Replicarz 1985 Emerson Fittipaldi Michigan 500 Winner Review

[harveythedog2]

This past weekend I purchased a Replicarz 1985 Emmo Michigan 500 winner replica.

The first thing that strikes you is how nice the paint is. Very smooth and glossy. The next thing I noticed was laying in the bottom of the Styrofoam inner box. It appeared to be the shifter and shifter bar. When I got the car home and out of the box it became clear to me that these were the weight jack controls that go on the left side of the cockpit. The area in the cockpit is tight but thought I could fish it inside and re-glue it. But! Closer examination showed me that the lap seat belts were installed upside down and on the wrong side. Pretty sure the lap belt main clasp should be on the right side of the driver. I then decided to see how this thing was put together and see if I could remove the body.

Boom! Only four screw hold the body to the chassis. I removed these and lifted the body straight off. Very nice 1 piece resin cast body! From there I was able to pop the seat out, remove the seat belts and glue them back in right side up and in the proper position. I also re-glued the weight jack controls. Next, I popped off the wheel center caps to reveal the screw holding the front tires on and off they came.

The control arms are also simply glued in to the body and the front spindle and brakes are also held with screws. I moved the control arms back and forth gently and removed them from the body.

All and all the replica is very nice. Just a few quality control things. I have plans to make this car into something else but start to finish taking it apart only took me 20 minutes.

The Replica


The body off showing the broken weight jack and lap belt clasps upside down and on the wrong side.



Corrected Seat Belts and re-installed weight jack controls



Photo of how the hub and spindles are held together.




What's great about how the factory glues the car together is that they use some sort of glue gun glue. With a little coaxing the control arms come off without breaking them and the old glue peels off.

[SWT500]

As any of us who have purchased the Replicarz series, realized quality control is an issue. Many cars have arrived with pieces lying around in the boxes. That said, the folks at Replicarz have been stellar in handling the usually inconvenient return process. No question the Carousel 1 cars were sturdier but thankful to have these latest resin re-creations.

[Gary Davis]

I also have had to return a few cars back to Mark(Replicars). I just talked with him yesterday about the the 31 winner that arrived in pieces. As always...Mark is very gracious and willing to take care of anything that is wrong. I've got another 31 in the mail and hopefully it will arrive in better shape. Mark..Brian and Mary are really GREAT people and good to work with.

[indy]

Interested in seeing this one being converted. When are you going to let us know what it will become? It is staying a March, right? I mean, I could see you converting it to Mario's Lola hahaha

I sent Replicarz a note a while back asking for yellow versions of the 85C, 86C, and PC18 cars in their pipeline.

Jordan

[harveythedog2]

Jan 22, 2019 14:55:42 GMT -5 indy said:

Interested in seeing this one being converted. When are you going to let us know what it will become? It is staying a March, right? I mean, I could see you converting it to Mario's Lola hahaha

I sent Replicarz a note a while back asking for yellow versions of the 85C, 86C, and PC18 cars in their pipeline.

Jordan

By yellow versions I imagine you mean Penske! The Mears car is coming for sure in the 85C and I imagine the 86C will too at some point. Big Al's 87 winner is an 86C I think so that will be coming too.

Still on the fence on what I am turning the Emmo into. No, it will stay a March. LOL

Stu

[indycals]

The Mears 85 Pocono 500 winner is coming as is one other un announced yellow car.

[AJ]

how easy do the wheels come off?

[harveythedog2]

Jan 23, 2019 12:43:29 GMT -5 AJ said:

how easy do the wheels come off?

Easy. My finger nail removed the center cap. Underneath is a screw. All four wheels have center caps. In the past with diecast cars the center cap was part of the wheel and the wheels attached with a metal axle. Not so on these cars. Each wheel center cap comes off and a single screw holds the wheel on making very easy. Unless you don't have a small Phillips head screw driver! LOL

[loranjr]

I agree that Mark and everyone at Replicarz are great to work with. I too have had some arrive with loose parts. They did just announce that they are doing Mear's and Big Al's yellow Indy winners in 1:18. Stu I am so glad to watch you do your magic with this car as I too want to convert one. I am a huge Pancho Carter fan and would love to do his 85 Pole winning Buick if I could get someone to do the decals for me. Michael are you listening?

[INDY22IAM]

I just thought I would chime in here and say that I have never had an issue getting my cars all in one piece from Replicarz. I know you are not lashing out at them but I just thought I would share my experience as well. I am truly grateful for Mark doing what he is doing, my checkbook not as much but his cars and the people he consults with are spot on. Thank you to all who help out with his cars they are very nicely done and look really good. Only if we could get him to do a buy 5 get the 6th one free kind of thing. Also looking forward to see what you do with this Emmerson winning car.
One question how are you going to strip the paint off a resin body? and how fragile is a resin body?

[harveythedog2]

Feb 4, 2019 8:36:23 GMT -5 INDY22IAM said:

I just thought I would chime in here and say that I have never had an issue getting my cars all in one piece from Replicarz. I know you are not lashing out at them but I just thought I would share my experience as well. I am truly grateful for Mark doing what he is doing, my checkbook not as much but his cars and the people he consults with are spot on. Thank you to all who help out with his cars they are very nicely done and look really good. Only if we could get him to do a buy 5 get the 6th one free kind of thing. Also looking forward to see what you do with this Emmerson winning car.
One question how are you going to strip the paint off a resin body? and how fragile is a resin body?

The paint will not strip off. I don't dare use anything like Zip Strip as it will eat the body. I tried using Testors Easy Lift Off but it had zero effect. I removed all the Tampo decals with "Goof Off" then I wet sand the body all over. The resin itself is strong and handles well. I wouldn't advise dropping it but it's strong enough to sand on. Once wet sanded I prime over the sanded body and repaint.

Below is the result. A one of a kind 85 AJ Foyt March.

[Gary Davis]

Man STU...that looks GREAT! Thank you for the striping info too!

[harveythedog2]

Decals by INDYCALS! Thanks Michael.

[indy]

That looks great, Stu. Seeing as you are on Team Mario, I guess this one is on the way to a new home? LOL

Jordan