Bandai 1/16 1910 M-40 Flyabout Thomas Flyer, 0504275

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Bandai 1/16 1910 M-40 Flyabout Thomas Flyer, 0504275 plastic model kit

1/16 0504275 Bandai 1910 M-40 Flyabout Thomas Flyer

Plastic Model Kit,   Box Condition: VG++

1985 issue. Rare Bandai issue of this highly detailed, large-scale kit of the famous winner of the 1908 New York to Paris Race. The kit is molded in green, white, black, wood brown, very dark gray, brass plated, clear and with real rubber tires. The kit features a highly detailed engine with real valve springs, full ignition harnesses, complete rolling chassis just like the real car, working steering with metal shafts, opening doors, removable hood, tape and belts for holding the spare tires and more. The kit has never been started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes instructions. Originally, the Thomas Motor Company was building bicycles in the 1890s as so may other automakers did. Erwin Ross Thomas, the founder, was experimenting with high speed gasoline engines. From 1898 to 1900 they built commercial engines and gasoline powered tricycles. Then Thomas moved to motorcycles, creating the "Auto-Bi", which was the first practical motorcycle commercially built in the USA. By 1902 he was the largest manufacture of motorcycles. Very shortly after this, the first Thomas Car, the "Buffalo Junior" was produced and 100 sold the first year. The Thomas was originally an advanced car and well known for it's high speed. In 1906, E.R. Thomas entered his cars in the Vanderbilt Cup and Glidden Trophy. The Thomas completed the 2000 mile tour without any mechanical adjustments. That year saw further race victories. In 1907 Thomas had several models with a new four cylinder engine; the G70 from that year was known as the fastest production car in the world. At this time, Rolls-Royce made some public statements about the superiority of the 6 cylinder engine. This caused E.R. Thomas to challenge Rolls Royce to a race from NY to Chicago - Rolls Royce, however, backed out. But four European manufacturers took Thomas up on his challenge, and the Paris newspaper Le Matin sponsored the great event for 1908. This race laid a course from Buffalo, NY to San Francisco, then to Alaska down the Yukon across the Bering Strait on ice, then rerouted to Japan due the thaw, to Siberia and then across Europe to Paris. The Thomas entry was a stock Touring car with George Schuster as the driver. After 169 days and 21,000 miles, the Thomas was the winner. Today it is still considered one of the greatest automobile races ever.

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