Vintage Galgo Racer Find

Holy Grail Series

This has been on my want list,
since 4 years back.
It was very elusive and all the more,
made me crave for one very bad.
Why?
Reasons being;
1st it’s a legendary Porsche.
2nd a delightful 3” Can Am 917-10.
3rd painted in German racing silver.
4th the Martini livery is a favorite.
5th a driver is on board.
6th it’s made in Argentina.
7th a not so common brand.
8th I just yearn for vintage stuff!

Mint in box…

Martini Porsche 917-10 by Galgo.

Appealing chunkiness

old stuff is...

way cooool!

Rescued to be a 1968 Winner

Received this from a great guy.
This Majorette is in a much loved state. The wheel caps (covering the bent wires) were transferred to complete a similar car in blue with good original state.
I think it’s the only known model of the Porsche 907 L (longtail) in 3”.


Majorette, indicated Lemans on the base thus suggesting it was from the 1967 Lemans race in which the 907L was the 2-liter class winner. This particular diecast is likely appropriate also for the 1968 24-hours Daytona race since it has the unusual vertical air scoops on its tail. The #54 is the race winner, the team taking 1-2-3 finish for 1968.

Here’s the rescue:
I noticed the Majo is shorter between the door and rear wheel opening than the actual car, thus decal is scaled down to fit. It’s not meant to be a so accurate model…it’s a charming 3” diecast car I’m after. Wheels were reused and fitted with straighter axle.

Paint was applied thin to show the casting’s features ….nicks were intentional to give it the not so polished period look. Rear grill and tail-light details added…

and so were front nostril details, gas cap at rear fender…

and 4 tiny badges.

I opted to simulate aged number decals for the vintage look…

and left the base in its well loved state.

Fahrenheit Jagermeister

Lazy Customs Series

It’s rainy days here in the tropics….
not a good time for doing customs. (Yawn)
Squeezing time during rare hours that’s sunny,
I was able to do this one that is based
on the Golf GTI V Fahrenheit Edition,

Kudos to Matchbox for doing a spot-on version
and inspired me to transform one for my
‘Lazy Customs’ home-made collection.

Fast Orange VW

Komenda Racing GTI 5

I’m liking the all black wheels!

Again, “No rivet was harm” in the making of Lazy Custom :-)

Transformers Too?

When Hollywood brought the Transformers to silver screen life, a different morphing took place. The film’s version transformed the original cast into GM’s own. Some of us would have preferred the Bumble-Bee as a VW Beetle and of course, Jazz to be the Porsche 935 Martini ‘ Moby Dick’.

Gladly in 1/64, our desired morphing can still be possible…







On 1:1 though, this Pinas Optimus has yet to…

Tale of Two Blue Tails

Side-by-side feature

Back in the mid-70’s a kin who resided in Canada, sent boxed packages of assortments. One box contained all toys for the little ones; me, my sibling and cousins were delighted about the gifts. All of these toys were new to us then and didn’t even know they existed. Among other presents that I got, was a Corgi Whizzwheels Porsche 917 in metallic blue. The streamlined, long-tail and slender shaped car garnered my admiration from then on. A treasured diecast; having the distinction of starting my love affair with Porsche.

Three and half decades later, an admiration was rekindled. This time, a short-tail version of the 917 caught my fondness. It’s by Pilen of Spain, in heavy casted 1/43. The significance of it being my very first Porsche Gulf livery model!

Two treasured blue-tails

My very first Porsche diecast, the 917L




My very first Gulf Porsche, the 917K

Un-mint Appeal?

There is something eccentric having to do this.
Genuinely, I can’t discern why….
…but I’m drawn to this nostalgic connection.

To start with; rat rods are supposed to be,
rough and tough, down and dirty.
What’s the point of a polished model,
it wouldn’t be then a rat Volksrod.

To capture the spirit, I took a dead mint HW.
Scrapped the paint and chipped it at random.
Slapped some well-worn transitional & early
MB Superfast wheels. No more detailing
whatsoever, plain and simple retrograding.

Somehow this rat Volksrod brings me back,
and in touch with my first ever VW,
the Matchbox #15 red 1500 Saloon.
It was well played with and very much loved
that its remaining paint is no less that 60%
intact and the windows broken. Needless to say,
that one is a hands down all-time favorite!
Those front wheels are from that very same toy
I played with as a 7-year old gear head.
That MB VW, is now a Cal-look Bug and is my
most treasured diecast. (Watch out for it soon)

Something old, something new but made old.
I guess it was about lighthearted retrospect.
The aftermath of this reminiscing is an
‘un-mint custom’, a liberating fun exercise
contrary to the norm. A general norm that mint
is the better condition most of the time.
In this case, like a much faded Levis 501 jeans…
well-worn is definitely more appealing to me!

Transitional front wheels for my 1st MB Bug


Rear wheels from my other childhood Superfast MB

Coop Sports Car

Karmann car series

VW and Porsche have a long history of cooperation that started with the first ever KdF car. Both are synonymous to the German version of ‘I scratch your back and you scratch mine’. This close relationship was apparent too in the 60’s when both wanted a transition sports car model. VW for one wanted a replacement of the Karmann Type34, and Porsche for its part a successor to the entry-level 912.

The result is the VW Porsche 914, a car that bears both names of my main passions, as far as the automobile is concern. It too reminds me of how cooperation is made of; a combination of team effort, purpose, compromise, sharing, trials and resolve. Thereby with these representations, I feel it is special!

My 3” version is by any measure special to me as well.
Siku V312 1970 VW Porsche 914/6, the six-cylinder variant of the 914 is one of my all time beloved diecast.

This particular 914 is from the 'Siku Flitzern' series, the German firm’s 1970 response to the transition to faster rolling wheels, meant to compete with HotWheels Redline or Matchbox Superfast. Thus the wheels are sometimes referred to as Flitzern.

A delicate and very charming model IMHO, having the early clear windows that differ from later yellow window releases and those all black Siku R3 wheel are one of my favorites in a Siku.

Another raison d'être why I collect VW and Porsche.
Cheers!

Destination : Simply FUN

Beating the showers, Part 2

To me the trip is as great as the destination.
Truth be told, I don’t expect much from a travel.
My motto : I’ll make the most out of it!
Any simple moment should be simply enjoyed.
And enjoyed, is what we did!

Some snap shots….
These trees sport unusual leaves?

They are actually fruit bats!
Sometime ago, it was told that these bats left for good.
Good thing they came back.

Got a good dose of vibrant colors...

... fun ride on an orange-striped jeepney...

and fed the cat !

The main event is the water fun.

Mammals are having a field day…

…showing their stuff….

and putting a smile on us all !

Enjoy and Have FUN!

Superb Mercury Speedy

Holy grail series

There are things that simply are thought provoking for me.
A deep inquisition on how things were designed and made during previous decades.
Previously powerful PC and CNC tools weren’t available then, and yet much masterpieces of product designs were achieved in the 60’s or even later decades.
I start to imagine a 1966 Porsche Carrera 6 - the epitome of street legal Stuttgart race car; its 6 cylinder boxer engine, drive-train and shapely bodywork are marvels of car design and engineering. Every part is hand drawn and then manufactured. From plans in paper, to its realization in metal; an awesome feat in every respect.

This applies to my amazement of the Mercury Speedy’s version of the Porsche Carrera 6.
From my point of view, it is unbelievable that this is 4 decade old product.
Wonderful detail abounds, and those wheels are a sight to behold! Having rubber tire threads for a 3” inch car from that era is commendable.
I really don’t know if it just me, but surely those who made this Speedy earns my admiration and respect!

The Speedy’s box is as delicate as the model

Every angle …

…is a joy to glimpse.

Italian made masterpiece.

Bravo!