1:43 Velorex 16/350 (1966) - Hnědá/Černá/Vínová

Abrex 1:43 Velorex 16/350, 1966

A collector model in 1:43 scale from the Czech brand Abrex. It is not a kit: the model comes finished, assembled and painted, so all you need to do is take it out of the box and stand it in a display case. The finish matches the car of 1966 in a combination of brown, black and maroon. 1:43 is the most widespread scale for collector cars, so the model will fit into an ordinary collection. Next to models of passenger cars, the little three-wheeler looks unmistakable, and it tends to be the piece a visitor stops at in the case.

The real subject

The Velorex 16/350 was a Czechoslovak three-wheeler with a tube frame covered in leatherette, built in Hradec Kralove. A two-stroke motorcycle engine provided the drive, and the vehicle came about originally as transport for disabled drivers, though later it was sold to ordinary customers as well. Its unmistakable outline and its film roles turned it into one of the best-known Czech automotive curiosities.

How to keep the model

• do not wash the model with water; dust can simply be blown off or swept away with a soft brush
• avoid direct sunlight, as the paint and the covering on the model will fade in time
• hold the model by the chassis when handling it, not by the mirrors and the frames
• keep the original box; with collector models it adds to the value
• stand the model on a level surface, as a three-wheeler has its center of gravity distributed differently from a four-wheeled car

The model is meant for collecting and display, not for play. The small parts and the 1:43 scale make it an object for a display case, not a toy for the youngest children.