MINIATURE CARS FROM A-Z ( Letter "B")
by Dave Weber and Christian Falkensteiner. Images by Doug Breithaupt


This is the next section of our ongoing study. But before continuing , I wish to make a few follow up comments that were received via the MCCH (www.mboxcommunity.com) .I realize that my knowledge of recent automobile mergers, etc in the European area is lacking. Thus, I have asked Christian Falkensteiner to work with me for the duration of this project to insure the info cited is correct (to the best of our knowledge). I was not aware that the Austin name has been discontinued. I purposely omitted AC as they did not manufacture the Cobra. Their bodies were used by Shelby American to produce the finished car. I realize this is debatable - but since no toy/ model manufacturer ever called their Cobra an AC , I used my writers prerogative to not mention this marque. I was not aware that Autobianchi became part of Lancia. I did write that they were later included in the Fiat Group; but due to a late submission, this correction was not included. This endeavor is becoming a large task, but I promise it will be completed. However I am sure that some corrections and additions will be necessary for numerous reasons. I am basically using 4 main source books on cars of the US and the world to determine which marques and sub- makes to include. These sources are listed at the conclusion of this section. Christian has presented a dilemma in whether or not we should include production race cars. There are 2 European cars whose names begin with the letter B. They are Benetton, Brabham and BRM. I have decided to limit this study to manufacturers of street cars only. If a race car is produced side by side with a street legal car, it should be included. Otherwise it will not be! Also there are many car body and coachbuilder companies worldwide that almost stand alone as production companies of specialty models. The question is where to draw the line. Barris in the US introduced many fancy modified bodies over the years. But a specific car was never manufactured from scratch. In contrast Baur produced a modified BMW 3 Series car. Bertone is recognized to have produced bodies among others for the Volvo 262 and the Fiat X1/9. But they did not manufacture a car of their own .

Christian also suggested the Binz which utilized a Mercedes- Benz chassis for specially built hearses, station wagons and ambulances. This name does not appear in either of my international sources. I suspect the chassis were of commercial construction. Also suggested was the Beijing which is a Chinese rendition of the US and Austrian made Jeeps. But there are not any models to our knowledge that specifically represent this make.We have attempted to consider only the smaller scale models no larger than approximately 1/50- 1/55 in size . Christian reminded me of the Bond Car from the UK which was produced in 1/43 scale by Corgi . Even though this model is almost within the parameters of this study, I have not included it because of the larger scale size it represents.

B

BENTLEY (UK) 1920-Present

This firm was founded by W O Bentley. He previously had been an importer in England of the DFP car from France. The most famous early model was the 4.5 litre sports racing car that was introduced in 1927. However the company suffered financial problems in 1931. The assets were then purchased by Rolls-Royce and the first "Baby Rolls " appeared in 1933. In 1951 Bentley began the practice of sharing the same basic body style with the Rolls-Royce. The only difference was the radiator/grille which retained the rounded style of the earlier cars. Rolls-Royce and Bentley coexisted under the same ownership, even though both marques had become part of the VW Group in the late 1990s. However, in 2002 Bentley remained with VW to subsequently compete against Rolls-Royce which now is part of BMW.


Bentley S3 - Praline (1:87)

BISCUTER ( SPAIN) 1951-1958

This was a small sized and powered car that was an attempt to provide a new car during a great car shortage in the 1950s. Anguplas reportedly made plastic models of these cars in 1/87 scale.

BMW (GE)/ (US)/ S AFRICA 1928-Present

The Bayerische Motoren-Werke firm developed out of a former airplane motor company. In 1922 this firm began producing motors for boats and trucks. Also in 1923 they entered into the venture of manufacturing motorcycles. In 1928 they acquired the Eisenach Dixi assets and factory. This was the English Austin Seven that had been produced under license in Germany. The marque then became known as the BMW Dixi and remained in production until 1932. This developing manufacturer upgraded to a larger size car with more power. It is noted that BMW also exported their cars to England in 1935 where they were marketed under the name of Frazer Nash- BMW. This venture lasted until 1939. BMW recently took over ownership of the Rover Group in the late 1990s but subsequently divested this firm and only retained ownership of the long produced Mini. Christian adds that the original Eisenach factory was in East Germany. The company originally produced the Wartburg. After World War II the Eastern cars continued under the name EMW. Later these cars reassumed the Wartburg name. BMW had to begin again in Bavaria in West Germany. Some of the cars from this marque are also produced in the US and South Africa at the present time.


BMW E30 M3 - Corgi

BORGWARD (GE) 1939-1963

Carl F W Borgward was the owner of the former German Hansa, Hansa-LLoyd and Goliath marques. The Borgward became the new name for the Hansa just prior to World War II. After the War the Lloyd and Goliath makes reappeared in the Borgward Group for a short while. They were offered as smaller size cars. However the company ceased operations in 1963 due to financial difficulties. Manufacturing facilities at the Bremen plant were then taken over by Daimler-Benz.

BUGATTI (1) (FR/ GE) 1909-1956

Ettore Bugatti began his career as a car designer for other manufacturers. His oval radiator and later modified horseshoe radiator designs are characteristic features of his products. This marque entered the racing trend in the 1920s with the production of competitive high speed limited production cars. After World War II the company continued to produce new models on a sporadic basis. Ettore died in 1947 and the last cars to have been influenced by him were produced by 1956 when operations ceased . An interesting side note is that the Alsace territory where these cars were produced changed country ownership following the War.


Bugatti type 59 - Hot Wheels

BUGATTI (2) (IT) 1991.

This marque was revived by new ownership when a few very expensive EB110 cars were produced. But this venture was unsuccessful. It is not believed that any small scale models were ever produced of this car.


Bugatti EB110 - Matchbox (prototype from Everett Marshall collection)
BUGATTI (3) (FR/GE ) 2002- Present

The VW Group has now assumed ownership of this marque and the name has again been resurrected . The new model is called the Veyron and is reportedly is now in limited production.


Bugatti Veyron - Hot Wheels

BUICK (US) 1903-Present

This firm was founded by David Buick just after the 20th century began. It became one of the original members of the present General Motors Corporation in 1908. Buicks were also sold in England as "Bedford-Buicks" in 1910. Later they were built in Canada as the McLaughlin. During the "Great Depression", a lower cost car called the Marquette was produced as a companion to the more expensive Buick. It was at this time that Buick was assigned to the Upper Middle Class in the GM "pecking order". At present this marque retains this status and is just slightly less expensive than the top of the line Cadillac. Christian advises that this marque is also made in China . The car is reportedly called the Buick "Sail " and is reportedly based on the Opel Corsa at the present time.


Buick Riviera GS - Tiger Wheels
This completes my survey of model cars beginning with the letter "B"

Source references:

Flamming, J.M. and Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. "100 Years of the American  Automobile", Publications Int Ltd. 1999.

Georgano, G.N. ed, "The New Encyclopedia of Automobiles", Crown Publishers-  Crescent. 1986.

Kimes,B.R. and Clark, H.A.Jr, " Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942" Krause.1996.

Wise, D.B. "The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles", Quarto Publishing .1979.

 
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