Die cast Cobra

cdnus · #1 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009, 03:50 PM

I have NO--NADDA-ZILCH experience with die cast models so I am looking for a little advice from some experts PLEASE.
Found this on E-bay
1/12 KYOSHO SHELBY COBRA 427 S/C BLUE
New,in box & no marks or damage.
What would one expect to have to pay for this?

Thanks for any help

Craig

SPF2245 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009, 04:31 PM

Between $400-475 USD. Excellent model, the steep price forced me to make my own from an old model kit I found online.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009, 04:37 PM

Craig,

A good book to pick up if you are not familiar with the die casts is the Die Cast rice Guide which covers from 1946 to the present. Arthur Duglas R. Kelley. Another good place to get top notcvh die casts is Exoto but expect to pay for them. I got the six Daytona Coupes from them and it took almost two years as they had to have everything exact. I have even had people come over to look at them to see how something should go in their replicas. And if you bought the whole set of six, they gave you a stainless steel one and mine was one of the ones that was polished. Also several other die cast companies make great detailed cars and I buy from them also.

Ron

VRM · #4 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 12:39 AM

Craig,
If you really look you can sometimes find them for $300-$350. They are not bad, but be careful of any of the Japanese models if you are looking for a specific chassis replica - they never seem to finish their research. Also, paint codes in Japan (or maybe just more sloppy research) can result in odd colours that are supposed to be Viking/Princess or Guardsman blue.

Ron also makes a good point about Exoto. They look very nice, but they also miss a lot of the fine details specific to particular cars. A good friend of mine did the decals for most of the cars in their race line (Grand Sports, Cobras, and a bunch of others). We were amazed to find that Exoto had taken his art for the 1966 L88 Penske/Sunoco Corvette and put it on a '67! Depends on how picky you are when it comes to your models I guess.

Good luck! And feel free to post some photos if you end up getting one!

Steve

Jamo · #5 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 03:57 AM

Ron...I've got a polished Daytona too. Liked showing it to Pat to show how much shinier his Cobra could've been.

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 04:01 AM

Jamo,

Did that make him work harder to get his to shine more?

Ron

Jamo · #7 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 04:22 AM

He said something...it wasn't nice.

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 05:01 AM

I'll bet it wasn't nice after all of his work on that car. But his did look great when he had it up here.

CDNUS,

As for ordering Die Casts, some of the following magazines have good ones but you have to watch them as they also slip in cheap stuff.

The Franklin Mint, Classics Of The Open Road, Hot Rod Hardware, Vintage Replica Collection, and Fairfield Mint. Also the big car shows are a good place to look as most of them have a Die Cast Selection and you can actually look at what you are getting. And I know that there are a lot more places to order them from than what I have listed.

Ron