OMNIBUS O-3500 MERCEDES BENZ 1950-55

OMNIBUS O-3500 MERCEDES BENZ 1950-55

(sunnyside 1:55 scale)

This was the first Mercedes-Benz bus designed after World War II (first appeared in 1949 and was produced until 1955). It was very popular in Italy’s 1950s tourist industry and was loved by drivers because of its comfort. Under the hood was a diesel 6-cylinder engine displacing 4580cc and producing 90-hp.

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

(sunnyside 1:32 scale)

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. Today it is built at a General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but in the past it was built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri. The National Corvette Museum and annual National Corvette Homecoming are also located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The second generation, or mid-year, was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous unproduced design called the "Q Corvette" by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann, and under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell, started in 1963 and ended in 1967. Introducing a new name, Corvette Sting Ray, the 1963 model year Corvette was the first year for a coupé with its distinctive split rear window and non-functioning hood vents as well as an independent rear suspension. The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns. Because they made the design too busy, the hood vents were also cut. Power for 1963 was at 360 hp (268 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964.

1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

(SUNNYSIDE)

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. Today it is built at a General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but in the past it was built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri. It was the first all-American sports car built by an American car manufacturer. The National Corvette Museum and annual National Corvette Homecoming are also located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The first generation is most commonly referred to as a "solid-axle", based on the fact that independent rear suspension (IRS) was not available until 1963. The first generation started in 1953 and ended in 1962.

With limited production due to the fact that they were all hand built and assembled, the 1953 Corvette, at 300 produced, is the rarest and most sought after year. With few changes except for color choices and production numbers, the 1954 is the last Corvette to have a 6 cylinder engine. In 1955 a milestone was made in Corvette history. It was the introduction of the first V-8 Corvette. With GM almost dropping the underpowered "Blue Flame" in-line 6 Corvette, this was like a new beginning for the car. The easiest way to differentiate the 1955 is the "V" in Corvette is enlarged and gold colored signifying the V-8 engine under the hood..

In 1956 a new body was designed for the car which changed it from a country club style sports car to a true American hot rod.

THUNDERBIRD 1956

THUNDERBIRD 1956

(sunnyside)

Ford manufactured the Thunderbird in the United States from 1955 through 2005 — through thirteen generations and various body types.

The name Thunderbird was inspired by the name of an exclusive housing development and recalls the mythological creature common to Indigenous peoples of North America.

It entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car but, unlike the similar Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased after 1997. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year.