I'll cut to the chase. I was looking forward to this replica, but it is disappointing in several ways. First, the roof sits too low over the windscreen and makes it look narrower than the original (which I have). Second, the overriders are not as 'contoured' or as thin as on the original model, and have a clunky, blocky appearance to them. Third, the tyre slashers do not extend anywhere near as far as on the '68 model and do not seem to have any grip. When I pull them out, if I turn the car slightly on either of its sides, they slide back into the wheel axles. Fourth, the slot for the bulletproof shield isn't as tight as the original, and the shield sits too high when pushed down. Fifth, the vertical piece of plastic partially behind Bond's chair is not high enough to prevent the hatch hitting the back of the roof, increasing the risk of the hatch paint becoming chipped on repeated impact. Sixth, the hatch does not eject with the same power as the original, resulting in the passenger barely clearing the roof. (In the '60s model, the passenger ejected a few feet across the carpet.) Next, the outlines near top of the air vent on the bonnet have an inward curve to them that wasn't present on the original. The low rear wheel arches have already been mentioned by other reviewers, but I wouldn't have minded so much had the front arches been similarly modified, as, let's face it, there was too much space between the top of the arches and the wheels on the original toy, which revealed too much of the internal mechanisms. One improvement is the removal of the casting lines, and the box is very nice, though why has Bond only got three fingers? (Yes, I know the original was the same.) This model clearly needs further work to improve it as it's a poor second to the '68 incarnation. Having said that, it's still better by far than the mid-'90s magazine mail-order reissue and the one from 2014. The '90s version was an abomination due to the outline of the doors not being finished and the contours of the air vent disappearing halfway up the bonnet. The outline at top of the bonnet was straight instead of curved and had an angle to it on one side, giving it a squint. The one from 2014 (50th Anniversary) also suffered from the latter flaw and should never have been released like that. Anyway, I have included photos (not the best quality) to highlight the differences between the latest release and the '68 version
Despite being a Mercedes is a beautiful and detailed model of Corgi Club. (Great colour)
Excellent just as ordered and how I remember it