VANGUARDS - Rover 100 P4, Earls Court Diorama.

As with the Jaguar and Horse Box, this is another one of those little gems that Vanguards produced, something different, and relevant to the model, here we have the Rover 100 P4, on the Rover stand at the Earls Court Motor Show, on the launch of the car, the diorama is quite heavy, and looks to be hand painted, and quite well done it is too.

The Rover is in Heather Brown and as this is not a standard model the code is CD1002, it is a Limited Edition 1946/2600, and is one of my favourite sets, not surprising really as it is a Rover, the model has no suspension as it is an early model, but that does not take away from an over great set.

VANGUARDS - Austin Cambridge.

Is this just a lovely model, and in those colours too, Cumulous Grey with white stripe, this was the colour of most Austin Cambridge's, I even had a Corgi one from years ago with Corgi Driving School on the red steering wheel on the roof, unfortunately someone pinched it at school, and i never had another, I was none too happy.

This Cambridge, VA44000, was the launch model, and as such was not a limited edition, it however a really lovely scale version of the real thing, and brings back memories of seeing the real car, my Mothers Uncle had one just like this, and my model one before it was whipped by some thieving scumbag, I am not still un-happy is you can tell...LOL...

VANGUARDS - Jaguar XJ6 4.2 Series I + Horse Box

Every so often, we got a little gem from Vanguards, something different, and here is one of those, a stunning Jaguar XJ6 4.2 Series I, along with a horse box, whoever had that idea, was a genius, as the Jag is one of only a very few models within the Vanguards range that could genuinely be used in this way, the Range Rover and Land Rovers being others, but you can imagine that this would work, just a shame there was no horse in that box, it would have made just that small of a difference, to make a great casting, that bit better.

VA08602, is a limited Edition, 2402/3000, and is again, a favourite of mine, I have many of those, if you had not already guessed, as previous Jaguars have been our real cars, we do tend to have a love of all things Jaaagggggg, and this is one of the best sets they made.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6 2000 Police.

As your all aware, I LOVE ROVERS, any year, any colour, any variation, if it is a Rover, bring it on, and this one is nice, two fold, it is a police version, with the roof furniture, but it does not have all the usual stickers and markings that push it into the police category.

VA27001, is not a limited Edition, but that matters none, the white colour brings out all the details, that other colours fail to do, the jewelled headlights give it another nudge into realism, but the wheel trims let it down, they just are not right, but this one little criticism does not make this a poor model, far from it, this white P6 2000 Rover for me is one of the best, even though there is no working suspension.

BBURAGO - Alpine A110-5O

Apologies for the poor quality picture here, but i can assure you that the model is very good, and another Bburago 1/64 scale model that was a nice surprise to find in Toys 'R' Us in France.Renault stopped the Alpine range some years ago, but recently have relaunched to a great fanfare, initially it was a joint venture with Caterham, and laterly on their own, this concept model was the first of a number to be launched.

This Alpine A110-SO is the launch model for the brand, and will be one that spearheads a full on relaunch, for Renault, the quality packaging, and paint scheme on the model are really very good and hopefully will be the start of a new line of greta castings for Bburago.

BBURAGO - 2009 Nissan GT-R

Out of the four Bburago models i managed to get in france on a recent visit, this is by far and awy the best , the total look from the colour, to the minimal tampoing, wheels and light treatment, to the interior, this model is as near to perfect for a smallscale model as can be.Nissan's GT-R is the supercar of the brand, it has been around for a number of years, with very little updating to teh look of the car.

Mainly bcause they got it so right straight away that it needs littlel to change, they have however updated the power plants, and the GT-R has been getting bigger bhp figures and faster mph at each and every update, this model is just perfection for a Nissan, mainly because I am not the interested in Japanese cars, but made an exception for this one.

BBURAGO - 2006 Ford Mustang GT

I have never really been a great American car fan, there are a few exceptions to that, like the Chrysler 300C and the Dodge Charger and Challenger, apart from those three, there is not really anything else that "floats my boat" but when i see a half decent model that takes my fancy i generally add it to my ever expanding collection.

It was the case with this one, it looks ok, nothing special, but i went with the flow and after putting a few dozen other models on the basket, this one popped in too, over all, it is a nice representation of the Mustang, but far from the best.

BBURAGO - Lamborghini Gallado

While we were away on hols a few months back we wandered over to France for the day, as you do, the usual Booze Cruise, as it used to be called, me, I went especially to see what i could get in the way of models not available here in Blighty, usually they are Majorette, and have, in the past had many susccessful visits, and collected many models.

But this time was different, I found four Bburago 1/64 scale models, normally Bburago make the bigger 1/24 or 1/18 model's, and they are usually very good scale versions, the same goes for these little ones, they lok a little too big to be classed as 1/64, but over all, the quality packaging, and the spot on looks make this a nice addition to the colelction.

VANGUARDS - Ford Granada MK I

Da do Dooooo, Da do doooo, the opening of one of UK TVs greatest police shows, the Sweeney, starring the brilliant John Thaw, with Dennis "Wrote the theme tune" Waterman as his sergeant, but the real stars of the show were the cars, namely this, the MK I Granada, which was usually chasing a MKII or S-Type Jaguars, the Granny, as it is fondly known, used through the entire run of the show, and here this stunning flame red version is a 3.0 litre.

It is also the launch model of the range, and looks really good, the biggest and most obviously let down is the black blobs in the head lights, maybe they could have done its a whole piece that went behind the grill, meaning there would be no fixing holes, other than that, VA52000 has been modelled really well, and remains one of the best of the rest (after Rovers of course)

VANGUARDS - Austin Allegro, Met Police.

Oh look, another all agro, oops I mean Allegro, like its predecessor, the Austin Morris 1100/1300, the Allegro was used by many police forces around the country, this particular one is from the Metropolitan Police, and was commonly known as the panda car, like its forebear.

This version VA45001 is the second model to be launched on this casting and is a Limited Edition, 4315/6400, another high number, meaning they are not really that limited, and are easily available on eBay, well there was 6 the last time i looked, the same issues are on this model, like my Harvest gold launch version, namely dodgy grill and wonky door handles, but they can be forgiven as it is a nicely modelled casting.

VANGUARDS - BMC Austin/Morris 1100/1300 Estate

The second of my BMW 1100/1300 models, well, at least the second i have pictures of, and it still looks stunning, ADO16 was the basis for this, the saloon version was the best selling car for many years, and was a triumph of design and functionality, Alec Issigonis, knew what he was doing when he designed this car, and having Vanguards choose to do the estate version, rather than the saloon, was a master stroke.

VA48000 is the launch model for this range, and in such a stunning Trafalgar blue, it really stands out, maybe a little too much when you see that faux chrome around the doors and windscreen, they seem a little heavy handed, but over all, this is a very nice casting.

VANGUARDS - Morris Oxford

Ahhh, Is this not a lovely model, and one of many Farina version, this, the Morris Oxford, in a rather nice green, was, along with the Austin Cambridge, the basis of a number of other versions, only differentiated in the main, by a new front, rear lights, and interior trim, there was

Morris Oxford

Austin Cambridge

MG Magnette

Riley 4/seventy two

Wolseley 15/60

These versions either appeared at the start or during the lifetime of the farina badge engineered models, but I like the Austin and Morris ones better.

VA54000, is the launch model for Vanguards and it is perfect from the start, a great representation of the Oxford, I feel though that maybe they could have done the MG or Roley version, as they are far removed from what is normally released, and would have been a nice change from the big brands like Austin Morris, but that said, the jewelled headlights and working suspension, along with that deep green colour, do make this a version to have in any collection.

VANGUARDS - Ford Zephyr 6 MK III Police.

The Ford Zephyr is not, by any standards a small car, in fact it is huge, with the most minimilist interior on any large car I have ever seen, that said, Vanguards has re-produced a very good casting, from the inverted grill to the mini fins at the rear, the UK never really was into massive fins, not like the Cadillacs from the USA, this model, VA54000, was the launch model, and it was great to have a police version launched first.

This car has the usual jewelled headlights and working suspension, and looks great in black with white doors, and the roof mounted police box (no, not the TARDIS), the real car was used extensively in many police forces across the country and was famously used in the TV Police drama Z-Cars. Fords are not really my cup of tea, however this one is probably one of the better Fords, with only the Cortina MK1 and Escort MK3 beating it.

VANGUARDS - Austin Allegro

The great white hope for British Leyland, it was a great shame then, that the bean counters got their fingers in the pie and forced designers to make so many changes from the original designs, that this bulbous car was what was left, which, considering the beautiful original designs, was a total let down. It also had to compete with the outgoing Austin.Morris 1100/1300 (ADO16) which was the UK best selling car for many years.

When it was announced by Vanguards that they would be doing their version, VA45000, i was very pleased, as the whole British car industry throughout the Austin/Morris through to MG-Rover era is my favourite, but once i got hold of this model, my first Allegro, I was serious deflated, the oddly fixed grill, the door handles on the squiff, and the weirdly coloured steel wheels, however it was and still is part of my batch of favourites, that said, the other Allegro's I have are better put together, with the odd error or two.

VANGUARDS - Austin 7 Mini

No collection of model cars is complete without a Mini, and apologies for the dusty one here, I thought I had cleaned it before taking the picture, unfortunately it is packaged away now, in one of 35 large packing boxes full of model cars (and thats just half my collection), but this little Austin 7 Mini, in vibrant red with a white roof, jewelled headlights and no working suspension, is an ideal addition to my Vanguards collection.

VA01307, is a Limited Edition model, 4924/7100, and again it is one of those LE models with many thousands of models, making it not that limited, however, Vanguards of late has taken to producing fewer models on each run, but then they will change the boxes, or the packaging and then re-issue it at a later date, they have done that already with a few models.

VANGUARDS - Jaguar XJ6 Series I, Thames Valley Police.

NOW, just look at that, is that not just perfection, a stunning Jaguar XJ6 series 1, with a Thames Valley Police trim, again, considering how many differing Jaguar/Daimler models that have been produced over the years, it is another question as to why Vanguards have only produced a mear hand full, but that said, this is teh pick of the bunch.

Working suspension, four jewelled headlights and authentic police trim, make this one of the best Jaguars available, VA08601 is a Limited Edition, 3594/4900, and is another of my favourite models, but them they are all favourites really, or I would not have bought them.

VANGUARDS - Hillman Minx IIIA

The Rootes group produced so many wonderful cars over the years, it then begs the question why Vanguards has only produced a few tiny amount of their products, this however, in my opinion is the jewel in the Rootes/Vanguards crown, the Hillman Minx IIIA, in Azure blue and Pearl grey, just makes this stand out as a lovely casting, the only one to better this is the Embassy black version, which I also have.

VA06802 is another of those castings that Vanguards has done very well, and is a Limited Edition 2974/6400, and like the Austin Healey is one of many thousands of models, making this Limited Edition, not that limited at all, jewelled headlights and working suspension also give this model that little extra.

VANGUARDS - Ford Consul 3000 GT, Lancashire Constabulary

Vanguards had a purge on Ford models, and this, the Consul 3000 GT, in Lancashire Constabulary treatment is one of their better attempts, better known as the Granada MK I, and in my opinion, the best Granada of all four versions (if you include the ghastly Scorpio ugly bug which killed off the Ford large car). Ford had, and still has a very good relationship with the UK police, and they supply many thousands of vehicles to all the branches of the UK law enforcement.

This model, VA55000, is not a limited Edition, and was the launch model for Vanguards, and what a stunning example to launch with, the working suspension, plastic lights and police adornments really do make this stand out.

VANGUARDS - Austin Healey 3000E MK II

Occasionally Vanguards make a model that is just perfect in everyway, from the paint, to the smaller etails, like the wheels, grill, bonnet bulge and so on, this, the Austin Healey 3000E MK II, is one of those models, it just looks right, from whatever angle you look at it, and once you discard the Rovers, this is the next in my list of all time great castings.

VA05701 is a Limited Edition 2206/6000, and is from teh era when they pumped ut many thousand of each model, even though they are a LE, there are more of these about than many of the later models that only had 1000-2000 limited Runs, this model has limited suspension travel, as well as jewelled headlights, that set this casting off very well indeed.

VANGUARDS - Triumph Dolomite Sprint

Now this is stunning, well, apart from the wheels, strip back all the logo's and sponsors off the two racing versions i have already produced here, and you can see what a beautiful car the Dolly is, and it deserved to be far more successful than it was. This Vanguards model, VA05300, was the first of many.

The heavy handed chrome effect around the doors asside, and the wheels, and this is as near to perfect as the Dolly could be, this was on my list of cars that I would loved to have owned, sadly now, they are getting very few and far between, and as time passes, the chances are getting slim, but I have these models and i visit numerous classic car shows, so at least i have them to look at and smile.

VANGUARDS - Triumph Dolomite Sprint Broadspeed

A better attempt this time to get the Broadspeed car right, but still issues, like the bonnet number the wrong way round and no black crosses on the lights at the front, other than that, this model is far better than the works Dolly which Vanguards produced and is VA05303, and is a limited edition, 1112/4000

The wheels are far better modelled here, and look the part, again teh jewelled headlights and working suspension make teh dolly a great casting, just a shame that teh details have been cocked up a bit.

VANGUARDS - Triumph Dolomite Sprint Rally Car

It is quite rare for Vanguards to get it wrong, but here is the proof, the actual car taking part in a rally in the 1970's, the basic shape is great, but the paintwork is not, there area number of sponsors logo's missing, the number on the door is wrong, and the spots are missing, however it is still a great casting.

The Dolly has jewelled headlights and great working suspension that goes right a way up into the bodywork, the wheels on this model look cheap, and not as good as on other Vanguards, but over all it is a great model and is a limited edition 3664/5500

I have done quite a bit of poking about the Internet and can not find ANY #14 Dolly's, however i am happy to be shown the error of my ways and make adjustments as necessary.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6b 3500 V8 Met Police.

Isn't this just a truly great casting, from the Well cap design to the jewelled headlights, working suspension and roof attachments, it is a shame that they have spoiled a nearly perfect casting by putting on a bonnet badge that is so big that it looks awful, on a model that's is just about spot on everywhere else.

VA06501 looks the part, and is just like the police cars of yesterday, great memories, this and the Jam sandwich are pure heaven where Rover police cars are concerned, this is a limited edition LE 1373/5000, and rates in my top ten as the best Police cars that Vanguards have produced.

VANGUARDS - Rover P4 Round the World Rally

This is a beautiful model, and done to perfection, from the colours, tampo-ing, and stickers on the side, the jewelled headlights and suspension top this model off as one of the best P4 Vanguards ever made, along with the addition of the lights and suspension, the windscreen wipers have been seen too, and dont look like they are just dollops of chrome.

The Rover P4, VA19011, is, as can be seen, the 11th variation on this casting, and currently there has been 15 versions, a stunning car in real life, and a stunning casting here. It is also a Limited Edition LE 3645/4000.

VANGUARDS - Rover P4

This is the car that stated to get the Rover Company back to where it should have been,had it not been for the Second Word War, the P4 was the car to be seen in, if you were a professional person in the late 1940's until it ended production fifteen years later in 1964, so, if you were that bank manager, vet, Doctor or councillor, this was the car for you.

Vanguards has produced this Maroon version, VA19000, and is an early Lledo model, hence no jewelled headlights or working suspension, I feel that the windscreen wipers are out of proportion for the model, as is teh too small windscreen, but other than those little foibles i really like this model, well, it is a Rover, isn't it !