In both 1/24 and 1/25 scale, we have certainly seen more than our fair share of four door sedan models, in both plastic and die cast metal, depicting various police cars. Chevy Caprices and Impalas, Ford Crown Victorias, downsized Dodge Monacos and Plymouth Furys. Some were dressed as specific city or state police agencies, and a few were plain Jane unmarked - yet still obvious - police cars.

An addition to the police car ranks that was different from those we had long seen, was the full size '74 Monaco by Greenlight, available as a CHP freeway flier, or a NY State Police pursuit, and in some other guises as well.

Until very recently no one offered civilian four door family cars in scale models. Of course the police cars could be painted and built as family cars, but in addition to having to delete spot lights, and bar lights, radios, cages, weapons, and dog dish wheel covers, the cars were usually devoid of chrome trim.

From Argentina, of all places, comes a 1956 Chevrolet, top of the line Bel Air, two tone 4 door sedan. It is available in either red and white, or green and white, and is produced by Salvat.

Also from Salvat is the 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 4 door sedan, in red, and it looks good! Neither of these two models offer any opening features, but interior and exterior details are very well done.

The newest family car to come to our attention is by Greenlight, right here in the good ole USA (what remains of it). The 1980 Chevrolet Caprice is very attractive in white, with wire wheel covers. It features opening front doors to reveal a black interior.

Green light also offers two other four door sedans: a '55 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special, and a '77 Dodge (downsized) Monaco, from the TV series "Hunter"". [These two cars missed the photo shoot]

All of the "family cars" mentioned are labeled as 1/24 scale, but it's obvious that not all measuring devices are created equal. Nonetheless, they are all excellent representations of the actual vehicles they depict, and cost but a fraction of what a Danbury, Franklin, or West Coast Classics model would cost.

-Jim Amado, December 2023

page updated 12/22/2023