I was just making up a list of cars I would buy if I got lucky and hit the BIG lotto drawing. Then I got the idea of looking for good detailed kits in 1/35 scale. I looked for the Morris Minor late '50’s Traveller, the Jaguar C type, the 1954 Sunbeam Alpine like Grace Kelly drove in a movie, a Ginetta G4, and a '50’s Ferrari Tessta Rosa. Wonder why nobody has thunk about making models of these cars?
My big hope is that with the 3D printing technology, it will be possible to get software for kits various experts make up, and have them printed commercially.
Back in the 70s and 80s there were quite a few 1/32 scale kits. Some “gooder” than others. I had mostly American muscle cars, so I’m not sure about European styles. I believe Monogram did a 69 Charger with an engine. It had the stance and look. I was a sharp little kit.
You won’t find a lot of 1/35 cars because 1/35 is the most common scale for armor, while 1/24 or 1/25 is the most common scale for car models.
Recently, the armor companies have started offering WWII era civilian cars that were also used as military staff cars; like ICM’s Packard, Mercedes G4, Tourenwagon, Opel Admiral and Kapitan staff cars; Revell’s Mercedes G4 staff car; Tamiya’s Simca, Tilly, and Citroën staff cars; Bronco’s Topolino, Stabswagen, and Opel Olympia; Mini Art’s Mercedes V170 Cabriolet and Polizei-Kuebelsitzwagen; and a few others. These can also be built as civilian vehicles and in some cases (Bronco’s Toplino), come with civilian figures as well.
As stated above, the closest you will find to 1/35 cars are 1/32 cars. They are usually less detailed and commonly snap-tite models. They can be detailed out pretty nicely if you work at it though.
There are still quite a few 1:32 kits floating around today. 1:32 isn’t that far from 1:35, so that is probably why there are not more 1:35 kits around. Most of the 1:35 scale kits I am aware of are ones that were used in WW2 as staff or utility cars or what, and primarily appeal to military modelers.
Some of the available 1:32 kits are very nice kits. I built a Mercedes SSK, and Porche 917 awhile ago. Both were really nice.
Ar present Meng makes two 1/35th scale generic Hilux crew cab pickups and a Toyota Land Cruiser (?)… Know if they would only do a hatchback or sedan.
Monogram released a 69’ 1/32 Dodge Charger, 69’ Chevy Nova, 71’ GTO , 82’ Camero, 82’ Ford XP and 82’ Mercury LN7 kits, all with engine detai, during the early eighties.l. There were also street rode versions of the Charger, GTO and Nova. Unfortunately none have been released since then.
The Toyota Hilux PU and Land Cruiser are 1/35 as they are considered paramilitary vehicles to go with OIF and Afghan modern armor. Meng probably won’t do anything more civil unless it has military roots.
Yers 1/35 scale is normally Military and 1/32 is road cars. There are a few Airfix kits but mostly of later models. The earlier ones, Triumph TR4, Triumph Herald, MGB, Ford Escort are all being re-introduced here in the UK.