Fun with Diecast: E9 Rat Rod

[Minivansomeren]

Back when I was younger, before I had real money to spend on real cars, I collected 1:18 Diecast models. I had one collection of the fastest production cars (surprisingly difficult to define) and another of BMW race cars. I spent some time disassembling the models adding details, even repainting a couple.

I remember seeing somebody make a rat rod out of an 2002 and thinking it was both sacrilegious and interesting. I also wondered how it would look as an E9, which even back then was one of my favorite cars. Then I started dreaming and imagined a project to tie in BMW’s origin story as the maker of WW1 fighter engines. Here were my inspirations:

So more than 10 years ago I bought a Minichamps CSL model and started cutting it apart. I made some progress but then got busy with family and career and racing real cars. And the project sat in my closet for a decade.

Then I bought an E9 and remembered the project I had started. The fact that it has taken over a month to get my new (old) car transported gave me some time to finish the project. I maybe let a couple things slide rather than making it 100% perfect, but the point of rat rods is that they are rough, and I’m happy with the results:

 

[Honolulu]

Oh the horror!

 

[Minivansomeren]

Hahaha well I did it to a Diecast (and a broken one at that) so nobody has to do it in real life.

I’m definitely not a hot rodder but I do love the profile with a chopped roof…

Also here is the rest of the BMW collection. This might be more in line with the purists here:

 

[Honolulu]

I have an M1 model somewhere that I've never assembled but I see you have one.

 

[rsporsche]

Hahaha well I did it to a Diecast (and a broken one at that) so nobody has to do it in real life.

I’m definitely not a hot rodder but I do love the profile with a chopped roof…

Also here is the rest of the BMW collection. This might be more in line with the purists here:

View attachment 207598

well, you made points with our friend @BMW Pete since he owns the real #25 race car ...

 

[vince]

Love it! Nice collection. I have a ton of diecast cars. Reminds me of one I put together. When we first got married and before our kids, I bought a 1969 Camaro RS convertible that a friend of my uncle's ordered new. I wanted a miniature version for my desk but at the time only coupe versions of 69 Camaros were available and none of those were available in Fathom Green. So I bought red coupe, took it apart, cut the top off, and painted the whole thing dark metallic green (as close as I could get the Fathom). It turned out alright. A year or two later, they came out with a convertible, RS/SS, in the correct color.

 

[mkekiddoc]

What an awesome collection! I would love to come across another example of that Peterson/Redman CSL #25!!

....And yes, that rat rod E9 is just plain cool. Well done!