Found in the Letterbox
The following are e-mail responses to 'Tales of Toy Cars' and The Breithaupt Miniature Motorcar Museum. Your letters are welcome and may be submitted via the 'Guest Book'.


NOTE: the following letter was sent in response to comments about the popularity of the 'Duke's of Hazzard' TV show.

"In regards to the continuing popularity of the Dukes of Hazzard and the sophistication of the average American: 1. The fact that a show with such bad writing can survive for seven years with nothing more going for it than a slightly rural feel to it should tip off the entertainment industry of a massive untapped audience, but the industry has its head so far up in the smog in Los Angeles that it doesn't ever catch on, even when fifteen year old reruns of an originally questionable show consistently outdraw MTV. All that sophistication doesn't amount to an anthill of common sense, and the proof is that nothing else along that show's theme is ever made to attract the same audience. 2. By the writing on your page, I'm assuming you're english. Someone who comes from the country that is responsible for "Bean" is telling me I'm unsophisticated. I find that interesting. 3. Have you ever flung a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T around a dirt road? I have."

No name or e-mail address provided.

Editor's response: First I'm not English, I live in Port Townsend, Washington and was born here. I do agree that Mr. Bean's humor is not in the same class as the 'Duke's' but with a slightly different view as to who comes out on top. Besides, Rowen Atkinson who plays Mr. Bean is a serious car enthusiast with many collector cars. Perhaps he enjoys DofH re-runs too. No, I have not 'flung a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T around a dirt road' but I have owned and flung a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 and that's pretty close.


"Bonjour ! I'm glad to see there are other people in the world who consider the 1:64 scale as collectable. Alas, this is rarely the case in France. My personal collection is about 760 models, most of them cars, but also more than thirty heavyweight engines (and they need quite a lot of space!). I've got some cars that aren't in your list and that you don't seem to know (Porsche 911 Carrera 4). Would you be interested by a complete list of my exchangeable cars ?

Would it be possible to you to include in your showroom an image of the Plymouth Fury "Christine" that you own ? As a fan of King, Carpenter and die Cast cars, I find this model VERY interesting. Thank you.

Well, that's all for this time. Please pardon my English."

FrÈdÈric LAURENT
La Roche sur Yon, France



"Hello Doug,

Always find it interesting to visit your pages. I found the ERTL page most agreeable and I concur ERTL should still make the little stuff. (why can't Burago too).

I only collect 1/64 vehicles from various manufacturors, my collection is limited to cars only, and generally the must be readily identifiable, ie:Baseplate details ,Toy manufacturor , type of car etc. doesn't always work but close enough.

I have listed my collection of ERTL below, Y means I've got it N means I have not but have seen it. I seem to have a couple listed that you do not and vice versa. I do know that 3 different Firebirds were released as Smokey and the Bandit the last release being a Kingstar cast.

I think I have a couple of spare models of some of your missings if your interested. I could use a Maserati Quattroporte and any other car not listed or listed as N. The Speed Strip cars I did not know about. I do have some pretty basic stock cars they released but don't know what actual models they represent.

Collect most of the other stuff you have listed including Guisval, maybe we should compare lists."

Regards
Mike Condon
Sunbury, Australia

Editor's note: Mike and I have done some trading and I am very pleased to have added to both our collections as a result.