Motor City USA
Brand
Expensive, highly-detailed handbuilt 1:43 cars, predominantly made of white metal (see exceptions in the series descriptions). Motor City USA was formed in the mid-1980s, and became a partnership between Gene Parrill and Alan Novak in the late 1980s or 1990. When Gene joined, he brought the Design Studio brand with him. The operations were based in North Hollywood, CA. At their height they included at least a dozen employees (the two principals, clerical staff, two in the casting department, two painters, and about six in assembly [at least some of whom commuted from across the US-Mexico border to do this work!]) In addition, well-known white metal craftsmen created the brass masters from which molds were made on a contract basis.
Three US dealers accounted for the bulk of MOC sales: Dominion Models in Roanoke, VA (Bob Hooper), Trains and Cars of Yesterday in Chicago. IL (Howard LeVine and Mike Moore), and Sinclair's Mini Auto in Erie, PA (Dave Sinclair).
Subject ID: 2987
MoreExpensive, highly-detailed handbuilt 1:43 cars, predominantly made of white metal (see exceptions in the series descriptions). Motor City USA was formed in the mid-1980s, and became a partnership between Gene Parrill and Alan Novak in the late 1980s or 1990. When Gene joined, he brought the Design Studio brand with him. The operations were based in North Hollywood, CA. At their height they included at least a dozen employees (the two principals, clerical staff, two in the casting department, two painters, and about six in assembly [at least some of whom commuted from across the US-Mexico border to do this work!]) In addition, well-known white metal craftsmen created the brass masters from which molds were made on a contract basis.
Three US dealers accounted for the bulk of MOC sales: Dominion Models in Roanoke, VA (Bob Hooper), Trains and Cars of Yesterday in Chicago. IL (Howard LeVine and Mike Moore), and Sinclair's Mini Auto in Erie, PA (Dave Sinclair).
Gene Parrill left the partnership in 2000. Motor City ceased California operations on May 1, 2009, soon after their last model, MC-200, was released. This model was cast and partially finished by Brooklin in the UK, with final detailing and packaging in the USA.The rights to Motor City USA were acquired by Jeff Thomas in 2009, and by 2011 he had released the Dodge as a convertible (MC-201) with production in Germany. No new models have been released since and some masters have passed to others.
Several sub-brands were created under the MOC umbrella:
Motor City Gold - Resin bodies with white metal chassis and seat assemblies.
American Models - Various models close to, but just shy of, the level of detail of MOCs.
Design Studio - these began with limited details similar to early Brooklins, but as time went on they became more detailed, After No. DS-102, the models became known as the Design Studio Rod & Custom series. These included both replicas of well-known custom cars as well as generic hot rods.
USA Models - Less detailed models, usually with painted details rather than plated parts like door handles.
Sunset Coach - Ambulances and hearses.
Details about printed numbering on the box labels is included in the various series. However, sometimes handwritten notes also appear. If the notes are in neat block letters, it is likely Gene wrote them. If there is a script note in the upper part of the box end, this is from Bob Hooper (see American Models AM-1 in Folkstone Gray for an example). It has been stated that notes by Alan have a more hurried penmanship style. Finally, if the printed label includes the word "special", the model is extremely limited, perhaps only a handful or even 1 of 1.
Also included under the Motor City heading is American Cars, a series of accurate HO scale (1/87) pewter models of 1950s American cars. These particular models are unique when compared with larger Alloy Forms models in that they were mounted to plinths and had nameplates added by Alan Novak at Motor City USA. They are Alloy Forms models, but in this mounted format they take on a product marketed by Motor City. This apparently was a trial offering by the company in 1984 before producing their own masters and models in 1/43 scale.
Subject ID: 2987
Subject ID: 2987
