I have already covered the 1958-60 Continental in four-door hardtop and convertible form, so let’s complete the set (well, except for the pillared sedan) with the two-door hardtop. No 1/1-scale version was handy, but fortunately, Sun Star makes a fine miniature version.
Sun Star has been around for at least a dozen years in the U.S., with a basic 1/18-scale line in the $30-35 range. It includes a ’63 Corvair Monza, ’67 Cougar, ’60 T-Bird, Sixties Chevy and Ford pickups, and more. But about five years ago, they introduced a premium line, the Platinum series.
These were in the $60-65 range, and more in line with Highway 61 models, with functioning suspension, realistic hood and door hinges, simulated carpeting and more.
The first one I bought was a yellow ’56 Lincoln Premiere I found at Menards during Christmastime. The detail was very good, though as the inaugural Platinum model, there were a few glitches–such as a ride height that was a bit taller than in real life.
Unfortunately, the paint/plastic on the seats never fully dried, and bits of the felt carpeting and dust would adhere to it, with me having to go over it with a damp washcloth every few months. I eventually traded it to the local hobby shop guy for a ’56 Premiere coupe in red–which I still have. The coupe model corrected the earlier convertible’s ride height problem, too.
More recently, a 1958 Continental Mark III came out, and as mentioned in my ’58 Continental post earlier, I got a pink convertible. I was very impressed with the detail, but when a coupe came out in about 2010, I had to have one of those as well. I hinted at my desire for a Seneca Blue example, and Dad came through in time for Christmas.
As you can see, the car is scaled perfectly, with the reverse-slant Breezeway roofline, front fender “pods” and turbine-vaned wheel covers all spot-on. And yes, the glove box opens.
If that wasn’t enough, the fender skirts are also removable. Why? Well, why not?
More recently, Sun Star has released the coupe in Copper Poly with light beige leather. Even though I already have two of these mini land yachts, I just might have to add another one to the fleet!
And if this Connie floats your boat, Sun Star also offers a ’59 Olds Ninety-Eight, ’58 Buick Roadmaster, ’56 Mercury Montclair, ’55 Nash Ambassador, and ’58 Ford Fairlane 500, among others. The only problem is they are a bit dear, so I generally get them on my birthday or for Christmas. As a result, I only have about four, but they are all keepers!
Nice driveway pavement – must be new.
I’ll have to take a photo of my model 1957 Bel-Air convertible and post it real soon.
You beat me to it Zackman, you had a talented concrete placer Tom and that model is beautiful even removable rear spats thats really cool.
I have a small collection of 1/18 cars, and the quality and scale accuracy vary a lot. None of them are the high-end ones like this one.
The detail on this Lincoln is quite amazing. However, I can’t help but keep looking at the Phillips screws in the upper door jambs. In scale those would be about 3″ screw heads.
Very nice model!
Wow that is some real fine accurate detailing.
The 1958-60 Lincoln was the least attractive transition from 4 door to 2 door of about anything made. It is almost like the early Jeep Wagoneer where they just omit the back doors, and otherwise give you the same vehicle. Lincoln plainly went to more trouble than that, but it doesn’t really look it.
The Coupe deVille provided a very different look from the sedans, and the Imperial Crown Coupe gave the car a really unique look. I normally like the proportions of really big 2 door cars, but not this one.
As for the model, it is really very nicely done.
I have vague memories from Pre-K of playing with a friction-toy version of this Lincoln, like the one pictured. This one was made in Japan by Sanyo Toy (no relation to Sanyo Electronics, apparently), circa early 1960s.
Not quite as detailed as the one in the article!
When my mother would take us to visit her aunt, my sister and I would go down to a basement family room. In the toy box was a pair of friction-powered Lincolns like you describe. Both were identical red cars with black roofs. They were the first things I went for every time. She must have bought them for her grandchildren to play with on visits. They must not have played with them much, because they were both in beautiful condition. I believe they even had little silver-colored soft plastic Lincoln star hood ornaments. I have never seen one of these since. Until you just made me do a search, and here it is – made by Bandai.
I remember seeing one or two of those at antique shows/stores. They were always asking the moon for them–$200, $300–too rich for my blood. Very neat though!
My brother in law has a host of model cars at least he had I shall enquire and maybe take my camera for a visit.
My father had a heart attack in 1957 when I was 8. To divert my attention from worry, my paternal grandmother bought me this promotional model at the drugstore. Dad lived on until 2004 and I still have the car (and all my promotional models from this period) these many years later. This one suffers from the usual warping of acetate plastic used at the time and from being played with by me (hood ornament broken off, of course). But it is yellow (!) and has a nicely detailed interior with two-tone seats. And dig the whitewalls.
I had quite a few of those Bandai tin toys but never a Lincoln. The few I still have have been battered by my cousins’ kids playing with them.
As frequently happens, the attached picture did not post. Also, the edit feature appears to be disabled. I’ll try for the pic one more time but doubt it will post – darn.