Denver's Forney Museum - The model car Collection

Denver's Forney Museum of Transportation has a GREAT collection of model cars, including almost every Pocher 1:8 car.
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We take a look at these amazing models, including Match Box cars and Hot Wheels cars, 1:18 scale die cast, but mostly rare and expensive 1:8 scale cars, most by Pocher.
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From the web:
At the International Toy Fair of Milan in 1966, the Pocher stand astonished the world with its wonderfully detailed 1:8 scale model of the Fiat F2 130HP, the car which won the 1907 French Grand Prix driven by Felice Nazzaro. The model contained 144 high-resistance plastic parts, 173 in brass and 506 in steel, copper, leather, rubber and aluminium. The Company went on to produce ever more detailed models of motoring classics including the 1931-34 Alfa Romeo 2300 Ac Monza, the 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II Drophead Sedanca Coupe, the 1932 Alfa Romeo Touring, the Mercedes-Benz 500K/AK containing 2,378 part and then the Rolls Royce Torpedo Phanton II Convertible with 2,905 parts.
These kits were based on original plans from the manufacturer. Two features present on some models were spoked wire wheels that were assembled spoke by spoke, and engines with working crankshaft and piston assemblies. Assembly was mostly accomplished with threaded fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts) and very little glue. This created finished products that could theoretically be disassembled and repaired or modified. Kits came molded in color and ready painted. Finished preassembled versions were also sold.
In the 1970s Corrado Muratore sold his part of the company to Rivarossi, a bit later Arnaldo Pocher sold his part, too. While Corrado Muratore continued as general manager of Pocher and national sales manager, Arnaldo Pocher left the company.
The product ranges
The earlier high piece and high detail kits were referred to as the Classic line. Later a less assembly intensive line appeared which was called the Prestige line of cars. Classic kits were known for their high piece count and incredible detail such as working brake systems, engines with rotating crankshafts and moving pistons, windows that moved up and down, steering that operated, and when a tiny key was inserted into the dashboard the headlights lit up. Classic kits faithfully represented mostly 1930s cars from Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls Royce. Prestige kits were most often die cast metal bodies and contained about 500 parts. They featured working suspension and opening doors and detailed engines. These kits were designed to provide attractive models that could be built with little difficulty. These were mostly of Ferraris such as the Testarossa and F40, along with a few Porsches. A third line existed which was called Pocher Truck. This consisted of two Volvo trucks using the same assembly method as Prestige - mainly press fit parts with superb detailing. Four separate engine kits were produced that featured the engines from Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Volvo, and Bugatti. Of these four kits the Bugatti was the most complex as it had a moving crankshaft and pistons.
All model kits in the automobile line were produced in enormous one eighth scale. These cars could be up to 22 inches (560 mm) long and weigh as much as 16 pounds (7.3 kg). The aftermarket products produced to support these kits is a thriving cottage industry and the remaining kits that are unassembled are a rare item. Often cherished, traded, and handed down these do exist today and are available through collector channels.
Hornby and Pocher[3][edit]
After the Lima group went into bankruptcy the Pocher brand was bought by Hornby in 2004. In December 2012 Hornby announced the "resurgence of a myth" on the official website of Pocher. An official presentation was held on the Nuremberg International Toy Fair on 30 January 2013. Pocher presented the new 1:8 model kit of the Lamborghini Aventador.[4] At Nuremberg 2014 two new models were announced: HK105/6 Lamborghini Huracan and HK107 Ducati Panigale Superbike (release date November 2015).

[@bernie472]

Great video, and tour. I just purchased a Pocher 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II model, and am highly looking forward to building this. Very excited for this opportunity.

[@greguzar8233]

This episode is another, "Keeper". Since this site has posted so much on 1/8th scale models in general, it is refreshing to go into a "good" hobby shop and understand more of what is on the shelves. Thanks again. Greg and Jeanne.

[@qwertyman9560]

Great presentation elaborating the history of the company and the models.

[@mightylonesome9426]

Wonderfully shot with lots of valuable information. The way a docu-post should be presented, thank you both for the tour.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks! We love that place. And all the museums we visit. Did you see the shows on the worlds best car collections? Wow!! The Mullin collection is beyond amazing

[@fjimenezbotello]

Amazing tour and video; many thanks for share all your knowledge of cars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😃

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks. That’s a great collection. And they change it every week! Wonder how big the collection is!

[@fjimenezbotello]

Toy Man Television Me too!. I’d like to see every model of it, but with your description of course. You are amazing toy man 👍😃

[@billginnj6595]

Yes, the Forney Museum is quite an impressive collection of transportation items... I've visited there several times over the years.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I thought it was a Big Boy and a bunch of random crap. Not sure where I got that idea from... Really amazing collection.

[@daviemaclean61]

What a great "spare" room to have in your museum

[@gee530]

Great show! Love it. Thanks for sharing.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We love Pocher... Guess it shows...

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Amazing ! Thanks for another fine episode

[@ferrarimarek]

I have been watching and greatly enjoying your adventures "screwing around." One tiny correction Hornby is a British company that owns several brands including Airfix and other model kit companies, Humbrol model paints, Hornby trains (you would love them) , as well as Arnold, Electrotren, Joeuf, Rivarossi, Lima model trains, Corgi die cast, and Scalextric slot cars (which is my weakness.) Should make a video and send it to you! :) Continue the great fun.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Great video! I’m more of a car guy then trains, so I totally loved this one! Thanks again!

[@ToyManTelevision]

More Pocher on the Tuesday show. Eventually we hope to cover all of them.

[@SCDC-Channel]

Love your channel...EPIC collection

[@Jimtrek]

Another great video guys. Just 1thing, Hornby was a very British company until production moved to China. Its main products were and still are 00 scale British trains. Steam, diesel, electric, the lot. About 2004/2005 production moved. Alot of people were shocked at such a move. It was such an Icon of Britain. Thank you for the post. Keep it up 👍

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

Howdy Dale and Karyn ! I appreciate the lessons and learning about poacher and noticed that besides river Rossi one of the other companies that help Pulcher for a while was take up it was in one of the boxes you could see their name Tico print right on the boxI appreciate the lessons and learning about poacher and noticed that besides RiverRossi one of the other companies that help Pulcher for a while was tyco ! It was up in one of the boxes you could see their name (“Tyco”) printed right on the box !!! Be honest with you I’ve never really built-in metal model I may have doubles and one of them maybe two but most of all I do is almost 100% plastic and I do also use resin and photo wedged as well as bashing and stretch building ! Can’t wait to finish this MASH unit I’ve been working on ! Then maybe I could start playing with my trains again ! Jorge 🌊🐺

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! Yes Tyco (Stands for Tyler’s Company) took over US importing after AHM ran into problems. At that time in the US foreign manufacturers were not allowed to import directly. So Tyco took over from AHM for a short time before Rivarossi -Pocher was able to directly import to the US. Tyco was the reason for dumping these great models at the K Mart stores. Tyco gave up for some reason, may have been anger over the new trade agreement but they decided to dump all stock at give away prices.

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

Toy Man Television I believe I’ve learned about what your reply means not only by listening to you but I’ve read it in one of my Lionel or a train book as well !!! Almost imprinted in the back of my mind because I’ve bought some HM trains that were not regularly available for example : Engine number 153 was the last locomotive to head down to the Florida Keys in 1935 as a hurricane rescue train ! Unfortunately, it never made it past Long Key ! The few survivors in Key West managed to try and hold on as long as they could !!! They were finally rescued by boats but, whatever rails were still on between Key West and Long Key were destroyed by the hurricane in 1935 !!! However the (“8 mile bridge”) which as it’s known “now is used as a fishing bridge” was the only and official bridge that connected marathon key to Pigeon Key headed southwest towards Key West still stood !!! You think in today’s world that they could improve on bringing the Florida East Coast or “Tri-Rail in this case” down to the Florida Keys by Rail ? Not only is it doable but I bet with today’s technology we can make concrete hurricane proof !!! I’ve seen evidence of this !!! 🌊🐺

[@JerkRice]

I have to get back to Denver and check out the Forney sometime. The museum's old location downtown is now a fancy REI flagship store.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great video as always toy man television :)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! Makes me want to build an 8th scale auto

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Wow, what a great collection

[@ATSFVentaSpurNscaler]

Hi Dale and Karyn! The museum has quite a parking lot for really, really small cars. The Pocher line looks amazing. I'm curious, so do the late-model, Chinese-made Porchers have working pistons? Thanks for sharing this model car collection on KZbin! -from Tom Pilling

[@realmagicjon]

Loved it ,thanks Team Toy Man.

[@wazza6942]

Cool video, first time Ive seen your videos. Hello from Australia and I have many of the Matchbox Yesteryears in the video.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi!! Er.. gu day! We have a bunch of model car shows. Even a model car channel! TheGSL model car championship channel

[@wazza6942]

@@ToyManTelevision Hahahaha its just G'day mate but as we say here in Oz "no worries mate". Thanks for watching my video and I will check out your channel right now. Andrew

[@MrJearley6]

Thank you for the Video!!! I own one of there Mercedes 500K 1:8 scale!! Bought years ago maybe 1986 not sure!! Thank you!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! Is that a great model or what?!! I don’t have one of those (yet) but it’s one of the best pocher models. The real ones tooled by pocher himself have you seen the other pocher videos here on the channel?

[@M1chael42O1]

i have got to get to a museum that has a Big Boy, that's always been my favorite mallet but i never seen one in person

[@ToyManTelevision]

Its a great museum!! Come for the Big Boy, stay for the models...

[@naturalobserver6130]

Michael Bobb , I think the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Michigan has one.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We REALLY want to get there.

[@DRGW485]

Jeff Daniels - The Henry Ford actually has one of the two surviving C&O Allegheny 2-6-6-6 locomotives. There are 8 surviving Big Boys - Cheyenne, WY x2; Denver, CO; Frisco, TX; Green Bay, WI; Omaha, NE; Scranton, PA; St. Louis, MO.

[@BrettMayaAllisonTory]

The Pocher Itala is a model ot the 7.500 liter Itala that won the race held in 1907 between Pekin and Paris. It took 44 days forthe winner to reach Paris. A 1:25 plastic kit has been made by AMT, and Rio made a 1:43 diecast of the same car. Both modelsshould be easy to get on EBay.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Yes, I've seen those. What a car!!! Reminds me of the 1907 Fiat that Pocher made for their (his) first model. Sure like to get one...

[@dsshowerpan]

I have 2 brand new in box Pochers from the 60s. A Bugatti and Alfa Spider. Would love for a collector to have them.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Those are great. Especially the Bugatti

[@garypearsall1589]

I shouldn't have watched this one. I have been being really good about buying diecast lately but Ebay here I come. Interesting show.

[@FutureRailProductions]

Great episode! I used to be in the building model cars but kind of grew out of it in favor of trains. Can't wait for next week's! By the way how was your fourth of July?

[@CrazyBear65]

Nice. Do they have any 1/24 scale Revel, Monogram, AMT, etc. vehicles?

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Please, everyone. It is pronounced POKER. Not Poacher.

[@tomparrish6000]

I bought the Fiat and 2 of the Alfa kits in the early 70s? for about $20 each at K-Mart. I guess they were not selling - list was $60-$80?? I don't remember.

[@ritaloy8338]

I can see why you two have done so much screwing around at the Forney Museum. There is so much to do as it appears to be a wonderful place to screw around. This looks like my kind of place to go screwing around for a few days.

[@ToyManTelevision]

A GREAT PLACE. We had no idea they had models... But they told us the guy (one guy) who owns them has not had them there all that long..

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Rita Loy At least I’m not the only one who collects things like Hot Wheels cars, and other cars.. We are always having fun! Great museum!

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

And please forgive my spelling ! I have a notorious spellchecker that messes up once in a while ! I don’t know if it’s because I have both English and Spanish languages on my texting ?

[@robertlucido3686]

Is the Cumbres and toltec going to run Denver and Rio Grande 168 on the Durango and Silverton as well as their railroad

[@ToyManTelevision]

Nope. May take it over for an event, but D and S really doesn't like special runs. Messes up their operations. That's why the C 18 came over to CATS.

[@lobilly]

I have the Pocher yellow Testarossa you didn't mention.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Most were the red and white. But they did do a yellow as well.

[@lobilly]

@@ToyManTelevision Still finding time to build it after 20 yrs. And my F40 is sitting proudly on top of my TV.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Toy man television, are you planing to film the Yosemite mountain sugar pine railroad? I am going to film it on August 2 2018.

[@davidcurtis5398]

Sorry not about this video. Please tell me what video you did when you went into the "back door" of the Teton National Park. I have been trying to find it but have not. Thanks... Dave

[@ToyManTelevision]

David Curtis hi. Didn’t do Teton. (Yet). Planning just that trip from Victor Idaho over Teton pass. You may be thinking about Zion canyon. The Unknown Areas of Utah's Zion National Parkkzbin.info/www/bejne/i6qnYal3g7Z3nsU

[@alessandroabrardo8412]

Ciao IO sono innamorato degli STATI UNITI D'AMERICA ma non ci sono mai stato povero ME ma........ un giorno ci vado!

[@pbyfr]

Great models, but expansive! I don't think I would have the nerves to mount and especially paint such kit. By the way, I saw the real D51 200 in Kyoto: www.flickr.com/gp/pby/Xmw490

[@ToyManTelevision]

I keep wondering why someone built this. They must have loved the locomotive, but why I wonder... The Pochers are BIG money. I have been able to get mine on super prices, but you see people pay over 1,000 all the time.... Wild.

[@madrabidfireman]

The Monogram Big Duce is not a Model A. Its a 32 ford.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. Duce coup. V8.

[@mattomon1045]

i did know Jack Forney i met him when was a kid and I have a life time pass for the museum .