VANGUARDS - AUSTIN MINI COOPER S 1275 MK1-STEVE McQUEEN

McQueen bought his Mini from Hollywood Sports Cars and had it taken straight to Lee Brown’s custom shop. He didn’t like the green body and white roof so had the car refinished in medium brown metallic with a beige roof. Brown also chromed and then reversed the wheels to widen the track, fitted a wooden dash, a fold back sunroof and had trimmer Tony Nancy re-cover the seats in brown vinyl. The engine was ported and balanced. McQueen never had front number plates on his cars as he felt it spoilt the clean look.Twenty years later Lee Brown spotted an advert for the car and bought it back, so he now owns the car he originally customized for the film icon. Buy it now.

MINICHAMPS 1/43 ASTON MARTIN DBS "THE STIG"

The Stig is the name given to the racing driver on the BBC show Top Gear. In the show he is cast as a mysterious "Tame Racing Driver". He is credited as a presenter alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
The Stig's primary functions on the show are to post Power Laps times in various cars around the Top Gear Test Track in Dunsfold Park, and to train each week's guest in setting a lap time in the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car feature on the show. In addition The Stig carries out other driving and personal appearance duties when the need arises.
The Stig has also appeared on some of Jeremy Clarkson's motoring specials, such as Heaven and Hell, Thriller and Duel.

This diecast model of the Aston Martin DBS is exquisitely detailed, and an exact replica of the car 'The Stig' drove around the Top Gear test track as part of the 'Power Laps' series, in a stunning time of 1 minute 23.9 seconds. It is part of a series of collectable models being produced by Minichamps in association with Top Gear.

There are just 2,009 of this model worldwide, making it highly collectable, and it is beautifully presented in fully branded packaging, including the track time this car achieved on the TV show.
The coming together of Minichamps, the UK's leading diecast brand, and Top Gear, TV's greatest motoring show, is a fantastic combination most collectors have only dreamed about until now, and gives you the opportunity to own a piece of history. Don't hang around - they'll go faster than you could possibly believe!

Top Gear Minichamps 1/43 Aston Martin DBS ready made diecast car (black) including figure of 'The Stig', as featured in the 'Power Laps' on BBC Top Gear. Only 2009 pieces of each model are available worldwide. Minichamps are high quality die cast models (rather than a toy), and are highly collectable. See more

MOTORMAX 1/43 1949 BUICK ROADSTER "RAIN MAN" MOVIE

Rain Man is a 1988 comedy-drama film written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass and directed by Barry Levinson. The film stars Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt, Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt, and Valeria Golino as Charlie's girlfriend, Susanna. The film won four Oscars at the 61st Academy Awards (March 1989), including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor in a leading role for Hoffman. Its crew received an additional four nominations.

It tells the story of an abrasive yuppie, Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond, a savant, of whose existence Charlie was unaware. After autistic savant Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) inherits three million dollars from his deceased father, his younger brother Charlie (Tom Cruise), in an attempt to trick him out of the money, learns some valuable life lessons.

This is 1949 Buick Roadster from the Rain Man movie. Features:• Depicts Actual Movie Scene• Precision Die-Cast Replica Vehicle• Protective Clear Plastic Cover Included• Measures 10" L x 4.5" H x 4" W• Crafted to 1:43 Scale Buy it now

ANIMAL! GREAT VEHICLE "THE MUPPET MOVIE"

Corgi re-released it's four 1979 Muppet figures in vehicles in 2002. These were a lot more mass produced so you're a lot more likely to find one in good condition and also still in it's original packaging than the 1979 versions.

Of the four Muppet vehicles, Animal is the vehicle/figure that looks the most similar to the 1979 original. The vehicle displays well on the orange base as it also does in the original box with a nice big plastic observation window. It is secured to the orange cardboard by metal twist ties which can easily be loosened so you can slip each wheel out without cutting them. Wheels all move, in fact the vehicle rolls very smoothly, you'd think with the wheels not being completely circular that the vehicles wouldn't move well but nothing could be further from the truth, in fact if there's a slight angle on the surface you are displaying it, Animal will roll away.

The other three vehicles in the Muppet 25 years release incidentally are Fozzie in a blue old fashioned ute (it was red in the 1979 original release), Miss Piggy in a pink car and Kermit in a yellow car.

Animal himself is pretty well detailed holding his drum sticks ready to bash on the large drums which make up the back wheels or the cymbal or smaller in front of the cockpit thing. Animal's signature is on the undercarriage as well as the two front wheels and top drum. The two rear wheels have the Muppet show logo on them with Kermit coming out of the letter O. It's a good car which you should be able to get boxed in new condition for just a couple of pounds (British sites are where it's the most common being Corgi and all).--James N Simpson

SCHUCO 1/43 VPLKSWAGEN T2A MIMIBUS FROM DIE LUDOLFS TV SHOW

What happens when reality TV meets one of Germany’s biggest car junk yards? Die Ludolfs, a funny look at a not-so-typical family business. With over four million spare parts-and no computers-chaos is the name of the game. Add the dynamics of a multi-generation family business and you’ve got one of the biggest hits on German television. Naturally a business like this acquires a variety of interesting vehicles. But die Ludolfs add their own distinctive touches, applying distinctive paint and decorations to every one. Schuco is a legendary German toy manufacturer, founded in 1912. The company achieved worldwide fame with its toy cars manufactured in the '30s, '40s and '50s, many of which were patented. While Schuco continues to issue a limited number of metal retro-toys for collectors, today the company is better known for its amazing diecast vehicle replicas. Working directly with manufacturers and car collectors, Schuco painstakingly re-creates each vehicle in miniature, often incorporating tiny details only visible with a magnifying glass. Most Schuco models are issued in specified limited quantities, and once gone, will not be made again. That’s why wise collectors know that a Schuco model isn’t just a purchase: It’s an investment with a lifetime return of enjoyment. Buy it now

CORGI 1/43 SCALE – AUSTIN 1300 FAWLTY TOWERS

It’s television folklore captured by Corgi. Who hasn’t seen the sketch of Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) giving his Austin 1300 Traveller ‘a damn good thrashing’ with the branch of a tree after it refused to start. And who hasn’t felt like doing the same at some point? This model captures that moment, in the episode ‘Gourmet Night’, well, helped by the backdrop included in the pack. For those whose memory needs a jog the even is detailed on the model’s box: With a drunken chef and a missing lobster, there is no choice but to drive to a local restaurant to collect an available duck. It’s then that the car breaks down.

The Austin model is well reproduced and the hand painted white metal figure of Basil Fawlty is fair- we’ve seen worse. Like the series, this model is a laugh.

If you have heard rumours about specially packaged versions, they are true. In a flash of genius Corgi has released an exceptionally small number of the models with variations on the ‘Fawlty Towers’ hotel name, to read ‘Fatty Owls’ and other, less polite, variations, following a running joke in the actual series.

ERTL COLLECTIBLES MONKEES DIECAST COLLECTOR VEHICLE

THE MONKEE MOBILE 1:18 Scale 2002 American Muscle / Ertl Collectibles MONKEES Die-Cast Collector Vehicle. It vaguely resembled a GTO, but what started out as a "goat" emerged as pure "Monkee!" When customizer Dean Jefferies was contracted to build a car for the TV show about a rock group and its zany misadventures, he knew just what was needed. While the front grille sported a GTO emblem, Jefferies' extensive modifications included a tall split windshield, and extra row of seats where the rear deck was, a T-bucket convertible top, large fender flares and exapperated taillamps. The engine sported a 6-71 supercharger, although the blower was a dummy, as the car had too much power and was difficult to drive with the original blower.

SCALEXTRIC - THE ITALIAN JOB MINIS

In recognition of possibly the greatest ever British crime caper, three of the stars from the 1969 cult classic, The Italian Job, are now faithfully reproduced by Scalextric.

An icon of design when the film was released, the three Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper S’s captured the hearts of movie fans the world over; starring in one of the most memorable car chase scenes in cinema history.

Incredibly, for the shooting of the getaway scenes the cars were only slightly modified to achieve the array of dazzling stunts. Movie cars are generally heavily modified to cope with the strains of stunt driving, but the Coopers were race bred, extremely light and incredibly tough in all the right areas.

The Mini originally went into production in 1959 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2009, the same year that The Italian Job celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Each car is liveried in the correct shade of red, white and blue complete with the individual licence plate numbers. The Italian Job Minis are not suitable for conversion to digital operation.

MARILYN MONROE WITH FORD THUNDERBIRD

Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model.

After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early roles were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. She was praised for her comedic ability in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch, and became one of Hollywood's most popular and glamorous performers.

The typecasting of Monroe's "dumb blonde" persona limited her career prospects, so she broadened her range. She studied at the Actors Studio and formed Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her dramatic performance in William Inge's Bus Stop was hailed by critics, and she won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like it Hot.
The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a "probable suicide," the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as the possibility of homicide, have not been ruled out.

In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute.

There is justifiably now much interest being shown in the 'Corgi', with their interesting range of vehicles. This model is Ford Thunderbird in silver grey bodywork with cream & pink interior, opening boot & bonnet and diamond headlights. It has Marilyn Monroe figure.

1968 FORD MUSTANG GT 390 STEVE McQUEEN BULLITT MOVIE CAR

Bullitt is a 1968 American thriller film starring Steve McQueen. It was directed by Peter Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. The story was adapted for the screen by Alan Trustman and Harry Kleiner, based on the novel titled Mute Witness (1963) by Robert L. Fish (aka Robert L. Pike). Lalo Schifrin wrote the original music score, a mix of jazz, brass and percussion.
The movie won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing (Frank P. Keller) and was nominated for Best Sound. Writers Trustman and Kleiner won a 1969 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.

Bullitt is probably best-remembered for its car chase scene through the streets of San Francisco, regarded as one of the most influential car chase sequences in movie history.The scene had Bullitt in a dark "Highland Green" 1968 Ford Mustang 390 CID Fastback, chasing two hit-men in a "Tuxedo Black" 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum.
In 2007, Bullitt was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

This is 1968 Ford Mustang GT Green 1/43 Steve Mqueen Bullitt . Made of diecast with some plastic parts. Detailed interior, exterior. Has plastic display stand with plastic show case. Dimensions approximately L-4 inches long.