Mike McNally
Designer
Originally from Sussex, England, Mike and Jacqui McNally established Mini Auto Emporium (MAE) in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada after emigrating there in 1981. (sometimes called Model Auto Emporium). Later, the company moved to Ottawa.
According to their daughter Rhonda, some of the license plates do not have MAE on them, but initials of her mother or herself!
Subject ID: 82953
MoreOriginally from Sussex, England, Mike and Jacqui McNally established Mini Auto Emporium (MAE) in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada after emigrating there in 1981. (sometimes called Model Auto Emporium). Later, the company moved to Ottawa.
According to their daughter Rhonda, some of the license plates do not have MAE on them, but initials of her mother or herself!
Whilst it is believed that the business started in 1983 with a resin made 1929 BABS Land Speed Record car, it was Spring 1985 before their first white metal model, a Cadillac, top down (102), first appeared.
Mike was a tool maker by trade and made all the brass masters in their range. He also made their tyre moulds and produced the tyres in house. Together with his wife, they painted and assembled all their models themselves.
In September 1988, A Racing Line was announced to include Grand Prix cars and Indy/North American cars, the first being a Lotus F1 (R03) and then a Chaparral.
In March 1989, a Record Car series of four models was announced and by November of that year their ranges were described as Grand Prix, Record and Road cars. A Green Monster on a plinth, signed R J McNally was being offered for a staggering £395 – indeed, most of MAE’s models were expensive by comparison with other makes.
In October 1991, a few more models were announced, some for 1992, but how many of these were made is not known. Certainly, no other models were produced and, sad to relate, the business folded.
Whilst MAE were only making models for a relatively short time, it has to be recorded that the name is famous for their 1939 McLaughlin Buick Royal Tour car, not known to have been made by any other company. This was a very special limited edition model of one of two full size cars that they obtained permission to go and take photographs and measurements of in a museum in Ottawa. The tour cars were built for the King George VI’s tour of Canada, and one was stationed on the East coast, and the other on the West coast, so that at all time a suitable car was available.
Measuring nearly 6” long and weighing just under 1lb, it is an open convertible (107) and it is believed that less than 500 were made. A top up example was listed (116), but is rare, numbers unknown.
Subject ID: 82953
Subject ID: 82953
