Last week Sean from M2 asked if I would like to recieve a preproduction casting from an upcoming M2 release. I of course jumped at the chance and the car, a 1970 Chevelle SS none the less, arrived this morning.:thumbsup: So here's a pictorial and few comments from me.

Packaging looks really nice and displays the casting quite nicely for those non Diecast Liberators.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5012.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5014.jpg

This casting like all other offerings in the M2 line comes attached to a base via two screws.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5015.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5016.jpg

The Chevelle finally liberated from it's plastic coffin.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5017.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5020.jpg

Not sure if its visibile in the pics, but the windshield appears to have a scuff mark on it. A light scratch is also on the black stripe
near the front of the hood too.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5022.jpg

This casting like all others in the M2 line features opening doors. The gaps look pretty good on this version.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5021.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5018.jpg

Under the hood lies a massive big block 454 Chevy V-8. The jeweled headlights are really cool touch
that I wish more companies would take up.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5023.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk259/craftymore/General%20Diecast/IMG_5026.jpg


Just looking over the casting, a few more thoughts on this casting. It has a metal base which is always a
big plus on diecast cars in small scale. It looks to be pretty propotional as well and in true 1/64 scale, and
not in some really small scale. I can't see any casting lines on the body either, so props goes to M2 for that.
The rims look really nice and the separate plastic bumpers are a cool addition in small scale as well.
Just noticed the hood rings as well which I don't recall other companies adding to their versions of this car.
Can't help but notice that the rear stance looks a bit low as well. I had thought on the real 1/1 that the rear sits up kinda high.
It should be mentioned that the tires look to be scale accurate too.

This casting might need a few minor adjustments, but looks rather good. The consistent attention to detail seems to set this
casting of the '70 Chevelle away of other companies versions. From the jeweled headlights, to the opening doors, and onto the
great looking paint, this would seem to be a hard version to beat.

My thanks to Sean from M2. This one will be apart of my collection for as long as I'm a diecast collector. :wave:

Nice Cragers...

Rusty

Sean was nice enough to include me in the preproduction muscle car review.
I wish my pictures were as outstanding as those above, but here goes.
Silver Chevelle in Package
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/ChevelleinPackage.jpg
Under the hood
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/Closeupenginewflash2.jpg
Check out the separate clear plastic headlights and chrome bumper
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/Headlights2.jpg
And the separate chrome rear bumper with red clear plastic taillights.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/Taillights2.jpg
Interior looks good, too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/Leftsideinterior2.jpg
Having opening doors in addition to the opening hood really sets apart these new muscle cars.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/frankhamil/HoodandDoorsOpenwflash.jpg
My overall comments:
I'm really impressed by what I see. I think M2 muscle cars are going to be very well received and will fly off the shelf.

I plan to pick up a 70 Chevelle from Greenlight for comparison. I consider Greenlights to be the current bar to measure other sub $5.00 1/64th diecast muscle.
Like Greenlight, M2 appear to be true 1/64th scale. Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning are not.

M2's are heavy, like the GL's. When I weighed similar castings from GL and JL, GL's were about 40% heavier.

The only thing that I noticed that I think could be improved is the engine detail.The valve covers seem to be too vertical and don't look as much like a real Chevy big block as some other open hood cars. None of the other brands that I've looked at are as detailed as larger cars, but the M2's are a little less detailed than even the other 1/64th's.

Sean, thanks again for the opportunity to examine one of these early.

You won't have a problem selling these.

Frank Hamilton

Great score guys. Nice cars and thanks for the pics. M2 is putting out some good stuff.

Very nice addition to the family Craftymore & Frank. These will sell very well. I am one who prefiers my doors closed (as the gaps just kill it for me), but I may be the only one in the world so they are in good shape!

I will say the motor bay is a hugh disapointment (sp?) to me. No where close to the scale and quality of a GL or JL even. But since this is a pre-pro, maybe it is just a early mock up.

With Chevelle's diecast (and other muscle cars) flooding the market all of a sudden, I wonder how this one will fair. Should do well, but with dollars tight, how many guys are going to keep picking up the "same" cars over and over?

That is just too cool on the headlights & tail lights. I guess I am going to be on the hunt for those. Just really nice cars guys. M2 is on a roll. Cant wait to see more models from them. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Overall, nice details ,but ...when a very strong styling characteristic such as the pontoon bulges over the wheel openings on 70-72 Chevelle 2doors are missing from the casting, it kinda kills it for me. Also, the rear wheel opening is way off, and the slope at the rear side window looks too steep, almost more like that of a 68-69. I have to agree with 69 Stang, I don't much care for the opening doors. I would hope the gaps on the production versions are better than those pictured, because they are pretty bad. So far, all the castings I have from M2 have been nice so, maybe this one will look better to me in the metal....

They look damn good to me.
I've seen several 70 Chevelles in my travels and the rear doesn't seem to high to me, nor do the body lines or top look bad. The 'pontoons' could be more pronounced.
The door gaps do leave something to be desired, but given what tends to happen to cars left to close too me for too long :lol:, I can so work around that.

As well detailed as the rest of the car is, it's a damn shame the motor couldn't be more detailed.

Overall, this is a great looking car.

well if this line keeps to what the chevelles here look like i may buy my first m2. i own zero right now. this looks to be a winner. but will have to look at them in the store before i buy one. so far i like what i see. and the red line on the tires looks great on the cars. nice job guys.

Not to pick on M-2, but to praise!!! When it comes to lighting cars, be they slotcars or diecast, the hardest part always ends up being the tail lights. Here is something new (at least to me) with a diecast having molded plastic tail lights already, and they appear to be begging for a couple fiber optic whips!!! I have plans of molding my own red tinted clear resin tail lights for my custom slots, but with cars like this, one challenge for you "light up" diecast guys has been addressed!!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup: I agree with the engine compartment being amiss, but since this is a preview, if the engine ends up anything like the interior, you'll be trying to pull the dipstick and check the oil! I like it!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Utherjoe

Thanks for the Pictures and reviews.

Concerning the door gaps....

Guys, keep in mind that macro shots (closeups) as good as the ones Crafty supplied us with tend to exaggerate any flaws or gaps on a 1:64 scale diecast. Those macro shots will make gaps that don't look so bad to the naked eye downright cavernous. I think the gaps aren't bad considering the scale were talking about here. Would I like them tighter....sure!

Models like these sometimes make me want to step outside of collecting only Mustangs. I think one of the most impressive things about this line is the interior quality. Those seats and the dash look much more realistic than any 1:64 scale car I've seen.

Now....bring on the Stangs!

If that is a only a pre-production engine then it is fine but if not then they need to change the package back. That is not a detailed engine.
Overall the car looks good to me but it's not my thing so I won't be buying one.

I would agree with some of the comments posted already. The engine is the weak point in this casting. If that's the engine that remains, M2's will continue to be MIA from my collection.

well i bought my first 2 - m2's today.
and started a project on one of them. i posted it on the custom board. m2 project - sp

The only thing i have to say would be they could save some money & or lower costs per unit by getting rid of the bases the car sits on and the screws there for allowing smaller packaging.

I may be wrong but thats the first thing that popped into my head when i seen the package. Dont get me wrong its nice and all.

The Gold SS could almost pass as a 1:18 scale. Very impressiveand and looking foward to all the Mopar Muscle.

Thanks for the pictures

Looks pretty dang good though the missing side body lines seem inexcusable.
Don't like the clear haedlights 'cause they just look black...opening doors,...don't need'em myself.
Otherwize I'm impressed....GREAT stance on M2 cars!!!!
Finally someone makes realistic proportioned tires!!!!!