Hi everybody and thanks to LaToya for posting on my behalf. As some may recall I recently posted a bug report (just after the latest site-upgrade) explaining how all page formatting had been lost on my end, resulting in the posts being all jumbled up and practically unreadable.


Well, it was soon to get much worse! A few days later I could no longer access the forum pages at all. In most cases I could open the main TC page, but if I tried to log in or visit the forum pages, I got 500-errors (Internal server error) and a standard text explaining that the site was probably undergoing maintenance and I should try again later.


I cleared the cache (not the passwords, don't want to lose all my passwords and usernames, sorry!), restarted the computer, tried typing addresses and passcodes manually in order to avoid automatic loading of expired pages, I tried both Google Chrome and IE, but nothing helped, so I sent a mail to LaToya explaining the situation... couldn't use PM of course, since I was unable to log in.


Things have still not improved and I continue to be unable to access anything from IE or Chrome, but just today I got the idea of trying with Firefox... and I was able to log in, as you can see! The page formatting is still awol, so the site is more or less unreadable, but at least I could get online to post this message... I hope... fingers crossed it'll get through.


At least all of this has given me lots of time to buy and sell... a lot! Actually I've sold more than ever before, even though we're in mid summer-slump and a lot of buyers are away, so I'm very pleased. Earnings per model are mostly exceptionally low, but because there are so many sales, it does make sense in the end.


I've also bought some new models for myself, of course. If you're unfamiliar with european cars of the 50s and 60s, most of my purchases will probably fail to ring a bell. I got a whole bunch of the microcars so popular in the mid 50s and some years on - cars like BMW Isetta, Glas Goggomobil T 250l (1/18),





Messerschmitt KR 200 and FMR TG 500 Tiger, Lloyd 600 + Lloyd Alexander TS (1/18). Also 3 Borgward models: Isabella Limousine





and Isabella Kombi (both from Norev) and T100 (also known as "Grosse Borgward" = The Big Borgward) from Neo Models (my 2nd Neo resin model, following the NSU 1200)





Also got some nice and hard to find Peugeot: first I found a used Peugeot 104 from Solido in quite good condition, then I wanted to add the two missing ones up to the easy-to-find 404: the 204 and the 304. Starting with the 204, I sorted by price, and would you believe, the cheapest option was a French Dinky (#510) in very good condition! Even if I love the great detail levels of modern diecasts, there was no way I would pass on a great looking French Dinky in favor of a Norev or Neo, so... got the Dinky!














Then tried the same for the 304 and found a fine model by Norev (#890) being the best option. Not sure how old this model is, but it's not their current casting of the 304.






 


More new models include a 1962 BMW 700 LS (the car that, along with the Isetta, saved BMW from going bankrupt), a 1961 Daf "Daffodil" 30 (Norev)





1962 Opel Rekord A Caravan (Minichamps), an Audi 60 LS (Minichamps)





a nice plastic vintage Simca 1000 from Norev, an old Joal Pegaso dump truck, a Britains Land Rover SWB (issued 1975)





in great condition for my 'childhood-collection', which was also enriched by a Corgi #382 Porsche 911S in bright green metallic and a very near mint Corgi #264 Oldsmobile Toronado (blue metallic version). And just a few hours ago I finally managed to get one I'd been hunting for quite a long time, one of my brother's favorite childhood models, a Mini Cooper 1300 from Polistil in scale 1/24 from the early 70s with a very unusual feature of working door handles (and trunk) plus actual 'rubber' tubes at the window surrounds.





 


Also added 5 Dinky-Matchbox models, all at very fair prices: DY-12 Mercedes 300 gullwing, DY-25 Porsche 356A Coupe, DY-2 Chevrolet Bel Air, DY-29 Buick Skylark and DY-11 Tucker Torpedo.


Bought 4 new regular models plus one special from the Opel Collection (Ixo): #31 Opel Admiral B (1969), #32 Opel Rekord B Coupe (1965), #35 Opel Frontera (1991) and #37 Opel Ascona B 400 (1979). The 'special' being a 1952 Opel Blitz 3 tonner truck.


Last but certainly not least (and most expensive of them all) a Opel Rekord Caravan issued by danish Vilmer in 1960, one of only 4 street cars they ever made and one I'd never even seen pictures of. Extremely rare and sought after and the auction recieved a record number of visits and bids on Qxl. I wasn't home when the auction ended, but I was hell bent on winning so I placed a "the sky's the limit"-maximum bid and won.


The model needs 4 new tires (which is a problem), but apart from that it's in really good condition with uncracked windows, intact bumpers and headlights, fine baseplate, straight axles and a nice two-tone paint. It still hasn't arrived, so here's one of the 6 auction photos.

I don't know the year but it was a Borgward Isabella sport car. Two seater, 2 door hard top if I remember right. Bright red like yours but smaller and sportier.


Today coming home from town I saw a Henkel in the back of a car. I love those little bubble cars. Yes, it was a 1:1. Had extra outboard headlights on it too so looked bugeyed.

Great scores Tee, so in the end every cloud has a silver lining.................

 


Here's the Isabella in the Coupe version, probably the one you're thinking of. Just sold this one a few days ago and unlike the saloon- and estate versions, it's quite easy to find for a good price. This one is from Atlas, and part of a german series of german sportscars.





Yes, the Heinkels are legendary. I remember them from my childhood, along with all the other minicars - sadly it's been a long time since I've seen a real 1:1


When I started my latest hunt for minicars I was strongly considering adding a Heinkel as well. I did have the one from Corgi (#233), but since all the others are modern diecasts and I'd like to keep the Corgi Heinkel with the other Corgis, I thought I'd check for a modern diecast version. Strangely enough, I couldn't find any at all, despite it being one of the most popular minis back then.

That sure looks almost the same as my buddies car. Sadly it has been sold on years ago and both my buddy and his Dad (they owned it jointly) have passed away. I don't have any pictures but I remember it being more streamlined but that may be my memory playing tricks. It sure was a beauty and the one your showing here is also a beauty. Thanks.


As to the Corgi 233 Heinkel, I have three of them two waiting to be restored (when I can find the time) and one I restored for my wife, Tracy. I did it in bright pink for her and have shown it in the Pink Cars Threads. Great little car and the window unit and the tires are available for it.

The plum in all those 100(!) new purchases is the Vilmer Opel Car-A-Van!  When you see the next one, get it for me!  That is one of my holy grails...

Hi Karl, why do you think I bought it? I knew you wanted it, and knowing that this could be the only chance ever, or at least the best one, I went all out for it, thinking that either I could keep it, or maybe you would buy it.


Here are the other auction photos. The colors are much better on these.



















I forgot if you have the Vilmer Volvo PV 444 or not?

Yes, I do - with tires!



Still need the Opel and Mercedes.  Do you have any ideas on tires that might fit?  I'll take it in either case!  Your QXL price was not too bad at all, for that rare of a little tiny car...

TTTTEEEBBBOOO - You the man!  I received your Opel recently and went looking for replacement tires.  The little Vilmer Dodge truck uses the same size tires, so by real luck, I found a beater example at the last Copenhagen toy fair at Frederiksberghallen.  So, here is one of my holy grails! (It took a lot of work to extract from the Dodge and ram into the Opel!)

Wow, so glad you found some tires for this - it looks much better this way I was afraid it would be a real problem to find something that fit and I cerainly would never have thought of the Dodge as a donor - thought the tires were much bigger than that, but your discovery will also be helping me now, since my Volvo needs a new set of tires. Vilmer Dodge are quite easy to find as beaters on Qxl, so that'll be on my shopping list now.


Oh, and I can easily imagine what a struggle it must have been to force the tires onto the Opel - there's very, very little room there!

Oh, and by the way... did you see my huge Alfa? Check out the Pocher thread if you haven't already done so.

Your Vilmer Volvo PV444 has bigger tires and wheels than the Opel - so the small Dodge will not fit it!  Sorry.  Looks like the Vilmer Bedford truck is about the right size - the larger Vilmer Dodge trucks look too big.

Does your  Volvo have a ridge in the metal wheel?  (My Volvo tires are too hard and dry to try to remove.) The ridge is the issue with the Opel - I needed 4 tires with indentations in the middle to fit over the ridge.  Regular replacement tires would not work. 

Yes, my Volvo has ridges in the wheels. Hmmm, so the wheels are not the same size? I thought they looked the same when I had both, but of course, now it's you who's in a postion to compare side by side. Unfortunately the Vilmer Bedfords are not quite as plentiful as the mini Dodge.

I pulled the tire off my Bedford Esso tanker just a little - it is the common style - no ridge in the wheel and no indention in the tire.  Might be close in size though.  (It was still soft after 50 years!)

Same for the larger Vilmer Dodge - no ridge, but looks similar size.  This is very common, so perhaps you can find a beat up one and just see how close it is.  Let us know.