| SPA CROFT MODELS
Beautiful Models for the Discerning Collector
Est. 1984
(Including Brock Miniatures)
98, High Street, TIBSHELF, Derbyshire, DE55 5NU, England.
Tel/Fax 01773 872780
e-mail spacroft@aol.com
Spa Croft Models is a small company which
specialises in the manufacture of 1/43rd scale white metal models of British cars
from the 1930s to the 1960s, and together with our retail arm, we have been
supplying high quality models of mainly British and American cars to the
model collector for the past twenty three
years.
The company is run by Mike Coupe who has been
an enthusiastic collector of model cars for longer than he cares to remember. Both Spa
Croft Models, and Brock Miniatures, the retail outlet for the products of other white
metal manufacturers, are the natural progression of Mike's lifelong hobby.
Our business really began in
1983 when we launched the fondly remembered Hardstoft Swapmeet at the
Shoulder of Mutton Inn in the small hamlet of Hardstoft about seven miles
south of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. Alternating with the nearby, then
major, swapmeet of Nottingham International, it was held once every two
months on a Tuesday evening. A feature of the swapmeet was a draw where the
customer whose entry ticket was drawn at the end of the swapmeet, would
receive a £5.00 voucher to be spent on the night at any of the stalls
present. Needless to say, all dealers present waited with eager anticipation
to see if their takings would be boosted by another fiver. As a comparison
with today's toy fairs, the numbers of tables was between 30 and 50 at a
cost of £5.00 per table. The Swapmeet had a five year run, and then the pub
closed !!!!
The retail business was
established in 1984 and was gradually built up over the next ten years or
so, based solely on mail order and toy fair appearances. In 1995, an idea
which had its beginnings a few years earlier, came to fruition, and Spa
Croft Models was born with the release of our first model, the Series II
Morris Isis, at ModeleX of that year. Since then, Spa Croft Models has
steadily built up a loyal following of collectors and we like to think that
our products are mentioned in the same breath as other more famous brands of
hand built models.
Spa Croft Models are meticulously finished,
and much research is carried out to ensure accuracy. Each model is produced in two colour
schemes with a total run of only 400 pieces. In addition, an extra 100 models are reserved
for finishing to customer specification, principally, colour scheme and number plate. The
majority of Spa Croft Models have been mastered by Peter Kenna, one of the UK's most
sought after pattern makers, and more currently, Ian Pickering, again a
well known craftsman in this field, having produced the pattern for many
Pathfinder Models, is creating superb masters for Spa Croft Models. There
are now 10 models in the range, the most recent being the Humber Super Snipe
Mk.IV.
The
eleventh
model,
the
Wolseley
25
saloon
is
being
mastered
at
the
moment.
All
Spa
Croft
Models
are
still
available,
although
not
necessarily
in
stock,
so
you
may
have
to
wait
a
while
until
your
own
choice
of
model
can
be
supplied
MORRIS 14/6 Series III
AWARDED THE
CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR TROPHY FOR THE BEST MODEL IN SHOW AT MODELEX
2003
Click on image for more photos.
The
first production run of the Morris 14/6 Series III is
now sold out, but It
is
hoped
that
production
of
the
next
batch
will
commence
before
the
end
of
2006. Colours are pale grey blue and royal blue as shown
above, plus
an
all
black
version
in
the
Le Car
Noir range.
There is far more detail on
the Morris than you would find on a model of a comparable price. To keep the
costs down the assembly is carried out in-house. Details include door
handles outside.... and in, window winders, cast wipers, foot controls (hard to see, but they are
there), rear view mirror mounted on a finely detailed dash board, clear headlamps, and
spot lamp, nice under chassis detail, and more. If you wish to purchase a
model of the Morris 14/6
please email me, or give me a call on (Int. Code)
01773 872780
Click on either photograph to view more pictures
The
first batch of the Vauxhall 25 GL Limousine has also sold out. Production
of further models has commenced somewhat belatedly, as a result of late
delivery of the painted castings, and assembly of the Humber Super Snipe .
Because of the amount of detail on the model, it is taking quite a time to
build them. Its a big model, but then it is a long wheel base limousine.
Again, the detailing has to be seen to be believed, and the separate roof
panel can be removed to see all the interior detail; driver partition,
intercom, occasional seats, door handles and winders, separate chromed
bonnet flutes and side slats, big chromed headlamps with clear "glazing",
and more. You can reserve your Vauxhall 25, by emailing or phoning me. Colours are black
with maroon as above, and black with pale grey blue as the example in the Vauxhall
Heritage Centre. Due to popular demand we are also producing a smaller
run of an all black version. This run will not exceed 50 models. These black
models will be the first to appear in a sub-range of Spa Croft Models which
are painted all over black. This is to meet collector demand for all-black
models. As with the Vauxhall, none of these black models will exceed 50 in
number. In order to give them a separate identity from the standard Spa
Croft range, they will be known as
Le
Car Noir
range.
Production
of the first batch of Humber Super Snipes is now complete, and a further run
is currently
underway
with
models
already
being
delivered.
Have
you
received
yours
yet?
If
not
please
let
me
know.
The pre-war Morris 14hp Series
II and the Standard Vanguard Sporstman are still being considered for inclusion in
the Spa Croft collection, but they have taken second place momentarily
whilst we concentrate on other subjects. Keep logging
on to this site for further updates.
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