FORD MUSTANG STALLION II BY GREENLIGHT
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OVERVIEW -
Car - Ford Mustang 2nd Generation Stallion Variant
Make - Greenlight
Scale - 1: 18
This is a model which is a must buy for Mustang collectors, even the muscle car collectors, in fact for any general vintage and classic model collector (like myself), but sadly, no other premium brands makes this one currently - that leaves us with only one choice - The Greenlight 1976 Mustang Stallion.
This model under our microscope today has been made by Greenlight to their usual standards these days, though nothing much to write home about, but overall a decent effort. Many variants of mustang and cobras have been made out of the same tooling as this one, so we can't really expect the specific version based details in these models to differentiate them with the other variants. Here find a "just decent" model which still leaves a lot to be desired like most other Greenlight models today.
HISTORY:
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Near the end of its first generation, at the years around 1970 and after the Mustang have grown to a huge size, became a fat, bulky, fuel gazzler slow vehicle compared to what they were known for originally - the sleek, powerful and fast cars when they have been introduced in the first half of 60's. Though these change have been made to adapt with the American culture of 1960's - viz. the big and luxurious cars - but with the era of fuel crisis coming, the customers shifted to more fuel efficient faster cars from 1971 (READ: Japanese cars like Toyota Celica, Datsun 240z and some European cars).
In this doomsday in respect to mustang sale numbers Lee Iacocca, who was a team member for developing the original Mustang, became the President of Ford Motor Company at 1970 and ordered a smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang for 1974 based on the Ford Pinto subcompact to compete against those imported sport coupes, which finally returned the Mustang to its 1964 predecessor in respect of size, shape, and overall styling.
In 1974 the faster and powerful 2nd Generation Ford Mustang sprang to the scenes, after the 1973 oil crisis was just over - it was surely successful to bring back the customers running to the Ford showrooms again. A 2009 report confirmed Lacocca's vision for the 1974-1978 Mustang, saying, "It was the right car at the right time, selling more than 1 million units in four years." Ford executives decided to call it 'Mustang II', since it was almost a completely new pony car designed for high gas prices era.
The 2.3 L I-4 engine from the Pinto and the 2.8 L Cologne V6 from the Capri were the first engines to be offered at 1974 model. The 1975 model year reintroduced the famous 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8, which was only available with the C-4 automatic transmission, power brakes, and power steering. This one continued through production end in 1978.
Performance was great, the new pony recorded an acceleration of zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 171 km/h (106 mph) while still retuning a fuel Economy of 10km /litre in City and 14km /litre in Highways.
All the varients had frameless doors and were offered in 4 avatars - Hardtop (base), Hatchback, Mach 1 and Ghia (Top end) trims. Finally at 1976 the legendary "Stallion" and "Cobra" variants have been introduced for the first time in the history of Mustangs.
ABOUT THE MODEL:
Enough of the boring history for one day, so we move on to the section by section model review now straight ahead. Like most of my reviews in this one also I'm trying my best to add the photos of the real car too in each sections to compare the model to the 1:1.
PACKAGING - Packed in the usual Greenlight window box, this model does not come with any sort of base, but still cocooned well in the good quality plastic enclosing the car from all sides but the roof. The box itself has attractive design and images all around to give you "The feel".
EXTERIOR - 6.5/10
Stance -
When compared to the original car it looks proportionate in length, breadth and ride height. I will not compare the exact numbers in 1:18 scale, as I personally find that to be pretty pointless if it displays well with my other cars of this same scale.
Paint -
Good and shiny - but on critical observation some unevenness can be noticed (but not really evident unless you are watching the car for a review). Though there are no paint-rash/ major flaws, but there are some quality control issues in this model in this front, as you can see in these photos - mainly paint spills in unwanted areas.
Shut-lines -
Bonnet, and boot suffer from the shut-line defects and uneven gaps more than the side profile in my copy of the model. Greenlight should have been more careful in this front.
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The Images of the 1:1 are as follows for your easy comparison reference -
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Lights -
Visible central stubs in both the headlights and accessory lights on the grills remains as an eyesore. However, the tail-lights are made beautifully and looks very much like the real car. The indicators are painted on, but with chrome surrounds they look rather good and like as separate pieces.
Wheels & Tyres -
Though looks good with delicate details, and with brand printing and nice thread pattern on the tyre walls, but Greenlight have messed up the wheel design terribly by using the wrong set of wheel for this specific trim model. The wheels of the 1976 Cobra model have been fitted to this car, not the original factory wheels for this.
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They have confused the logo on the front fender with the hard-top coupe like this one -
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Replication of Logos - though not separate photo-etched parts, but the logo have been replicated well. Important mess ups in this aspect are -
1. The Mustang logos are missing on the front grill (unforgivable mistake in my opinion)
2. The Stallion logo on the sides of the front-fenders of the model, are the features of the hard-top coupe with a separate boot, not a feature of the Hatchback which is replicated here (don't know if this mistake is intentional by Greenlight to add some spices to this model)
3. The original "Running Mustang" logo is missing from fenders (may be intentional)
4. Inclusion of some "V8" logo (?) - though the engine is unquestionably a V8, but I could not find that logo on front fenders of any real cars in any of the photos while I have searched the internet.
Other Points -
Ø Chrome quality is good, but have some visible defects this, mostly at the front grill and rear bumper.
Ø Grill looks perforated and well replicated. There is a chrome strip that surrounds the front grill.
Ø Absent windows in door frames (Though this car have frameless windows, at least they could have used a transparent plastic without frame margin. Poor rear window glass finish will catch your attention. The plastic moulds and attachments in the glass are visible, and stays like a sore thumb.
Ø Bumper guards are painted in black to give them a rubber-like look. Some paint defects are visible in these in my copy of the model.
Ø Wipers are single piece black plastic made things with some details made into them. They are seperate pieces attached to the body and not a part of windscreen frame. Does not look very appealing.
Ø Door handles would look better if separate pieces of chrome would be used.
INTERIOR - 7/10
Doors with proper hinges (and not disgusting Doglegs) invite you in, the interior looks as per scale overall, with good texturing, colouring and nicely done scaled impressions. But some rough edges of a budget model (like what it is in reality) do not go un-noticed. Interior is nicely carpeted like most Greenlights, and small little details can be found all around.
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Steering Wheel and Instrument panel -
Too shiny chrome in steering wheel, which is not of my taste, but overall the steering looks good for the tasteful use of black. The instrument panel has the gauges made out separately with stickers inside the individual gauges for the details. Other smaller details of the dash-board, like the radio, various buttons, levers and console lights are beautifully made, and matches with the interior of the 1: 1 pretty well. The gear and handbrake handles have been given a light wood-like paint to looks realistic. The overall quality is definitely not as per the premium level, but good enough for the money.
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Seats and related details -
Hard plastic, but pattern replication is good. The soft to touch realistic feeling is absent, but honestly that would be too much to expect in a budget model like this. Compared to the original car the seats and details look as per. No seatbelts are there, not even impressions of any. Adjustment buttons for the seat have been coloured separately in silver.
This is how the interior of the 1:1 looks like -
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Other details -
Ø Door-pads have been replicated well - though handles and minor details could have been better
Ø IRVM placement is right
Ø Door locks have not been replicated
ENGINE DETAILS - 6/10
The main block and major components have been made as per the usual Greenlight quality. Various caps are painted in different colours. Support bars, some of the major hoses, belts and wires the there in their right place. Various other compartments, like the radiator, fluid containers, electrical components of the engine and some cylinders have also been made (though not all of them looks scale-right), coloured finely and the major and important engine-bay stickers are present there too. Some more plumbing and wiring could make it look a whole lot better though - which I plan to add later.
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The engine of the real machine -
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The downside will be lack of proper opening and locking mechanisms, and he usual budget-model-doglegs to open or close (but I don't have much complaints regarding this as the mechanism in the real car is also somewhat similar). Good part is that the bonnet cover stays closed even when you flip the model upside down, and for the same reason it is a pain in the arse to open the bonnet when closed once without an opening tool (which sadly Greenlight have NOT provided with this model)
Some paint spills will catch your attention, and that is one of the bad sides of the engine bay which can be considered as a result of poor QC in these budget models.
BOOT - 7/10
On opening the hatch it reveals the small boot starting from behind the rear seats, and is carpeted in the same way as the interior (cloth carpeting would look better IMO), and the impression of the covered spare wheel has been made too, but no actual spare is there, neither the carpet is removable - clever move by Greenlight for saving money on that.
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Opening mechanism is fine here though, no ugly doglegs to despise you. The rear glass attachments look somewhat unrealistic and out of scale.
UNDER-BODY - 6.5/10
It has been made reasonably well for the price this model sells for. The under-surface of the engine block, the supporting rods, Under-body Bumper attachments, Gear-box and exhaust system are separate pieces and are also coloured right. Suspension components are made as raised parts, but not separately coloured.
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MY OVERALL RATING FOR THE MODEL - 6.5/10
WHAT YOU WILL LIKE -
Ø Good overall stance
Ø Technically correct engine block (Not the most detailed engine, but whatever are present are mostly at their right place)
Ø Decent interior quality, and presence of multiple small details inside.
Ø The wheel design is pretty attractive (though are actually wrong for this car)
Ø Carpeting in both interior and boot.
WHAT YOU WON'T -
Ø Paint and chrome flaws here and there.
Ø Visible stubs in lights
ØMissing and wrong logos, Emblems and stickers
Ø Missing components and lack of wiring and plumbing details in engine bay.
VERDICT - As per the ongoing trend the model makers are following, there is a very thin chance for GMP/ Autoart to make one of these in near future, while on the other hand days of the Lane Exact Details, ERTL Authentics and Highway 61 are gone. Only hope other than Greenlight for opening models would be Autoworld (because close resins are sad for muscle cars where engine details are everything IMO), who with the quality of their recent releases are leaving us with much less expectations to make a very good model of this car even if they decide to make it.
So, apparently if you want to have one of these in your collection - the Greenlight rendition with their decent-ish quality overall happens to be the only choice you are left with, and the prices are not very steep too presently - so this model is actually worth adding if you love this car.
OVERVIEW -
Car - Ford Mustang 2nd Generation Stallion Variant
Make - Greenlight
Scale - 1: 18
This is a model which is a must buy for Mustang collectors, even the muscle car collectors, in fact for any general vintage and classic model collector (like myself), but sadly, no other premium brands makes this one currently - that leaves us with only one choice - The Greenlight 1976 Mustang Stallion.
This model under our microscope today has been made by Greenlight to their usual standards these days, though nothing much to write home about, but overall a decent effort. Many variants of mustang and cobras have been made out of the same tooling as this one, so we can't really expect the specific version based details in these models to differentiate them with the other variants. Here find a "just decent" model which still leaves a lot to be desired like most other Greenlight models today.
HISTORY:
Near the end of its first generation, at the years around 1970 and after the Mustang have grown to a huge size, became a fat, bulky, fuel gazzler slow vehicle compared to what they were known for originally - the sleek, powerful and fast cars when they have been introduced in the first half of 60's. Though these change have been made to adapt with the American culture of 1960's - viz. the big and luxurious cars - but with the era of fuel crisis coming, the customers shifted to more fuel efficient faster cars from 1971 (READ: Japanese cars like Toyota Celica, Datsun 240z and some European cars).
In this doomsday in respect to mustang sale numbers Lee Iacocca, who was a team member for developing the original Mustang, became the President of Ford Motor Company at 1970 and ordered a smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang for 1974 based on the Ford Pinto subcompact to compete against those imported sport coupes, which finally returned the Mustang to its 1964 predecessor in respect of size, shape, and overall styling.
In 1974 the faster and powerful 2nd Generation Ford Mustang sprang to the scenes, after the 1973 oil crisis was just over - it was surely successful to bring back the customers running to the Ford showrooms again. A 2009 report confirmed Lacocca's vision for the 1974-1978 Mustang, saying, "It was the right car at the right time, selling more than 1 million units in four years." Ford executives decided to call it 'Mustang II', since it was almost a completely new pony car designed for high gas prices era.
The 2.3 L I-4 engine from the Pinto and the 2.8 L Cologne V6 from the Capri were the first engines to be offered at 1974 model. The 1975 model year reintroduced the famous 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8, which was only available with the C-4 automatic transmission, power brakes, and power steering. This one continued through production end in 1978.
Performance was great, the new pony recorded an acceleration of zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 171 km/h (106 mph) while still retuning a fuel Economy of 10km /litre in City and 14km /litre in Highways.
All the varients had frameless doors and were offered in 4 avatars - Hardtop (base), Hatchback, Mach 1 and Ghia (Top end) trims. Finally at 1976 the legendary "Stallion" and "Cobra" variants have been introduced for the first time in the history of Mustangs.
ABOUT THE MODEL:
Enough of the boring history for one day, so we move on to the section by section model review now straight ahead. Like most of my reviews in this one also I'm trying my best to add the photos of the real car too in each sections to compare the model to the 1:1.
PACKAGING - Packed in the usual Greenlight window box, this model does not come with any sort of base, but still cocooned well in the good quality plastic enclosing the car from all sides but the roof. The box itself has attractive design and images all around to give you "The feel".
EXTERIOR - 6.5/10
Stance -
When compared to the original car it looks proportionate in length, breadth and ride height. I will not compare the exact numbers in 1:18 scale, as I personally find that to be pretty pointless if it displays well with my other cars of this same scale.
Paint -
Good and shiny - but on critical observation some unevenness can be noticed (but not really evident unless you are watching the car for a review). Though there are no paint-rash/ major flaws, but there are some quality control issues in this model in this front, as you can see in these photos - mainly paint spills in unwanted areas.
Shut-lines -
Bonnet, and boot suffer from the shut-line defects and uneven gaps more than the side profile in my copy of the model. Greenlight should have been more careful in this front.
The Images of the 1:1 are as follows for your easy comparison reference -
Lights -
Visible central stubs in both the headlights and accessory lights on the grills remains as an eyesore. However, the tail-lights are made beautifully and looks very much like the real car. The indicators are painted on, but with chrome surrounds they look rather good and like as separate pieces.
Wheels & Tyres -
Though looks good with delicate details, and with brand printing and nice thread pattern on the tyre walls, but Greenlight have messed up the wheel design terribly by using the wrong set of wheel for this specific trim model. The wheels of the 1976 Cobra model have been fitted to this car, not the original factory wheels for this.
They have confused the logo on the front fender with the hard-top coupe like this one -
Replication of Logos - though not separate photo-etched parts, but the logo have been replicated well. Important mess ups in this aspect are -
1. The Mustang logos are missing on the front grill (unforgivable mistake in my opinion)
2. The Stallion logo on the sides of the front-fenders of the model, are the features of the hard-top coupe with a separate boot, not a feature of the Hatchback which is replicated here (don't know if this mistake is intentional by Greenlight to add some spices to this model)
3. The original "Running Mustang" logo is missing from fenders (may be intentional)
4. Inclusion of some "V8" logo (?) - though the engine is unquestionably a V8, but I could not find that logo on front fenders of any real cars in any of the photos while I have searched the internet.
Other Points -
Ø Chrome quality is good, but have some visible defects this, mostly at the front grill and rear bumper.
Ø Grill looks perforated and well replicated. There is a chrome strip that surrounds the front grill.
Ø Absent windows in door frames (Though this car have frameless windows, at least they could have used a transparent plastic without frame margin. Poor rear window glass finish will catch your attention. The plastic moulds and attachments in the glass are visible, and stays like a sore thumb.
Ø Bumper guards are painted in black to give them a rubber-like look. Some paint defects are visible in these in my copy of the model.
Ø Wipers are single piece black plastic made things with some details made into them. They are seperate pieces attached to the body and not a part of windscreen frame. Does not look very appealing.
Ø Door handles would look better if separate pieces of chrome would be used.
INTERIOR - 7/10
Doors with proper hinges (and not disgusting Doglegs) invite you in, the interior looks as per scale overall, with good texturing, colouring and nicely done scaled impressions. But some rough edges of a budget model (like what it is in reality) do not go un-noticed. Interior is nicely carpeted like most Greenlights, and small little details can be found all around.
Steering Wheel and Instrument panel -
Too shiny chrome in steering wheel, which is not of my taste, but overall the steering looks good for the tasteful use of black. The instrument panel has the gauges made out separately with stickers inside the individual gauges for the details. Other smaller details of the dash-board, like the radio, various buttons, levers and console lights are beautifully made, and matches with the interior of the 1: 1 pretty well. The gear and handbrake handles have been given a light wood-like paint to looks realistic. The overall quality is definitely not as per the premium level, but good enough for the money.
Seats and related details -
Hard plastic, but pattern replication is good. The soft to touch realistic feeling is absent, but honestly that would be too much to expect in a budget model like this. Compared to the original car the seats and details look as per. No seatbelts are there, not even impressions of any. Adjustment buttons for the seat have been coloured separately in silver.
This is how the interior of the 1:1 looks like -
Other details -
Ø Door-pads have been replicated well - though handles and minor details could have been better
Ø IRVM placement is right
Ø Door locks have not been replicated
ENGINE DETAILS - 6/10
The main block and major components have been made as per the usual Greenlight quality. Various caps are painted in different colours. Support bars, some of the major hoses, belts and wires the there in their right place. Various other compartments, like the radiator, fluid containers, electrical components of the engine and some cylinders have also been made (though not all of them looks scale-right), coloured finely and the major and important engine-bay stickers are present there too. Some more plumbing and wiring could make it look a whole lot better though - which I plan to add later.
The engine of the real machine -
The downside will be lack of proper opening and locking mechanisms, and he usual budget-model-doglegs to open or close (but I don't have much complaints regarding this as the mechanism in the real car is also somewhat similar). Good part is that the bonnet cover stays closed even when you flip the model upside down, and for the same reason it is a pain in the arse to open the bonnet when closed once without an opening tool (which sadly Greenlight have NOT provided with this model)
Some paint spills will catch your attention, and that is one of the bad sides of the engine bay which can be considered as a result of poor QC in these budget models.
BOOT - 7/10
On opening the hatch it reveals the small boot starting from behind the rear seats, and is carpeted in the same way as the interior (cloth carpeting would look better IMO), and the impression of the covered spare wheel has been made too, but no actual spare is there, neither the carpet is removable - clever move by Greenlight for saving money on that.
Opening mechanism is fine here though, no ugly doglegs to despise you. The rear glass attachments look somewhat unrealistic and out of scale.
UNDER-BODY - 6.5/10
It has been made reasonably well for the price this model sells for. The under-surface of the engine block, the supporting rods, Under-body Bumper attachments, Gear-box and exhaust system are separate pieces and are also coloured right. Suspension components are made as raised parts, but not separately coloured.
MY OVERALL RATING FOR THE MODEL - 6.5/10
WHAT YOU WILL LIKE -
Ø Good overall stance
Ø Technically correct engine block (Not the most detailed engine, but whatever are present are mostly at their right place)
Ø Decent interior quality, and presence of multiple small details inside.
Ø The wheel design is pretty attractive (though are actually wrong for this car)
Ø Carpeting in both interior and boot.
WHAT YOU WON'T -
Ø Paint and chrome flaws here and there.
Ø Visible stubs in lights
ØMissing and wrong logos, Emblems and stickers
Ø Missing components and lack of wiring and plumbing details in engine bay.
VERDICT - As per the ongoing trend the model makers are following, there is a very thin chance for GMP/ Autoart to make one of these in near future, while on the other hand days of the Lane Exact Details, ERTL Authentics and Highway 61 are gone. Only hope other than Greenlight for opening models would be Autoworld (because close resins are sad for muscle cars where engine details are everything IMO), who with the quality of their recent releases are leaving us with much less expectations to make a very good model of this car even if they decide to make it.
So, apparently if you want to have one of these in your collection - the Greenlight rendition with their decent-ish quality overall happens to be the only choice you are left with, and the prices are not very steep too presently - so this model is actually worth adding if you love this car.
