Here's to 2018!

First of all, a very Happy New Year to all of our readers! It's hard to believe that it is already 2018, but there is plenty to look forward to in the motoring world this year – not to mention a fair few milestone anniversaries to celebrate. 

First, let's take a look at some iconic events that will be celebrating big birthdays this year. Goodwood's annual Festival of Speed will be marking its 25th anniversary this July. Over the weekend of the 12th to the 15th, along with the usual incredible displays, the Duke of Richmond (formerly Lord March) will choose his top 25 moments from the event's history.

Next month sees 70 years since the meetings that led to the official formation of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). To celebrate this, Darlington Raceway, in South Carolina, will be celebrating 'Seven Decades of NASCAR' for its 2018 season, with a specific nod to the landmark birthday with the Official Throwback weekend of NASCAR, which will be held from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September. 

This summer's Silverstone Classics show will see a number of birthdays in its midst. The Jaguar XJ and the Jaguar XK120 will be celebrating their 50th and 70th anniversaries respectively, whilst the Austin Healey Sprite will be turning 60. Also, marking their diamond jubilee, will be the MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), with many events taking place over the weekend of the 20th to the 22nd of July. The celebrations for BTCC's 60th birthday kicks off this weekend at Autosport International, with a stand enabling fans to get up close to the drivers and a selection of the latest machinery, as well as a number of historic cars from the championship's distinguished past.  

Car Celebrations

Hot Wheels and Chevrolet – 50 years

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the brands' collaboration, and to commemorate the occasion, Chevrolet is releasing a special edition Hot Wheels Edition Camaro. Since the debut of the custom Camaro back in 1968, every generation, and nigh-on every variation, of this model has been replicated in 1:64 scale by Hot Wheels – one variation is even included in our book Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s and 1960s. This car looks to be ideal for automobile fans, and avid toy collectors!

Photo from http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-life/hot-wheels-edition#

The first Lamborghini – 55 years

Marking its first appearance at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963, this year sees the 55th anniversary of the original Lamborghini, the 350GTV. Since then, countless models of the Lamborghini have rolled off the production line, such as the fabulous Urraco and the Murciélago.

Lotus Joins F1 – 60 years

In the Monaco Grand Prix of 1958, Team Lotus made its Formula 1 debut, entering two Type 12s, driven by Cliff Allison and Graham Hill. After placing 6th and 26th respectively, the team took their notes from the race and redesigned the cars based on the success of rival competitors. Two years later, the team entered a Type 18 Lotus, driven by Stirling Moss. Not only is it 60 years since Team Lotus first entered, but it is 55 years since they won their first World Drivers' Championship. Fancy widening your scope of F1 knowledge? Brian Harvey's book Formula One – The Real Score? is just the tome to help you see the sport in a new light. 

Corvette – 65 years

Designed by Harley Earl, this American car was the first all-fibreglass-bodied sports car built in the United States. There have been many changes to the Corvette over the past 65 years, and they are still as popular today as ever. If you're considering purchasing a classic Corvette for yourself, make sure you have to hand a copy of Tom Falconer's Corvette C2 Sting Ray 1963-1967 Essential Buyer's Guide – a model which is, coincidentally, turning 55 this year!

Morris Minor – 70 years

As mentioned back in November, Veloce will be marking the 70th anniversary of the iconic Morris Minor with a new book by Ray Newell, Morris Minor – 70 years on the road, which looks in detail at
the development of the wide range of models during a production run that spanned 22 years in the UK. If you're looking to join those who have a Minor in time to celebrate its platinum anniversary, grab a copy of Morris Minor & 1000 Essential Buyer's Guide, also by Ray Newell, to help you find the perfect example!

Porsche 356 – 70 years

Porsche's first production vehicle will also be turning 70 this year, and Brian Long's The Book of the Porsche 356 will tell you all you need to know about the coupé that helped launch the marque. 

24 Hours Le Mans – 95 years

May marks 95 years since the first 24 hours of Le Mans. Known as the ultimate endurance race, this event is a true test of man and machine, and has been held every year since 1932, except for the war years. 

Ford Model T – 110 years

110 years ago saw a revolutionary event in the motoring world, with the release of the Ford Model T. Generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, and one that helped to get a large number of people on the road, it's not really surprising that it was name the Car of the Century back in 1999. Veloce publishes Ford Model T – The Essential Buyers Guide for those who want to take the plunge today. 

Ford Motor Company – 115 years

Not only will Ford be celebrating the anniversary of the Model T, the company as a whole will also celebrate it's 115th birthday.
On June 16th, 1903, Henry Ford and 12 stockholders met in Detroit, Michigan to sign and notarise the legal documents, which would help to create the Ford Motor Company. We have many great books relating to all things Ford, but a stand out one is Ford Design in the UK, which details the design work undertaken in the UK, with a focus on the Dunton studio in particular. 

For more great facts from motoring days past, make sure you check out This Day in Automotive History. Author Brian Corey has found a fact or two for each day of the year, which will be fascinating for trivia buffs and general motoring fans alike. 

A MINIATURE FUNCTIONING REPLICA 1932 DUESENBERG BY LOUIS CHENOT

This is remarkable!

No, it's not a real full-size Duesenberg, but rather a beautifully constructed 35" long working model made in 1/6 scale.
Louis Chenot has spent the past ten years building this incredibly detailed 1932 SJ Duesenberg LaGrande dual-cowl phaeton. Not only does it look good, but the engine runs, the lights work, the top mechanism functions and the transmission and driveline are complete. Lou started his research on this project over fifty years ago with the purchase of a book and through the following years collected many drawings and studied a number of Duesenbergs while they were being restored, taking photos and recording dimensions.

Lou's 40 year career was spent as a mechanical engineer. In the 1960's he spent 7 years restoring a vintage 1930 Cadillac convertible that was on the show circuit for years, but now he prefers to work on smaller projects in the comfort of his home shop.
The bodywork is all metal, not fibreglass. Here is the car in Lou's shop before the brass coachwork was primed or painted. Lou is not adverse to remaking a part that doesn't meet his standards. He started over on the especially difficult brass radiator shell nine times.

Here is the engine removed from the model and sitting on its test stand. The transmission is in the foreground.

Most running models are built at larger scales like 1/3 or 1/4. Working in the smaller 1/6 scale magnifies the problems caused by miniaturizing certain parts. Remember that these scale parts are 1/6 as long, 1/6 as high and 1/6 as deep as real parts, making them 1/6 x 1/6 x 1/6 or 1/216th the volume of the original part. By comparison, a 1/3 scale model is 1/27th the volume and a 1/4 scale model is 1/64th the volume. Further complicating the prospect of building a running engine at that size is the fact that fuel molecules and electricity don't scale. It is very difficult to get tiny carburetors and little spark plugs to work like the big ones. A video of Lou starting and running the engine for the first time can be seen below.



More can be seen on this car and some of Lou's other projects here!

Source: Modelling News & Views

MINI MINOR TO ASIA MINOR CORGI MODEL AND CLASSIC CAR OF THE YEAR VOTING REQUEST

The Corgi model will be released before Christmas. More info here!

Nicola West, author of the forthcoming book Mini Minor to Asia Minor – There & Back (due 2012), has made it to the final 20 in the Classic Car of the Year competition with her Morris Mini Minor Deluxe 1961, the subject of the book.






Help Nicola get to the top 5 by voting for the car online and you'll get to see this very vehicle at the Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC on November 11-13th, complete with sand, jerry cans, and its many stickers!

VOTE NOW, and help name the Morris Mini Minor Classic Car of the Year 2011!

Forthcoming! Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back
By Nicola Susanne West

This is the story of an independent trek in a 50-year-old Mini – all the way to the Great Pyramid and back – with no assistance or support crew, to provide much needed funds and publicity for the Willow Foundation.
Inspirational to others, the book includes practical advice on the car preparation and documentation required for such marathon drives, along with photographs of the Mini’s preparation and the amazing journey itself. More info.

MODEL AUTO REVIEW ... REVIEW!

Many thanks to Rod Ward at Model Auto Review for his review of our recent book, Britains Toy Models Catalogues 1970 to 1979. We're glad you liked it!

"For any collector, this will be an indispensable reference guide." – Model Auto Review

CASTING A LOOK OVER TOY CARS

-PRESS RELEASE-

Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s, a new book by Andrew Ralston provides a comprehensive overview of vintage diecast toy cars and the companies that made them during the 1950s and 1960s. A collectors guide on what has become an increasingly popular hobby over the last 25 years.

As well as examining the major names such as Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys and Matchbox (Great Britain), Solido (France), Tekno (Denmark) and Tootsietoy (USA), this book is unique in its coverage of many smaller and more obscure brands, not only from Europe or the USA but from countries as far afield as Japan, Israel and Argentina.

The book provides fascinating insights into the history of individual companies, accompanied by 300 photographs of rare examples, most of them with their original boxes. A further unique feature is the inclusion of a large selection of colourful and evocative illustrations from catalogues and period trade advertisements.

For the newcomer to the hobby, this volume will provide an ideal introduction to the history of the manufacturers active in this field, while experienced collectors will make many new discoveries.

The 128-page book is available now from bookshops or from www.veloce.co.uk.

THE AUTHOR
Andrew Ralston received his first Dinky Toy car, a Riley, when he was about five years old, and ever since has been passionately interested in anything to do with cars. He has built up an extensive collection of models, with a preference for the more unusual items, and has written many articles on the subject for magazines in Britain and the USA. Educated at the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, Andrew is a teacher by profession and has also published numerous textbooks on the English language. He lives in Glasgow with his wife, Hazel, and daughter, Miranda.

CAST YOUR EYE OVER THIS

Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s by Andrew Ralston is well received by Octane magazine this month – "superbly illustrated softback."

VW GOLF GTI SCALEXTRIC TRACK

Ahead of the UK launch of the new Golf GTI on May 22, Volkswagen has constructed a Scalextric track on an epic scale inside a hangar to lend armchair (or office chair) enthusiasts the chance to race the new hot hatch online and against the clock.

The 30ft by 25ft track is the work of a team of 60 modellers and features over 200 scale buildings. It forms the basis for the ‘GTI Project’, a new online game through which you can control the 1:43 scale Golf GTI as it negotiates the hairpins, straights and narrow bridges that make up the track. There’s no need to spend hours setting it up on the living room floor, no potential damage to furniture (and family pets) should you crash at high speed. Simply log onto www.gtiproject.com and you’ll be guided to the virtual workshops of the GTI Project and the track itself.

As with the real thing, too much enthusiasm leads to crashes and lost time. A delicate approach and a little perseverance lead to quick times and your chance to appear on the online global leader board, possibly resulting in universal acclaim from friends and colleagues.

Along the way you can learn more about the new Golf GTI, from its new 2.0-litre TSI engine to the advanced six-speed DSG gearbox, colours, trims and performance information. In addition you can order a brochure or even book a test drive.

Set a particularly quick time and you’ll be entered into the prize draw to stand the chance of winning the opportunity to drive a new Golf GTI for three months.
Source:Volkswagen

Don't forget about the great new Veloce Essential Buyer's Guide reviewed here in Wheelspin, the magazine of the London & Thames Valley VW Club.


Click here for more info about the book.

REVIEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

A couple of great reviews this month from Australian Classic Car!

Tinplate Toy Cars
By Andrew Ralston.
"I suspect many of us remember tinplate toy cars from the 1950s and early 1960s. I certainly do, but sadly each and every one I owned has gone to that large Bandai garage in the sky. Most were based on American vehicles. They tended to be larger than Dinky Toys or die-cast cars, ranging from eight to 16 inches and usually powered by friction-drive mechanisms or electric motors. With radio control still years away, the electrical examples were often operated via a remote control box that also contained the batteries.

The 150 or so tinplate cars featured in this book
are part of a single collection and each one still has its original box. (I’m always amazed when boxes have lasted for so long and I always imagine some poor deprived child who wasn’t allowed to play with the toy). While the collection and therefore the book predominantly features American cars, there are also a small number of European and Japanese cars, as well as a chapter covering tin plate cars made in China and Argentina.
I particularly like the range of tinplate Mercedes and Jaguars.

Each car is treated to a clear photo and informative text. There is also a chart detailing the cars’ estimated prices today, with categories ranging from the
highly affordable (US$50-$100) through to the almost unthinkable (US$5000 and up). An interesting and informative publication."

Click here for more info.

British Woodies from the 1920s to the 1950s
By Colin Peck
"When you think of ‘woodies’ you generally think of American cars, but there was a flourishing British industry as well. While many English woodies didn’t see their way through to the 1970s, they are now attracting real interest. This new publication in the Veloce ‘Those were the days…’ series describes how the shooting-brake evolved until it reached its
peak in the post WWII period, when steel was in short supply. It wasn’t limited to Morris Minor Travellers, either, as almost every manufacturer, large and small, offered a woodie in its order
books. Apart from the mainstream, manufacturers as diverse as Allard, Lea-Francis and Alvis offered woodies. There was also an industry in replacing rusted bodies with new timber bodywork, and
it was not unusual to
see a Rolls-Royce or Bentley so fitted. It was sobering to read that “the average recommended period between major re-varnishing was just two years if a decent level of weather protection for the wood was to be achieved”. Most woodie owners didn’t undertake the re-varnishing at all and sadly many woodie bodies rotted away in 10 years or less. This publication is as delightful as the cars themselves and contains a fascinating collection of period black-and-white photos as well as colour photos of restored examples. Highly recommended."

Click here for more info.

BALERS AND COMBINES HARVESTED TOGETHER!

-PRESS RELEASE-

The Pocket Guide to Britains Farm Model Balers & Combines 1967-2007 is a new book by David Pullen – a man with a life-long passion for farming and a life-long passion for collecting models. Farm model collecting is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages and Britains are a leading manufacturer with a long and distinctive history of producing these models. This brightly illustrated book is the first comprehensive guide for those interested in collecting these miniatures.
Published by Veloce at £16.99 in hardback and containing almost 500 colour photographs including six on each model from different angles, Pocket Guide to Britains Farm Model Balers & Combines 1967-2007 describes all the baler and combine models produced by Britains since they were first added to its farm model range 40 years ago, and also provides details of their development in 176 carefully laid out pages.
As well as standard models, this includes details and photographs of prototype and rare models. The history is complemented by a catalogue describing the main features, differences, issue dates and codes of each model produced. Each is illustrated with six colour photographs showing the model from different angles and also showing the issue packaging.

Full of infectious enthusiasm for his subject, David Pullen describes how he has collected many of these models over the years and researched their development. The book includes a long section describing how the range developed, plus details of prototypes and some of the manufacturing background. Also, to allow the reader to identify different model variations, catalogues are included in which individual models are examined – giving for each colour photographs, their main features and issue packaging.
The Pocket Guide to Britains Farm Model Balers & Combines 1967-2007 is available now from bookshops or from www.veloce.co.uk.
As ToyCollector.com said: "... the book has it all, each item is photographed from different angles, it gives you information about the actual baler or combine and then lots of specifications. It is a very comprehensive work covering this subject that just seems to have exploded after the turn of the century."
Click here for more info about the book.

THE WHO MAGIC BUS DIECAST MODEL

A limited edition, 1:43 scale model of a unique 1965, split-screen Volkswagen Transporter van with special The Who Magic Bus branding will be available to order online or from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles network of dedicated Van Centres from later this week.

The Who Magic Bus Volkswagen Transporter van was created for a fundraising competition last year organised by UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) and legendary British rock band, The Who.

Only 1,000 of the 1:43 scale die-cast models of this vehicle are being produced, of which 100 will be available in the UK, at a retail price of £40. A donation of €2 from each model sold will go to TCT for children and young people suffering from cancer.

The Who Magic Bus is one of a range of models and toys available from Volkswagen’s Retro Collection of merchandise. Other items include scale models of the current Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range such as the Crafter or Caddy vans, the California campervan (from £13.70), key rings (from £3.90), 1GB USB campervan memory sticks (£15) and a cuddly campervan soft toy (£15). The range will expand again later this year with the addition of a classic T1 Samba-Bus.
Source:Volkswagen/Newspress

A new diecast toy cars book is coming very soon from Veloce!

Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s by Andrew Ralston.
Collecting vintage diecast toy cars has become an increasingly popular hobby over the last 25 years, and this book provides a comprehensive overview of the companies that made these toys during the 1950s and 1960s.
As well as examining the major names such as Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys and Matchbox (Great Britain), Solido (France), Tekno (Denmark) and Tootsietoy (USA), this book is unique in its coverage of many smaller and more obscure brands, not only from Europe or the USA but from countries as far afield as Japan, Israel and Argentina.
The book provides fascinating insights into the history of individual companies, accompanied by 300 photographs of rare examples, most of them with their original boxes. A further unique feature is the inclusion of a large selection of colourful and evocative illustrations from catalogues and period trade advertisements.
For the newcomer to the hobby, this volume will provide an ideal introduction to the history of the manufacturers active in this field, while experienced collectors will make many new discoveries.
Click here for more info.

Delectable Collectables

Enjpy this clip of tinplate toy movie cars from the likes of ghostbusters and back to the future. If tinplate cars are your thing you might be interested to know that Veloce Publishing have this new book out..

Tinplate Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s from Japan
THE Collectors guide

By Andrew Ralston

Features

• Many of the toys pictured are so rare that the images have never been published before
• The toys are all drawn from the collection of Bruce Sterling of New York, recognised as one of the world’s top collectors in this field
• The author has been given unique access to this collection for the purposes of this book
• Includes valuable background information on the companies that made these toys
• Features a comprehensive selection of photographs of rare items from many different countries
• All models pictured are in mint condition, with original boxes
• Price guide gives an indication of current values and degree of rarity
• Provides a handy means of manufacturer identification
• An invaluable aid to collectors buying at auction and at toy shows
Description

After the Second World War, Japanese toy makers made tinplate replicas of many American and European cars, often reaching surprising heights of realism. Today, these tin cars are the most desirable of all vintage toys, fetching prices at auction in excess of diecast cars such as Dinky Toys. Seeking out the finest examples of these toys has been a lifelong passion for Bruce Sterling of New York, who has allowed his collection to be pictured in this volume.
150 of the rarest and best toys are shown, all of them in pristine condition with their original boxes. Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, Packard and many other famous American names are represented, in addition to a good selection of European vehicles. All the toys are described in detail and background information is provided about the prototypes on which they are based. A guide to current values is also given. This is a book that will be treasured, not only by specialist collectors, but by all who are passionate about vintage toys and classic vehicles.
Synopsis

Tin toys had been made in Japan before the second World War but they reached new heights of realism in the 1950s. The post-war American occupation of Japan gave Japanese toymakers ready access to the lucrative American toy market and as a result most of the tin toy cars made in this period were based on American vehicles like Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Packards.Like the real things, these tin toys were big. A small one would be around eight inches long, with some of the largest stretching to eighteen inches. As such, tinplate was the ideal medium to capture the look of American styling of the 1950s, a period when size mattered and car manufacturers tried to outdo each other with the extravagance of their designs, the size of their tailfins and the amount of chrome. During this era of consumerism, Japanese toy production was at its peak, with exotically-named manufacturers like Marusan, Bandai, Yonezawa and Alps turning out vast quantities of tin toys. It proved to be a short-lived phase in the history of toy production. By the early 1960s, tin toys were falling out of fashion for various reasons: their sharp edges gave rise to safety concerns; die-cast models were becoming increasingly realistic and sophisticated, with many action features that appealed to children; the development of plastics in the toy industry made tin toys look increasingly old-fashioned. Half a century later, there are very few surviving examples of these magnificent playthings. Bruce Sterling of New York has devoted years to seeking out the very best examples of Japanese tinplate cars and has built up what is probably the world’s finest collection of these toys, every one of them in pristine condition, complete with their original boxes which are works of art in themselves. This book showcases 150 examples of the very rarest tin toy cars, many of them never having been pictured in books or magazines until now. Almost every major American motor manufacturer is represented here, together with a selection of commercial vehicles and a significant number of European cars too. All are illustrated in full colour and described in detail, and fascinating insights are provided into both the real vehicles and the companies who modeled them, together with a guide to rarity and current values. This is a book that will be treasured, not only by specialist collectors, but by all who are passionate about vintage toys and classic vehicles.


For more info click here