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Taxi Caprice (JL vs. Welly vs Maisto)
Topic Started: Jul 10 2012, 11:03 PM (2,525 Views)
craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

The Chevy Caprice in it's last full generation cycle of production cars sold in the United States offered a full frame, V-8 powered cruiser suitable for taxi and police service. New sheet metal debuted in the 1991 Chevy Caprice though it rode on a frame whose design originalted for the 1977 model year. Engine options initially offered were the 4.7 and 5.0 V-8s. For 1994 and 1995, the 5.7 350 cubic inch V-8 from the Corvette was offered in detuned form of 260 horsepower.

My review will focus on three versions of fourth generation Caprice. The Johnny Lightning is a '95 model while the Welly and Maisto depict the pre '93 model sedans which feature fender skirts.


From left to right, JL, Welly in off yellow and to the far right is the Maisto.
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Front end detail award goes to the JL which features painted headlights/grill. The Welly in the middle seems to have lost the detail of the grill though I think that might be accredited to thick paint and a worn mold as I have other versions of the same casting with excellent grill detail.
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Rear detail again goes to the JL for best effort. The Welly in my mind looks better than the Maisto effort on the far right. I've never figured out what IMLB stands for on the Maisto either.
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Side profiles
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In review, with an unofficial scoring system, i'd rank the JL as #1 followed by Welly and Maisto. The ride height on the Welly seems a bit high but than can be accredited to the larger wheels used compared to the Maisto. In a sense, we'd expect the JL to win as it cost around $3 at the time it was new compared to the sub $1 cost of the value toys made by Maisto and Welly.

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NoirGuru
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The All Original Gentleman
Great comparison.

I'm on the hunt for a replacement Maisto one ever since I lost mine.

I have the JL one, and it is easily a favorite.

IMLB, I thought it was the taxi unit number, as some other depictions of cabs use their cab number (driver number) on their signs.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
Change the B to an 8.

Im L8.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
The JL is really stunning compared with the other two. All the small details really pop, seen beside those that do not have such.
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78Gremlin_GT
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The Gremlin Guy
Dean-O-mite
Jul 11 2012, 06:04 AM
Change the B to an 8.

Im L8.
Yes, I'm Late. LOL
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Dean-O-mite
Jul 11 2012, 06:04 AM
Change the B to an 8.

Im L8.
Words you never want to hear a gal pal tell ya if you weren't hoping for that result. :D
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Emptywallet
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Minivan
craftymore
Jul 11 2012, 07:32 PM
Dean-O-mite
Jul 11 2012, 06:04 AM
Change the B to an 8.

Im L8.
Words you never want to hear a gal pal tell ya if you weren't hoping for that result. :D
:huh: :huh: :huh:
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JeepXJLover
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Minivan
The JL has the front, back details and the overall quality, buy I sure do like the checker motif down the sides of the others.

The JL had been a grail of mine for a long time, but thanks to Wed I now have it. Great comparisons, but when it comes to cabs JL always does an excellent job.
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
JeepXJLover
Jul 13 2012, 02:19 PM
The JL has the front, back details and the overall quality, buy I sure do like the checker motif down the sides of the others.

The JL had been a grail of mine for a long time, but thanks to Wed I now have it. Great comparisons, but when it comes to cabs JL always does an excellent job.
I agree the Checker motive on the Welly and Maisto are great visual. But I agree on the JL as being the nest of the 3, but at 5$ for it and 1$ for the Masto, it pretty well better be. I also need the Welly for my Chevy collection....
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LF171
Subcompact
Thanks for these great comparison shots! I am a sucker for toy cars. While JL has done a great job detailing the vehicle, I'd say the Welly and Maisto versions carry a certain toy-ish charm and at the same time look fairly accurate to the real vehicle. Strangely, I have never seen the Welly casting until I stumbled across this thread, and it looks darn good in these pictures.

I am going to be in the minority and say the Maisto version looks best overall. The detail is decent all around but I especially love how the front grille is done -- it doesn't need an extra dab of silver paint to stand out! Also, the Maisto version seems to be a lot closer to the ground than the other two. Most of the Caprice cabs I come across also have the same issue!

I could be wrong but I remember getting a Maisto twin pack in a nearby Walmart back in the late 90s for about a dollar. One of the twin packs had this yellow Caprice cab and a blue-and-white NYPD cruiser. Oh, those were the days...
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Pegers
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Pony Car
i was watching tv the other night.and there was a report
on the imlb..i am pretty sure it had some thing to do with
batteries.i was not paying close attention to the talking heads.as the tv was only on for noise.
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Harvestman
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Captain Slow
LF171
Jun 11 2013, 08:44 PM
I am going to be in the minority and say the Maisto version looks best overall. The detail is decent all around but I especially love how the front grille is done -- it doesn't need an extra dab of silver paint to stand out! Also, the Maisto version seems to be a lot closer to the ground than the other two. Most of the Caprice cabs I come across also have the same issue!
I agree with you. Specifically, the ride height and the weird windows of the JL casting throw me off.

Plus, the Maisto has an actual working suspension. A real plus in my book!
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mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
I'm actually liking the Welly more than the JL. The JL has a really awkward ride height, as it's kicked up in the rear, and diving down up front.

Nice comparison thread!
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