Franklin Mint 1907 Rolls-Royce 1907 Silver Ghost Touring Sedan

You've got to love those doyennes of the dirt lanes! Here at the start of the 21st Century, when technology is moving cars into the realm of science fiction, it's great to look back to the beginning of the 20th at what technology provided as a replacement for the horse and carriage. The 1907 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Touring Sedan was the perfect blend of luxury and dependability to get folks out from behind Old Dobbin.

FM has produced a second '07 Silver Ghost, this time as a sedan painted in rich, dark green. This isn't a repaint either. I know I've said it before, but nobody does these "oldies" like FM. Heck, as far as I know, FM's the only one doing them! The undercarriage detailing is exquisite. Likewise, the topside gadgets and widgets are crisply rendered. Look for nice little touches like cloth window lifts, leather spare tire straps, simulated hemp mats on the running boards, Sterling silver (rather than chrome) bright work, a passenger-to-driver speaker system, and two folding jump seats in the passenger compartment. The seats are done in soft vinyl, with a nice "feel" to them. Under the hood is the best rendition of the famous Rolls-Royce six on one of FM's images to date. The gold and black pinstriping is also a work of art.

This 1:24 scale die cast model is of the oldest existing Silver Ghost, owned by Arthur Briggs-the man who subsidized Rolls Royce in the early 1900's. This one's a not-to-be-missed addition to your miniature auto museum, even if you already have the "other" '07 Silver Ghost. The issue price is $135 + S&H. (03/16/2000)

-Tom Pine