[REVIEW] Minichamps Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL

Or maybe I should call it Paul's Model Art Minichamps Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL. As many here probably know, Minichamps models were labeled "Paul's Model Art" when they first became a global sensation maybe 20-25 years ago. I don't know how they are labeled today, as I haven't bought a new one in eons.

The model up for viewing today is a lovely 1:43 casting of a big later run W126. I bought this model back in the early oughts, when I had a W126, and wanted something similar. The casting was new then, and I assume isn't in production anymore. This was as close as it got to my car - similar color interior, but my car was DB355 Diamond Blue instead of grey. This is a well done piece, especially for the scale, time period, and original price:

Tons of nice little detail, like well-formed lenses, perfect wheels, accurate brightwork, good proportions:

Finely detailed tiny hood ornament is nice, along with badging:

Interior detail is excellent. Door panel style makes this a 1989+ car:

Undercarriage is decent, too:

Of course, it lives in a plastic box. I might still have the paper packaging:

These have amusingly high BIN prices on ebay, relative to the ~$40 original price. Of course, ebay BIN pricing is more of an exercise in free speech (even for those lands devoid of such an ideal) than legitimate market conditions. This model sat on my desk at work for some time, before I moved offices. The little white marks on the base are putty to keep the lid on. I sold the real car 10 years ago, but kept the model. I'll probably always hold on to it as a memento of the period.