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AUTOCULT - Yamaha A550X (scale 1/43)
Here's one that hit me when I wasn't looking.
My friend Luc Allen posted pictures of this model on Facebook. I have a keen interest in Japanese concept cars and prototypes, and this model fits the bill perfectly. As soon as I saw the photos, I knew I had to get one, even though it is 1/43 scale and I stopped collecting 1/43 years ago. I keep hoping that Tomytec will start making a line of Japanese concept and prototype cars in 1/64.
Luc lives in Switzerland, owns a Toyota 2000GT, and has probably the best website dedicated to that car on the internet (even though it's all in French). Luc also has a vast collection of 2000GT toys, collectibles, and other memorabilia. Luc Allen's Toyota 2000GT website
If you're not familiar with the Toyota 2000GT, and even if you are, read on to see how this car has something to do with the Toyota 2000GT.
The following excerpt is from the AUTOCULT website. https://www.autocult-models.de/models/autocult-06030/
Follow this link for more details on the Yamaha A550X - https://csp311.net/a550x-development-history-a550x開発の歴史/
I found this model on eBay, and the shop is actually fairly local (Burbank's House of Hobbies in Burbank California). I visited the shop many years ago, and I do recall they had a nice selection of model cars. https://houseofhobbies.com/
The model is not diecast - it is resin. AUTOCULT makes a bunch of neat prototype and concept models. There is one other model that Luc also posted photos of, which caught my attention, and I should get it by tomorrow. Watch for a new post on it soon.... the Toyota EX-1
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
Of note is a typo on the inside text. The year is shown as (J. 1956) and I'm pretty sure it should read (J. 1965).
My friend Luc Allen posted pictures of this model on Facebook. I have a keen interest in Japanese concept cars and prototypes, and this model fits the bill perfectly. As soon as I saw the photos, I knew I had to get one, even though it is 1/43 scale and I stopped collecting 1/43 years ago. I keep hoping that Tomytec will start making a line of Japanese concept and prototype cars in 1/64.
Luc lives in Switzerland, owns a Toyota 2000GT, and has probably the best website dedicated to that car on the internet (even though it's all in French). Luc also has a vast collection of 2000GT toys, collectibles, and other memorabilia. Luc Allen's Toyota 2000GT website
If you're not familiar with the Toyota 2000GT, and even if you are, read on to see how this car has something to do with the Toyota 2000GT.
The following excerpt is from the AUTOCULT website. https://www.autocult-models.de/models/autocult-06030/
Contradictory Information from Far East
In 1964 Nissan planned to realize a sports car, which was eventually produced in series under the designation 2000GT.
During the stage of development the sports car bore the internal designation A550X. The specifications were clear from the beginning on. The car was supposed to feature a monocoque chassis, four disk breaks, pop-up headlamps and a hatchback. Nissan was looking for a suitable engine for its future sports car and here came Yamaha, which was just developing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 120 hp, into play. In the course of this stroke of luck Yamaha saw the opportunity to prove that they were capable of setting a running prototype on its wheels in a short space of time. In the very same year (1964) the engineers of Yamaha finished a running car that featured all the required specifications of Nissan. But in the course of the year more and more disagreements arose and the cooperation was ended in the end of 1964. The willingness of Yamaha to gain access to the market of automobiles was still strong. Although the project A550X came to nothing, the management of Yamaha was still confident of its capabilities to develop a whole car from the concept stage to series production readiness.
In search of another cooperation, Yamaha quickly agreed with Toyota. As early as 1965 the agreement of both companies was ready for signoff. Once again Yamaha set a car on its wheels – the prototype of the later on series produced Toyota 2000GT!
In 1964 Nissan planned to realize a sports car, which was eventually produced in series under the designation 2000GT.
During the stage of development the sports car bore the internal designation A550X. The specifications were clear from the beginning on. The car was supposed to feature a monocoque chassis, four disk breaks, pop-up headlamps and a hatchback. Nissan was looking for a suitable engine for its future sports car and here came Yamaha, which was just developing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 120 hp, into play. In the course of this stroke of luck Yamaha saw the opportunity to prove that they were capable of setting a running prototype on its wheels in a short space of time. In the very same year (1964) the engineers of Yamaha finished a running car that featured all the required specifications of Nissan. But in the course of the year more and more disagreements arose and the cooperation was ended in the end of 1964. The willingness of Yamaha to gain access to the market of automobiles was still strong. Although the project A550X came to nothing, the management of Yamaha was still confident of its capabilities to develop a whole car from the concept stage to series production readiness.
In search of another cooperation, Yamaha quickly agreed with Toyota. As early as 1965 the agreement of both companies was ready for signoff. Once again Yamaha set a car on its wheels – the prototype of the later on series produced Toyota 2000GT!
I found this model on eBay, and the shop is actually fairly local (Burbank's House of Hobbies in Burbank California). I visited the shop many years ago, and I do recall they had a nice selection of model cars. https://houseofhobbies.com/
The model is not diecast - it is resin. AUTOCULT makes a bunch of neat prototype and concept models. There is one other model that Luc also posted photos of, which caught my attention, and I should get it by tomorrow. Watch for a new post on it soon.... the Toyota EX-1
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
AUTOCULT Yamaha A550X scale: 1/43 by Michael Foertsch, on Flickr
Of note is a typo on the inside text. The year is shown as (J. 1956) and I'm pretty sure it should read (J. 1965).
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