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From: Jerry Baxter
To: grandsport@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2001 11:13 AM
Subject: Grandsport (non tech) Diecast Coupe
Hello to all (from KC),
I'm lucky to own GS #0398, a red interior coupe. When I bought the car in '99, the original owner "threw in" a Maisto 1/18 GS convertible. Like many of you, I'm sure, I displayed it and just wished for a coupe version (since the convertible version is all I'd ever seen in 1/18).
For decades, I've had a friend (Terry Nicoll) who is a national award winning modeler (aircraft, cars, etc). In the past year or so, he's turned his attention to collecting and modifying diecast models. Finally, I got him to do this diecast conversion of a GS coupe (complete with red interior).
Hopefully, the results speak for themselves (actually, the pictures don't do this beauty justice). For those who are interested, Terry will build a GS coupe for you. I have no interest other than to share what's available with other list members.
What Terry does is modify Maisto's 1996 Corvette 1/18 diecast coupe models (they come in red, green and last C4 versions). He disassembles the car, strips the paint and touches up any blemishes. He then paints the cars white, masks off the white and repaints in the correct Cloisonné Metallic blue using Dupont automotive paint. He paints on the red stripes and polishes the whole thing so it looks as good (deep) as the real thing. He paints the interior red or black according to your wishes and can even use a textured paint on carpeted surfaces that will have you swearing it's real.
The only shortcoming is the limitations of the model itself (e.g., none of the Maisto models uses a "correct" '96 interior.....it's like the earlier '90-'93). As I said the detail Terry adds is pretty incredible including correct black paint under the hood, black rubber finish around the windows and removable top and a reasonable treatment of underhood accessories... he can even use a picture of your license plate, reduce it and put it on the car (notice on mine, it's just a Bowtie emblem).
Many of Terry's other "conversions" have sold on eBay for over $200.00 (plus a couple of "Pro Street" specials at $400.00 plus). He has done corporate promotion models for names I can't mention (but you could order plenty of speed parts and rod components from at least one of them) and now, I've talked him into doing this for GS Registry members who may be interested.
The cost? $170/model, outright, and $145 if you provide a 1:18 Maisto "donor" convertible GS, a last C4 coupe or a '96 Collectors convertible because they have the correct ZR-1/GS wheels. The "shell" of the non-modified donor will be returned to you along with your GS coupe (I still have my convertible body and will have him "re-do" it when I get a donor model).
If you have questions for someone who has had models built by Terry, contact me and I will try to answer your questions and provide additional detail.
Otherwise, feel free to contact Terry Nicoll directly via email at SCCA71@aol.com to arrange for your own bit of GS modeling art! I promise you will not be disappointed.
Jerry Baxter
jbaxter3@mindspring.com
Overland Park, KS
GS #0398 (twice)
'90 ZR-1 #2351
'01 Z06
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