Pocher Model Cars
Encyclopedia
Pocher Model Cars, based in Italy, produced model car
Model car
A model car or toy car is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in the general category of model cars...
s from the 1970s through the 1990s. A factory fire halted production and since rebuilding, their most famous line of automobile kits was never revived.
These kits were based on original plans from the manufacturer. Kits, featuring injection
Injection
Injection or Injected may refer to:* Injection , insertion of liquid into the body with a syringe* Injective function in mathematics, a function mapping distinct arguments to distinct values...
molded plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
and steel, brass, rubber, leather, canvas, had very detailed features and over 2,000 pieces. Two features present on some models were spoked wire wheels that were assembled spoke by spoke, and engines with working crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
and piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
assemblies.
Assembly was mostly accomplished with threaded fastener
Fastener
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a lid to a container,...
s (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 did not necessarily need paint. Finished preassembled versions were also sold.
The earlier high piece and high detail kits were referred to as the Classic line, later a less assembly intensive line appeared and 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 were produced that faithfully represented cars from Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
, Bugatti
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, and Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
. Many from the 1930s.
Prestige kits were most often die cast metal bodies and 500 parts. They featured working suspension
Suspension
Suspension may refer to:In science and engineering:*Suspension , in mathematics*Suspension , in mathematics*Suspension , mixture of two chemicals with the property that one does not rapidly settle out...
and opening doors and detailed engines. These kits were designed to provide attractive models you can build with little difficulty.
Prestige kits were mainly of the Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari Testarossa is a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car manufactured by Ferrari, which went into production in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer...
and Ferrari F40
Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car...
, with a few Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
s.
A third line exists called Pocher Truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
. This was two Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
Trucks. Using the same assembly method as Prestige mainly press fit parts with superb detailing.
Four separate engine kits were produced that were the engines from Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari Testarossa is a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car manufactured by Ferrari, which went into production in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer...
, F40, Volvo, and Bugatti. Of these four kits the Bugatti was the most complex as it had the moving crankshaft and pistons.
All model kits in this automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
line were produced in enormous one eighth scale. Cars that could be up to 22 inches (558.8 mm) long and weigh as much as 16 pounds (7.3 kg). Truly museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
quality display pieces when finished.
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.
Pocher Prestige Model List
| Kit Number | Maker | Model | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| K30 | Porsche | 911 | black |
| K31 | Porsche | 911 "Silver" | silver |
| K31 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Silver Plated" | silver |
| K31 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Cabrio" | silver |
| K32 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Yellow" | Yellow |
| K33 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Blue" | Blue |
| K34 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Red" | Red |
| K35 collco24 | Porsche | 911 "Carrera Cup 1994" | Racing |
| K51 | Ferrari | Testarossa Coupe | red |
| K52 | Ferrari | Testarossa Spider | white |
| K53 | Ferrari | Testarossa Coupe "Black Star" | black |
| K54 | Ferrari | Testarossa Spider "Sportster" | red |
| K55 | Ferrari | F40 | red |
| K56 | Ferrari | F40 "Yellow" | yellow |
| K57 | Ferrari | F40 G.T (Dutch prototype) | red |
| K58 | Ferrari | F40 G.T (Italian prototype) | red |
| K59 | Ferrari | Testarossa Coupé Convertible | yellow |
| K60 | Ferrari | F40 "Black Power" | black |
| K61 | Ferrari | Testarossa Spider "Silver Special" | Silver |
| K63 | Ferrari | Testarossa Coupe "Flashlight" | geel |
Pocher Classic Model List
| Kit Number | Maker | Model | Color | Wheel Type | Like Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K70 | Fiat | Grand prix de France | red | ||
| K71 | Alfa Romeo | 8c 2300 Monza | red | Metal | |
| K72 | Rolls-Royce | Sedanca Coupé Phantom II | black-blue | Metal | |
| K73 | Alfa Romeo | Spider Touring Gran Sport | cream-blue | Metal | |
| K74 | Mercedes-Benz | 500K/AK Cabriolet | black | Metal | K93 |
| K75 | Rolls-Royce | Torpedo Phantom II Convertible | silver - gold | Metal | |
| K76 | Bugatti | 50T | black - yellow | Metal | |
| K77 | Fiat | F-2 Racer | black - red | K88 | |
| K78 | Alfa Romeo | 8c 2300 Monza "Muletto" | white | Metal | |
| K80 | Mercedes-Benz | 500K "Sport Roadster" | red | Metal | |
| K81 | Alfa Romeo | 8C 2600 "Mille Miglia-Scuderia Ferrari" | red | Metal | |
| K82 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "Cabrio Special" | white | Metal | K94 |
| K83 | Rolls-Royce | Phantom II Ambassador | green | Metal | |
| K84 | Bugatti | 50 T Coupe de ville | blue-silver | Metal | |
| K85 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "Classic Roadster" | red | Metal | |
| K86 | Bugatti | 50T Surprofilé | black-red | Metal | |
| K88 | Fiat | F-2 Racer | black- red | K77 | |
| K89 | Alfa Romeo | 8c 2300 Coupé Elegant | black-white | Metal | |
| K90 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "Rumble Seat" | maroon | Metal | K95 |
| K91 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "True Roadster" | cream-brown | Plastic | |
| K91BIS (Never Produced) | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "True Roadster" | cream-brown | Metal | |
| K92 | Alfa Romeo | "Dinner Jacket" | black | Plastic | |
| K93 | Mercedes-Benz | 500K/AK Cabriolet | black | Plastic | K74 |
| K94 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K Cabrio Special | white | Plastic | K82 |
| K95 | Mercedes-Benz | 540K "Rumble Seat" | maroon | Plastic | K90 |
Pocher Truck Model List
| Kit Number | Maker | Model | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| K79 | Volvo | F-12 Turbo Truck | red |
| K87 | Volvo | F-16 Globetrotter | black |
Pocher Engine Model List
| Kit Number | Maker | Model |
|---|---|---|
| KM51 | Ferrari | Testarossa |
| KM55 | Ferrari | F-40 |
| KM76 | Bugatti | T50 |
| KM87 | Volvo | Truck |