End of Year Poll 2014

[motorman]

Are you?

[motorman]

Are youooooooooooo!!!!!!

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Yes, you're within my sights now and well, basically, it's all over bar the shouting.

Ghosty.

[motorman]

Eat my dirt Ghosthunter!!!!

[johnboy]

Now come on boys, new year and all that, if you can't play nicely and share, you'll have all your toys taken away.

[fixer]

I'll look after Ghostys firenzas

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you to all the forum members who voted for my 'LONE-STAR' Vauxhall Firenza models. A bit of a surprise really, because the car in real life is rather 'Nondscript' has no oomph or get up and go excitement about it. It was a brave move by Vauxhall Motors to take-on the established performance car makers around at that time, so toys or models of this car will have a hard time to attract customers. However, that is all history now and what few models were eventually made of the humble Firenza are much sought after by collectors of the real car.

General Motors gave out strict instructions on who would be allowed permission to make toys and models of their cars. In the UK it was down to Vauxhall Motors to allow permission for this to happen, but still had to clear it with the parent company, GM, back in America.

In those early Days, models were not so prominent, it was the toy car that the well established companies like Corgi, Dinky and Matchbox were making and issuing licenses was still relatively unheard of, but real car companies mostly encouraged replicas to be made of their cars as it helped promote them and in some cases they were used as promotional models in the showrooms and permission was usually granted on the understanding a 'Royalty' fee will be paid to the car company, as a lump sum.

'LONE-STAR' secured a deal with Vauxhall Motors that allowed them full access to Vauxhall's new baby sports coupe in a way that would produce an accurate miniature model, in an abundance of colours, for use as a promotional model for 'Budget' rent-a-car and an exclusive product, as no one else was or would be making another Firenza toy or model.



The Two examples above are what you voted for, in the end of Year poll, not mint condition, but very displayable and very cheap and I explained the story of how I obtained these in another thread elsewhere on the forum here...viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2081&start=10#p17434 and I am very pleased with them, as I used to maintain a Vauxhall toy and model collection but never had or could afford this model, they were always so expensive if you wanted good to excellent examples.

I have added more pictures below for your enjoyment.









Thanks,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[fixer]

Nothing like rubbing it in is there " mate "
Regarding the real ones I found that a well tuned 2300cc would hold its own against a 3000cc capri and go round corners.

[motorman]

Nothing like rubbing it in is there " mate "

Are you ok Reg.......that was clearly assault mate, that Ghosty can be a right viscious one when he wants to be. How unsporting of him. I would maybe use some ice on that bloody nose Reg, it should help with the swelling!

[mbox75]

Nice Modells Chosty,I had as a child and as a Firenza blue green metallic with a GT Strips.I looking for years for this model.

Cheers Mathias