Generically ERTL
Written: Nov 10 '99
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good fit and finish, Cheap, Easy to get
Cons: ERTL Detail, UGLY paint, The black one is better
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| SportFury's Full Review: American Muscle '49 Merc Lead Sled (Purple) |
Silver and red over a purple body doesn't really lend itself to this car. ERTL's cars have never been know for their detail, although the significant advantage that they do have is a pretty good grip on the domestic automobile market with their American Muscle series. What I mean by that is ERTL makes a lot of domestic cars in 1:18 scale. A lot of muscle cars from the the 60s and 70s along with some famous autos from the 50s. The other big makers, Maisto and Bburago, are keyed in with European cars, with some token Japanese and American marques thrown in for good measure.
The '49 Mercury comes in a few variations and was a long-awaited model which is now easy to find at toy stores both large and small. My favorite version is the plain black one. It's faithful to the original car in most regards and is well presented. It has a nice black finish with plastic add-ons making up the chrome, tailights and such. This is the car that this custom version is based on. The fit and finsish of the plastic parts is fair, and it looks pretty good from a couple feet away. The body is solid and the paint seems to be durable.
ERTL's custom '49 is not all that great. One, I have been to a LOT of shows and have read a LOT of books about Ford's shoebox era and I have never seen a '49 wearing that kind of paint. The traditional way in which a Mercury of that era is made into a custom includes a flame-job or scallops, decked, frenched and chopped.
Basically, I was disappointed with the color scheme chosen.
As usual, the detail is somewhat lacking. It's good, but not nearly the kind of quality that you would see with a Bburago or a Maisto car. The major hitch? Only ERTL makes an affordable car 49 Mercury. There are other 49 Mercury cars out there but you're going to pay for the chance to get your hands on one. I think either Fairfield or Franklin makes a 49, 50 or 51 Mercury.
The construction of the car is good. Many cars in the stores have parts already falling off them. The Mercury seems solid, mostly due to the fact that ERTL makes no-frills models. There is no significant suspension or undercarriage detail. The motor is accurate but a bit blah.
If you're a custom builder, the car is somewhat tricky to disassemble. The chrome is attached with plastic pegs, which act like rivets. It will take some significant work with a Dremel to get it tore down. I've taken one apart and never had the ambition to repaint it and put it back together.
The doors and hood open. The interior detail is there but not fleshed out.
If you just want a nice displayable car, this is the one for you. If you're a detail nut or a traditionalist you're not going to be happy.
Fun Fact: ERTL has been recently acquired by Racing Champions, which should bring up the quality and detail of the ERTL line of cars.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
SportFury
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 39 members
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