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Expert
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Location: Connecticut | I haven't been able to discuss this until now, as I was sworn to secrecy. Back in early 2008, the Danbury Mint was looking for another car to add to their already impressive collection of highly detailed 1/24th scale die cast models. They were interested in making a model based on my Sunflower Yellow 58 Plymouth ! I had earlier purchased their 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible and was impressed not only by the level of accuracy, but also by the working steering linkage, doors and trunk lid. The email from the Mint said that they had seen pictures of the Plymouth on my website, The Finland Gazette (http://home.comcast.net/~ronbo97), and wanted to photograph it for possible model creation. They already had the body shell from their very popular 58 Fury and ‘Christine’ models, so they were going to reuse that shell for a third 58 Plymouth model. After gaining assurance that this wasn’t a scam, and that they really were from the Danbury Mint, a date was arrived at that would work for me as well as the rep from Danbury and their photographer. Over an hour was spent photographing the car from every angle, using a sizing stick to make sure that the scale was retained as they scaled it down to 1/24th size. There was a lot of time spent on the interior and the engine, as those would have to be made special for this model. I was asked to keep this quiet until the project had been approved and the model had been produced. Because of overseas production difficulties, creation of the first prototype was delayed until the December 2008. I got to see a subsequent prototype in March 2009. They asked me to identify any problems that I noticed with the model. I was already aware that they were going with the Power Pak (4 bbl carburetor) with dual exhaust for the 318 engine. My car has a 2 bbl carb with single exhaust. I wrote up a page of discrepancies, which they appreciated and sought to correct before the final models were created. The June 2009 production release was a happy occasion for me. It was gratifying to see that my twelve year restoration project had been given some recognition. Pictures: First pic shows photographer from Danbury Mint using a 'sizing stick' to assure accuracy when they scale the car down to 1/24th size.Second pic shows first prototype. Note incorrect color of package shelf. In the production model, it's been changed to black. Also the color is a bit off. The production model has corrected this.
Edited by ronbo97 2009-05-30 9:51 AM
(Photog with Sizing Stick small.jpg)
(DM Yellow Plymouth - Rear smaller.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Photog with Sizing Stick small.jpg (260KB - 97 downloads) DM Yellow Plymouth - Rear smaller.jpg (140KB - 82 downloads)
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Expert
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Location: Connecticut | Not sure why pics are so unsharp. I'll look into this and upload some revised shots. |
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Expert
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Location: new york | OK Ron nice work! Now when are they going to do a 58 conv in Rose poly matalic ?I'm going to order one if I use your name do I get a discount! Only kidding! HAPPY MOTORING! Victor... |
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Location: Colorado | Very cool Ron! Your sunflower yellow Plymouth is gorgeous, a great color for that car. |
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Veteran
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Location: Napa, California | Ron, Here's a coincidnce. Saw you post this AM and just opened a Danbery Mint letter with your car in it. Congratulations. It looks great!! |
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Account Suspended
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Location: At "The Rock" in upper East Tennessee | Congratulations Ron. She is a super nice car and a great example for them to have picked. |
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Expert
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Location: Bama | I got that letter too from Danbury Mint. You must be proud!! |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Ny | Hi Ron! Long time no see! I am glad to find that things are going so well for you, and am excited/happy that your vehicle was chosen by the Danbury Mint. Congrats! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6203
Location: Big pimpin' | Yessir Ron, your car is lookin' good! Danbury Mint couldn't have chosen a finer example for their model....Congrats! Well deserved after 12 years.... |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Kingston Springs , TN | Congrats Ron! Will the car be at Carlisle? |
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Veteran
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | Wow, that looks so cool. Its the closest model as far as color to my 58. So will this model and color be available to purchase?.....Anth.
(GetAttachfinst.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- GetAttachfinst.jpg (31KB - 91 downloads)
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Member
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Location: Greensboro, North Carolina | hi ron your a lucky man to have your car made into a model. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Congrats Ron - you must be proud! Really cool, plese post more pictures. |
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Expert
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Location: Connecticut | Hey Everyone -Thanks for the compliments ! I received the production version of the car on Saturday. Just about all of the issues I identified on the prototype sample have been resolved. They even changed the air cleaner to resemble the 2bbl version. So this is a really good example of 58 Belvedere for fussy folks like me. It was great working with the folks from Danbury. Anth61: Is your yellow Belvedere also a 2dr HT ? Please post more pics.
Edited by ronbo97 2009-05-31 11:48 PM
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Veteran
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | My car is a 4 door h/top, they dont make 4 dr h/tops in models so the coupe and color is the closest to mine. The color on my 58 is called Sunburst yellow which was the Australian color as they were assembled and painted with local colors.
(IMGP3931.JPG)
Attachments ---------------- IMGP3931.JPG (129KB - 84 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand. | Ron! Dude! Way to go! Not many folks can claim that a particular model in their cabinet is styled off THEIR actual car in the garage. That must make all the hard work more than worthwhile! Congratulations!
Glenn. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | Ron-
I had been watching updates of your restoration for quite a few years, and must agree that it is a well deserved honor!
---John |
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Expert
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Location: DFW, TX | That is amazing! Congratulations on having all your hard work recognized! |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Southern California | very cool Ron, congrats! Just a show of hands who thinks it would be cool if the danbury mint made a replica of the 57 buried miss belvedere in the original gold over white combo? I'd buy one, Danbury could sell a ton of those especially since it was such a historical event, Not trying to hijack your thread Ron just wondering. |
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Elite Veteran
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| Gee, I like that color. Anyone know of one for sale?
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Expert
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Location: Connecticut | Someone asked for pics of the full size version. Here they are.
(Ply Front x-small.jpg)
(Ply Side View x-small.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Ply Front x-small.jpg (264KB - 83 downloads) Ply Side View x-small.jpg (281KB - 80 downloads)
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Expert
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| ronbo97 - 2009-06-08 10:53 PM
Someone asked for pics of the full size version. Here they are.
Hey. beautiful car and great story!!! Thats so cool they came out and spent all that time to
make a model of your car.... thats sweet!!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | In 1959 GM decided to break with tradition and give their customers Cadillac styling for the price of a Chevy. I'd even argue the Chevy buyer got better styling in 59, and for half the price !
1958 was definitely Plymouth's year. Hard to imagine a better looking car for perfect aesthetic balance than this one. Ron, I love your car. The soft, understated color only enhances its beauty and presence. Like the wry wit of Mark Twain versus that of Don Rickles, I'll take the soft and robust approach over the red and white paint any time.
Beautiful version of the finest Plymouth design ever built.
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Congratulations on this great event. I know what you mean about trying to keep something like this secret.
George
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Veteran
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Location: Los Angeles, Ca | Congrats, Ron! As a toy designer, I too know all too well the difficulty of keeping these kinds of things a secret. (went through it last year with my Belvedere being decorated as a Hot Wheels vehicle, and am currently keeping my mouth shut on another similar type of secret) Hopefully they are giving you a bunch of first shots (pre production parts) and final production samples for your collection... |
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Expert
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Location: Connecticut | Thanks again everyone. The Mint was generous with the freebees as well as samples of the finished product. I hadn't seen the brochure that they produced for the car until someone put it up for sale in an ebay auction ! |
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