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Now this is a fifties cruiser folks! Skirts, twin antennas, pastel fifties shade of green, sloop-back roof, wrap-around windshield and rear glass, chrome side spears and multi-color interior. I know that some of us were not pleased with the older tooling; I read the boards. And I know from checking out our Car List & Reviews section that this isn’t Danbury’s first rodeo with the ’58 Chevy image. Since the initial offering in ’93 and including this version, there have been eight variations. But half of them are convertibles. This coupe may be the quintessential variant for the fifties Impala with a perfectly period cloak of Glen Green.
Although some may argue that there is no new tech offered with this iteration I’d counter with the fact that it has come to be made flawlessly within its generation; fit and finish is impeccable. It also now wears chrome metal foil scripts and badges. And while new hinges and suspension componentry may not be of the DM next millennium, what you get is a 50th anniversary image that is as clean and perfectly executed as any diecast builder can make it. Everything operates as if DM has been building this model for the last fifteen years. They have it just where they want it. All body panels and opening doors, hood and trunk fit laser-like. The paint is as smooth and rich as any car they have manufactured. The interior is a joy in all its multi-level green hues and tints.
The dash, wheel and floorboards all exhibit wonderful detail and the visors fold down. The skirts are removable. Good, because I like the look better that way. I know, the ‘look’ of the fifty-eight cruiser is more elongated with the skirts in place. No prob, they come off and go back on easily and simply. The trunk, chassis and engine wear original technology but wear it well. The essential image of the model is clean and undistracted from the form and stance of the 1:1 car itself. For a lovely 50th anniversary version of the ’58 Impala, you have to travel a long way to find better.
(05/01/2008)
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