23 January 2020
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Autocult MG Mini M-Type - Light Green
PRICE: £93.99
REF: ATC 02020
REF: 1/43
Badge engineering was nothing new within the BMC Group back in the day, so it comes as no surprise that there could have been Mini that would one day wear the sporty MG logo.
The M-Type featured Cooper mechanicals under the restyled bonnet with uprated brakes to cope with the extra power. The front end received that of the Riley Elf with that all-important octagonal badge front, top and centre on that distinctive grille.
Painted in BMC Almond Green and finished with a black vinyl roof that also features a full-length Webasto sliding sunroof, this wonderful creation is finished off at the rear with twin Cooper-style fuel tanks on either side with suitably stylish MG and M-Type badging on the boot lid.
AutoCult has already earnt an impressive reputation for being the masters at modelling one off and rare prototype vehicles at both 1/18 and 1/43 scales in resin and the craftsmanship is a real joy to behold, always finished flawlessly and with great attention to detail - and that's quite a boast, in the very best way of course.
The finesse to the Riley-like grille is sublime and the proportions are perfect. The only two gripes I have, and I say this as a real Mini enthusiast, is that the external door hinges are too thick and the rear window top edge is a bit too curved. These little foibles aside, it is a truly wonderful model and one I would happily have in my extensive collection of Mini models at various scales.