Desk Car Show – 1:18 Cinema Car Replicas
June 20, 2020
Cars and pop culture go hand in hand. For every great movie or TV character, there is often a vehicle to go with them. In some cases, these vehicles become characters in their own right, be that through regular appearances or because, in very rare cases, they actually are characters (looking at you, K.I.T.T). Whatever the reason, the fact is we soon grow familiar with these cars and then, naturally, we want them. But unless we’re very lucky, having the real thing is but a pipe dream. That’s where the world of die cast comes in.
This booming industry is awash with small scale replicas of the cars we know and love. And in being so, they give us a chance to own our TV and film heroes, just on a much smaller scale. One eighteenth of the scale in this case. It’s the perfect scale we think, as it offers loads of detail, but at around ten inches long, the models aren’t cumbersome or difficult to display. In fact, they’re the perfect size to collect. So what are you waiting for? Time to fill up that dream ‘movie car’ garage.
1) The A Team GMC Vandura
The A Team van, a GMC Vandura, was a curious beast. It was a van with, so the show would have us believe, a ludicrous amount of power. It could also jump great distances without bending in half when it landed, and it could also screech its tyres on both grass and sand. Impressive. And while this model from Greenlight can’t do the same, it will look great on your desk. This version, which has been weathered with bullet holes and mud up the flanks brings some extra realism, too. Greenlight models might not be the cheapest, but the quality and detail is exquisite.
2) Christine – 1958 Plymouth Fury
This gorgeous, weathered Plymouth Fury from the 1982 film, Christine is a little work of art. The company behind it, Auto World, has gone the extra mile to make it look like it does at the start of the movie – battered and a bit forgotten. For us, this makes the model seem even more realistic. But it doesn’t stop there. Chuck a couple of batteries in it, flick the switch and you’ll be greeted by working head and tail lights, as well as a dashboard that lights up green, just like in the film. Just try not to get too obsessed with it.
3) Trans Am – Smokey and the Bandit
Another model here from Greenlight, this one representative of having a long way to go and a short time to get there. Ten-four good buddy. Snowman, you got your ears on, son? Yes, we are of course talking about the 1977 cinema smash, Smokey and the Bandit. Possibly the finest hour of dearly departed Burt Reynolds. This perfect recreation of the Bandit’s Pontiac Trans Am is a must for any petrolhead. Just try and resist the urge to somehow annoy the local law enforcement with it.
4) DeLorean – Back to the Future
Do you even have a 1:18 model car collection without a DeLorean? No, we didn’t think so. And that’s why you need this fantastically detailed model from Diamond Select Toys. It’s based on the time machine from the first movie, meaning a plutonium reactor, not Mr. Fusion (if you know, you know). The all-important gull-wing doors open, as does the bonnet. And much like the Plymouth Fury above, the addition of batteries will have this model lighting up. Be warned though, if you have this on your desk, you’re not getting any work done.
5) Ford Mustang – Gone in 60 Seconds
The remake of Gone in 60 Seconds was, let’s not beat around the bush, less than great. However, there was one redeeming feature, and that was the 1967 Ford Mustang fastback known simply as Eleanor. This car, which is the most difficult one to steal according to the film’s narrative, was built for the production by custom car legend, Chip Foose. It was, and still is, one of the finest incarnations of the classic Mustang. But with real cars nudging $100k in Eleanor specification, we’ll have to make do with this fabulous model on our desk.
