Collectibles: Manufacturers unveiling interesting models this year
Thursday, February 15, 2007

By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This is shaping up to be a good year for model collectors, as manufacturers unveil their portfolios for the coming year.

Of course, all the good news has been tempered by the announcement that RC2 is leaving the automotive collectibles business. But the company's final round of products due out this year is sure to make collectors take notice.

At Highway 61, the previously announced 1957 Oldsmobiles in 1:18 scale hit store shelves late last year, and they've already been snapped up. That's why demand is expected to be high for a beautiful Dodge Challenger Concept Car that's on its way, also done in 1:18 with the usual movable steering, opening hood and doors, detailed interior, chassis and engine compartment.

Interestingly, only one of the colors in which it comes is accurate: the Challenger Red of the real concept car. The rest of the colors -- Sublime Green, Panther Pink and Plum Crazy -- are just speculation at this point, unless Highway 61 knows something that I don't.

This must be the year for 1957 Oldsmobiles because Yat Ming has a beautiful 1:18 convertible coming out. It also will have a 1970 AMC Rebel Machine in two versions: a 1966 blue Mercury Cyclone with leather seats and a 1960 Chrysler 300F with leather seats.

GMP is always good for some interesting models, and this year is no different. Already, two 1:24 1967 Mustang convertibles are on pre-order. There also are two very rare 1970 GTO convertibles in black and red, 350 copies each, that are on sale now.

West Coast Precision Diecast has its beautiful 1:24 1964 Chevy Impala SS hardtop, a worthy addition to its lineup of Chevies.