What 1930(ish) Luxury cars did Monogram do?

[Aaronw]

I was looking at the Lindberg kits of the Auburn, Mercedes and Cord, and started looking on ebay to see what else there might be in 1/24-25 and ran across a few Monogram kits of similar cars a 1934 Duesenberg, 1932 Cadillac, 1930 Packard and a 1931 Rolls Royce Phaeton.

Did Monogram do any more kits of this type of car? Being Monogram kits I assume they are decent quality.

[Mr. Can Am Garage]

Without going into details, there's three Packards. A pair of RR's, a Cadillac and three or four Duesenbergs and they're all beautiful!

[Junkman]

Without going into details, there's three Packards. A pair of RR's, a Cadillac and three or four Duesenbergs and they're all beautiful!

Hmmm, I only know of two Packards, a Boattail Speedster and a Phaeton. What was the third one?

The Rolls Royce, a "1931" Phantom II, came in two versions, both left hand drive: A so-called 'Henley Roadster' and a 'Phaeton'. Both have Brewster-style wings. The real Henley Roadster the model was based on is still with us and belongs to a gentleman in Georgia.

The Cadillac was a 1932 V16 Dual Cowl Phaeton. It is labelled new in my 1980 catalog and was indeed the last addition to the lineup so far.

I know of three Duesenbergs, all SJs: A Roadster, a Dual Cowl Phaeton and a Town Car.

There were two Mercedes 540K : A Cabriolet B and a 'Coupe', which imo has no real prototype.

Then there was the Cord Convertible.

There was also an MG TC, if you want to call it a 1930s luxury car.

All these kits were excellent for their day and hold up very well even today.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Junkman

[sjordan2]

Hmmm, I only know of two Packards, a Boattail Speedster and a Phaeton. What was the third one?

The Rolls Royce, a "1931" Phantom II, came in two versions, both left hand drive: A so-called 'Henley Roadster' and a 'Phaeton'. Both have Brewster-style wings. The real Henley Roadster the model was based on is still with us and belongs to a gentleman in Georgia.

The Cadillac was a 1932 V16 Dual Cowl Phaeton. It is labelled new in my 1980 catalog and was indeed the last addition to the lineup so far.

I know of three Duesenbergs, all SJs: A Roadster, a Dual Cowl Phaeton and a Town Car.

There were two Mercedes 540K : A Cabriolet B and a 'Coupe', which imo has no real prototype.

Then there was the Cord Convertible.

There was also an MG TC, if you want to call it a 1930s luxury car.

All these kits were excellent for their day and hold up very well even today.

I don't recall a Monogram coupe version of the 540K, but Jo-Han did a 500k coupe that I have factory photos of.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23030

There were some 1:1 540K coupes from the factory, however.

http://www.germancarforum.com/older-mbs-vintage/5327-1936-mercedes-benz-540k.html

Of course, Monogram isn't the only brand with nice 30s luxury cars – you can find quite a few European cars from Heller and some from Italeri on eBay. And there are a number of good 1/16 options that have been issued under a variety of labels such as Minicraft, Entex, Anmark, Revell and others.

Edited May 8, 2010 by sjordan2

[Modelmartin]

The fourth Monogram Duesenberg is the metal kit with the long wheelbase Murphy Boattail body. The third Packard is also one of the metal kits and it is dual cowl version of the Speedster Phaeton. Even though it is a 1941 car we can't forget the Linoln Continental!

The Monogram 540k coupe is definitely a little bogus. They meant to make a Special Coupe but it is highly inaccurate.

Italieri/Testors did 2 V-16 Cadillacs, a 33 Imperial, and a 540K Cabriolet B, along with two different Bugatti Royales. MPC has 2 different bodied 32 Imperials. Johan has 3 different 31 V-16 Cadillacs which are all excellent kits. With the Jo-Hans look for early releases with the Gold Cup on the box. They are much cleaner and better molded.

There are actually a good number of great classic cars out there. If only I had time to get them all built!

I would stay away from the Lindbergs. The Auburn has possibilities but the Cord is awful and there is a Monogram to build so why bother. The 46-48 Lincoln intigues but I would graft the bits onto a Monogram to make a good model of it.

[Junkman]

I don't recall a Monogram coupe version of the 540K, but Jo-Han did a 500k coupe that I have factory photos of.

It's this kit:

My guess is they wanted to do this car:

Judge for yourself.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Junkman

[Dave in Seattle]

One that has not been mentioned from Monogram is the Bugatti Type 35 B/C, depending on which issue box you're looking at. That one can be used to build so MANY Bugatti variants with a little kit-bashing and scratchbuilding. I'd love to see it get re-released sometime soon, and would buy a case in a heartbeat.

[sjordan2]

It's this kit:

My guess is they wanted to do this car:

Judge for yourself.

Appears so. Here's a recent photo, which should show the inaccuracies: Scroll to nearly the bottom of the page.

http://sfaroc.tripod.com/archives/id26.html

Edited May 8, 2010 by sjordan2

[Junkman]

One that has not been mentioned from Monogram is the Bugatti Type 35 B/C, depending on which issue box you're looking at. That one can be used to build so MANY Bugatti variants with a little kit-bashing and scratchbuilding. I'd love to see it get re-released sometime soon, and would buy a case in a heartbeat.

You are absolutely right. I knew I had forgotten one. I think, now we have them all together in this thread.

[sjordan2]

You are absolutely right. I knew I had forgotten one. I think, now we have them all together in this thread.

Yes, that's a very nice kit that goes together quite easily with excellent results. My only real quibble is that the engine-turned surfaces such as the firewall and dash need to be toned down quite a bit.

As for the very first post mentioning the Lindberg kits, caveat emptor - many of those are reissued Pyro disasters.

Edited May 8, 2010 by sjordan2

[Art Anderson]

OK, let's list the Monogram Classic Cars:

1934 Duesenberg Model J Weymann Torpedo Phaeton

1934 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Disappearing Top Coupe (convertible if you will)

1930 Duesenberg Model J Walter Murphy Town Car (Monogram called it a '34)

1930 Duesenberg Model J Walter Murphy Disappearing Top Coupe w/ boattail body (kit has metal body, fenders and hood)

1930 Packard Model 734 Boattail Speedster

1930 Packard Model 734 Speedster Phaeton

1931 Packard Super 8 Dual Cowl Phaeton (metal body, fenders, hood)

1931 Rolls-Royce Of America Phantom II Henley Roadster

1931 Rolls Royce Of America Phantom II Sport Phaeton

(built in Springfield MA, with coachwork by Brewster--a R-R subsidiary in those years)

1932 Cadillac Model 452 Fleetwood Dual Cowl Phaeton (V-16 engine)

1927 Bugatti Type 35B

1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Convertible Phaeton

1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible (seeing as the Continental began in 1939, this one qualifies as a 30's car, IMO)

From others:

MPC

1927 Lincoln V8 Roadster

1928 Lincoln V8 Locke Sport Phaeton

1931 Chrylser Roadster

1932 Chrylser Imperial Convertible Sedan

JoHan

1931 Cadillac Model 452 Fleetwood Cabriolet

1931 Cadillac Model 452 Fleetwood Sport Phaeton

1931 Cadillac Model 452 Fleetwood canework Town Car

(Model 452 denoted the use of the 452cid V-16 engine)

1935 Mercedes Benz 500K Sindelfingen Cabriolet

1935 Mercedes Benz 500K Special Coupe (purportedly custom built for race driver Rudolph Carrachiola)

Lindberg (these are their two fairly decent 1/24th scale offerings)

1929 Mercedes SSK roadster

1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible Victoria

Heller and Italeri made a whole gaggle of 1930's luxury cars in 1/24th scale as well.

Art

[Aaronw]

Thanks, I know the reputation of the Lindberg kits, but those not duplicated by other kits intrigue me, think of the bragging rights one can claim for actually building one.

I think I tried to build the Metal bodied Duesenberg when I was a kid, I don't believe I was successful.

The prices for the Monogram kits are all over the place from $9.99 to buy it now at $100+ (clearly wishful thinking on the sellers part from the other prices). I just thought I'd get a list so I can watch them for awhile and figure out what reasonable prices are. I did see some of the other brands but most look more limo like, the Monogram kits appear to be sportier cars, something you give your driver the day off when you are out in it. I did see a Heller Bentley 4.5 liter that looked nice.

Art, thanks for the list, you posted while I was typing. I actually have the MPC 1928 Lincoln as the AMT re-issue from a few years back. The San Francisco PD has a beautiful 1928 Lincoln they have restored that is just like the one in the kit. That would probably be a good place for me to start since I already have it around here somewhere.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Aaronw

[Tom T]

I built up one of the Duesenbergs and aside from not being able to fit the floorboards in (they're omitted on the box art too), I was very pleased with the quality of the kit. Also, the directions are something one would wish the industry would make a standard of. They come with actual in-build photograghs and also include detailed painting instructions; something almost unheard of when the kit was molded.

I've had very good luck buying some on the cheap because the demand for them isn't as high as other vintage kits. That could change though so if you have the interest you should grab them now.

[Junkman]

Heller:

(I include the late 20s cars)

Alfa Romeo 1750 Zagato

Bentley 4.5 Litre Blower

BMW Dixi

BMW 328

Bugatti T50

Citroen 5CV

Citroen B14 Torpedo De Luxe

Citroen B14 Landaulet (included a Taxi version)

Citroen B14 'Normande'

Citroen 15 Six

Delage D8 SS

Delahaye 135

Hispano-Suiza K6

Mercedes-Benz 500K Special roadster

Mercedes-Benz 170V

Mercedes-Benz 170V Delivery Van

Renault Vivastella PG7

As well as the following commercial vehicles:

Citroen C4 'Hotel Taxi'

Citroen C4 'Pompiers'

Citroen C4 'Waterman' van

Delahaye Type 103 'Bonneville' fire engine

Renault TN6C 'Bus Parisien'

Italeri:

1933 Cadillac V16 Town Car (Joan Crawford's car)

1933 Cadillac V16 Phaeton (Al Jolson's car)

Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B

Bugatti T41 La Royale 41.150 'Berline de Voyage' (first sold to Briggs Cunningham)

Bugatti T41 La Royale 'Coupe Napoleon' (Ettore Bugatti's car)

Rolls Royce Phantom II #188PY All-Weather Cabriolet by Thrupp & Maberly (The Thakore Saheb Bahadur of Rajkot's car)

[Aaronw]

No problem with non 1930s, by 1930-ish I meant late 20s to WW2, past the learning to walk phase but they still had seperate fenders.

Thanks for the list of others of the period.

Heller really did quite a few, I have the Delahaye Ladder truck and have been hunting the Renault C4 fire engine for awhile, but the reasonably priced ones are elusive.

[Joe Handley]

Is it me, or the proportions of that car really screwy looking?

[Junkman]

Is it me, or the proportions of that car really screwy looking?

That's a matter of taste. I find them stunningly beautiful.

[Junkman]

No problem with non 1930s, by 1930-ish I meant late 20s to WW2, past the learning to walk phase but they still had seperate fenders.

Thanks for the list of others of the period.

Heller really did quite a few, I have the Delahaye Ladder truck and have been hunting the Renault C4 fire engine for awhile, but the reasonably priced ones are elusive.

It's a Citroen C4 fire engine, not a Renault. And yes, it is as elusive as most of the Heller offerings. They haven't been produced in what must be approaching a quarter century now.

[Joe Handley]

That's a matter of taste. I find them stunningly beautiful.

For me it's that the rear wheels are shoved so far forward in comparison to the roof and seats.

[Harry P.]

That's a matter of taste. I find them stunningly beautiful.

Joe, the proportions are different than what we are used to seeing on American cars... even the big American cruisers of the '30s like Duesenbergs and such didn't have the extremely long look that the mid '30s Mercedes had. In fact, Mercedes deliberately emphasized the long look by extending the front end of the car a good foot or more beyond the radiator grille... long meant "powerful" back then, and those cars were the "muscle cars" of their day. Maybe tastes have changed, but most people agree that the mid '30s Mercedes 500 and 540s were among the most beautiful cars ever made.

[Harry P.]

For me it's that the rear wheels are shoved so far forward in comparison to the roof and seats.

Actually the rear wheels are pretty much in their "normal" place... it's the extreme length from the firewall forward that gives these cars their unique look.

[Junkman]

The architecture of the mid to late Thirties big Mercedes Benzes was certainly different from anything else on the road back then, except for some other German high end cars, like Horch or some such. The entire layout spelled 'Autobahn'. These cars are stunning expressions of a (granted teutonic) interpretation of something, that must have had people in awe. Isn't this the very definition of the word 'awesome'? These cars and the 'Autobahn' must have been something like science fiction for the 'ordinary' man back then. Admittedly an aquired taste, I find these cars are very Art Deco in a very continental sort of way and I like them (amongst other) for their sheer peregrineness. A lot of people back then must have thought along similar brain-windings, since the overwhelming majority of these cars was exported.

And you know what? Them Germans can do it today! Just look at the AMG SLS. I honestly don't want to be a fan of German cars, but do they leave me a choice?

[Aaronw]

It's a Citroen C4 fire engine, not a Renault. And yes, it is as elusive as most of the Heller offerings. They haven't been produced in what must be approaching a quarter century now.

I was just testing you.

[Junkman]

I was just testing you.

Yeah, I know. But you know me. I can't help it.

[Modelmartin]

The architecture of the mid to late Thirties big Mercedes Benzes was certainly different from anything else on the road back then, except for some other German high end cars, like Horch or some such.

Actually most high dollar (Pound, Mark, Franc, Lira) sports cars in the 20s and 30s had the long nose (long engines) and very short tails. Just look at Jag SS100, Bugatti T57S, Alfa supercharged sports cars from 2300 to 8C 2.9, Mercedes SSK, among many others. American cars rarely had that look. The only ones I can think of are Duesenberg SSJ (2 built!) and the Stutz DV32 Super Bearcat (10 built).

Between Art and Christian I think they nailed every 1/24-25 Classic ever made. Just to be precocious I will add the Bandai Duesenberg. It is hard to tell what body it has. I think they made it up. It is a sedan.

Wills Finecsat and Autokits in England made some nice white metal kits, too. I like the Bentley, Vauxhall, and Bugatti T59. The Autokits have a very cool Morgan 3 wheeler and MG midget and K3 Magnette from the 30s. It appears Southestern Finecast still makes all of them. Google them.