Pocher 1/8 1933 Bugatti Type 50T

This is an old build. I built it from Dec '82 to Jan '83. I always had wanted to get a Pocher kit since I was a kid and used to see them advertised in the back of Car Model Magazine in one of those tiny ads. So after I had moved out of my parent's house into my 1st apartment I saw two Pocher kits at the mall in a K B Toy & Hobby store. This one and a Mercedes kit. The Mercedes was $300 (a sale price)and somebody beat me to it. The Bugatti had been $600 but the it got marked down to $300.


So I bought it. I opened up that box and there sure were a lot of parts. As for the colors, well, black is black. As for the Yellow there was a GM Yellow available that was an exact match to the Bugatti color. I didn't have an airbrush in those days so I bought automotive touch up paint in spray cans. It was a brand called Tempo at the time. It was very good. I did polish it out with emery cloth and finished it off with liquid ebony (I still have that and use it today). So anyway, here it is.






I used that wood veneer that comes in those metal cigar tubes for the dashboard. I didn't know how to paint wood grain back then so I just left the steering wheel in the plastic color. You can actually now buy an aftermarket steering wheel for it made from real wood.

Very nice. The cost of something like this is what puts me right off even thinking about getting one. Everything works, yes? Doors and such? Stitched leather seats too I see.

Hi Mike,

This is a museum piece; you did a fantastic job on it, Sir...

Andy...

Mr Hirakawa wrote:Very nice. The cost of something like this is what puts me right off even thinking about getting one. Everything works, yes? Doors and such? Stitched leather seats too I see.

Everything works, door handles, windows crank, the engine has the internals, the rear end has all the gears in brass, there are brake pads, the steering worls from the steering wheel. The leaf springs are too stiff to flex. The knock-offs work to remove the wheel and show the brake details. The seats didn't come with the stitching, I had it done on a sewing machine.

Absolutely beautiful
One manufacturer I would love to find at a reasonable price. I did have their Volvo big rig fall into my hands once, already built. It amazed me how the leaf springs were stacked and bolted together just like the real thing. They worked just fine. All the wheels had individual lug nuts. Both axles worked together, steering and windows, and on and on. I moved the truck on because it just didn't do anything for me. Now the Bugatti on the other hand...

How did I miss this ? Brilliant !
Yes, expensive to buy, and you have to really like the subject to part with the cash.
Just today I was emailed by Agora Models trying to sell me a similar high end kit of a 1963 Corvette.......over £2500 in English money. , ...too much for me.
I do like the extra work that has gone into this, excellent.

Sam wrote:Absolutely beautiful
One manufacturer I would love to find at a reasonable price. I did have their Volvo big rig fall into my hands once, already built. It amazed me how the leaf springs were stacked and bolted together just like the real thing. They worked just fine. All the wheels had individual lug nuts. Both axles worked together, steering and windows, and on and on.  I moved the truck on because it just didn't do anything for me. Now the Bugatti on the other hand...

I have the model of the Volvo truck that I bough in the 800's. It's still unbuilt. I would like to sell it but there really isn't a market for them.

Mike C wrote:

Sam wrote:Absolutely beautiful
One manufacturer I would love to find at a reasonable price. I did have their Volvo big rig fall into my hands once, already built. It amazed me how the leaf springs were stacked and bolted together just like the real thing. They worked just fine. All the wheels had individual lug nuts. Both axles worked together, steering and windows, and on and on.  I moved the truck on because it just didn't do anything for me. Now the Bugatti on the other hand...

I have the model of the Volvo truck that I bough in the 800's. It's still unbuilt. I would like to sell it but there really isn't a market for them.

Funny you should say that. I listed mine on ebay for $450 shipped, buy it now, and it sold in about two hours. It was missing two small parts and needed a couple minor repairs. Now, the two unbuilt kits that had a $1100 plus shipping, buy it now, are probably still on there.

Sam wrote:

Mike C wrote:

Sam wrote:Absolutely beautiful
One manufacturer I would love to find at a reasonable price. I did have their Volvo big rig fall into my hands once, already built. It amazed me how the leaf springs were stacked and bolted together just like the real thing. They worked just fine. All the wheels had individual lug nuts. Both axles worked together, steering and windows, and on and on.  I moved the truck on because it just didn't do anything for me. Now the Bugatti on the other hand...

I have the model of the Volvo truck that I bough in the 800's. It's still unbuilt. I would like to sell it but there really isn't a market for them.

Funny you should say that. I listed mine on ebay for $450 shipped, buy it now, and it sold in about two hours.  It was missing two small parts and needed a couple minor repairs.  Now, the two unbuilt kits that had a $1100 plus shipping, buy it now, are probably still on there.

I've eBay searched them before to see what they sell for. I've seen prices as high as $1800 US but no one is ever bidding on them.

I would love to get one of the Alfa Romeros. Still one of the least expensive of the bunch if memory serves me. Maybe someday I can find someone who would trade me a Pocher kit for a few of my plastic ones.

I'll lend ya a tenner Ron.

Nice work Mike.

Nice build Mike. But as others have said, to rich for me.