Say what you will about repainted images of existing diecast models and they all might apply to this Mustang. But even if you’ve seen thousands of babies in your lifetime, when you see a cute little sweetie-pie, you still have to say, “Ooooo, she’s soooo cute!” Get where I’m going here? Yes, there have been a plethora of Franklin Mint Mustangs. Convertibles, coupes, GT’s, a gorgeous GTA, Shelby’s and Bosses and Mach’s, oh my. But as the first Indy 500 Pace car version, Ooooo, she’s soooo cute!

Maybe it is the cleanliness of the piece but it shines in a 1:24th collection. The paint is a Wimbledon White with matching interior, blue carpeting and dash and the corresponding stripe right up the middle of the car. The broader stripe is center with two pinstripes flanking it. The graphics are crisp and conservative. With whitewalls and spinner caps, the car retains a positively “Pony Car” look of the first ‘Stang and harkens back to those ‘good old days’ of smaller is better and $0.30 per gallon gas.

Franklin built the model with the 289 V-8 engine and plumbed it and wired it admirably. They also added the prerequisite labeling and “Ford” marked hoses. The trunk carries the Tartan plaid floor matting and spare cover and now comes with a fixed limited edition plate decrying it to be the, “1964 ½ Ford Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car Limited Edition XXXX/5000”. There’s a fixed, well-scaled antenna; careful it is sharp, special plates, front and back and non-functioning suspension accounting for the perfect ride stance. Overall a little gem, worthy of every bit of, “Coochie, coo" that you care to throw at it. The issue price is $120.

-Tony Perrone