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By admin, August 23, 2012 5:35 pm

這些都是屬于美國肌肉車模店老大Supercar Collectibles的獨家產品，早年制作的1比18清一色金色車模竟然最后的拍賣价過上万!

在現在美國經濟极度低迷的環境下，竟然還有人肯大把大把地花鈔票來購買心頭好，說明這個國家那1%富有的人真的還是相對地极之富有。

我不太清楚這些車模的文化和歷史，想必應該又是一种情意結吧，不過這次完全是老美的地道文化，中國人對于這种不精密甚至可以稱得上是簡陋的玩具最終成交价完全惊訝得吐舌頭!

1969 CHARGER DUKES OF HAZZARD GENERAL LEE 1:18 GOLD PLATED -VERY RARE SAMPLE CAR
US $2,351.00 [ 42 bids ]

ITEM #32485APG – 1969 DODGE CHARGER  DUKES OF HAZZARD DIRTY VERSION GENERAL LEE 1:18 SCALE GOLD PLATED 1 of 1 SAMPLE CAR. It is called the “Dirty Version” as the replica car appears to have been driven on the dirt back roads of Hazzard County. This item is the original Gold Plated sample car made for Supercar Collectibles for the approval process. Only one Gold Plated sample car was made, and it will come with a certificate stating that this is the original sample car. Differences from the original 8 production cars, include “no production date” stamped on the chassis,  and the stamp on the muffler stating “1 of 8″ is not there (the original 8 production cars had the stamp on the muffler “1 of 8″.   This car has been out of the box, and handled by the staff at RC2 ERTL, and the staff of Supercar Collectibles, as part of the inspection and approval process. Being that this car is the sample car and prototype, it does have the typical inconsistencies with the application of the “dirt overspray” and finger prints on the left side of the roof, which blurred the General Lee imprint. This is all part of the originality of this one of a kind sample car.

A certificate will be included with the replica car, (with the auction winners name on it) stating that this is the original Gold Plated 1:18 scale  Dukes of Hazzard General Lee Dirty Version, that was sent to Supercar Collectibles for the approval process.

1965 ED MILLER SUPER STOCK PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE 426 HEMI 1:18 GOLD PLATED #50899G
US $1,009.99 [ 13 bids ]

#50899G ED MILLER SUPER STOCK 1965 HEMI BELVEDERE. 1 OF ONLY 6 MADE and only 2 to be auctioned on eBay.

A gold plated 1965 Plymouth Belvedere Hemi Super/Stock car of Miller & Guenther. Winner of the NHRA World championship in 1967

This 1:18 scale die cast replica looks like it’s ready to run down the 1:18 scale quarter mile drag strip. A very detailed, gold plated lettered drag car made by Die Cast Promotions / Hwy 61 . All the race day decals are in place, the hood doors, and trunk open, driveshaft turns, battery is in the trunk, cables too.

It features a very detailed 426 Hemi cross ram motor, with spark plug wires, fuel lines, the fuel filters, 4 tube headers, and a real metal brake line going to the master cylinder. The doors open to a carpeted “no back seat” interior, detailed with a tach on the dash, and a 4 speed on the floor. Then around back the trunk opens to see the battery mounted in it, and the battery cables are there too. Underneath check out the open headers, rotating driveshaft, working suspension, narrow tires up front, and a pair of slicks on the rear. I myself just love those open headers. These are now here in stock ready to ship you, and your order is appreciated.

1965 ARLEN VANKE SS/C PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE 426 HEMI 1:18 GOLD PLATED #50901G
US $1,000.00 [ 18 bids ]

#50901G  ARLEN VANKE SS/C 1965 HEMI BELVEDERE. 1 OF ONLY 6 MADE and only 2 to be auctioned on eBay.

#50901G – this is a 1:18th scale, 22K Gold Plated replica of 1965 Plymouth Belvedere Super/Stock Hemi (SS/C) car of Arlen Vanke, as raced in 1969, to beat the ZL1 Chevy boys. What do we mean? Keep reading…

The short version of the story is Chrysler contacted Arlen about building a car to beat the new ZL1’s that Jenkins and Strickler were running 10.90’s in, on the 11.31 class record. Chrysler hated getting beat, and needed Arlen to build a car for the NHRA World finals (coming up quick) as this event was the only place a record would be accepted by NHRA at the time. Arlen agreed to try and do it, but first he had to locate a ‘65 to start with, and then had to build it in a very short amount of time! Using the Golden Commando’s A/Stock back up car, and completely going to town on it to build a Super Stock car, Arlen pulled in to the event a bit late, but soon enough to compete. Without even firing it up prior to the first run, it was started, pulled to the line, and the car launched great but the 4 speed got stuck going to 2nd! So that was fixed, he pullled to the line again, launched again, hit 2nd (fine), hit 3rd – and the nose of the car dropped down, coasting to the finish. The record setting Saturday was over…

Arlen pulled out the 4 speed that night, found the problem, and was back at the track Sunday. Now only a record could be set if he was in the class finals, but he had his eyes set on it. Going through the field running 11:40’s or so (as if you went under the class record other than “record days” or “event finals” you were disqualified). Yes, he did make the event finals, and what a last run it was. No problems, just power to the pavement, the full quarter mile, and ran an oustanding 10.64 bettering the old record by .7 seconds! A Chrysler product had set a new record, and Arlen – was smiling.

This record setting car is in it’s race winning day Green Custom Paint by Greg with real “gold foil” lettering, and it looks like it’s ready to run down the 1:18 scale quarter mile drag strip. This is a very detailed fully lettered drag car made by Die Cast Promotions / Hwy 61 as a limited edition of 504 produced for Supercar Collectibles.

It features an opening hood with scissors style hinges, and a very detailed 426 Hemi cross ram motor. It has spark plug wires, fuel lines, fuel filters, 4 tube headers, real metal brake lines, and more. The doors open to a carpeted “no back seat” interior, detailed with a tach on the dash, and a 4 speed on the floor. Then around back the trunk opens to see the battery mounted in it, and the battery cables are there too. Underneath check out the open headers, rotating driveshaft, working suspension, narrow tires up front, and slicks on the rear. The front edge of the hood has actual gold foil lettering just like the real car did.

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By admin, August 23, 2012 4:42 pm

清末創辦的南洋兄弟煙草後人簡永楨，銅鑼灣加路連山道孔聖堂就是他家族在1935年捐出的，他也是土地發展顧問公司的老闆，去年舉辦攝影展時，老朋友郭炳江也來撐場。他鍾情收集 Leica相機，同一款式他買兩部，一部用一部儲，放在家也放在保險庫收藏，相機與鏡頭共有240多件，連全球只有三部的 Luxus Hektor都是他的收藏之一。
記者：黃碧珊
攝影：梁志永

儘管市場不斷有新功能新款式的相機推出，每當問攝影發燒友他們的 Dream Camera是甚麼，相信十個有十個也會答是 Leica。因為 Leica在1925年推出的相機，奠定現代35mm相機基礎，現時大部份相機沿用這規格，而且是專業全畫幅（ full frame）相機中最細的。
1961年，簡永楨十多歲時，父親要送他一部相機，並讓他自己選擇品牌及型號，結果他揀了輕巧的 Leica M3，自此愛上攝影也愛上 Leica，「當時僅從外形上選擇」。淺水灣酒店及沙田龍華酒店等，變成他的練習勝地， Leica拍攝出來的照片對比效果突出，機身又耐用，從一而終變成 Leica收藏家。對簡永楨而言最有紀念價值的當然是昔日父親所贈的 M3，對此型號有份特別感情，不同款式的紀念版收藏他逾十部。汶萊蘇丹登基銀禧紀念時，特別訂製送給賓客的鍍金 M6，則買了兩部相連獨立編號，「一部用來珍藏，一部使用。」

因為攝影愛上旅遊

他的辦公室掛滿他拍的旅遊照片。「六十年代可以去外國旅行是一件興奮的事，記得當時去日本也帶着部 M3。」數碼機 M9，菲林機 M6 MP、 R7、 R6.2及首部擁有的 M3都是他現時常用的旅行機，「通常只帶一部相機及一支廣角鏡」。前年去伊朗帶了兩部相機及數支鏡頭，算是最大陣仗了。
平日工作滿是工程的規劃計算，旅遊時簡永楨喜歡拍靜態環境，他笑說：「我是個感性的人。」鍾愛充滿古物、古蹟或大自然的地方，像敍利亞、伊朗、秘魯、不丹等較古樸國家，就算已發展國家也選擇到鄉郊之地，如法國酒莊、澳洲大紅石等。
前年年底，簡永楨到墨西哥看瑪雅遺址，以 M9配上24/1.4廣角鏡，拍攝數百幅相片，部份照片加上瑪雅文化的闡述印製成書，並舉辦影展。
他的公司就是他的長期展覽場，接待處、影印間、走廊、甚至員工的開放式辦公室，也掛滿他的作品，「沒有機會經常旅行，看着照片可回味當時情況。」當是在講求急速無誤的辦公室裏，留有一點空間抒發他的感性。

簡永楨珍藏

Comments (2)

By admin, August 23, 2012 12:44 pm

九年了…

哥哥 你還好嗎﹖

就快到9月12號了，今天又無意間聽到了這首最喜歡的Perfidia!

要記得的、永遠都會記得!

Comments (5)

By admin, August 23, 2012 11:51 am

The following is written by Stig3 of Singapore diecasters (SGDC), I found they are very informative and useful, especially some inside stories about UT’s Mclaren GTR F1 LM.

Haha.. This is a very tough question dude.. Everyone has different opinions and information. Even myself, I gathered information based on what I read e.t.c..

This is gonna be very confusing but read slowly and you just might understand I took an hour to type this out… I might copy this into my Mclaren Info thread..

Some common misconceptions:
Mclaren first made XP1 (different from XP1 LM) to XP5. Based on these the main road car Mclaren F1s were built. These XP1-5 are the ones with side view mirrors mounted on the upper part of the door.

Then they tuned these and made the GTRs for racing.

The F1 GTR was never made for the roads, it was purely for racing in Le Mans and other racing series. However after the races were over, they were eventually modified and made street legal. So those who own F1 GTRs will be laughing at those who own just F1s As they are more rare and “powerful”.

There is no such car as the Mclaren F1 GTR LM or Mclaren F1 GTR XP1 LM but there is Mclaren F1 LM and the Mclaren F1 XP1 LM. 5 F1 LMs were made to honor the GTRs which placed 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th in 1995 Le Mans race (Can u believe thaT?!). Oh and all my labeling wrong too. I used to call GTR XP1 LM all along but there is no such thing

The tag LM in the name does not mean it was raced in Le Mans. First they made XP1 LM and then the 5 LMs which were meant for road use. Ironic & confusing eh?

Then later on came the final variant which are the GTs, in 1997. These models are hard to find. You can recognise them becoz they are essentially longtails without any spoilers:

Anyway about the UT Models part. The best thing is UT Models more or less named everything wrong!! All their models have the label XP1 LM on them, but behind on the box its stated “Mclaren F1 GTR Le Mans Roadcar”. That label means it was the GTR car which had raced in LeMans but now has been made street legal. XP1 LM is clearly not that! There was only 1 XP1 LM ever. Another wrong move is XP1 LM was made to be a street car, but the UT models do not have the 2 passenger seats. Instead they have the fire extinguisher and roll cage like GTR cars. That XP1 LM label on the side and the F1 LM label on the front windscreen are just wrong!

As for split wing and antenna, I am not too sure as well

The very first ones should be the blue edition boxes with XP1 LM having split wings. Among these they had some with the antenna. Which doesn’t make sense as XP1 LM for sure did not have antenna. Again another wrong detail.

Then the GTR came into picture. Single wing, normal UT boxes, no antenna.

I have no idea how the antenna got there on the XP1 LM By right, the GTR is supposed to have antenna for racing reasons (radio contact). You can also see that on all the other F1 GTRs.

The most rare is the split wing with antenna.

So far I have seen one. Mine. Did anyone of you have another one? Or seen being sold on Ebay before? I am very curious as I see all the papayas but never saw one with antenna except this.

Do forgive me for doing so, but I see there are a few inaccuracies in this post that I feel the need to correct for the benefit of all.

None of the XP McLaren F1 Prototypes are fitted with high mirrors. The first F1 to have them was the non-running F1 Clinic Model that was used to launch the F1 at the Monaco Sporting Club in 1992, and also to establish the production tooling required to manufacture the body panels. The F1’s designer and Technical Director Gordon Murray originally wanted the mirrors to be placed in the high A-pillar positions because that’s where they worked best. However, automotive laws and legislation at that time prevented this, and therefore the production F1 Road Cars had to have the mirrors mounted in the conventional wing positions.

F1 Clinic Model

XP1 was the first F1 prototype made, and at the end of its’ life-span it was being used by the BMW Motorsport engineers to conduct hot-weather testing in Namibia, Africa. However the test driver lost control when the wheels on one side hit a gravel-filled ditch, and subsequently it rolled a couple of times. The car was a total write-off, but the driver escaped unharmed apart from a few cuts and bruises, and this proved the durability and crash-worthiness of the carbon fiber passenger cabin safety cell. A little while later, leaking oil from the engine was ignited by the hot exhaust catalyzers, and this sparked off a fire that consumed the entire car. By the time the McLaren Cars support team arrived, there was almost nothing left. It was never fitted with high mirrors.

XP1

XP2 was the second prototype F1 produced, and it was the car used by McLaren for crash testing in the UK as required by legislation for all production road cars. It too was never fitted with high mirrors.

XP2 is on the left, and XP3 is on the right

XP3 is the third prototype F1, painted Silver and initially used by McLaren for performance and durability testing and finalization of the suspension and braking systems. This culminated in a few days’ worth of high-speed hot-weather testing at the Nardo high speed track in Italy. Although they weren’t planning to attempt a maximum top speed test run just yet, after the test sessions were complete, Project 1’s chief test and development driver Jonathan Palmer decided to take XP3 out for one last run and see just what she could do. He eventually managed to hit a telemetry-verified speed of 231Mph. Therefore XP3 became the first F1 Road Car to establish the McLaren F1 as the Fastest Production Road Car in the world, beating out the Jaguar XJ220’s previous best of 220Mph. And this was done when XP3 was still fitted with an early-spec BMW S70/2 V12 engine producing only 580Bhp, instead of the full 627Bhp of the final production-spec cars. It is then perhaps no surprise that XP5 would go on to do what it did with the full 627Bhp. When Gordon Murray first started work with McLaren Cars Limited, he included a clause in his contract which stipulated that McLaren would award him one F1 Road Car at the end of production as part of his reward package. XP3 is completely standard apart from the fitment of the suspension from the F1 LM. It is still owned and exercised regularly by Gordon until this very day. Again, it doesn’t have high mirrors, neither did it ever have them.

XP3

XP4 was the fourth F1 prototype made, and it was used mainly for testing and development of the gearbox and suspension systems. When McLaren was finished with it, it was initially sold to a New Zealand collector by the name of Sir Roger Bhatnagar, who owned it for a couple of years, but ended up hardly ever driving it. Therefore, he sold it on to an ex-NASA American guy named Larry Blair, who still retains ownership of XP4 in San Jose, California until today. No high mirrors on this F1 either.

XP4

Finally, XP5 is of course the last F1 prototype made, in Dark British Racing Green. It’s also probably one of the most popular and most-seen F1s of all, for a very good reason. It is XP5 that gave the McLaren F1 the final title of the World’s Fastest Production Car in 1995, when it hit 386.7Km/h or 240.1Mph at the VW Ehra-Lessien Test Facility in Germany, after XP3 first wrestled the record into McLaren’s hands when Jonathan Palmer drove it to 231Mph during high-speed hot-weather testing in Nardo, Italy.. Apart from raising the engine rev-limiter, removing the front single wiper, and taping over the front indicators and other gaps in the frontal bodywork, it was an otherwise completely standard F1 Road Car at that time. After the top speed record was achieved, McLaren retained ownership of the car and displayed it alongside XP1LM, GTR #01R, GTR Longtail #024R, and 56XPGT in the McLaren Technology Center. However, there are some who say that XP5 has now been sold on to an unknown party, as it has not been seen at the MTC for quite some time. Once more, XP5 never had high mirrors.

XP5

The very first production-spec F1 Road Car to be fitted with the High Mirrors Option (as it is known) was #040, currently owned by a guy named Flemke who lives in the UK and Germany. Its’ first owner before Flemke was a German guy whose initials are HS, apparently. HS was the first known F1 owner to have looked at the high mirrors on the Clinic Model and then told McLaren that he wanted them on #040.

It wasn’t a case of simply bolting on the mirrors in that position. The story goes that McLaren had to make new stronger carbon fiber doors and reinforce the whole door structure and door aperture surround, in order to endure the added structural strain that would be caused by the additional aerodynamic drag of the high mirrors. This whole process reputedly cost HS the far side of 300,000 Pounds Sterling at that time. #040 still retains its’ High Mirrors until today, as Flemke says they’re much easier to read in the high position than in the standard wing position.

#040

After the High Mirrors effect was seen on #040, 2 other F1 owners told McLaren that they wanted it done for their cars as well. One of them is Ralph Lauren, who owns F1 LM chassis # LM3 as well as 2 F1 Road Cars, #055 and #074. Both of his F1 Road Cars are silver. #055 was refitted with high mirrors at some point in its’ life, while #074 was built at a later date and had the High Mirrors Option fitted while it was in build.

#055

#074

The other customer F1 Road Car that has the high mirrors is #071, currently located in Germany. It is also the only F1 Road Car in the world that wears the McLaren Historic Papaya Orange paint. Little else is known about this F1, its’ owner, or when it had the high mirrors fitted.

#071

Last but certainly not least, F1 Road Car #050 also has the high mirrors, and it is owned by current McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis, who was also one of the original driving people behind the F1 road car project, internally known as Project 1. The story goes that the first F1 made for Ron was painted an unusual metallic shade of dark brown. He didn’t think it was a great color, so so it was sold on and #050 was built for him instead. It was likely fitted with the high mirrors while in build, and to quote Ron Dennis, “I thought it was a more elegant solution. I wanted the car as it was originally conceived.”

#050

I hope this will be informative and beneficial for all who read it. Thanks.

Also thanks to my friend Peloton25 for hosting these pics, and for all the knowledge about the McLaren F1 he has imparted upon me.