Herpa Serie 70 editions

[geco65]

Dear All,

I wonder if anybody can shed some light on a query I have.

I am currently trying to collect the Herpa Serie 70 collection at the moment. I have acquired a brochure from Herpa from around 1994, which states that it will produce 16 models in the series. They are briefly: BMW 323, BMW 528, BMW 633, BMW 728, Audi 80 GTE, Audi 100 GL, Audi 100 GL Avant, Citroen 2CV, Ford Granada Mk II, Ford Capri Mk III, Opel Rekord E, Opel Senator, Opel Kadett D, Opel Ascona A Voyage, Opel Ascona SR and VW Scirocco Mk I.

I only need two more to complete this listing.

However, three questions.

1. Are there any more models in this series then what I have listed above ? I have not seen any, but others may know.

2. Did Herpa actually produce all of the above models. I ask, because I have never seen the Opel Kadett D Berlina (no. 100663). Has anybody seen this / got this ?

3. The brochure lists the Opel Ascona SR as a saloon (pictured as such), though it was produced as a hatchback version. Does anyone know if Herpa went on to actually produce a saloon version as well ?

Any help on this series would be much appreciated. Thanks, Gary

[Christian]

Gary,

the Serie 70 collection is an interesting one. From what I know, Herpa outsourced their production at the time and when the molds were transported they were damaged in the process. They did eventually repair them but one or two of the announced models were not made but replaced with similar cars. I must have a magazine article somewhere, describing this in more detail. I'll get back to you.

[Christian]

I haven't found the article, but I could retrace the release schedule. The following models have all been made.

June 1994
100656 BMW 323i
100687 VW Scirocco GL
100748 Opel Senator A
100779 Opel Ascona A Voyage

September 1994
100694 BMW 528i
100700 Citroen 2CV
100717 Ford Capri Ghia
100724 Opel Rekord E

March 1995
100762 BMW 728i
100786 BMW 633 CSi

February 1996
100670 Audi 100 GL Avant
100731 Ford Granada 2,3 GL
100755 Audi 80 GTE
100793 Audi 100 GL 5E
100809 Opel Ascona SR (hatchback)

So that's 15 models. I haven't looked at 1997 data, but I think we can assume that the Kadett wasn't produced.

[geco65]

Christian,

Hello and thank you very much for looking into this and coming back to me. Your analysis - thank you for the dates - ties in with what I have at the moment. I have never seen for sale the Opel Kadett D and get the impression that it just was not made. The Opel Ascona is definitely a five door hatchback and not a saloon as per the picture in my leaflet, as I have this model in my collection. For all the others, they were made and as I say, I have them all now apart from one.

They do seem pretty rare all in all, so not sure how many of each were produced. I also presume, as I can find no other information that this is the series as a whole, that is, no more models were made. This is a shame, as the detail on these models was great for the period manufactured and a lot of the earlier Herpa models could have been much improved through adding the 'serie 70' detail touch.

As always Christian, thank you for your research, comment and reply. Much appreciated. Thank you, Gary