Updated 2/29/00: The new Doug Nye book on the McLaren F1, 'Driving Ambition' is now in stock. This is the European edition, with poster (folded) included, priced at $69.00 plus shipping.
The 1/18 scale Scott
Pruett Motorcraft Mustang should arrive at TMC an about a
week. A few cars are available from our first shipment of GMP's first Road
Racing release. Order now at the issue price of $74.95.
Updated 2/27/00: We cleaned up our Hard
to Find Die Cast page this afternoon, adding a rare Onyx Jaguar
to the list.
Updated 2/26/00: Here's our report from last week's Michael and Graham Turner London Exhibition. A new Michael Turner print of Jim Clark winning the 1963 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa was unveiled. We'll have them here at TMC in March. Pre-orders are now being accepted.
Good news / bad news for book collectors: The Autocourse 1999/2000 CART Annuals ($34.95) will arrive at TMC this week. Reserve your copy today. US release of Alan Henry's '50 Years of World Championship Grand Prix Racing' has been pushed back until May.
Updated 2/25/00: Back from Michael and Graham Turner's London Exhibition. We'll upload some photos from the star studded opening later today. While we were away, several new 1/18 scale models have arrived at TMC:
-Michael Schumacher / Ferrari F399 from Mattel ($59.95)
-David Coulthard / McLaren Mercedes MP4/14 from Minichamps ($64.95)
-BMW V12 LMR / #15 1999 LeMans Winner from Kyosho ($49.95)
Updated 2/18/00: Our final new product update of the week involves
the GMP model of A.J. Foyt's Bowles Seal Fast Special, the second
release in their 1/12 Scale Dirt Champ Car Series. Although the
piece is not scheduled for release until September, GMP is now
sold out. We're seeing other dealers offer this car at a premium,
but TMC still has a few slots open at the issue price of $299.95.
Updated 2/17/00: Vintage Power's spectacular new 1/6 brass replica of the mighty 255 Offenhauser is now in stock at TMC. This fabulous hand assembled model has been produced in a Limited Edition of 504. Stop by our Gallery and take a look, or you can view photos HERE.
With all the new arrivals and product announcements this week, we haven't had much time to go over the 2000 Minichamps Catalog we told you about. For F1 fans, it looks like the BAR situation will come to a positive conclusion. Rumored to have been completely cancelled, the BAR Presentation Cars (in their original separate Lucky Strike and 555 liveries) are to be released in both 1/18 and 1/43 scale, along with the two 'Zipper' cars in their final 1999 race colors (also in 1/18 and 1/43). An added bonus will be a BAR Test Car, done up in the original British American Racing blue livery as it appeared for initial testing. Both scales on this one too.
When will they be released? Well, the dates are still up in the air (of course), but Minichamps has been showing prototypes of the Zipper cars at international toy shows in recent weeks, so hopefully they will be 'on the water' soon.
Since it no longer looks like the Presentation cars will be limited editions, we will again accept preorders for the whole BAR lineup. All previous preorders are still on file, even though the ink is fading and the paper is turning yellow.
The 2000 Minichamps Catalog also features a stunning 1/18 scale Porsche 904 and, as we hinted at earlier, some giant 1/8 scale McLaren MP4/14's and BMW V12 LMR's. We've been unable to get enough reliable information to add to our original comment, but hope to find out more while we're in England for Michael and Graham Turner's London Exhibition next week.
About the Michael Turner painting featured at the top of this page: We're very pleased that Augie Pabst has agreed to sign copies of a new Limited Edition Turner print featuring the Scarab at Meadowdale in 1959. We'll have a formal announcement in about a week.
One short Exoto
footnote: We've decided to hold our price on the Grand
Sport Prototype at it's original $149.95 issue price, even
though Exoto has declared that the piece is 'retired' and has
raised their price to $349.95. However, we reserve the right to
change our price without notice.
Updated 2/16/00: A few days ago, we mentioned that Paul Van Valkenburgh's classic book 'The Unfair Advantage' will be republished in an updated and expanded edition this summer. We can now confirm that another Van Valkenburgh classic, 'Chevrolet=Racing:14 Years of Raucus Silence' is due for re-release later this month!
We are now accepting orders at $45 a copy, not the $300-$400 you used to have to cough up for a First Edition.
Yesterday, we had a conversation with David Donohue regarding 'The Unfair Advantage', and here are some details: A new Foreward will be co-written by David and his younger brother, who will also write an updated final chapter. A selection of new photos will also be included in this Edition, which is expected to be published in the same basic format as the First Edition.
No firm price or release date information yet, but it sounds just great.
As promised, here is the list of 2000 releases
in Revell-Monogram's revived Creative
Masters Series of 1/20 scale models. PreOrders for GT-40's
are coming in fast. Make sure you order early on this one!
Updated 2/15/00: Our Vitesse shipment has arrived with the 1999 LeMans winning BMW and a few other treats. See the list HERE.
The 1/18 scale Tony
Stewart / Home Depot IRL car from Maisto is also back in stock.
Just $39.95 while they last.
Updated 2/14/00: I'll post the entire list of new 1/20 scale models from Creative Masters later this week, but in our opinion the hit of this line will be the 1969 LeMans winning #6 Gulf-Wyer Ford GT40, scheduled for release in June 2000.
This latest version of chassis #1075 will be produced (as will the rest of the Creative Masters line) in a Limited Edition of just 3000 pieces. You may recall that in the first incarnation of the CM series, chassis #1075 was produced as the 1968 LeMans winning #9 version.
In recent years, the #9 car has sold in the $600-$700 range on the secondary market. We sold one a bit above that mark about a year and a half ago. This new version will be offered initially in the $130-$150 range, but with the increase in interest in 'larger' scale models in recent years, 3000 GT40 models should sell rather quickly. TMC has reserved as many of the new #6 car as we possibly can, but we strongly urge that you place your order quickly for this one.
If you're not familiar with the Creative Masters Ford GT40, you can view photos of the one we sold last year HERE.
One other bit of news has been confirmed: Mark Donohue's highly sought after biography, 'The Unfair Advantage' will (finally) be republished in an expanded format later this year. Price and release date are TBA for now, but we'll keep you posted.
Couldn't get in on that 'dot com' IPO? Instead of buying a First Edition 'Unfair Advantage', order one (or two) of the Creative Masters GT40's! It may not be a bad move. And it will look great in your collection.
This is setting up to be a vintage year
for large scale die cast collectors!!!
Updated 2/12/00: We've posted sets of photos detailing the 1/18 scale Mustangs from GMP's Road Racing Classics Series: the Scott Pruett Motorcraft Mustang and the Dorsey Schroeder Whistler Mustang. You can start on their individual pages or you can go through all 5 pages of GMP Road Racing Classics photos from the Prototype Page.
We're accepting pre-orders for the whole range of GMP/Peachstate die cast models.
We heard confirmation late last week that Revell will revive it's Creative Masters series of 1/20 scale classic sports and racing cars. Star of that series should be a new version of the two time LeMans winning Gulf Wyer Ford GT40 chassis 1075. Details next week.
We also just received a copy of the new
Minichamps 2000, Vol 1 catalog from Nurnburg. Would you believe
1/8 scale BMW LeMans Winners and McLaren MP4/14's? Stay tuned,
we'll have more information for you next week.
Updated 2/10/00:
GMP has just sent prototypes of four new road racing series models
that are due for release this spring. They are the two Lola T-70
roadsters of Gurney and Donohue and the first two TransAm/IMSA
GTO releases.
We've uploaded a series of photos covering the two Lolas and should have photos of the Mustangs up by the weekend.
We think you'll agree that the new Lolas are just fantastic, especially with a pre-order price of just $74.95!!!!!
Check them out HERE.
Some interesting new releases from the Vitesse Group are on their way to TMC including the 1/43 scale Onyx BMW V12 LMR that won the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1999, a beautiful little 1/43 scale Martini Racing Ford Focus WRC from Skid, a 1/24 scale Mick Doohan 1998 World 500 cc Champion Honda, a 1/43 scale Onyx Toyota GT One that ran LeMans in 1999 and the latest two releases in Quartzo's 1/43 scale World Champion Series featuring Denny Hulme and Jochen Rindt.
View photos of all of the new 'inbound' Vitesse models HERE.
Updated 2/9/00:
Mobilia Magazine has declared Exoto's
1/18 scale Corvette Grand Sport as their 'Model of the Year'.
Three versions are now in stock at TMC, including the 'retired'
Nassau Prototype, listed at $349.95 on Exoto's website, but still
available here for much, much less.
The first two racing versions, from the 1963 Nassau Speedweeks, are also in stock at TMC. They are the #80 car of Dick Thompson and the #65 car driven by Jim Hall, Augie Pabst and John Cannon.
All three Grand Sports are priced at $149.95 each at TMC while current supplies last.
We've listed a couple of very collectible Minichamps models at below market prices on our 'Hard to Find' page.
Doug Nye's highly touted new book on the
McLaren road car, 'Driving Ambition: The
Official Inside Story of the McLaren F1', will be available
at TMC next week. This is the European edition, shipped with a
poster folded inside. 'Driving Ambition', co authored by Ron Dennis
and Gordon Murray, features more than 600 photos and illustrations
over 272 pages. Price is $69 plus shipping.
Updated 2/8/00: Kyosho continues to impress with their line of 1/43 scale road cars. Two new Lotus Europas are now in stock. You can view the photos HERE. Check out the pin stripes. Neat stuff!
Speaking of Kyosho, most of their Cobras (both 1/18 and 1/43) are now listed as 'Out of Production'. We have a few 1/18 427 Cobras in stock, along with some 1/43 427s and Cobra Coupes. If you don't have one of the 1/43 Coupes, this may be your last chance.
Our shipment of Terrific
Stuff Videos arrived from the UK today. All titles are now
in stock.
Updated 2/7/00: As you may have seen above, our research into the Mark Donohue Driver Suit has taken us to a point where we have uncovered overwhelming evidence that this is the suit that Donohue wore when he won the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Read the whole story HERE.
The final release in Action's 1/43 scale
1999 CART / FedEx Champ Car Series
arrived today. It's Michael Andretti's
Swift Ford. Photos HERE.
Pre-orders ship Tuesday and cars are now available for $29.95
each. Only one car remains unaccounted for in this series, the
1/18 scale Gil deFerran Reynard. We'll post information when we
get it.
Updated 2/3/00: This week we've begun a major facelift to our Book and Video sections. We invite you to take a look at some of the new pages we've uploaded to those sections the past couple of days.
We hear that Action's 1/43 scale 1999 Michael
Andretti Swift is on the way. This will complete the 1/43 scale
1999 CART / Fed Ex Championship Car
Collection. We should be shipping our pre-orders by early
next week. The 1/18 scale Andretti
car is selling quickly. Reserve yours today!
With the release of the Dan Gurney Bardahl Special Lola T70 just weeks away, GMP/Peachstate has released photos of their first 1/18 scale McLaren M8 molds along with an announcement that the first M8A Can Am cars will be available in late summer.
Of course we'll have them!! Check out the preliminary information HERE.
Updated 2/2/00: In March, TMC will release a great new video featuring
full color coverage of the 1965
Times Grand Prix at Riverside. In the pre-Can Am era, the
Times GP was the premier unlimited sports car race in the world.
The '65 race featured an incredible field, led by Jim Clark, Bruce
McLaren, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, Graham
Hill and many, many other great drivers of the day. For full details
and advance order information, click HERE.
Updated 2/1/00: Kyosho's 1/18 scale BMW V12 LMR's are expected to arrive within the month. Advance orders for the 1999 Sebring and LeMans winners are now being taken. Details and Photos HERE.
Speaking of Kyosho, their beautiful 1/43 scale Lotus Europa is scheduled to arrive later this week. We'll have (JPS) black and BRG available for $24.95 each.
All pre-orders of Action's 1/18 scale Michael Andretti Swift ship today and tomorrow.We now have additional cars in stock for $79.95 each.
We also received a few 1/18 and 1/43 scale Minichamps cars from the 1999 Formula One Collection, including Zanardi, Hakkinen and others. Check out the list HERE.
One of the best lines of racing videos on the market today are the Terrific Stuff Videos produced in England. We have a complete restock of TSV's due to arrive at TMC very soon. Pre-order now for the best selection.
What do you think of our new Translator feature? Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. E-mail Paul.
