REVIEW: ACME 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 • DiecastSociety.com

REVIEW: ACME 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30

Words and photos courtesy of Wes Shakirov / StratosWRC

 

ACME recently announced the revival of GMP replicas much to the joy of diecast muscle car enthusiasts . The long sold out pieces command serious money on the second hand market, so it will feel nice to own them once more without paying an arm and a leg. Here we have one of their recent releases, the utterly gorgeous Oldsmobile 442, painted in a lovely shade of metallic green, with a white interior.

My first criticism (and hopefully the last) was that the model had a bit too much wiggle room in the box for my liking. It freely rolled back and forth in its styrofoam shell, but thankfully there was no damage. Tough and heavy, then? Check.

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The paint is just outstanding, though the rather large door shutlines spoil the show somewhat. Then again, old American cars were not known for their tight shutlines either, so it’s probably more accurate this way. The rear spoiler has some uneven paint on the edges, and the chrome has black marks here and there. The lights look well enough done, though that front grill isn’t perforated. As far as flaws go, that is about it. The rest of the model is just spot on.

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The interior looks very nice in white and sports folding seats and windshield visors, and fabric seatbelts with photo-etched buckles. It is carpeted as well. I’m not sure if the rear-view mirror is supposed to be at an angle like that, but I’ll leave that to the experts to judge. The door cards were also given due attention, and have lights, window winders, armrests, simulated wood grain, and so on. They even have two little printed “plaques” with VIN and serial numbers, like on the real thing.

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Moving on to the trunk reveals a linoleum-lined compartment with a spare tire, some kind of tool, and a serial number plaque, which I thought was a great touch. Peeking underneath the trunk lid you’ll find a few more printed “plaques” with some other vehicle information or disclaimers. On the opposite side, the engine is extremely well done, with all the plumbing and wiring faithfully reproduced, and a couple more of those disclaimer plaques.

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Turning the car over, we find a detailed underbody with a beautifully functioning suspension. The tires, when pushed, go up and down the travel range very smoothly, especially at the rear. There are fuel lines running along almost the entire length of the underbody, which looks awesome, but the exhaust tips aren’t hollow. The tires are real rubber, with correct markings and chrome rims.

If this is a taste of what’s to come, then I am extremely excited. These are high quality, affordable, exquisite, limited edition pieces that belong in the collection of anyone who is remotely interested in muscle cars. Nowadays, the feeling of paying a lot more for models than you feel they’re worth is all too common, and ACME is a real breath of fresh air. This piece cost around $150 shipped and it’s worth every penny. So show them some support. I know I will!

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3 Responses to "REVIEW: ACME 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30"

  1. DS Team says:

    Nice review Wes. The tool in the truck is actually an old school jacket. I remember it vaguely from my Dad’s 70’s car, which I forget the name. It was a Ford though :)

  2. Wes says:

    Good to know! I figured it was something like that but didn’t want to make a stupid guess lol

  3. Shambles says:

    Yes, back then cars came with a bumper jack. In addition to what’s shown in the trunk of this model, there would have been a flat base piece, and a tire iron for removing the wheel covers and lug nuts. I used these enough times to know how dangerous they were!

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