Walter P. Chrysler museum unveils exclusive Die cast model

Walter P. Chrysler Museum Unveils Exclusive 1928 Chrysler Model 72 Le Mans Die Cast

Auburn Hills, Mich. -  Attention die cast collectors! The Walter P. Chrysler Museum has commissioned a 1928 Chrysler Model 72 Le Mans Race Car that?s sure to rev up any assemblage.

The 1:18 scale pre-war vintage model, the first in the Museum?s Heritage Collection, celebrates the #8 racer that placed third overall at the 1928 Le Mans 24 Hours Race. A faithful reproduction of the carefully researched replica on exhibit at the Museum, the striking pale yellow and black die cast features a steerable wheel and opening hood, trunk and doors. The model is presented on a display base, is packed in a keepsake Museum box and comes complete with written historical background.

The die cast model is $49.95 and is currently available exclusively through the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Store. 

From 1925 ? 1931, Chrysler vehicles were more successful in European races than any other American make, and they proved competitive against such thoroughbred marques as Bentley, Stutz, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Itala and others.

Among Chrysler?s finest achievements during those years was its performance at the 1928 Le Mans race. Four, mainly stock, Chrysler Model 72s were entered by a French-Belgian team that included such top-notch drivers as Louis Chiron.

Though the European makes were favored to sweep the race, two of the Chrysler Model 72s amazed fans by continuing to run with the vehicle driven by Henry Stoffel and Andrea Rossignol placing third and the other, driven by the Ghica brothers, placing fourth.

The triumph at Le Mans was that two moderately priced mass-produced cars held their own against thoroughbred sporting machines.

The 1928 Chrysler Model 72 Le Mans Race Car model is part of the Chrysler Design Gallery, an upscale collection of exclusive die cast, original automotive sculptures and digitally-rendered art prints highlighting such popular vehicles as the Dodge Challenger Concept. All Chrysler Design Gallery collectibles are available through the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Store.

To view the 1928 Chrysler Model 72 Le Mans Race Car and other Chrysler Design Gallery items, as well as additional merchandise highlighting DaimlerChrysler?s American heritage, visit www.chryslerheritage.com.

The Museum Store is located on the main level of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, at the corner of Featherstone and Squirrel Roads on DaimlerChrysler?s Auburn Hills, Mich. complex. The shop is open during regular Museum hours: 10 a.m. ? 6 p.m. Tuesday ? Saturday and noon ? 6 p.m. Sunday. Checks, American Express, Discover, MasterCard and VISA are accepted.

The Museum accepts orders by phone at 248-944-0434 or fax at 248-944-0460. Sales tax is added according to the rate in the customer?s state (6 percent in Michigan). Shipping is $4.95 for packages up to 15 pounds and $4.95 for each additional 15 pounds.

Read what others have said about this model:

Diecast Forums ? Forum 18 ? Diecast Zone

Posted By: Tony Perrone

Posted On: Sunday October 1, 2006 at 9:32 PM

Message:

Walter P. Chrysler Museum's first commissioned car model...

...is a dandy!

Just for the sake of argument, let?s take $1,525 and buy a car. Make it a heavy, well-built machine of, say, 3,005 pounds with a six cylinder motor capable of producing, oh, I don?t know, 85 brake horse power or so. Then, you know what; let?s enter it in a world famous race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. How do you think we?ll do?

Would an initial outing of third place be decent? How about amazing? And if you entered more than one of these mostly-stock factory issues and the second entry placed fourth would it make the world sit up and take notice? You bet it would! But in 1928, that?s exactly what happened. A French-Belgian race team competed with four similar 1928 Chrysler Model 72 entries. Other than specially fitted knock-off wire wheels and slightly modified fenders and splash aprons, these cars were standard street fare for their day.

The model depicted here is a reproduction, in 1:18th scale, of a replica of the number 8 car driven to a third place finish by Henry Stoffel and Andre Rossignol in 1928. The Walter P. Chrysler Museum researched the high-achieving number 8 car and had a replica of it built in 2003. This model of that magnificent automobile is DaimlerChrysler's Walter P. Chrysler Museum?s very first commissioned piece of diecast auto art. Signature Models has done an excellent job of giving us collectors a grand scale, well detailed, rendition of a lesser-known but exceptionally unique piece of historic automobilia.

The model has a plethora of detail and functionality not usually seen at this price point. We are given a choice of up-top or down-top boot display option. The up-top is well defined with a stippled and textured feel that renders the look of the covered car as very realistic. With the boot in place, you have the option of displaying the model with the windshield raised or lowered. Very racing looking. Since the car signifies a predominantly stock American auto, you will have the ability to open the rumble seat for the additional passenger or two. You?ll note the simulated golf bag door aft of the passenger?s door. Speaking of which, the doors are sprung on external hinges both scaled and functional as close-fitting panels lending close gap tolerances. Working suspension on a model of this pricing scale? You bet. The front tubular axle flexes and the rear is suspended on leaf articulating springs. Go ahead; open the hood, either side. Plug wires and fuel lines are evident. Of course the steering is activated and the model?s stance and shape is true to the actual photographs chronicled by Chrysler for the actual vehicle modeled here. The paint is superbly applied and the striping is straight and true. Even the number exhibited on the doors and grillwork are painted on.

The model comes packaged in a nice keepsake box with an accurate historical background letter and is mounted on a plastic display base. The model is available at the Museum Store online at: http://www.chryslerheritage.com/pg200.htm for $49.95 and is a really good deal at that price.

Tony has some excellent pictures of the model at:

http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/as...amp;start=30945