Mini Metal Chevrolet Impala

[superba]

On my way home from work last night I picked up the 77 Impala Mini Metal

Its a fantastic model, one of the best I have seen in metal.

It also has many has many kitbashing opportunities. the basic body was produced by GM from 1977 to 1989?

Minor issues, the tail lights are painted like 1978's and the white walls are not period correct. Both easily corrected.

Joe

[h0collector]

I agree with you Joe. The Mini Metal Impala is a fantastic model (I haven't got it yet, have only seen it in pictures - I must soon at least buy a dozen or two of these nice cars).
This model opens for a lot of conversions. The last year model of this body was 1990 in the Caprice Classic version (then came the all-new Caprice Classic (the Busch 1/87 model) as a '91 and then made until 1996 only - I still cannot understand why GM gave up the fleet vehicle market at that time).
I think the Impala had disappeared during early or mid 1980s - I saw a copy of a 1982 Chevrolet sales brochure in the net, and there were both the Impala and the Caprice available.
Has the CMW Impala a separate front piece (of plastic?) ? It should then be easier to make conversions than if the front details are molded as a part of the body, like many other CMW's (the '70 Chevelle, '67 Charger etc.).

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

I been talking about the CMW's Impala for a while now and agree with Bjarte and Joe:CMW did a very good job with it;even the engine is quite well detailed.The Impala saw production up to either 1985 or 1986;then the Caprice soldiered on.No one understands why GM gave up the Caprice because it was the best police car from the time.Incidentally,the final (rear-drive) Impala SS (1994-1996) forced GM to expand its numbers,because it sold more than GM wanted and the excuse to drop this model was ....'the trucks are more er......profitable.But Ford beat GM on sales of this vehicle,anyway and the rear-drive Cadillac sold more than all of its front-drives combined.So,go figure.

On the CMW model,I can not see any flaws in it virtually.If I had the knowledge and skills,I would convert it to the Parisienne-I always found this car very,very elegant in terms of style.I do think that the front end is plastic,so.....................

[superba]

The Grille and Bumper is plastic, the headlights are cast into the body

[stanhas87]

Dear Bjarte:

See?Now you can do your conversions.......

[Christian]

Let me add that I am very happy with CMW's decision to make a popular 70s/80s car.
However, I am not quite satisfied with the model itself. In my opinion the wheels are unusually big and something is not right with the proportions when I compare it to photos of the prototype. Maybe the roof is too low/narrow.

I will reserve final judgement until I have it in my hands of course.

[stanhas87]

Dear Christian:

When you get it,it would be a good ideia to make a Road Test......................

When I saw the photos of the Ford Custom,I thought that something was wrong with it.When I saw it,the car looked quite right.I did not got that yet.

[superba]

Christian, In my hand the Chevy looks dead on to me. I will tell you that the 67 Ford is off in the roof and the grille looks too fat.

But with a limited number of American prototypes, I am still happy.

[stanhas87]

Dear Joe:

Now that you mention it,I also thought that was something wrong with the Ford's front grille,at least on the photo.

[BillC]

The Chevrolet Impala model scales out quiet well compared to the published specifications of the prototype. The wheels are a bit big, but not too bad. Overall, it's one of CMW's best efforts to date.

The Custom 500 does not fare as well. The grille segments are too tall, making the entire assembly too high. The bottom edge of the lower grille segment should be about even with the middle of the lower headlight. Also the front wheel opening is too low, making the car look like a lowrider. Worst is the roofline. It is angled too sharply, forcing the end of the roofline forward and making the window frame on the rear door way too small. On the real car, the point where the window frame joins the lower door section is just above the middle of the door handle. On the CMW model, it is well in front of the handle.

[Christian]

I am relieved to hear how good the Impala is...I'm chalking up the oddities I noted to the fact that it's diecast: i. e. not on par with plastic.

By the way, I seem to remember that Robert Forster's character in "Jackie Brown" drove a 1978 or so Impala. Can anyone confirm this?

[Christian]

Looking at the model it would be nice to have the station wagon and coupe versions as well. Did CMW ever issue variants (read: modified tooling) of their models? I don't think so ...

[stanhas87]

Dear Christian:

These are good ideias (Station-Wagon,coupe). The real two-door version is a difficult sight now a days; the modelers, but one ( it was molded as a racer,not in 1/87) also ignored the coupe. The station wagon may not make it at all.

[Sylvain]

Christian said:

Did CMW ever issue variants (read: modified tooling) of their models?(

I don’t know if you can call it modified tooling, but they have already released different bodies of the same car: Ford 1948 as a convertible and station wagon, and Chevrolet Bel Air 1955 as a 2-door sedan and a convertible. So why not this Impala as a sedan and a coupe or a station wagon?

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

Simple:they feel that it will not go to sell, as opposed to the 1948 Ford's or 1955 Chevrolet.

Nick K