RARE, ORIGINAL DISNEYLAND ATTRACTION MODELS

To commemorate the opening of Disneyland's newly-designed Tomorrowland in 1998, Main Street's Disneyana shop offered finely hand-crafted models of Tomorrowland ride vehicles.  One of these was an Autopia car of the style in use from 1967-2000.  Disneyland customers could special order these hand-made replicas for later delivery.  In effect, custom-built miniature replicas.  Unfortunately, the project collapsed under it's own good intentions.  The detailed, high-quality models proved difficult to produce, delicate to ship, and the hand-made-to-order system allowed for little, if any profit.  Even as Disneyland guests ooh-ed and aaah-ed over the fine models, Disney closed down the project, with very few models ever being shipped.

Here I am proud to present two types of the Autopia model from this unique Disneyland sales event.  The models below fall into one of the following categories:
A)  The one-of-a-kind prototype, used by Disneyland in the conceptual phase of the project.  This car was never sold or placed on display, but was used internally by Disneyland during the planning of the merchandise event.  Again, this prototype was never sold to the public, and it is the only one of its kind, in which paint, construction materials, and details are unique to the prototype;
B) The one-of-a-kind, actual, original display model that was exhibited in Disneyland's Disneyana Shop.  This display model was never sold, and varies slightly in appearance from the production models which were shipped to customers- so it is a rare and unique piece, the only of it's kind.  If you saw the Autopia car model on display under glass at Disneyland, this is the very same, actual model you saw, and;
Because of special packaging requirements, shipping is $14.95 on each piece.

This prototype car measures 8.5" long, but is extremely light because of the foam construction.  Note the small dent to the left rear corner.  Metal is used for the bar across the hood and the front and back bumpers.  Black dashboard and headrest padding is authentically detailed.  This is the only Autopia model that has no interior floor detailing; the display model (immediately below) has pedals, while the final production version (far below) has a floor mat.  This rare car was never displayed or sold- it was used only in meetings with Disneyland and Imagineering during the planning phase of the sales event.  Autopia car prototype, Item # 1671, $399
Because of special packaging requirements, shipping is $14.95.
About $85/month with Free Lay-Away!

Click Any Image For A Larger View
The model above is the one-of-a-kind, actual, original display model that was exhibited in Disneyland's Disneyana Shop.  This display model was never sold, and varies in appearance from the production models which were shipped to customers- so it is a rare and unique piece, the only of it's kind.  This is the only model that featured gas and brake pedals.  The prototype had no floor detail, and the final models shipped to customers featured a floor mat instead of pedals.  It should also be noted that the real Autopia cars did not have brake pedal- releasing the gas applied the brakes automatically.  Also note the incorrect steering wheel- the actual vehicles featured a wheel padded for safety, and this was corrected on the production version.  Another quirk of this display model is that the seat does not feature any representation of the black non-skid seats of the full-size cars.  Although not pictured, this display model includes a simple wood base.  Note the paint defect on the hood;  splits in the paint allowed the paint to discolor.  The car measures 8.5" long, is made of solid resin, and weighs about 1.5 pounds.  If you saw the Autopia car model on display under glass at Disneyland, this is the very same, actual model you saw.  A rare, one of a kind piece.  Item # 1670, $399
Because of special packaging requirements, shipping is $14.95.
About $85/month with Free Lay-Away!

Disney Imagineering License Plate Holder
Click any image for a better view
Normally you can only purchase this car license plate frame in the Imagineering store- open only to Imagineers and their staff.  But we like spreading the pixie dust here at phil-sears.com, so now you too can add Imagineering magic to your favorite set of wheels.  Plastic. 
 Item # 2514, $19.95