44c GMC Refrigerator

[Sebastian10]

This one is recently listed - it is described as pre production and seems to be ii the correct colour scheme but has a rear bumper which according to the NJ web site is a later addition

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Matchbo ... Swuvla2jFd

Any ideas on this one?

Sebastian

[DrJeep]

Definitely not an original - he does make this clear in the description underneath. This person is well known for his reproductions of rare models. While his descriptions say this, there’s a real problem if someone buys one and sells it on as an original.

[AJR]

This really needs reporting to eBay. His prices are ridiculously high for something you could do yourself and his listing titles suggests that these are the real McCoy.
Only when you read into the listing does it state that his models are re-paints .... some people would see this at a B-I-N price and hit the button before reading the blurb below. Definitely a con merchant.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

The forum has had experience with this seller before and the general concensus is...do not buy and even if in his notes he declares the model as custom, rebuilt or restored, why such a high price!!!

His notes are suggesting the model is restored and based on a 'Preproduction' but this still does not warrant a premium price.

Ghosthunter.

[kwakers]

I will take a controversial position on Nik Stil's talented reproductions. I don't believe some of his best models are overpriced, he is an artist who takes pains to make these FAKE models very accurate to take the place of rarities that most of us cannot afford. I praise him for using the late rear bumper casting on this 44C Fake, it is hidden on a display shelf and because of its presence, that model will never be confused with any early genuine pre-pro model.
That being said, like any piece of "Art", I would like to see all of Nik's "Specials" signed by him on their base. If he were to do that on the very well done plastic based fake preproduction sedan he has listed right now, I would be tempted to buy it for my own enjoyment. As he himself states, it is a representation of a model I may never own in my lifetime because of its rarity and a $3500 U.S. pricetag on an original. Is Nik's model worth $200 to smile at and enjoy for myself? I think so, but others may not.......It sure beats having to look at just a picture of Alan's original from the Doctor's collection......
The above is simply my own opinion on Nik's creations. His E Bay warnings are now much better than they had been several years ago, so maybe he has listened to some of the ideas and concerns the Forum had passed on to him a couple of years ago. My last advice to Forum members: Read all E Bay listings very carefully on any BIN, don't be afraid to ask questions, and cancel a sale if you are not fully satisfied with anything you receive from a Seller. SMILE Kwakers

[Squid]

Read all E Bay listings very carefully on any BIN, don't be afraid to ask questions, and cancel a sale if you are not fully satisfied with anything you receive from a Seller.

I would add to that advice an old cliché: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It is very unlikely that someone with knowledge of our beloved die-cast is going to let a genuine pre-production, in terrific condition, go for such little money. The seller is at least honest in the item description, but he would do well to include that information in the listing title as well. There is potential that some unscrupulous lout could buy it and try to pass it off as genuine. Maybe the seller would do well to sign or otherwise mark his reproductions as such? Regardless, two more old adages/clichés apply: knowledge is power, and caveat emptor.

I agree that the price is a little too high. If the seller wants it gone, he'll entertain offers and/or adjust his price accordingly. If it remains unsold, the value he places on his efforts probably exceeds the item's monetary worth.

[AJR]

If I want a repaint or reproduction, I do it myself. I get the enjoyment of looking at it for just the cost of the paint and a couple of hours time.
I recently bought a Matchbox Ford Gritting lorry to repaint into all yellow but it didn't look right, so I painted it red and yellow as standard, put that in the case and sold on the original. I purposely do not fake the rivets as I only want to fool myself.
My take on the GMC, good as it looks .... it is not an original to command a price that high, it is is a reproduction that once sold could be made again to satisfy any demand and so the rare item becomes more common than the model it copies. If as suggested the seller has used a later casting, it is not because he wants to keep it an arms length from the original, it is because he couldn't get the earlier casting or maybe unaware of minor differences.

[DrJeep]

In general, I don’t think one should criticise sellers for their BIN prices - I just don’t buy anything that I think is too expensive, but someone else might value it more highly, and who can say who is right? I think it’s good this one is a BIN, rather than a low start auction. The fixed price sends a clear message that the seller knows it’s not a rare original, which would be much less clear if this was an auction.

[AJR]

Some good points made for and against.
I suppose in the big scheme of things the "fake" GMC isn't a lot of money if you take the guy's time and effort into account.
Still too expensive for me though.
Anyway, someone has bought it now with best offer. I assume it went for less than £120 or the buyer would have lost out versus the free shipping.

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