both superbly accurate models with suspension and close fitting opening features.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2007-06jun226.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2007-06jun223.jpg
Not very well known are the wonderful 1970s products of the Spanish Pilen company.The Citroen Maserati is beautifully cast with all parts fitting and operating snuggly, and who can name the other Pilen product ??? a concept that was also in the Corgi Juniors range
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2007-06jun224.jpg

Thanks for sharing pics of your wonderful vintage models SMS88! :thumbsup:

I suggest that that start a thread in the Vintage forum posting these pics too. I love 1/43 scale models of this era!

If you have more of these vintage 1/43 scale models, I'd love to see them!

Is it a Bertone?

I think the '60's Matchbox were crude lummox, but I love 'em! :thumbsup: I wish I still had mine. I also wish that I still had some of my Matchbox Yesteryears. They were close to 1/43 scale. I still have a few dozen Yesteryears left, but they are from 1969 to the '70's. I like the 1930 Packard, Auburn, Mercedes, and '50's MG models. They aren't the old
Yesteryears. :cry:
About 25 years ago I sold about 150 Matchbox Yesteryear cars to make room for my collection of Brooklins which was growing. The older Brooklin cars weren't very detailed, but the I feel they are of excellent quality. If your ever tried picking up a box that has 100 Brooklin cars in it, you would be surprised how much it weighs. Brooklin Models remind me of the Matchbox Lesney models......made in England......quality, but not not highly detailed like many new 1/43 scale diecast cars made in China. For some reason, I like "Made in the USA", "Made in England", "Made in Canada", and "Made in Italy" better the "Made in China", even though many of the models made in China are of excellent quality. Look at the JL diecast cars that we both collect (EXCELLENT quality on the newer castings!). I love 'em! :wave:
I definitely feel the same way ~ made in anywhere else but China is always more appealing somehow. :thumbsup:

"who can name the other Pilen product ???"

I can. Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina. Also I think this model was done by Politoys in 1/43 scale. One of the more bizarre and ugly Ferrari based styling exercises ever seen.

I have a Franklin Mint 300SL Gullwing and it is very well done. I got it for Christmas sometime in the 80s.

"who can name the other Pilen product ???"

I can. Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina. Also I think this model was done by Politoys in 1/43 scale. One of the more bizarre and ugly Ferrari based styling exercises ever seen.
Correct :thumbsup: certainly is ugly but the casting with the sliding top is a masterpeice.Suspension and rubber tyres too - these fine models must have cost a lot to design ,tool and then assemble - no wonder the Chinese now dominate this market.Franklin Mint is made in China too - I own 4 of these fine castings

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2007-9Sep237.jpg
I have just purchased this mint boxed Joal Mercedes 300SL from a friend - it was made with the old Danish Tekno tooling which went via the new Dutch owners of the Tekno brand to Joal in Spain.The Iso is also a Joal acquired the same time as the Merc bot not quite mint.For comparison my tekno 300SL joins the lineup