1938 Phantom Corsair

Year: 1938
Exterior Color: Black
Scale: 1:24
Manufacturer: Automodello
Limited Edition: 299 Hand-Numbered
Official Release Date: February 17th 2012

This model is the first in a new line of 1:24 scale models by Automodello.  These fine quality resincast models set a new standard in fine resin models.  Combining state of the art resin casting technology with old world craftsmanship, this new line was designed and developed by legendary automobile designer in real and miniature Raffi Minasian for Automodello.   

Raffi's famous 1:24 scale masterpiece - the Duesenberg Coupe Simone has been considered by many to be one of the most beautiful scale models ever designed and crafted.  What better car to launch this new collection with than the 1938 Phantom Corsair.  The first model in a collection that will feature some of the most elegant and revolutionary automobile designs of the twentieth century.  This custom built Corsair with its revolutionary design helped set the high water mark that other manufacturers could only dream about.  

Hand Painted in gloss black automotive quality paint ensuring an enduring finish. The paint and trim are polished by hand resulting in an absolutely gorgeous show-winning finish. Interior materials are textured to accurate scale. Interior gauges are highly detailed down to the single center-mounted multi-function instrument. Carpeting is flocked to scale. Excellent fit on all door, hood, and trunk seams. Raised chrome foil used on all emblems and lettering.  Tail light lenses are replicated with tinted red lenses. Bumpers and trim are chrome plated. World class finish throughout.  Closed resin model (hood and doors do not open) with rolling wheels. 

The Phantom Corsair is an automotive prototype from 1938.  It is a six-passenger coupe that was designed by Rust Heinz, a member of the H. J. Heinz family, and Maurice Schwartz of the Pasadena, California based Bohman & Schwartz coachbuilding company. The design was a departure from contemporary car design and it did away with many features, common at the time, that were eventually abandoned by mainstream designers.

Heinz planned to put the Phantom Corsair, which cost approximately $24,000 to produce in 1938 (approximately $350,000 in today's dollars) into limited production at an estimated selling price of $12,500. However, Heinz's death, shortly after the car was completed, ended those plans.
The 1938 Phantom Corsair now resides in the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection) in Reno, Nevada.

With a height of only 147 cm (58 in.), the steel and aluminum body had no running boards, fenders or door handles. Instead, the doors could be opened using buttons located on the outside and on the instrument panel. To match the advanced design, Heinz chose the most advanced chassis available in the United States at that time, the Cord 810. The V8 engine-equipped Cord also featured front wheel drive and an electrically operated four-speed gearbox, as well as a fully independent suspension and adjustable shock absorbers. To accommodate the large body, various changes were carried through on the chassis. The car's lower frame was made of chromoly steeland while the upper frame was constructed of electrically welded aviation steel tubing. Power for the 2-ton / 4500 lb. Phantom Corsair came from a modified Cord 810 Lycoming 8-cylinder unit, supercharged to produce about 190 hp. The aerodynamic body enabled the car to reach speeds of up to 115 miles per hour. 
  
The Phantom Corsair was featured as the "Flying Wombat" in the David O. Selznick film The Young in Heart (1938), starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Paulette Goddard, Janet Gaynor, and Billie Burke. Heinz and his car were featured in a segment of the Popular Science film series in 1938. The full story of this car, as well as studio pictures, appears in the October 2006 edition of Classic and Sports Car magazine. 

Automodello is a manufacturer specializing in overlooked, neglected and interesting models from British, European, North American and other marques. Automodello's inagural model was the 1964 Griffith Series 200 followed by the 1974 to 1976 Bricklin SV1, the 1966 Fitch Phoenix, the 1966 Griffith Series 600, and the Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria.  Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance, The Desert Classic, The Milwaukee Masterpiece, and the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles have all selected Automodello as the Official Model for their events, and, the Packard in Berkshire Green Metallic was also selected as the Official Model for the 46th Packard Automobile Classics 2011 National Meet.

February 15th 2012 Update
Automodello announced the release of their inaugural 1/24th scale 1938 Phantom Corsair for February 17th 2012.  Final package assembly and hand-numbering are underway in the USA this week.