Franklin Mint 1951 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe- D4C LECC-VI Ltd Ed of 675

The usual cast of suspects worked on this, the sixth Limited Edition Club Car (LECC), for the DieCast Car Collectors Club (D4C). Three of the four Diecast Zone website’s board of directors members, Jay Olins, George Dill and me, were joined by Raffi Minasian and Vincenzo Moccia as they have done for previous offerings. Raffi, as many of you know, was FM’s Design Manager and was responsible for some incredible diecast images of our favorite classics, the Hudson included. First released in a metallic green, it was Raffi's initial idea to use that model as a base for a slight departure for the LECC VI by retooling some additional parts. The team all agreed. I found some archival photos of the ’51 Hudson in two-toned clothing and shared them with the rest of the group. Everyone thought it would be a great enhancement of an already pleasing replica. We then took some time to work with color combinations and Vincenzo worked the color combos unto a photo that I took of the green version and submitted to him. When we all reviewed his work-up of the Bali Blue and Pacific Blue that so well complimented each other while employing the correct color breaks directed by Raffi, we all knew we had a winner.

Raffi suggested the addition of period-correct sun visor and fog lamps for the top of the front bumper. He worked up the retooling methods for our constituents at the Mint and off to the races went the Hudson. In the middle of construction Raffi configured one last master’s touch to the model and it received wire wheel additions, again, period-correct for the Hudson, and the transformation was complete. At 675 units, it is our most limited edition to date and sure to a long treasured part of the LECC team.

-Tony Perrone