Paul J. Burt
Designer
Phil Alderman has been in this business since 1975, and model cars had been a hobby for him for over 10 years prior to this. Based in Brooklyn, New York, he was the first man behind this range of models of exceptional American concept cars through American history, and in addition he was responsible for the ranges Dust & Glory, QuarterMile and One43.
During his short tenure of the range, Phil introduced, in 1989, a 1:43 scale Buick Le Sabre, the showcar of 1951, finished in silver / blue metallic with plenty of plated parts and whitewall tyres. Given with this model was a reprint of the rare 1952 factory brochure describing the one of a kind classic.
Subject ID: 82877
MorePhil Alderman has been in this business since 1975, and model cars had been a hobby for him for over 10 years prior to this. Based in Brooklyn, New York, he was the first man behind this range of models of exceptional American concept cars through American history, and in addition he was responsible for the ranges Dust & Glory, QuarterMile and One43.
During his short tenure of the range, Phil introduced, in 1989, a 1:43 scale Buick Le Sabre, the showcar of 1951, finished in silver / blue metallic with plenty of plated parts and whitewall tyres. Given with this model was a reprint of the rare 1952 factory brochure describing the one of a kind classic.
Other models included a 1954 Corvette Nomad, a Buick ‘Y’ Job, and the Lincoln Futura. To these were added the Cadillac La Espada, Buick Centurion, Mako Shark, Chrysler C200 and the 1954 Cadillac El Camino Showcar. We believe that a total of 12 models were made before, at some stage, Phil retired.
However, Paul J Burt, a classic car enthusiast living in Lake Forest, Illinois, spotted a GADM Buick Centurion whilst exploring a local model hobby shop in 1995, and was besotted! He did not have sufficient funds, nor had he encountered model cars of that value before, so he walked away. However, the memory nagged him, and eventually he returned and bought the model. He asked the shop owner if there were others in the series, and he was shown a Lincoln Futura, already reserved for another collector.
Without the assistance of eBay, which had not yet appeared, but through other collector friends Paul located the remaining models in the range, and then learnt that Phil Alderman still had the original patterns. He called Phil on a number of occasions to persuade him to sell, and finally Phil agreed. Paul bought the company, the patterns and the rights to build, and has set about rebuilding the brand. About 4 years ago he launched a white metal Batmobile, and has developed a new website to promote his range, www.GADM.com. He regards this as a non profit making hobby, making between 25 – 50 models of each car.
Paul has established a close working relationship with Keith Williams at SMTS, and through him, has used Ian Pickering for his new patterns. The result has been that casting, vac form and decal technology has shown much improved quality over the 1980s issues.
Paul is keen to make the Cadillac Cyclone, and declares on the current website that he used to have hopes of making over 100 dream cars of the 1950s and 1960s. He has resisted the idea of diecasting in China or Japan, as he personally loves the feeling of quality achieved in white metal, by the old world craftsmanship of SMTS.
On September 1st, 2010 Paul launched his Burt Collection of classic American cars, and offers restoration and servicing facilities to fellow enthusiasts. He sees GADM as the perfect complementary hobby, and is optimistic about the place of white metal models in the hands of dedicated collectors.
Subject ID: 82877
Subject ID: 82877
