1964 Yunick Sidecar racer By Replicarzp. 41960 BUICK FLXIBLE

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February/March 2017 1966 Pontiac GTO ConvertibleBy NEOp. 8

FIVE NEW DIECAST REVIEWS

By BoS-Models p. 6

2 Scale Auto DC • February/March 2017

SAVAGE’S GARAGE BY MARK SAVAGE

An exclusive preview, plus Johnny Lightning relaunches a club! This issue replicarz gives us an exclusive sneak peak at its new Indy Sidecar model, plus Johnny Lightning tells us about its new Collectors Club. There are a bunch of other cool cars in the coming pages too.

FIRST, TAKE A LOOK at page 4 to get an early look at the 1964 Smokey Yunick Offset Roadster with sidecar, which most folks at the time called his Sidecar racer.

This was one of the unique racers of the 1960s, when the Indianapolis 500 was ripe with innovation. Once again, Replicarz just keeps providing cool and unique Indy racers for us Indy 500 fans.

JOHNNY LIGHTNING also steps up this month with a cool kit that re-introduces the JL Collectors Club, which originated in 1999. Mac Ragan, a longtime JL expert and now

with Round2, says the club has two benefit levels.

There’s a Gold membership and a Silver level. Pricing is $49.99 and $24.99, respec-tively. Plus a $6.95 shipping and handling fee.

Here’s what you get.

Gold members receive what’s pictured, a nifty case with an

exclusive Royal Bobcat 1969 Pontiac GTO. The case has a magnetic closure and foam display insert.

In addition, there’s a membership card, gold-tone metal JL key fob, random JL White Lightning 1/64 scale car from the Playing Mantis era, a biannual video call with Tom Lowe and the JL production team, plus $4.99 flat-rate shipping on any order of $50 or more.

The silver membership includes the GTO and case, silver member card and JL key fob and a random JL 1/64 car from the Playing Mantis era.

If you’re deep into collecting 1/64 diecast cars, you need to look into the JL club. Nobody does 1/64 scale cars better at a reasonable cost than Johnny Lightning.

You can call 888-910-2889 to join.

Mark Savage, Editor

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DIECASTREVIEWS

As a kid I saw a lot of Ford Galaxies around the neighborhood and some of my northern Indiana relatives who farmed weren’t afraid to run theirs out into a cornfield, if necessary.

But rarer was the Galaxie 500 7-Liter Hardtop, a luxury model that wasn’t afraid to lay a little rubber. That’s the cast resin version Automodello creates in popular 1/24th scale and paints in a variety of historically accurate colors.

THE HISTORYWhile the Galaxie 500 debuted in

1965 it was the 1966 model that boasted a new 7-liter V-8. This was Ford’s already powerful 390 V-8, but enlarged to 428 cu.in. to create a torque monster. Unlike the earlier model this could handle all the luxury options Ford packed onto its Galaxie 500 models.

So in addition to performance power, the 1966 models had power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. The 7-liter also could be coupled with an automatic transmission, which the other V-8 could not.

THE MODELAutomodello’s cars are sealed body

models, so you won’t see that smooth 7-liter engine since the hood does not open. But Jim Cowen, Automodello’s head honcho wanted to make this car because of its special badging and the luxury appointments you can see inside.

The dark metallic (Nightmist) blue finish is stellar and the car’s dimensions are dead-on. Seams are crisp and neat too, likely better than on the real cars.

Automodello delivers fine photo-etched chrome trim with two super thin strikes along the body sides, plus all the window edges and a central hood accent. In addition, all the Ford and Galaxie 500 markings on the nose, tail and rear quarter panels are PE.

The Galaxie has a beautiful chrome grille along with bumpers and taillight trim, plus an antenna and the door handles are chrome. Then there are sharp 7 Liter logos on the grille, front fender sides and trunk.

Headlights and taillights feature realistic lenses and the chrome

windshield wipers are absolutely stunning. I showed this one around the office and folks were blown away by the wipers’ detail.

Galaxie also has handsome 5-spoke custom wheels and dual exhausts.

Inside, the Ford ‘s light blue interior is gorgeous, with dark blue insets that look like racing stripes mid-cushion. There are bucket seats up front and highly styled chrome trimmed door panels plus cranks for the vent (remember those?) and side windows.

I like the wood-look wheel with chrome 3-spoked hub and there’s wood-look trim on the dash and a thin wide main gauge display. Shifting is handled by a big chrome T-handled shifter.

Galaxie comes in five colors, all limited builds. Nightmist Blue is the most common, with 299 models made, while the Tribute Edition comes in Candy Apple Red with 66 made. Just 24 of the Homage Edition in Raven Black are to be created. More limited are the Enthusiasts editions, just 19 each in Antique Gold or Wimbledon White.

Automodello’s 1966 Ford Galaxie 500

1966 Ford Galaxie 500Mfg: AutomodelloScale: 1/24Stock No: AM24-FOR-G7L-NBMSRP: $299.95Link: diecasm.com

February/March 2017 • www.ScaleAutoMag.com 3

PREVIEW: Replicarz’s 1964 Yunick Sidecar racer The mid-1960s were revolutionary for

race car design and technology at the Indianapolis 500.

The era saw roadsters with their engines in the front replaced by racers, such as Lotuses, with engines in the rear. There were a variety of engines from Offenhausers and Novis to Fords and Chevys, plus some jet turbines.

Then there was the sidecar roadster created by master mechanic and designer, Smokey Yunick, who had already taken on the stock car world at Daytona.

By 1964, a pivotal and also disastrous year for Indy due to its worst and most terrifying crash that killed two drivers, Smokey had created what was commonly known as his sidecar racer, his Offset Roadster with sidecar. It carried his usual gold and black color scheme, and now Replicarz is creating it in 1/18 scale resin.

Replicarz generally creates Indy winners, but last year branched out into notable Indy car designs with the 1/18 scale version of Andy Granatelli’s 1967

Paxton Turbine, noted for its STP sponsorship and day-glo red color.

Replicarz plans to deliver its model in late April to early May.

THE HISTORYSmokey Yunick was a rebel and an

inventor who would try most anything. This 1964 offset roadster proves it.

Yunick called it his “capsule car,” with the sidecar, or capsule, being held onto the roadster’s main body by five bolts. Originally the car was to have a turbine engine, but when that fell through, Yunick put a 4-cylinder Offy (then the most popular engine at Indy) into the car. Its suspension included a variety of parts from the Pontiac Tempest, a car Yunick was familiar with from his efforts in stock car racing.

Supposedly Yunick got the idea from his WWII years when he first saw the BV 141 reconnaissance plane with an outrigger layout. His thought at Indy was to balance the central portion of the car front to rear and then hang the driver’s pod on the left side to bias the

weight in that direction as the car would only turn left at the Indy 500 oval.

Ultimately George Hurst paid Yunick $40 grand to name the car the Hurst Floor Shifter Special and off they went to Indy to qualify with NASCAR driver Bobby Johns at the wheel. Johns was an experienced racer that won two NASCAR races.

Sadly Yunick’s sidecar never quite made it to qualifying speed and Johns spun and wrecked it during its only qualifying try.

THE MODELSo far we’ve just seen these beautiful

photos of the Replicarz model, but it looks to be up to their usual standards of fit, finish and detail.

The Offy is exposed and the cockpit includes the square steering wheel Yunick designed to give the driver more legroom. Gauges are to be glass-faced. A black and gold finish with authentic graphics from the car’s on-track action also look sharp. We hope to have the real deal for review by next issue.

1964 Smokey Yunick Offset Roadster w/sidecarMfg: ReplicarzScale: 1/18Stock No: R18024MSRP: $249.99Link: replicarz.com

4 Scale Auto DC • February/March 2017

DIECASTREVIEWS

REPLICARZSAE-Diecast Reviews • 02/16/2017 • 4C • 1 PG

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R18503 1:18 scale $249.99 1965 Goldenrod Land Speed Car, Bob Summers

R18017 1:18 scale $249.99 1929 Miller, Winner Indianapolis 500, Ray Keech

R43022 1:43 scale $89.99 Winner 1975 Indianapolis 500, Jorgensen Eagle, Bobby Unser

R43021 1:43 scale $89.99 Winner 1973 Indianapolis 500, Eagle, Gordon Johncock

R43007 1:43 scale $89.99 Winner 1938 Indianapolis 500, Boyle Special, Wilbur Shaw

R18016 1:18 scale $249.99 1926 Miller, Winner Indianapolis 500, Frank Lockhart

R18008 1:18 scale $249.99 1971 PJ Colt, Winner Indianapolis 500, Al Unser Sr.

Replicarz Exclusives, the difference is in the details!

R18009 1:18 scale $249.99 1938 Boyle Special, Winner Indianapolis 500, Wilbur Shaw

R18018 1:18 scale $249.99 1971 PJ Colt, Indianapolis 500, USAC Champion Joe Leonard

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1960 Buick Flxible Premier AmbulanceMfg: BoS-ModelsScale: 1/18Stock No: 213558MSRP: $135.95Link: American-Excellence.com

6 Scale Auto DC • February/March 2017

BoS-Models’ 1960 Buick Flxible Premier Ambulance Every kid of the 1950s and 1960s

remembers the extremely long brightly colored ambulances of the day, either from seeing them as they ran our city’s streets with lights flashing and sirens blaring, or from TV shows of the day.

Cadillac ambulances with their big tailfins were popular to be sure. We all remember the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1. But many ambulances were based on Buicks too, in fact from the 1930s forward Buicks were the basis for both ambulances and hearses.

BoS-Models, also known as Best of Show, has launched a beautiful cream and crimson 1960 Buick ambulance in 1/18 scale and it’s a stunner. This diecast resin ambulance is more than 13 inches long, finely finished and reflects a custom ambulance created by The Flxible Co. in Loudonville, Ohio.

THE HISTORYThe long-wheelbase Buick built by

Flxible (the E was dropped to create a registered trademark) was its Premier model and listed for $8,615.

Flxible made ambulances, hearses and buses, but started as Flexible Sidecar Co., making motorcycle sidecars. The name came from a patented flexible mounting that allowed sidecars to lean

in corners with the motorcycle, making them safer and easier to control. Flxible closed in 1996 after 83 years in business.

In the 1960s the firm used primarily Buicks to create their ambulances and hearses and had a smaller model, the Flxette, that rode on the 126-inch wheelbase of a Buick Electra. The premier was more than 27 inches longer.

THE MODELThe 1960 Buick Electra had a concave

grille, with side-by-side quad headlights, and the first tri-shield Buick logo on its grille. Plus the front fenders sported four VentiPorts, the chrome portholes of a sort that had started in 1949 Buicks and had returned for 1960. That’s all perfectly captured in this resin model.

The Buick’s front and rear bumpers, and toothy grille, are all chrome as are the door handles, mirror, and taillight surrounds. The roof sports two standard red bubblegum lights trimmed in chrome and the center-mounted red light and siren. Thin white-sidewall tires feature full chrome hubcaps that are pretty darned fancy for an ambulance, but were standard fare in 1960.

Buick is spelled out in photo-etch on the hood’s nose and BoS puts red Fire-Rescue and Ambulance decals on the

roof. A fire and rescue emblem is emblazoned on the big wagon’s back door and Ambulance markings with a cross are printed on the rear side windows. The model also has a no. 138 decal on each side in front of the doors to represent the car’s fleet marking. Flxible logos are on both fenders too.

This is a sealed body model, so nothing opens. All windows are posed up too so the light and dark gray interior will stay dust free. You’ll need a larger than usual acrylic case if you want to enclose it due to the car’s length.

Inside there’s the new, at the time, Buick two-spoke steering wheel with horn buttons instead of the usual chrome horn ring. Gauges are raised on a pod atop the dash, very modern for the early 1960s, while the shift lever is still on the column.

Naturally the ambulance’s tail is of most interest and there is a gurney there with yellow mattress and white pillow, plus two jump seats to accommodate an attendant or two. There is no other medical equipment in the rear and I really wish the tail’s big door opened to give a better view inside.

Still, this is a beautiful long-wheelbase ambulance, not your typical subject matter for a 1/18 scale model!

AMERICAN EXCELLENCE TRADINGSAE-Diecast Reviews • 02/14/2017 • 4C • 1 PG

www.american-excellence.com

Pontiac Grand Am1973Nr.U23-181376 63.95 40.00

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AC Ace, 1959Neo, 1:43Nr.U23-171647 59.95 40.00

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1966 Pontiac GTO ConvertibleMfg: NEOScale: 1/43Stock No: 185964MSRP: $93.95Link: American-Excellence.com

8 Scale Auto DC • February/March 2017

NEO’s 1966 Pontiac GTO Convertible Those of us from the Boomer

generation used to worship (or close to it) muscle cars during the 1960s, and many credit Pontiac with launching the idea of a muscular mid-size car that the masses could afford.

Pontiac’s first was the 1964 Tempest with the GTO package ($295) that added a 389 cu.in. V-8 that delivered 325 horsepower with a 4-barrel carb. Otherwise the hardtop and convertible Tempests were typical family cars.

Certainly there are a fair number of diecast models of GTOs these days, but NEO has added the 1966 Convertible version to its growing America car collection in 1/43 scale.

Our review model came from the good folks at American-Excellence, which handles the full NEO American car lineup. As with other NEO models in this scale, this one is expertly executed.

THE HISTORYIn the mid-1960s there were a lot of

hardtops and convertibles, not so much these days. But in 1966 Pontiac wisely made the GTO a separate model from the Tempest and GTO was restyled to include a kicked-up rear fender line.

The car rode on a 115-inch wheelbase

and was just over 206 inches long. Its lines accentuated its length to give it a lean yet muscular look that matched its performance persona.

The car still packed its powerful V-8 engine and a Ram Air package was available too. The hood scoop helped emphasize the car’s power.

Pontiac also added walnut veneer to the dash and new Strato bucket seats. For the taillights it went with a louvered look that was unique to GTO so it was easily identified from the rear. The changes worked, the GTO selling nearly 97,000 units, the most ever for the model.

THE MODELNEO’s model is what it calls metallic

gray, but what most of us would consider silver with a matte black interior and tonneau cover that looks plenty sporty.

The Pontiac’s handsome lines are crisply executed and feature photo-etched lower body trim that goes over the wheel wells. There are chrome mirror and door handles too, plus vent window trim and delicate chrome wipers.

I like the sharp red pinstripe that runs the length of the car. It’s accentuated by redline treaded tires.

In front the stacked quad headlights look realistic and there are small oval running lights on the split kidney-shaped Pontiac grille.

There’s also a dark GTO logo on the driver’s side grille face and PE GTO markings on the trunk along with Pontiac spelled out between the 9-louvered taillight fixtures in back. There also are GTO labels in PE on the rear quarter panels.

Convertibles are great because you get a much better view of interior detail.

These matte black ribbed Strato bucket seats and rear bench look great and the door trim matches, plus you can easily see the chrome-look window cranks..

The dash clearly shows the fake walnut trim that debuted in 1966 along with the GTO’s unique quad gauges. There’s also a big chrome park brake lever on the console hump and a wood-look 2-spoke steering wheel.

Overhead are black sun visors and a chrome rearview mirror hanging from the windshield’s frame.

Underneath are dual chrome exhaust pipes and an Arizona license plate front and rear.

NEO’s GTO is a pretty car that looks sharp in this scale and paint scheme.

2013 Peugeot 208 T16Mfg: AutoartScale: 1/18Stock No: 81356MSRP: $130Link: autoartmodels.com

February/March 2017 • www.ScaleAutoMag.com 9

Autoart’s 2013 Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak I have to admit that European rally

cars, the high-powered mini racers with big engines and wings to match, fascinate me visually. They look tough , aggressive, fast, and fun.

Now Autoart releases a sharp all black 1/18 scale version of the Peugeot 208 T16 that was raced up Pikes Peak in the U.S. in 2013. This looks like it rocks with a giant wing on an equally giant pedestal in back and with tires so fat they look like they’d hold on to any road, even if upside down.

This is a beauty of a beast! Here’s its story.

THE HISTORYRally superstar Sebastien Loeb (9

titles) was chosen to run this custom-built Peugeot up Colorado’s Pikes Peak in 2013 to challenge the record time of 9:46.164 set a year earlier by Rhys Millen. Loeb crushed it, making the 12.42-mile (19.9 km) run in 8:13.878.

The French Peugeot had to straighten 156 corners while climbing to Pikes Peak’s summit. The video is amazing (insert it), as there is no guardrail along the route on which most of the racing Unser clan have proven themselves champions through the years.

The modified 208 is what Peugeot

called an “out-and-out endurance racing prototype” with a 3.2-liter twin-turbo V6 that creates 875 horsepower in a car that weighs just 875 kilograms (1,929 lbs.) for a 1:1 ratio. It featured a six-speed manual transmission, carbon brakes and 2-meter wide wing.

Performance? Peugeot says the Pikes Peak car does 0-62 mph in 1.8 seconds and 0-150 mph in seven seconds.

The 4-wheel-drive racer was built on a tubular chassis with a mid-rear engine position and the driver and steering wheel just to the left of center for balance. There’s a special push-rod suspension and underbody tray to provide downforce, along with the wing.

THE MODELAutoart’s composite diecast model is

both simple and complex and features opening doors that reveal its sparse safety-conscious interior.

The racer is bathed in a matte black finish with the only markings being the broad Peugeot decal atop the windshield and the same on its giant rear wing with what looks to be monstrous carbon fiber and metal struts supporting it and being based in a tubular support system inside the rear window. There you can see the suspension system and that horsey

engine with its bulging carbon fiber ducts linked to the roof’s air scoop.

There are head and taillights, plus a chrome trim line running from the windshield’s base in the A-pillar to just beyond the rear window.

The Peugeot features a hulking nose spoiler that looks as if it’d scoop up any wildlife along the way, plus aero panels along the car’s sides with silver bolts visible and an exhaust port on each.

Massive slicks are labeled Michelins and are housed on impressive black multi-spoke race wheels. You can see through them to the giant metallic brake rotors and gold Brembo-labeled calipers.

Inside the nose is a huge radiator that cooled this beast, but there are few other trim pieces like mirrors or chrome door handles. The exception are four chrome hinges for the rear quarter panels and roof so that in the on-track version those can easily be popped off.

Inside is a stark black interior with race seat, thick three-spoke race steering wheel and an electronic readout screen bolted to the dash. Some chrome controls are visible on the bulked up console with wires pouring from it and there’s a fire canister inside, just in case.

This Peugeot looks ready to race and in black looks as beastly as it truly was!

10 Scale Auto DC • February/March 2017

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