1:18 Scale GMP 8009 1983 Molly Buick Grand National Prototype

The Lithograph Box says:

Molly 1983 Red Prototype Grand National Diecast / LithoGraph Set

Artwork Painted And Signed Personally By Molly

(a picture of the diecast car appears on the left side under the above, with the statement below that follows)

This artwork was painted by Rollin “Molly” Sanders personally. After all 300 lithographs of the original were printed, he then personally signed each one. The lithograph contained in this protective box has been matched to the GMP diecast Molly 1983 red prototype Grand National of the same serial number and is intended to be kept together with the diecast car as a set.

Epitome Exclusives Limited Production Guarantee

It is Epitome Exclusives strict policy to destroy all production plates and extra copies of limited edition lithographs made during production. Other than the production number stated, only a few first run copies and unnumbered extras for replacement will exist. Epitome Exclusives lithographs are museum quality artwork that will never again be produced in any size, shape or form.

(The Epitome “e” logo was placed under that statement)

(To the right of the above statement, showed a picture of the lithograph, with the statement:)

LIMITED EDITION OF 300

(below it, followed by the actual limited edition car number printed underneath that)

The Inner Box says:

1983 Molly / Buick Grand National Prototype

In 1982, Herb Fishel of Buick Special Products approached Rollin “Molly” Sanders of Molly Designs about taking the 1982 Grand National to a new design level. Herb wanted to capitalize on the success Buick was having with their Regal body on the NASCAR circuit, so he asked Molly to create a sportier Grand National that would appeal to a younger, more national audience. Molly had already created the infamous “Turbo 6″ logo and Grand National checkered flag emblems. So, in late 1982, a 1983 model Regal was shipped to California to be transformed by the free reign of Molly magic. With his cutting edge California design experience, Molly lowered the Regal, draped it in hot red paint and blacked out anything that could be. The 8” NASCAR wheels were donated by Junior Johnson and the emblems were repositioned. The car took 5 weeks of tireless work to complete. Finally, with the finished car back in Michigan, Buick executives Lloyd Reuss, Jack Duffy and Joe Adams were thrilled by Molly’s Red Grand National Prototype during a patented Herb Fishel presentation. So thrilled in fact, Molly and Herb were asked to stay in Michigan so that other GM executives could also be shown the presentation. Yes, the paint was ultimately changed to black because red was considered more of a Pontiac color and yes, the wheels were ultimately changed to steel and chrome. But the direction of the Buick Grand National’s compass was changed that day, when Buick executives saw the fiery potential of their currently more subtle Grand National. Without Rollin “Molly” Sanders and his 1983 Red Grand National Prototype, the 1984-1987 Grand National may have never had the look that so many Buick enthusiasts enjoy today.

The Lithograph says:

Rollin “Molly” Sanders Reflects On The Development Of His Red 1983 Buick Grand National Prototype

Three hours after arriving from California, the 5:00 AM hotel wake-up call brought me upright. Herb Fishel, of Buick Special Products, met me down stairs and off we went to meet Junior Johnson, the NASCAR legend from Rhonda, NC. Today I was going to get a quick education on what a Grand National stock car was. It was still dark when we arrived at Junior’s house, where we were treated to one of Flossie’s (Junior’s wife) famous Southern-style mega-breakfasts. After eating, we headed out back to the race shop to look at Junior’s Buick Regal racecars. An hour later Junior was putting our rental car to the test. with Herb riding shotgun and me in the back seat trying to pay attention, as we sped down one of those two lane roads in the North Carolina mountains. We were now on on way to Banjo Mathews’ tube chassis shop. Junior pointed out many small country churches with adjoining graveyards where he would meet the “boys” in the middle of the night, pick up the “shine”, and begin another high speed “delivery”, sometimes with red lights and sirens fading behind him in the background. I will never forget that day! Eight weeks later, the GN was to become the antithesis of Buick’s renowned two-tones with squeaky wire wheel covers. To make it look like a Grand National race car meant too many decals, so I went for the monochromatic Euro theme with a “frenched-in” grill, lowered suspension, a special interior, and a set of Norris Nascar wheels Junior had sent me… and the bright red paint was actually a Buick color from the seventies!