Ertl 1:18 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback

P-100 Lives!!! Well sort of. Here's Ertl's American Muscle Authentics' new release that makes excellent use of the P-100 Mustang tooling. This model has quite a presence in its regal black paint job, totally devoid of orange peel, but does suffer a bit from rather aggressive machine polishing that left a uniform brushed finish. It would probably have been invisible on most colors, especially when clear coated, but black is very unforgiving and I spent about 3 hours polishing this model, actually starting with automotive compound that I was loathe to use due to its potential effect on chromed parts. Fortunately the chrome is excellent on this model so the reward for my labor was a deep lustrous finish.... or, let's say the original finish was easier to finish than orange peel.

Now I have to say I really like this car, but it's hard to love it. The shape is great. It has all the bells and whistles of the original P-100 CV including operating suspension and rotating driveshaft. The white interior is just gorgeous and the fold down rear seat is a marvel articualted with precise and scaled piano hinges. Legible gauges, chromed hardware and bezels, seatbelts with metal hardware, articualted visors, carpeting with Mustang floormats, embossed metal sill plates with the Ford logo.... it's all there to excess. The excess would be the clutch pedal, which is a bit incongruous mated with the floormounted automatic "T" shifter.

This is the first sign that this model doesn't know what it wants to be. The model is basically the 225 HP 289 V8 version with single exhaust. Personally, I would have loved to see it as the K-code Hi-Po 271 HP solid lifter version, if only because I loved the way the dual baffled exhaust tips exited the rear bodywork. Perhaps that what was contemplated because the fender badge tampo has been changed to the "High Performance 289" that signifies the K-Code engine that doesn't lie in the engine compartment.

The original fastback which was supposed to support an entire performance package was to include independent rear suspension. Ultimately Ford went for the look, but bailed on the costs of upgrading the suspension. In this case, it looks like Ertl was contemplating a similar project but after the body was completed, it was just economics that dictated using all those nifty P-100 parts one more time.

Perhaps there will be revisions down the road with subsequent iterations being more accurate. I would love to see a fastback with styled steel wheels replacing the full wheel covers and those ridiculous optional spinner centers on this model.

I'd have to sum up my feelings about this model as simply, "If you don't know a darned thing about cars, this is a really neat looking model". I like it.... I just can't love it. It'll be on display, but not center stage. It just won't withstand scrutiny, and I really don't want to have to field questions or defend my purchase.

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