Danbury Mint 1969 Pontiac

At this point in time, Danbury is my favorite provider of die cast cars. The recent selection of releases and the resultant finished products prove they have the collector on the run – to the bank! Over the past year DM has given us the predictable and the unexpected. The Firebird 400 is among the pleasant surprises. It is not quite as astonishing as the Saddle tan 1964 Corvette Coupe. That one may be the dark horse winner of 2004. But this Pontiac is almost in that league.

By issuing a more generic version of a vehicle, the mints may avoid the polarizing tendency of high profile, top-of-the-line cars like a Hemi or a ZL-1 Camaro. Thus, my expectations were not overly pumped when I ordered it. For instance, I did not think I would be crazy about the color combination of Champagne metallic with green interior. It is not the way I would have ordered a real one; however, it not only works, but it is rather striking with a finish that is perfectly applied and especially glossy. The lack of stripes and the subdued interior allow for a greater admiration of the clean lines that Pontiac gave us with the Firebird's first redesign.

With that reservation out of the way, one can appreciate the wealth of detail and overall execution. Photo-etched scripts are used throughout; the seat belts and buckles are some of the best in this scale; proper, realistic hinges are utilized for the hood, doors, and trunk; the engine bay is crammed with virtually everything one could ask for. There are lots of movable parts, too: flip down rear license to reveal the gas filler, the sun visors are poseable, seat backs flip, console opens, antenna extends, well-articulated suspension. You get the picture – dynamic detail. Of noteworthy importance, the taillights and front seats do not display any of the misalignment that plagued the early DM Trans Am.

It is not perfect, however, though the list is short and minor: the driver's door does not quite close; faintly uneven side window and wheel lip moldings; the headlights have slight cataracts (ala the FM center dots); and the rear tires seem to stick out a little too far. None of these are any reason to dismiss this great little car. Finally, a word of caution: care must be taken when closing the hood (push back and down) – such is the trade-off with scissor hinges. I would rate this 9.5, which is pretty darned good for me.