1/30/04 UPDATE: The 2004 Minichamps product list was posted this morning. Highlights include a 1/43 scale Jody Scheckter Wolf WR1, a Jim Clark Cortina, various vintage Benetton and Williams F1 cars and (thankfully) 1/18 scale Yardley McLarens for Revson and Hulme. Their new 2004 F1 program will be released at a later date, along with other racing cars (Daytona, Sebring, etc). We'll be reviewing the 400 odd new pieces over 45 pages of listings over the next few days and will post our pre order list in early February (that's next week already!).
Pictured above is the previously announced 1983 LeMans winning Rothmans Porsche 956 of Al Holbert, Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood. As you can see, there are no 'phony' markings covering up the flanks where 'restricted' advertising actually appeared. A 'First Quarter 2004' release date is listed. That means it could come any time between now and summer. We'll keep you posted. Reserve one for $79.95 plus shipping.
1/29/04 UPDATE: Full photo sets of all this week's new Minichamps arrivals have been posted to the New Die Cast page. We are taking orders for the Donohue McLaren M19 F1 car and will ship as soon as our restock arrives.
Minichamps is due to announce more than 400 new releases for 2004/2005 (and 2006?) on Friday. We will post the highlights as soon as we can digest the info. And, yes - we will accept advance orders.
1/28/04 EVENING UPDATE: Like we said this morning, some great new stuff arrived from Minichamps today. We'll be posting additional photos of the models seen above sometime tomorrow. Click on the images for a closer look.
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1/28/04 UPDATE: We've got another great book bargain to tell you about: 'Formula 1 Yearbook 2003-2004' has just arrived. This slick, full color coffee table book is priced at just $19.95. They were a quick sell out last year, so dial recklessly.
These DVD's have been out of stock for quite a while, so you may have missed them: Bullitt ($19.98) and the 2000 Formula One Review ($19.95) are now back in stock.
The Minichamps models listed above have just arrived. Our first shipment of Donohue M19's are spoken for, but we're taking reservations for our restock, which should arrive shortly.
Our Saturday Matinee this week is 'The Speed Merchants'. We'll start running it in our back room around noon. Bring your own folding chairs and popcorn.
1/27/04 AFTERNOON UPDATE: Some additions to our Memorabilia Section include this autographed 8 x 10 glossy of Mark Donohue SOLD in the '69 Daytona 24 Hours winning Penske Lola T70 Coupe (SOLD) and some TWR Jaguar Memorabilia from the team's former US headquarters.
1/27/04 UPDATE: The final 1/18 scale GMP Vintage Midget has arrived. it's the Curtis Offy Midget driven by 'Ted Tappett' at Riverside Park Speedway in the late 1940's. 'Ted Tappett' was actually the pseudonym used by Phil Walters, who later became an accomplished road racer, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring with Briggs Cunningham in 1953. $79.95. More photos HERE.
1/23/04 UPDATE: We haven't added many new Brumm 1/43s lately but we were impressed with the simple elegance of their series of Auto Union Typ C Streamliners. Three different versions are available ($19.95 each). More photos on the New Die Cast page.
GMP's FINAL release in their Vintage Midget Series is scheduled to arrive next week. It's the Number 8 car of Phil Walters, aka 'Ted Tappett'. Before Walters joined up with Briggs Cunningham and won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1953, he successfully raced midgets at Riverside Park Speedway in New York under the pseudonym 'Ted Tappett' where he became the boyhood idol of future legend Dan Gurney in the late 1940's. Whether or not you've been collecting this series, this piece would make a handsome addition to your collection, due to its classic post-war styling and the unique career of its driver. $79.95 plus shipping. More information on Phil Walters HERE.
1/22/04 EVENING UPDATE: New arrivals from Minichamps are featured today on our New Die Cast page.
1/21/04 EVENING UPDATE: A couple of months ago, Speed TV aired an excellent documentary called 'Jackie Stewart: The Flying Scot'.That film, produced by JYS's youngest son Mark, is now available on DVD at the introductory price of $29.95 plus shipping. Reserve now for February delivery.
Our new Racing DVD page is now online HERE. It lists titles currently available and some additional programs we will be offering later this winter. We're constantly on the lookout for new DVDs. Check back often.
Our 'TMC Saturday Matinee' will begin around noon this Saturday and will feature several old racing films, including 'Nine Days in Summer' and 'Circuit'. Bring your own chairs and popcorn.
JUST $24.95 PLUS SHIPPING!1/21/04 UPDATE: The 2003 LeMans Yearbooks are in stock for just $24.95 plus shipping. Pre-orders ship via UPS today. 'Local' customers will receive dheir phone calls shortly.
More info later today.
1/20/04 UPDATE: The 2003 LeMans Yearbooks are scheduled to arrive here at TMC on Wednesday. This year's book is available at the remarkably low price of just $24.95 plus shipping - less than half the European (and regular US) price structure. With Bentley's popular win in last year's 24 Hours, it's a good year to start your collection if you're unfamiliar with this great book.
This morning, we received some good news regarding some DVD titles we know you'll like. Stop back tomorrow and we'll fill you in.
We'll also give you the line up for this week's 'Saturday Matinee' of old racing films in the back room.
1/19/04 UPDATE: In February, GMP will launch their eagerly anticipated series of highly detailed 1/35 scale P-51D Mustang fighters in the colors of some of America's top World War II aces. Col. Bud Anderson's 'Old Crow', produced in a limited edition of just 1,000 pieces, will be the first release. It will be followed in the 'second quarter 2004' by Chuck Yeager's 'Glamourous Glen III'. Each of these models feature functional landing gear, rudder, ailerons, canopies and gun access doors. An optional Diorama Base ($49.95) will also be available.
Col. Anderson, now in his 80's, occasionally flies a restored 'Old Crow' (owned by Jack Roush!) at air shows around the country.
GMP is technically 'sold out' of this inaugural release, but TMC has a limited quantity available for the issue price of $149.95 plus shipping. We are also accepting reservations for the 'Glamourous Glen III' at the same price.
More photos HERE.
If you prefer a mahogany model of the P-51, we have the Glamourous Glen III - autographed by Chuck Yeager - in stock for $225.00 plus shipping.
We'll update you with other interesting future releases from GMP later this week.
1/16/04 UPDATE: We spotted a great new book during our travels last week. It's 'TWR Jaguar Prototype Racers' by Leslie F. Thurston. It covers both the Group C (Silk Cut) and IMSA GTP (Castrol) Jaguars of the 1980s. Our first shipment is due the end of the month. Reserve now for $49.95 plus shipping.
Today we've launched a new Art Notes page for those of us who are interested in motorsport art, and driver signed limited edition prints. The first entry features a new Colin Carter print due in a few weeks along with a very hard to find secondary market print by NA Watts and a remarqued, Phil Hill signed print from Alan Fearnley.
1/15/04 UPDATE: 'Memories of Ayrton' by Christopher Hilton is back in stock for $29.95 plus shipping. As we approach the 10th anniversary in May of the death of one of the all time great drivers, we'll be offering the best of the commemorative items that are currently in the works. We saw a couple of those items while we were in the UK last week, and will keep you advised of their progress.
Minichamps's
1/43 scale Bentley Speed 8 models from LeMans 2003 are on their
way to the US. Last year's LeMans winner was a quick sell out,
so we advise that you get your pre order for the #7 car in early.
The #8 car should be here next week, with the winner right behind
it. $44.95 each.
The 2003 LeMans Yearbook should be here by the end of next week as well. We are still offering copies at $24.95 plus shipping which is less than HALF the European price. Don't pass this bargain up!
Also expected from Minichamps shortly is a new book called 'Minichamps: The Passion of Model Cars, Volume #1'. This valuable 160 page guide is the Volume 1 of the famouse 'Japanese book' that most of you hard-core Minichamps collectors have tried to get your hands on lately. I'm told the text will be in English, but I thought I saw a lot of Japanese characters in the copy I flipped through in the UK last week. Of course, I was jet lagged. Regardless, the photos and information in this book make it a must have for Minichamps collectors. We hope to have them by the end of the month. $29.95 plus shipping.
We're being told that this book does not replace the 'complete' Minichamps book that has been in the works for several years. The latest release date on that one is 'mid- 2004' (hopefully that doesn't mean mid-21st Century).
We posted information on three new Carousel 1 releases for the first quarter of 2004 in the box above. The Donohue Eagle is bound to be a quick seller, along with the Rahal Porsche. Reserve now!
1/12/04 UPDATE: Back from a quick trip across the Pond to meet with suppliers and see what their plans are for 2004. Some great stuff headed our way this year, stay tuned. Today's new arrivals include the 2003 FIA Formula One Review on DVD ($29.95), and Peter Wright's long awaited book 'Ferrari Formula 1' ($89.95). Outstanding!
We'll be filling you in on some other new items later this week, including the status of 'The Life of Senna'.
Stop by often.
1/5/04 UPDATE: I'll be out of the office for a few days but Jeff will be here to handle your orders and answer your questions while I'm gone. He'll be covering for me this Saturday, so it's a good time for you slot car guys to stop by and talk about what's new in that segment of the hobby. We hope to see the first Monogram Corvette Grand Sports soon.
If you received a phone call regarding a merchandise pickup in the past few weeks and haven't been able to stop by, I would appreciate it if you could stop by or call with payment instructions by Monday, January 12. After that date, we may have to return your item to inventory or offer it to someone else.
Thanks.
Starting this Saturday, January 10, we will
be screening old racing videos in our slot car room from 1pm to
3pm. Bring a folding chair!
1/2/04 UPDATE: 2004 started with a smile as the latest creation from Automotive Folk Artist Stu Povick arrived today. Check it out!
Congratulations to Grant Ranby of New Zealand for winning a $50 TMC Gift Certificate in our New Year's Day Kickoff Contest. TMC ships world wide, which is extremely attractive considering the cheap US Dollar!
