Picked this unique and relatively heavy piece recently. Western models is the manufacturer and they did a superb job let me tell you.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls014.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls015.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls016.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls017.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls018.jpg

Pretty nice proportions, good looking car. Thanks for posting the pic, I like it as well!

I don't have the box,
But I picked this one up at a train store in Florida, when I was there last month.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l81/WarbirdTA/Diecast/SANY0207.jpg
Same company.
I wonder how many different colors they did?

George :cool:

Very nice George! I have seen a picture of a red one also.

Western models is the manufacturer and they did a superb job let me tell you.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u9/pontiacfan1972/wls014.jpg


I'm not a Pontiac guy. What year is this?

Thanx, Frank

It's a 77 or 78 with 76 and prior wheels on it.

FYI - route66modelcarstore (http://store.route66modelcarstore.com/19fifo400byw.html) says the 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 by Western will be re-issued this year in three colors! :thumbsup:

Cool!
More money to go out and spent. ;)

George :cool:

Here's mine from New Ray. Always loved Pontiacs.:wave:

The model's nice, but I wish these sub-1:18 scale Pontiacs would use the Rally II wheels, because they never seem to do the pre-'77 Pontiac honeycomb wheel justice.

1977- honeycomb grille
1978- diamond pattern grille.

I'm having trouble seeing the grille pattern clearly in the pics...

At least they gave it the Pontiac engine graphics, not the less desired Olds engine...

I am pretty sure that these Pontiacs, as well as all other 1/43 scale Westerns, are obsolete and will never be produced again.

Note - these are white metal models and not die cast.

Western started with 1/43 white metal in the '70s. Their first model was a Mercedes 540K. Later they also produced white metal airliners in 1/200 scale. There were moves to different locations in England and an ownership change - instigated by the retirment of the principals.

At this time I believe that the Western brand produces only 1/200 scale airliners. These are now die cast, not white metal and also made in China, not England.

- ranchero -

I am pretty sure that these Pontiacs, as well as all other 1/43 scale Westerns, are obsolete and will never be produced again.
According to Model Auto Review, the owners of Western retired in 2007. However, Buz at www.route66modelcarstore.com is reissuing many of them with more details. Like the Firebird I linked to above!

Review (http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/asp/list_reviews/read_user_comments.asp?id=WMS12X) of the reissued Western Models Collectors Edition (WMCE) 1959 Buick Electra Convertible

karl s - interesting. WMCE but not "Western". The 1:200 airliners use exactly the name Western and the original Western logo. I wonder if the proprietor of the store you cite simply bought all the old Western automobile tools and had them shipped to him? The white metal castings of course use vulcanized rubber, rather than hardened steel, for the casting process and these would much easier (lighter) to ship. Would like to know more about WMCE; you may want to check out the Western airliners. - ranchero -

Rumor has it that SMTS in the UK has the old Western molds and are making them for route66modelcarstore. Perhaps the airplanes are old stock - don't know about them.

karl s - That makes sense. SMTS production technique same as old Western.

The 1:200 airliners are not old stock. They are much improved. The only thing the same is the brand name, the logo and the scale. Old were white metal; new are die cast. Old used decals; new use tampo. Old used fragile cast props; new use photo etched sheet metal. Old landing gears were fragile; new are sturdy. And the old were cast in England; new are cast in China. - ranchero -