And the Gremlin and the Pinto. Yeah, all scale models, but didn't your jaw drop just a little after reading the headline? Mine did after spotting these at a major discount retailer's toy department last week. Available in 1:60, 1:24 and as a remote control 1:16 scale, these bad-rep rods of the 70s are part of the Fresh Cherries lineup from Motormax.
Surrounded by other, more respectable models like a Bugatti Veyron, the 2006 Camaro Concept, and a Ferrari F40, the 1:60-sized Gremlin on my work desk has sparked many conversations. The kitsch factor of these small mechanical monsters goes to 11. At less than $4 for the smallest versions, you can afford to have your very own ignoble garage, or recreate an 80s-era used car lot. For even more realism, set the Pinto on fire, and leave the Mustang II next to the Gremlin in the yard to build up some nice rust. We imagine the remote control Mustang II might cost more than a 1:1 scale version, though it would probably hold its value better.
We can't wait for the next round. What should be on that list? Hmm. Vega, Citation, maybe a Le Car.
Check the jump for a larger promotional photo from Motormax.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pb @ Jan 16th 2007 4:25PM
Oh man, the Mustang II is even in brown. That's beautiful.
Barney @ Jan 16th 2007 4:35PM
I bought a new Gremlin in 1975. The last thing I would want is a reminder even though it was when I met my present wife. It speaks for a women who meets a guy in a Gremlin and stays married to him for over thirty years. It was our wedding car as well. The scrap yard probably squeezed out the last of the confetti.
Dracos @ Jan 16th 2007 4:35PM
I've been shaking my head at these things for months at Wal-mart. My only thought is "why?".
The saddest variation is the assembly-required 1:24 die cast kits that come with the body shells primered. Not painted, just primered. No rusr painted on, just clean, unadultereated primer.
Galvin @ Jan 16th 2007 4:36PM
the latest round of these things will include the chevy vega, and chevette, a Pacer X is also appearing too.
craig @ Jan 16th 2007 4:37PM
Haha, I've got the 1:24 Pinto in green and the 1:60 Mustang II in brown right here at my desk at work. They're decently detailed, I was impressed with their quality to be honest.
Jay @ Jan 16th 2007 5:17PM
I've got several of those...very good quality and good detailing all around. Definitely some great kitsch factor. A friend of mine emailed Motor Max about possible future cars, and got a reply indicating the aforementioned Vega and Chevette, as well as Chrysler K-Cars.
Pinkerton @ Jan 16th 2007 5:18PM
A book about these and other craptastic cars of the 70s and 80s came out a couple years ago called "Automotive Atrocities", very funny stuff. I'm not shilling for the book, in fact, see if your local library has it :)
Actually, the Maverick wasn't a horrible car, but the door hinges always broke, forcing the occupant to go through the old "lift and push" routine to close the door. Ah the good old days, back when you bought a car and only expected it to go five years before things started falling off.
RidinLow @ Jan 16th 2007 5:25PM
I bought the 1/12 scale RC Pacer from Walmart last week. Couldn't resist after it was on sale. There's something incredibly wrong about drifting a radio controlled blue Pacer with massive chrome wheels in my basement.
JB @ Jan 16th 2007 5:35PM
I like these. I am tired of models of cars I can never afford, like Ferraris. I bought a Pinto model in 70s green.
I'd like to see other "ordinary" cars, too. Like a Dodge Aries, Renault Alliance (Motor Trend COTY), Fuego, Fairmont, Skylark/Omega/Phoenix (heck, all the X-cars are good), Celebrity Eurosport (with blacked-out "Euro" trim, and of course, an Omni 024 and a Rampage.
noodles @ Jan 16th 2007 5:49PM
The end is surely near.
Jeff R. @ Jan 16th 2007 6:13PM
I have one of these Fresh Cherries series cars- mine is a 1/24 scale AMC Gremlin in black. I'm not an AMC fan, but the Gremlin is definitely a funny vehicle to look back on.
I agree with JB (#9)- I would like to see more regular cars too, especially various GM models, Renaults, and maybe even some old imports like Datsuns and VWs.
skaz @ Jan 16th 2007 7:21PM
"Actually, the Maverick wasn't a horrible car, but the door hinges always broke, forcing the occupant to go through the old "lift and push" routine to close the door."
I've got a '73 Comet and a '74 Maverick and I've never had either issues. Now, my '75 El Camino -- that's another story, those doors were manufactured in hell.
Chris Tutor @ Jan 16th 2007 8:08PM
Why is it American car companies took so long to engineer robust doors? I had a 1979 Grand Prix coupe that the driver's door didn't want to open, and the passenger door wouldn't stay shut. Just about lost a good friend to the ditch in one high school-aged high-speed cornering maneuver. Had he actually fallen out, I'm not sure I could have opened my door to help.
If Motormax produces a Fuego, I may have to add it to the desk collection.
And thanks for the heads-up on the DIY versions, Draco. They would certainly lend themselves to some pretty sweet customizations.
apots @ Jan 16th 2007 8:42PM
I've been buying these things- have one of every 1/60 variant I've seen. I've also been buying the Pacers and Gremlins as "educational" toys for friends' sons (I'm an AMC lunatic...) They're well detailed, and at $1.97 at Walmart, you can't beat them.
I think it's GREAT to see "ordinary" cars being redone in diecast. Nice to see something other than the usual muscle cars or Euro sports cars!
Bring 'em on- Vegas, Citations, Alliances, Fairmonts, Volares, whatever. I love 'em!
apots @ Jan 16th 2007 8:45PM
One mistake I've noticed is that they have the 1/60 Pinto labelled as a 1970; the first Pinto was the '71 model. Minor nit-pick, considering it's a Chinese company....
Andy @ Jan 17th 2007 12:02AM
I'll take a hit for this, but I feel the Mustang II received an undeserved bad rap. The Mustang II was not a Pinto in pony drag--both cars were quite different. I liked the idea that Ford returned the Mustang to its original, small car roots, as opposed to the obese land yachts from 1971-73. The Cobra II could have been a quality compact two-door sport sedan like the BMW 2002. By stripping weight, increasing aerodynamics, and emphasizing on racing, Ford could have helped the Mustang II's image and legacy. It is good to know today's small cars have come a long way. Maybe if Ford had done more with its Diet Mustang--the Maverick--it would have had a better time in the 1970s.
Andy @ Jan 17th 2007 12:07AM
I hate to say this, but I kind of liked the Mustang II. I thought it was a practical step in returning the Mustang to its small car roots, unlike the 1971-73 giants. Had Ford tried to make the Cobra II into something like a two-door rally sedan (a la BMW 2002), I think it would have had a better legacy. I also feel Ford should have done more with the Maverick.
Blacksabre @ Jan 17th 2007 4:07AM
Someone knocked the Dodge Omni.
The Dodge Omni GLH Turbo was my baby for years, winning autocross after autocross, and scaring the bejesus out of various Camaros with their infamous 305 V-8s. The later Daytona Shelby was the eventual replacement, with similar results. These were nice cars for their time, quick and economical, and capable of inspired handling.
They were well worth the price, and I miss them both.
Black
Robert @ Jan 17th 2007 10:11AM
Andy, I've got to disagrww with you. I had a 1974 Mustang II that was a piece of crap after just a few years. The 4 cylinder was underpowered, it kept breaking down. The 4 speed manual transmission was especially problematic; I once had to drive all the way home, about 10 miles, stuck in second gear.
We all loved it when we first got it, but the poor thing just wasn't built well.
Doug Greenway @ Jan 17th 2007 10:32AM
I love it! I had a 74 Gremlin with a 304 3 speed that thing was a fun car. And yes it was are wedding car too, 32 years later and still married. I have several of the Gremlins and some of the others. You have to admit they are a piece of American and Canadian history. The 1/24th one that I have is black with the ugliest green interior that you could ever imagine, my 1:1 was black with white interior.So guess what i have to do. Thank you motomax for bringing back some good memories