NYE Sunday? Let’s Roll! Aurora: 1, Model Motoring: 1

I don’t go out for NYE much anymore. The holiday has always seemed a little anti-climactic for me, and I recall that the only really good NYE parties I ever went to were the ones where I was on such copious amounts of hallucinogens that it’s a wonder I’m not vegetating in an institution these days. Your humble blogger is long over beating his brain with liquor and drugs, dear readers, so these days it not only seems more sensible to stay close to home, but more fun, too!

To that end, I’m starting off this NYE by finishing the cleaning, tuning, and breaking-in of my latest haul from Performance Slots & Hobbies, AKA “Aladdin’s Cave,” and wanted to show you what’s cooking on the HO Highway! I have already shown you the first of the 8 cars I picked up, the white Model Motoring ’67 Corvette hardtop roadster that I did up for the numbered racing fleet. That car was purchased without a chassis, but all the others are headed for the Road Crew running on original Aurora Thunderjet 500s or the Model Motoring revival variations thereof! Here, then, are the 2^nd and 3^rd ones I’ll showcase: one an original from the ‘60s, the second an original from the 2000 reboot! Both of these are now desirable collector’s items, so we all get a chance to feel old! 😀

Aurora original: Olds Toronado in RED

I didn’t think I’d be able to touch this for the price I gave for it because on those rare occasions I’ve seen it on ePay it’s been going for 3 figures, but I got a deal on this one! And it looks spectacular in red! This is the now the 4^th copy of the beautiful 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado I’ve acquired, a superb model of a beautiful real car that was never common even when new, and is extremely rare today.

I probably got it for such a low price because the moulding does show imperfections; there are some stress marks on the hood and the trunk lid, and one of the A-pillars is just a wee bit bent, but even with these imperfections, at the price I paid for it, I have no complaints. The chassis is an original-era closed-rivet with a “X-mas tree” armature (very apropos for the season), and after a good cleaning and tune up that included replacing the pick-up shoes and new brushes it runs just great! I am thrilled to have added this to my collection, and I think it’s now one of the best looking of all the originals I’ve acquired!

Model Motoring update: ’67 Plymouth GTX in hugger ORANGE

I’ve mentioned many times that the ’67 GTX is a very desirable body, a favorite of collectors which is both hard to find and expensive when you do. Not counting the one version that is easy to find-the red/white/blue Sox & Martin drag car, I have only 2 other “finished” (factory made, that is) copies, the first one I got in purple and the 2^nd in candy apple red, both of which cost me a small fortune; my other 2 (white and black) I bought as kits. The reason I don’t have more is simple: they’re too damn expensive! This body was made in a wide variety of colors including dark green, lime green, and yellow, but good luck finding one! I’ve never seen this orange one before, which is why I jumped on it when I found it. And it’s on its original chassis too, with a 2000 copyright date stamped on the gear plate, so its possible its just like it was when it came out of the clamshell, and it runs like a new car, as it clearly has virtually no mileage! And wouldn’t you know it, I even got it for a fair price! That makes for a happy T-Jet fanatic!

I just recently replaced the original stock wheels with a set of those 5-lugs I’m so fond of, which makes its look even better. It’s easy to see why this car is a collector favorite: the detail on it is amazing, its perfectly proportioned, and it’s just an all-around great looking car! It may be a while before I can grab another one, but this was a great buy!

So there’s the latest from the old-skool Road Crew, race fans! Next up, we’ll delve into some much more unusual new acquisitions: I promise you, it will definitely not be “the same old thing!”