1955
*Nostalgic Minature also painted their models, 2 colors available - "Thunderbird
Green" and blue.
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At first highly saught after,
pewter popularity seems to have diminished somewhat. Pewter models
are generally unpainted, presented with a polished metal surface.
Once painted, the term used to describe the metal is "white metal". Nostalgic
Minatures produced both unpainted and painted models of the same casting.
Most of the pewter models were made in the
1980s and early 90s. One is still being produced in England.
I've cataloged 19 brands so far, with one
model apparently changing brand name. Fifty fives and '56s are represented
but there have been no 1957 pewter models built that I am aware
of. That is an opening for some entrepeneur that is willing to deal
with getting licensing from Ford Motor Company. |
The "holy grail" of the pewter models is the
set from Franklin Mint of Mel's Drive-In which included the 1956 Ford Thunderbird: |
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