BS McReynolds

Designer

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The details surrounding Auto Buff models are a little unclear, but the information here is thanks to Wayne Moyer, model car enthusiast and regular contributor to Model Cars magazine in the USA and Model Auto Review (UK). The models were not generally available from model shops in the USA. Now, apparently, they are most likely to be found at auctions, and garage sales. They were simple, and not always to 1:43 scale.

The leading light in the USA producing the Auto Buff range was B. S. ‘Mac’ McReynolds, who always used the slogan "Fords R Us" with the R mirror-imaged.

Subject ID: 82951

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The details surrounding Auto Buff models are a little unclear, but the information here is thanks to Wayne Moyer, model car enthusiast and regular contributor to Model Cars magazine in the USA and Model Auto Review (UK). The models were not generally available from model shops in the USA. Now, apparently, they are most likely to be found at auctions, and garage sales. They were simple, and not always to 1:43 scale.

The leading light in the USA producing the Auto Buff range was B. S. ‘Mac’ McReynolds, who always used the slogan "Fords R Us" with the R mirror-imaged.

The first kits were exact copies of the AMT 1:43 scale plastic kits but cast in white metal. In fact, the tyres and chrome plated parts from the AMT kits were included. Mac listed a total of 50 Auto Buff kits, of which according to Wayne Moyer of Model Cars Magazine, 28 were produced. Masters were completed for the 1950 and 54 Fords but not produced until Herb Jackson bought them and produced them under the Oakland Models name. Mac also bought some John Day kits and had them built and sold.

Reviewers of the day say that the best Auto Buff models were his Model ‘A’ Fords. The Roadster pickup is reckoned to still hold its own today if built well. Probably the rarest are the '42 Ford Jeep and the '53 Stake Bed truck.

Apparently the models of Herb Jackson were made from the Auto Buff masters. A Mr. Baas was in charge of production for Oakland Models and told Wayne Moyer that Oakland had masters for 25 Auto Buff models, though only the 1950 and 1954 Fords were made under the Oakland name.

After Herb's death, a Mr. Wells purchased what he thought to be the ‘remaining masters’ from Herb's estate but only got eight. It is not known what became of the other 17. Mr Wells sent Wayne Moyer a box of parts but then sold the masters to another company who planned to use them as model railroad accessories. That was 15 years ago and they still haven't appeared.

Auto Buff produced hand made models as well as kits. However, the quality varied widely from the first ones, made by well known California modellers, to the later ones built by Asian immigrants. There is no means of distinguishing a factory built model from ones made by an individual model builder.

Several years after Mac told Wayne and others that he was dying, he was seen alive, and apparently well, in Los Angeles by people who knew him.

Mac is said to have stated in a letter to Wayne that he was dying of cancer and had left a legacy of 17,000 Auto Buff kits in Los Angeles.

Subject ID: 82951

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Subject ID: 82951