Automodello 1967 Intermeccanica

Introducing the Automodello 1967 Intermeccanica Italia finished in an eye catching red, it is what every automobile of Italian/American descent should be. This gorgeous replica was scaled for the 1:43 market, in resin, and it is limited to 399 pieces worldwide. The model includes a custom display case along with certificates of authenticity, all for $95 plus shipping and handling.

Frank and Paula Reisner formed Intermeccanica in Turin in 1967 and began manufacturing the Italia Spyder. Production began after a long series of events including name, ownership and engineering changes. This can probably explain why the Italian-American hybrid isn't better well known, but does little to hide the car's Italian flair and V8 performance.

Intermeccanica was an automobile company with many beginning, it had a lot of famous automobile names attached to the Marquee, but when all was said and done the car with many directions was finally built and produced in Italy. Ford was queried to supply some of the components and once they agreed and started shipping Mustang engines, transmissions, rear axles, and Magnum 500 wheels to Torino, Italy, the car was to be called an Intermeccanica Torino. However, the name choice was quickly overturned by Ford themselves so, Frank Reisner chose Italia, and added the script across the nose of the car to avoid further confusion.

Through all its names and owners the Italia was a proper Italian-American hybrid that lived up to the original design theme initially set out by Jack Griffith. Like the Monteverdis, Isos, ACs and DeTomasos, it used a large American V8 in a European-manufactured body and chassis.

Ford initially shipped the 4.7 liter engine, but that grew to 5.0 liters and settled on the 5.7-liter Cleveland 351 V8. The later provided great power for the car and helped it reach 60 mph in less that 6.5 seconds.

The Italia's body was hand-formed over wooden bucks and made of steel. Franco Scaglione was brought in to modify the design and create a spyder variant. He added small bumperettes and updated the shape. The gorgeously-styled spyder far outsold its coupe counterpart and became the best selling of all the Intermeccanica models. It had styling cues from the Ferrari 365 2+2 and maybe the 250 GT Nembo Spyder.

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Automodello once again proved it has a place in the Mint Model market with the exceptional execution of the Italia. The stunning resin model sports a glass like finish and deep scribe lines which give the illusion of operating features.

The interior of the Italia is highly detailed and a plesure to explore. For a 1:43 replica the interior is one of the best I have seen, nothing toy like or plastic looking, and the wheels and tires are just as finely detailed too.

Everything, and I do mean everything, about this replica is high-end, with unprecedented attention to detail. Fit, finish, scribe lines and chrome are all perfect.

If you are into 1:43 replicas then the Italia needs to be on your list of high-end foreign models for sure. Order it today; you won't be disappointed; I wasn't. (Five Corks)

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