Q for memorabilia collectors, model builders, etc.

[kungphuphil]

Has anyone out there ever seen any Centurions in miniature, models, or anything of the like? Seems like Snap-Tite would have done something like it . . .

Thanks!

[Smartin]

I think I remember a 72 LeSabre in a hot wheels type situation, but the only time I have seen it, is in a picture.

[Centurion]

A company in Germany who builds very high-end, highly detailed 1/43-scale diecast cars promised to build a '72 Centurion Formal Coupe a few years back, but I do not believe that it has happened.

Perhaps our best bet would be to persuade one of the 1/25-scale resin-cast kit companies to create a Centurion model, since a high volume of sales would not be required to recoup the tooling costs.

[The German]

A company in Germany which builds very high-end, highly detailed cars is named Wiking. But they don't have a Centurion model. In spite of that it is very interesting to see their models :

http://www.wiking.de/a_artikel.php?&block=14&aktion=vor&seid=a3be4b40d18bd6ad9c33c90d38ba0fd5&agrid=0006&chsprache=a_artikel.php?seid=a3be4b40d18bd6ad9c33c 90d38ba0fd5&agrid=0001&aktion=blockstart&block=0&name=Personenwagen,%20Transporter%20und%20Helikopt er
and :
http://datenbank.wiking-modelle.de/index.php

Enjoy looking to those models ...

Rolf

[Centurion]

Rolf, the model manufacturer I'm thinking of is VFModelauto. Perhaps I'm mistaken regarding the country where this manufacturer is located.

[The German]

Oh yes, Brian, you are right :

VF MODELLAUTOMOBILE is producing in Germany (VF means Volker Feldkamp) and here is the link :
http://www.vf-americars.de/main.html

On the price-list you will find a Buick Le Sabre Convertible of 1972, Scale 1:43rd, - nearly that what you are searching for, but it has the high price of 333 Euro (ca. 430 $)! And they tell their customers : "We can't guarantee that all these hand built model cars are 100% exactly built in 1/43rd scale. Remember, they are hand built! ... Also some models contained in the price list are sold off already and no longer available or their production has ended for technical reasons. ... All specified models do not have mobile parts or parts which can be opened. The models do not roll also. If you have any question, please contact us directly. "

I tried to phone with the company to clear whether this model of a Buick Le Sabre is still produced, but up to now I only got in contact with the automatic answering set. If I will get some more information, I will tell here within the next days.

Rolf

[kungphuphil]

Thanks for the info, folks. I guessed a LeSabre would be as close as I'd get but I thought there would be some plastic model kits and not just a specailty miniature maker in Europe. I guess I just continue to find it surprising that the luxury muscle cruisers of the '70s aren't bigger in popular culture.

[The German]

Now I got an email answer from VF MODELLAUTOMOBILE : The model of the Buick Le Sabre Convertible of 1972 is sold of, but they would produce it again if there are interests ... .

Rolf

[Smartin]

mm...interesting. I wonder how many people they need to commit.

[kungphuphil]

Now we all know there may be no consensus on which model Centurion we could get 50 people to agree-upon (50 being their minimum order for custom requests), but a LeSabre just wouldn't do.

They advertise that they'd do whatever car/vehicle customers want custom-made (and even have two levels of detail available) but, again, they need an order of at least 50 and don't say how much more a custom request might run.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I own a 73 Centurion but would buy any year that is made, love them all. Hell man it's a Buick I gotta have it! Just one more for the Buick collection, or as my wife calls them...."Dust Collectors". Just some of mine, way too many to post. Most of the smaller ones I have doubles, one for display and one still in the original package.

Saw the list....1972 LeSabre convertible! Count me in. The big question is cost per unit, that can dictate things unfortunately.

[The German]

Neoscale-Models - somewhere in the Netherlands - have 1974 LeSabre models :

http://www.neoscalemodels.com/produkten.aspx?Zoekterm=Buick

Contact :

Neo scale Models
tel +31 24 3482333
fax +31 24 3482442
email contact : info@neoscalemodels.com


The Coupe is for sale on Ebay too :

http://cgi.ebay.de/BUICK-Le-SABRE-2D-HARDTOP-COUPE-1974-Braunm-1-43-NEO-/330490417029?pt=Spielzeugautos&hash=item4cf2c38f85