How can you write a review or examine this model without hearing the Beach Boys song run through your head? Chili Catallo’s car started out as a hot rod in 1956. By 1963 it became legendary as the, “Little Deuce Coupe”. It appeared on the Beach Boys album cover featuring their single of the same name. Up until now the Danbury Mint has enjoyed unsurpassed detail excellence in several of their models that raised the diecast craftsmanship bar at the time of their release. I’m here to tell you that the Little Deuce Coupe raises it again and by a far greater margin.
When you hold this model or look at it from every conceivable angle you see a treasure in the form of a museum quality masterpiece. All I can say is that they must have had the 1:1 car for a couple years to be able to reproduce each and every phenomenal detail-rich part. Where do you want to start? Oh, of course, the engine. What was I thinking? This is only part of the magnificence that DM built into this ground-breaking effort. But, ok, let’s start there. Chili’s thirty two three window coupe is powered by a stump-pulling 1956 Oldsmobile V-8 with a big GMC blower topped with triple Stromberg 97 carbs. DM wired, plumbed and painstakingly affixed fuel lines, belts, starter wiring and exhaust pipes to the big Olds as if Chili were there to guide them.
Look sharply and you’ll see the incredible dipstick on the passenger’s side, the fuel lines as they work their way downward and the awesome detail of the stainless steel brake lines, finned drums and super slick suspension components. What a fantastic job the DM boys did to connect all the exhaust tubing to the chromed pipes beneath the body. The lines and suspension pieces are just a brilliant sight to behold; they left me breathless. Check out the trunk, it opens from the front. The gas tank is mounted back here for better weight distribution, a throw back to when Chili raced this rod. The wired battery is there for the same reason.
Spend some time getting familiar with the interior. What a little marvel this turned out to be. Our legends are in good hands with the DM. Each button-tufted stitch comes alive with the way this model was crafted. The fabric seat belts, floor, dash and steering wheel detail is abundantly evident here. And talk about getting the details right; even the windshield authentically pushes out from the bottom. This may be DM’s finest effort to date in terms of authenticity, detail incorporation and historic accuracy. The subject is terrific and the execution magnificent. If I still used the Thrillometer, this would break the scale! Limited to production in 2008. Production ends forever on 12/31/08. My Little Deuce Coupe, you don’t know what I got!
reviewed by Tony F. Perrone on (05/02/2008)
