The 57b Impala has been my absolute favorite regular wheel range toy since I was a kid and I'm always on the hunt for variations to add to the collection shelf. I knew when I bid on this one on ebay that it was either a unique or a modified model. I could tell the model had a dark blue base and 9x20 wheels common to the earlier generation 57b Impalas. I couldn't tell for sure but it almost looked as if the wheels were the ultra rare GRAY plastic and sure enough they are. BUT... I could also tell from the auction photographs that the body casting is the later casting with the wider window pillars and the brace that runs across the inside of the body visible through the rear wheel wells. The interior of the grill does not have the ridge. It is smooth there. According to both Stannard and Nick's guide this later casting should only have been fitted to black-based models with either 24 or 36 count tread wheels.
Here are some photos:
base:
front end base:
Front axle on end:
Front axle in profile:
Rear axle on end:
Rear axle in profile:
So... what do you think? I'm curious to hear the expert opinions on the axle ends. I was suspecting tampering at first but the longer I look the more reasonable it seems they could be authentic. And then even if the wheels had been swapped, how do you account for the blue base? I see no evidence of any tampering with the base rivets and the base certainly doesn't appear to be repainted. I'm puzzled for sure by this one.
Tinman wrote:The bases were stored (for later final assembly) with the wheels/axles installed. Looks like a bin full of older bases was put to use at a later date,
I think so to. We've seen this kind of 'out of timeline' model before, especially towards the end of a model's life when stocks of bodies and baseplates were deliberately being run down.
Everything looks Great Greg! Nice factory produced rarity is my opinion of it also. Joe's explanation is a good one. We have run into these odd variations once in a while, and I am sure this is the reason why some of Stannard's out of timeline listings are still being questioned almost 30 years after his Guide's publication. It is nice that you have shown us your 'gamble' that paid off. kwakers
