Franklin Mint 1965 Corvette Mako Shark - Concept Car

This car represents yet another interesting direction for FM...."Dream Cars" were a big draw at auto shows throughout the 50s and 60s; these concept vehicles were a window into the future, usually demonstrating styling cues to be seen on new cars a couple of years down the road.

One of the most popular of these was the Corvette Mako Shark. Built for the Fall 1961 season, this running prototype was almost a dead ringer for the upcoming StingRays which would appear in the fall of 1962 as the radical new '63 Corvette.

The new FM release captures the look and feel of the prototype most accurately. I saw this car in Cleveland at the Auto Show in February of 1962 and always was fascinated by the car's shark-like paint job...dark blue over a silver lower .... the MS looked like its namesake...with the addition of some pretty elegant styled wheels. Build quality is excellent and fidelity to the prototype is right there. Even the "glass" hardtop fits like a glove. The only flaw is the door gaps but I'm told this problem will be worked out over a short period of time... and judging by FM's other mid-run corrections, you can take that promise to the bank..... The car is a recommended purchase... a must-have if you're a Corvette fanatic. The issue price is $90. (07/29/1998)

-Jay Engel