198X Buick Park Avenue: Oppo Model Review

"parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff" (parkave231001) 07/21/2015 at 14:24 • Filed to: None

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It was hard for me as a kid. On Christmas morning, while everyone else was gluing together their bitchin’ IROCs and Mustangs, I sat around wondering why Santa never brought me a model of a Delta 88 or Mercury Grand Marquis. Yes, I was that kid.

So imagine, if you will, the excitement I felt when last week I discovered that someone out there had heard my pleas. Thanks to the fine folks at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I was able to score this fine automobile, a 1:43 scale 198X Buick Park Avenue.

Now, you may be asking yourself two questions: first, why does he keep referring to it as a 198 X Park Avenue? Is he just that poor of a typist? Well, friends, the manufacturer states it’s a 1986 model. However, based on the subtle year-to-year changes in the Park Avenue line, we can say with 100% certainty this is not a 1986, but rather an ‘87 or ‘88. For those of you who don’t have a Park Avenue fetish, the 1985 (first year - no Liddy Light) and 1986 models had four sealed-beam headlamps. On the other end of this bodystyle’s run, you had the 1989 and 1990 models with those beloved GM automatic seatbelts, which this replica doesn’t have. The change from 1987 to 1988 was the replacement of the so-so 3.8L Buick V-6 with the bulletproof 3800; sadly, the hood doesn’t open, so we’ll just have to live with a little ambiguity.

And secondly, why I am I so excited about Park Avenues, of all things? Because it was my very first car. And my second.

Sadly, both the car and my hair are long gone.

So now that we’ve covered more background than you ever cared to know — on with the review!

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They really nailed it. I’m amazed at the sheer amount of detail from the 16-foot car that made it onto the 4 3/8” model.

All of the badges are correct and in the correct spots. That one on the fender, which was removed in 1990, says “fuel injection,” as was the norm for many GM cars of the era — stand back! The push-button door handles are surprisingly substantial. All of the rub strips, side markers, and chrome are nicely done, and you can’t not mention those wonderful opera lamps.

Hands off, Ray Wert.

The car is nicely painted, aside from a small chip on the roof. I would have rather the model come with the wire wheel hubcaps most of the Park Avenues had. These wheels did appear on Park Avenues from day one, though, so they are period correct.

The only demerit I can give to the exterior is that the tri-shield hood ornament is colored, whereas the real car always came with a non-colored version. (Two different versions, actually.)

As noted by carcrasher88, there’s an issue with the left front corner of the roof. It looks like a dab of glue didn’t quite set right, causing the corner to stand too proud. It’s hidden pretty well from a viewing angle greater than about 30 degrees from above, between that and the paint chip I’ve had to revise my exterior rating downward.

So in other words, I really have to stretch to find flaws. I must need new glasses.

Interior — A

What a bitch to photograph. The modelers again did a superb job here with the details.

These seats are the most comfortable ever designed; if you’ve never sat in these tufted thrones, you’ve missed something great. To this day I can close my eyes and still smell that soft, grey velour. Seatbelts appear to be missing from all six seats.

And now we come to the reason I can’t give the interior an A+: the steering wheel is installed upside-down . Aside from that, I’m blown away at all the extremely accurate things here. You can clearly see the correct speedometer, flanked by the two “information centers.” The woodgrain looks just as fake as it was in the real car. Additionally (although not shown here), you’ll find decals for the electronic touch climate control panel and the GM corporate two-knob AM/FM/cassette stereo.

Driving Experience — DNF

This isn’t a model with turning wheels or functioning suspension, so it’s on-road prowess will have to stay inside the box. However, the wheels are made of a rubber-type material.

If we could check under the hood, we’d find a 3.8L V-6 of some sort, preferably the 3800 variety. The 3800 in my 1990 Park Avenue was far superior to the original 3.8L Buick V-6 in my ‘85, and I shudder to think of the poor souls who ordered an Electra 300 back in 1985.

There is no chassis detail, just a flat piece of black plastic underneath.

Toys — A

The model is packaged nicely. It’s mounted to a black base, and comes in a rectangular plastic case. The case is removable, but I probably won’t ever take it off again. The nameplate in the foreground was taped to the case, but doesn’t have any adhesive on the back; I’m not sure if I’m going to do anything with that yet.

Value

Apparently these models are somewhat exclusive; the plate in the left corner says I have number 73 of 299. This might explain the somewhat steep price of between $80 and $100 from various sellers, including shipping. Still, with the surprising amount of detail, and the fact that there can’t be that much pent-up demand for a model of an old man’s Buick out of production for 25 years.....I guess we just have to rationalize this one ourselves.

Verdict

Slightly discount #3 on the plus side in the chart above. The paint chip and roof corner issue are disturbing, but for some strange reason my OCD-self is not clamoring to return it for another. Maybe I’ve just mellowed in my old age.

Now if you will excuse me, Matrix Models has a brown, diesel, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! out there I must find!

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 14:44

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I just shared this to Live and let Diecast.

carcrasher88 > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 15:06

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Something doesn’t look right here...

philipilihp > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 15:24

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Hands-down the best review I have ever read of a 1:43 198X Buick Park Avenue.

If you get that Olds, and would like to review it and post that review straight to Live and Let Diecast, let me know and I’ll hook you up with authoring priviledges.

Jobjoris > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 16:02

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If you’re willing to pay something for shipping one of my Dutch suppliers has a brown 80 Olds Delta 88 from Matrix (great Dutch brand!) for sale.

parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff > carcrasher88 07/21/2015 at 16:05

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You are correct — how did I not notice that before? I’m going to check in person and may have to change my review.....!

parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff > Jobjoris 07/21/2015 at 16:07

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Thanks! I’m going to need leads on the Delta 88, since it appears to be more rare at this point than the Park Avenues.

parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff > philipilihp 07/21/2015 at 16:07

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Thank you! I’ll certainly let you know.

ly2v8-Brian > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 17:16

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My grandpa had the Oldsmobile of this size. Can confirm the velour seating is magnificently comfy.

Jobjoris > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 17:57

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You can try ck-modelcars as well, they usually have some Matrix’s in store. It still is “in stock” as far as Matrix themselves seem to think .

parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff > carcrasher88 07/21/2015 at 19:19

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Yeah, definitely a dab of glue stuck under the corner. I guess I was too excited earlier, and it’s not noticeable from about 30 degrees and above. So...I’m going to have to lower my exterior rating to a B+ due to this and the tiny paint chip, but still maintain the overall “buy” rating.

fintail > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/21/2015 at 21:26

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Nice model, the side profile looks fantastic. Too bad the reverse hinged hood doesn’t open. I like how some of these odd late malaise things are making it into diecast. There’s an attractive bustleback Seville out there that almost has me tempted.

My grandmother had a FWD Olds of this vintage, I remember the high quality velour well. I seem to remember that steering wheel shape, too. Comfortable car.

I was “that kind” in a way too, when other 10 year olds wanted Lambos and Ferraris, I wanted a big tank of a MB, or maybe at the sportiest, a Porsche 928. Luckily, Minichamps/Paul’s Model Art answered to that about 12-13 years ago:

Pillarless Coupe > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/22/2015 at 00:39

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This is why I should be collecting 1:43 instead of 1:18. I’ll probably never see something like this in the big scale.

shop-teacher > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 07/22/2015 at 07:28

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I’ve always liked these cars too, and I’ve actually been thinking a lot about them recently. My Grandma had an ‘85 Park Ave, my Grampa had an ‘86 Delta 88, and my friend in high school had a ‘90 Lesabre that we drove all over hell and back. They are comfortable as anything, with lots of interior room, but the car itself is not overly huge.

You used to see them all over the place, but now they’re pretty much gone. I saw one the other day for the first time in I don’t know how long, but it was pretty clapped out.