Stock #21074
Collector #927
CB's Die Cast Review: November 20, 1999
1999 First Editions #22
`56 Ford Truck
This is one of
the `99 castings I was eager to see. I think many people figured the `56 Ford
Truck to be one of the more popular releases of the year. Well, the vehicle is
currently difficult to find, due to the number of people searching for it. And,
while it's a nice-looking casting, it just didn't meet my expectations. I was
expecting more.
The underframe is silver-gray plastic, which is now the norm on castings with the larger metal
bodies, and has good detail. But the tops of the running board steps, part of the chassis,
are smooth and have no texture, which detracts from the appearance. The interior is chrome
plastic, and the glass is clear. There are two outstanding features of the car -- the painting
and printing. The body is finished in a beautiful pale blue frost pearl, similar to Boyd's Ice
Blue Pearl color. Mid-century Ford logos are nicely tamped on the rear upper panels on either
side. The car is manufactured in Malaysia.
The model is based on a customized 1956 Ford panel truck that has been lowered and has
been fitted with a blown motor. The craftsmanship of the vehicle is excellent, but
it is smaller than I had imagined. From the preliminary pictures, I was anticipating
a slightly larger model, more along the lines of the VW Bus or Dairy Delivery.
The `56 Ford Truck is smaller than last year's Dodge Caravan, and just a tad larger
than this year's Chrysler Pronto. The wheels are set inward a bit to fit under
the fenders.
The featured item on the casting is the opening hood, although it opens only to approximately
a 30-degree angle, which does not allow for easy viewing of the engine compartment. As
it turns out, the only detailed piece in the compartment is the chromed motor. When the
hood is closed, it doesn't fit snugly with the rest of the body.
The `56 Ford Truck is not poorly done. It is well-constructed, and performs well
for the kiddies. I just expected more. I wanted to see the hood open a bit
farther. I wasn't expecting a metal chassis, but I want to see more detail on what should
have been a signature piece. Maybe in a year, I will look back and feel differently.
But, I was spoiled by the Chevelle and the Fiat 500C, and thought this casting would
complete the 1999 First Editions trifecta. It's still a good casting, and probably will
end up as one of the top five First Editions in most people's eyes. But, it could have
been the best.
