Ospitiamo un ulteriore contributo di Fedor Eliseev, la storia del marchio britannico Spa Croft. Al corredo fotografico avrei voluto aggiungere le immagini di alcuni modelli acquistati da St Martin’s a Londra nell’estate del 2009 ma come spesso succede non trovo né le immagini né tantomeno i modelli. Pazienza e buona lettura! [David Tarallo]
di Fedor Eliseev
The name Spa Croft represents hand-built white-metal models of classic British cars, produced to the highest standards of quality and detail. Nowadays these miniatures are extremely rare and expensive, but if you manage to acquire them, you will never regret it. This article is an attempt to introduce readers to this absolutely spectacular range and its founder and proprietor, Mike Coupe.
For Mike Coupe, collecting models began in the late 1940s when he was six years old. After receiving his first model, a Buick Viceroy by Dinky Toys, Mike became very interested in scale model cars. He managed to acquire most of the models from Dinky Toys’ 40 Series and was very pleased when the first Corgi models were introduced in 1956. Like many children, Mike played with his Dinky and Corgi models, although not many of them survived. However, his first Buick Viceroy was preserved and, after a major repair, eventually took its place in his collection.
At the age of 20, Mike became a serious collector who no longer played with models and understood their significance. At that time, Tri-Ang released its absolutely magnificent 1:42-scale Spot-On range. Spot-On models were highly sophisticated even in comparison with Corgi, let alone Dinky and Matchbox. Unfortunately, this superb range remained in production for only a short time, and today the models are extremely rare and expensive.
Without any doubt, Spot-On cars greatly impressed Mike and influenced his collecting hobby. In the mid-1970s, he began collecting white-metal models produced by Western Models, Brooklin, John Day, Motorkits, and others.
Being an avid collector, Mike had another passion: music. He achieved considerable success in this field and became a local mobile DJ. He spent much of his time at the Shoulder of Mutton Inn in the small hamlet of Hardstoft, Derbyshire. To attract new customers, Mike Coupe organised the Hardstoft Swapmeet at the pub in 1983. It proved extremely popular and, after only one season, Mike had earned £300, which he decided to invest in the model business.
In 1984, in his native town of Tibshelf, he established Brock Miniatures and became a Brooklin dealer.
Brock Miniatures offered its customers a very high level of service and earned a reputation as a responsible and reliable model retailer. Through his work with Brooklin Models, Mike became acquainted with John Hall. To promote Brock Miniatures, he decided to commission a special refinished Brooklin model for his store. In 1990, Mike commissioned Mick Cooling to modify and detail the standard BRK 23 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria. The model was repainted in a more realistic two-tone colour scheme: blue for the roof and lower body, and Arctic White for the bonnet, upper doors and boot lid. The interior was finished in grey. Door handles, badges, side mouldings and door frames were foiled. The baseplates carried the designation “F/Way No” and the initials “M.C.”. Only 25 models, complete with original certificates and designated as Code 2 models, were produced.
The second half of the 1980s and the early 2000s became the Golden Age of the white-metal industry. New companies were constantly being established, the market was growing, and some major retailers were launching their own model ranges. Stores usually commissioned special models from manufacturers capable of carrying out all production operations, such as Brooklin, SMTS and Western Models. Observing the market, Mike also decided to create his own range of precision white-metal models.
As a subject, he chose classic British cars from the 1930s to the 1960s, which he had seen on the streets during his childhood and youth. Like John Hall, Mike used a geographical name for his brand. The range was named Spa Croft in honour of the street where Mike Coupe was born.
Bringing the Spa Croft project to life was not easy and took considerable time. The first ideas for the range emerged in the late 1980s. In 1991, Mike announced his plans in Model Auto Review magazine through a short notice. He introduced the proposed Spa Croft range and mentioned possible future models, including the 1953 Hillman Californian hardtop and Minx Convertible, the 1952 Ford Zephyr/Zodiac Mk1, the 1948 Rover P3 and the 1956 Morris Isis Mk2.
According to the original plans, production was to begin in 1992, but the first pattern for the Morris Isis Series 2 was not completed until 1994. By that time, Brooklin had launched the Lansdowne Series, while Bernie and Graham du Gros had established Gems & Cobwebs / Milestone Miniatures. Both companies released a wide range of classic British cars and produced several models that Mike had originally planned for Spa Croft. However, these were generally well-known vehicles. For example, the Ford Zephyr Mk1 had already been reproduced by both companies. At the same time, less famous cars that had never been best-sellers had very little chance of being modelled in 1:43 scale in the near future. The Morris Isis Series 2 therefore became an excellent choice for the first Spa Croft model. This car was introduced in 1956 and replaced the Isis Series 1 after only one year of production. It was based on the extended chassis of the Morris Oxford, and the main purpose of the Isis was to compete in the middle-class market segment. The 1956 version was equipped with a six-cylinder 2.6-litre engine producing 90 hp, while an automatic gearbox was available as an option. The gear lever was mounted on the steering column, and the bodies could be finished in two-tone colour schemes. The Isis did not achieve significant commercial success. Between 1955 and 1958, BMC sold approximately 12,000 units.
Mike organised the production process with the utmost care and attention. His goal was to create models that were considerably more sophisticated than those produced by Brooklin and Western Models. They were not intended to compete with those manufacturers but rather to complement their ranges.
To create the models, he gathered extensive information about the prototypes, located real cars for precise measurements, photographed them, and mixed paints to achieve the correct colours. Mike invited Pete Kenna to participate in the project as a pattern maker, and their productive collaboration continued for eight years.
The production process involved CMA Mouldcast, GTA Models, owned by Graham Price, and White Metal Assemblies, owned by Maurice Bozward. These companies carried out the casting operations and manufactured various components. Pete Kenna, his daughter Susan, and Mike Coupe painted and assembled the miniatures. Significant support for the Spa Croft project came from Roger Tennyson, founder and proprietor of Jemini, later Crossway Models. Roger assisted Spa Croft with production, while Mike became one of Crossway’s principal dealers. Some models originally produced for Spa Croft were also offered in police versions under the Crossway brand.
Every Spa Croft model was produced as a limited edition: 200 units in each colour, for a total of 400 units. In addition, 100 units were reserved for special custom editions commissioned by individual customers. Mike never sold his models in kit form; only fully assembled examples were available.
The construction of Spa Croft miniatures featured photo-etched windscreen wipers, separate door handles, chrome trim parts, registration plates and resin headlamp lenses. Rear-view mirrors were supplied separately in a small bag and had to be fitted by the customer. The interiors featured superbly detailed dashboards, seats, steering wheels and even gear levers. The models were packaged in cardboard boxes typical of hand-built miniatures. Each box carried the Spa Croft Models logo and its motto, “Beautiful Models for the Discerning Collector”.
The opening flap also displayed the manufacturer’s name, catalogue number and model designation. Every Spa Croft miniature was accompanied by a certificate containing the catalogue number, model name, limited-edition number, year of production, the Spa Croft road logo and Mike Coupe’s personal signature. Later, an additional card was included, providing a brief history of the real car, technical specifications and Spa Croft Models contact information.
The models became relatively expensive. During the second half of the 1990s, standard versions retailed at £69, while customised versions cost £79. By comparison, a standard Lansdowne model sold for approximately £35, while Western Models products cost between £50 and £55.
By the early 2010s, prices had risen to between £95 and £110.
The first Spa Croft model, the 1956 Morris Isis Series 2, was introduced at the ModeleX Show in 1995. It was available in Turquoise/Swiss Grey and Birch Grey/Damask Red colour schemes. One of the first examples was donated by Mike as a prize for the MAR 100 Jubilee Competition.
With the second project, the Vauxhall FC VX 4/90, Mike hoped to expand the range into the 1960s. Unfortunately, this replica proved to be one of the most difficult projects and its release was postponed. As a result, the next model introduced by Mike, in 1997, was the 1948 Standard Vanguard Phase 1.
Pete Kenna had already produced numerous Vanguard models for both his own company and Minicar 43, but all were based on the facelifted 1952 Phase 1A version. Consequently, the early version produced by Spa Croft successfully filled a significant gap in the market. The model was available with an aerial and finished in two colours: Luminor Green and Champagne.
A special edition painted in British Racing Green and carrying MAR 119 registration plates was donated as a competition prize. Interestingly, Race Scene created a diorama depicting the Mulsanne Corner at Le Mans specifically for this model. Combining the model and the diorama allowed the fortunate winner to imagine 1950s British tourists trying their luck on the famous circuit.
The year 1998 became the most productive in Spa Croft’s history. During that year, two new models were released: the 1964 Vauxhall FC VX 4/90 and the 1950 Austin A70 Hampshire.
The Vauxhall FC VX 4/90 was the sporting variant of the FC Victor and was equipped with a 1.6-litre engine and twin Zenith carburettors. The chassis and transmission were also upgraded compared with the standard Victor. The car was available exclusively as a four-door saloon and featured a four-speed gearbox, separate front seats, a special dashboard and front disc brakes. The styling also received a number of modifications, including distinctive wheel trims, a revised radiator grille, modified rear lights and side body trim.
Unfortunately, sales were not particularly successful, as most customers preferred sporting versions of the Ford Cortina Mk2 and Hillman Hunter. As a result, production of the FC VX 4/90 ended in 1967, while the standard FC Victor was replaced by the FD series.
The 1:43 scale replica of the 1964 Vauxhall FC VX 4/90 produced by Spa Croft had a complicated development history. Mike commissioned Martin Field to create the master pattern and selected CMA Mouldcast, rather than White Metal Assemblies, as the production partner for the project. The experiment proved unsuccessful. Mike was dissatisfied with Martin Field’s pattern and eventually had to ask Pete Kenna to rework it.
As a consequence, the model’s release was delayed until 1998. There was insufficient time and opportunity to redesign the original pattern completely, and Mike has never been particularly proud of this model, preferring not to dwell on the experience. Two versions were produced: Grecian White with Calypso Red Side Flash and Cavalry Brown with Black Side Flash.
For the 1950 Austin A70 Hampshire, Mike Coupe returned to the traditional and proven Spa Croft production formula: patterns by Pete Kenna, castings by White Metal Assemblies and GTA Models, and final assembly under Spa Croft supervision.
As a result, the new model achieved considerable success among collectors. It filled an important gap because Pete Kenna had previously produced the later Austin A70 Hereford in his own range, as well as the smaller Austin A40.
The Austin A70 Hampshire was introduced in 1948 and represented a classic British mid-sized post-war car. It was equipped with a four-cylinder 2.2-litre engine producing 67 hp, featured traditional body-on-frame construction, and used the same Girling hydraulic rear brakes as the Austin A40 Devon. Approximately 35,000 units were produced before the Hampshire was replaced by the revised Hereford model in 1950.
Strictly speaking, the Spa Croft replica represents the 1948 A70 Hampshire saloon, and it is unclear why the promotional material refers to it as a 1950 model. The miniature was also available with an open sunroof. It featured 18 separate plated components and a greater number of photo-etched details, although this inevitably increased the retail price. Ostend Grey and Antrim Blue were selected as the standard colours.
Because the Austin A70 Hampshire had been offered in several body styles that had never been reproduced in 1:43 scale, Mike decided to produce the timber-bodied A70 Countryman estate. Released in 1999, the model featured absolutely spectacular wood-effect bodywork. It was available in Cream and Elfin Green.
For subsequent releases, Spa Croft returned to popular cars of the 1950s. After producing the Morris Isis Series 2, Mike noticed that no manufacturer had yet modelled the 1956 Morris Oxford Series 3 and therefore selected it for production.
This car was extremely common during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It featured attractive styling, a four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine producing 55 hp, and independent torsion-bar front suspension. The semi-automatic “Manumatic” transmission and two-tone paint schemes were available as optional extras. The car later became one of the automotive symbols of India, where it continued production as the Hindustan Ambassador.
Spa Croft released the model in standard editions finished in Black/Swiss Grey and Sage Green/Twilight Grey.
The 1955 Standard Vanguard Phase 3 proved an excellent addition to the range of Phase 1 and Phase 2 Vanguards already produced by Kenna Models. Although the Standard marque is largely forgotten today, during the 1950s it ranked among the ten best-selling automotive brands in Britain.
Introduced in 1955, the Vanguard Phase 3 was an entirely new design and shared virtually nothing with its predecessors apart from its 2.1-litre 68 hp engine. It featured a completely new body, independent front suspension, Lockheed hydraulic brakes on all four wheels, and a three-speed gearbox with column-mounted gearshift. A four-speed floor-shift gearbox was available as an option. There was also a sporting derivative known as the Vanguard Sportsman. Between 1955 and 1958, approximately 37,000 units were produced.
Mike offered the model in Green Cream and Blue/Grey. Spa Croft produced only the standard four-door saloon version.
There were also plans to release the Hillman Minx Californian Hardtop Coupé, but unfortunately this miniature was never produced under the Spa Croft brand. In 2014, Lansdowne released a special edition of the car, catalogue number LDM 107X, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Spa Croft. The body was finished in Embassy Black with a Pippin Red roof. Only 100 examples were commissioned.
The 1955 Standard Vanguard became the final Spa Croft model designed by Pete Kenna.
Pete was increasingly occupied with other projects and, in the early 2000s, Mike decided to introduce some changes to the business. He appointed Ian Pickering as a new pattern maker and turned his attention to cars from the pre-war 1930s.
The first model of this new series, the 1937 Austin 14 hp Goodwood, was introduced in 2002.
This was an excellent replica of a classic mid-sized British saloon of the 1930s. The Austin 14 hp Goodwood was also available as a convertible and had originally been introduced in 1936. Both body styles featured modern all-steel construction rather than the older timber-framed structure and were powered by a 1.7-litre engine producing 39 hp, which was generally considered somewhat underpowered.
In 1937 the car was revised and output increased to 46 hp. It was this later version that Spa Croft reproduced. The model was available in red and green, both versions featuring black wings.
The 1937 Morris 14/6 Series 3 provides another example of a revised version of an existing model. The original Morris Fourteen was introduced in 1936 but, after only thirteen months of production, was replaced by the Series 3. The principal differences included a painted radiator grille, exclusively single-tone paint finishes, and a revised overhead-valve six-cylinder 1.8-litre engine producing 48 hp. Production ceased in 1939.
For the standard editions, Mike selected Grey and Royale Blue. The miniature featured an exceptionally well-modelled bonnet mascot, a characteristic feature of many cars from the 1930s and 1940s. Another interesting feature was the removable sliding roof, which allowed collectors to admire the detailed interior. On the real car, the roof could be slid back on sunny days. Other Spa Croft models, including the Austin Hampshire and Morris 14, incorporated the same feature.
Continuing his focus on 1937, Mike next selected the Vauxhall 25 GL Limousine. Today, the Vauxhall brand is generally associated with Opel-derived models adapted for the British market, but historically Vauxhall vehicles possessed a distinctive identity and considerable charm. One only has to remember such famous models as the Prince Henry. Although General Motors acquired the company in 1926, Vauxhall retained much of its individuality until the mid-1940s.
The Vauxhall Big Six range was introduced in 1934 and was based on the long-wheelbase Cadet chassis. Standard versions carried the BX and BY designations, while the long-wheelbase variant was designated BXL. All were powered by six-cylinder engines and featured the interesting “Pedomatic” starting system. To start the engine, the driver merely pressed the accelerator, after which a vacuum-operated mechanism automatically disengaged the starter motor.
In 1937, the range was replaced by the GY and GL series, rated at 25 taxable horsepower. These cars featured independent front suspension, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a more powerful 3.2-litre engine. The Pedomatic system was discontinued in 1938. The GY/GL series became the last chassis designed entirely by Vauxhall before later models increasingly adopted General Motors engineering.
Spa Croft chose to reproduce the most luxurious version, the GL 25 Limousine Grosvenor. The interior detailing was so realistic that the model successfully conveyed the atmosphere and craftsmanship of the full-sized car. The detachable roof, designed as a separate component, provided an excellent opportunity to admire the interior. Exterior detailing was equally impressive, with the chromed headlamp housings being particularly spectacular. Standard colour schemes were Maroon/Black and Grey/Black.
While producing his magnificent models, Mike never neglected the retail side of his business. Brock Miniatures continued to develop into one of the leading dealers for Brooklin and Lansdowne models and also expanded into the distribution of Western Models, Crossway Models, Pathfinder, Kenna Models, J&M Classics and others. He also handled sales of Auto Torque models by Max Kernick. Although the Brock Miniatures name remained in use, Spa Croft became the better-known brand and gradually became Mike’s primary identity within the hobby.
As a dealer for several manufacturers, Mike also began modifying Lansdowne models by adding separate door handles, more realistic headlights, additional interior and exterior detailing, and alternative colour schemes.
In the mid-2000s, Spa Croft introduced the Le Noir Car Series, consisting of models finished entirely in black. Only 50 examples of each model were produced, and they were priced approximately 10–15% higher than the standard editions.
After a three-year break, Spa Croft introduced a new model in 2006: the 1956 Humber Super Snipe Mk4. With this release, the company returned to the post-war period. Like several previous Spa Croft subjects, this was a revised version of an earlier design, as the original Super Snipe Mk4 had been introduced in 1952.
The car featured a modern pontoon-style body and became famous following the Oslo–Lisbon endurance run of December 1952. Stirling Moss and Ledley Johnson completed the journey in just 90 hours, demonstrating the outstanding reliability of the model. Spa Croft reproduced luxury versions finished in two-tone combinations of Forest Green/Tylorean Green and Pearl Grey/Mayfair Grey.
The 1935–1937 Wolseley Big Six 25 hp Series 2 became the first Spa Croft model to be offered in every colour listed in the manufacturer’s original catalogue. Models were available in both two-tone and three-tone colour schemes.
The original vehicle had been introduced in 1935 and shared many components with Morris products, as Wolseley was already part of the Morris organisation by that time. Mike’s miniature represented the long-wheelbase and most powerful version of the Big Six range. Although Series 2 was replaced by Series 3 in 1937, Spa Croft chose to reproduce the earlier variant.
Following the Second World War, most automotive manufacturers lacked the resources to develop entirely new models immediately and therefore continued producing updated versions of pre-war designs. The 1945 Humber Pullman, selected by Mike for his next release, was naturally one such vehicle.
The first Pullman appeared in Humber’s range in 1932 as a long-wheelbase derivative of the Super Snipe. Pullman Mk1 was introduced in 1936 and remained in production until 1940. Manufacturing resumed in 1945, and three years later the Pullman Mk2 was introduced.
This luxury automobile was powered by a six-cylinder 4-litre engine producing 100 hp. Bodies were supplied by Thrupp & Maberly for the limousine and landaulette versions and by H.J. Mulliner for the Sedanca de Ville. For the standard editions, Mike selected Pale Bronze and Green/Black. Very limited editions were also produced in Black/Blue, together with the special Marshall’s Wedding Car version. Naturally, 50 examples of the black Le Noir edition were also available.
Mike had intended to introduce the 1936 Morris 25 Special Coupé. This was an exceptionally stylish and rare automobile, of which only a single surviving example is believed to exist. Ian Pickering completed the master pattern by the end of 2012. Unfortunately, full production never commenced.
In 2017, Mike painted and assembled just five pre-production examples in black and subsequently decided to end Spa Croft model production. The reasons included both his age and changing market conditions. By the mid-2010s, many white-metal manufacturers had disappeared, while resin brands produced in China – such as Matrix, Neo, GLM and Spark – had become dominant.
Mike therefore began selling these brands through his business, recognising that under the new market conditions it would be extremely difficult to continue developing an original white-metal range.
In 2020, Mike Coupe refinished several examples of the Lansdowne LDM 124 1954 Ford Consul Mk1 (photo below). These became his final production models. They were not intended for sale but were created for his own collection and painted in all the standard colours originally offered by the Ford Motor Company for the Consul Mk1.
Mike Coupe still collects models, sells a variety of brands through his business, and writes articles for Diecast Collector magazine. He is also active in Facebook groups, where he regularly presents new releases from leading resin-model manufacturers.
I wish Mike all the very best for the future and would like to thank him for his excellent models and his significant contribution to the white-metal model industry. Many thanks to Mike Coupe, Pete Kenna, Nick Richardson and William Roe for their assistance in the preparation of this article. Many thanks also to RM Toys and to everyone who shared photographs.
| SPC 1 | 1956 Morris Isis series 2 | 1995 |
| SPC 2 | 1964 Vauxhall FC VX 4/90 | 1998 |
| SPC 3 | 1950 Austin A 70 Hampshire | 1998 |
| SPC 4 | 1948 Standard Vanguard phase 1 | 1997 |
| SPC 5 | 1948 Austin Hampshire Countryman | 1999 |
| SPC 6 | 1957 Morris Oxford series 3 | 2000 |
| SPC 7 | 1955 Standard Vanguard phase 3 | 2001 |
| SPC 8 | doesn’t exist | |
| SPC 9 | 1937 Austin 14hp Goodwood | 2002 |
| SPC 10 | 1937 Morris 14/6 series 3 | 2003 |
| SPC 11 | 1937 Vauxhall 25 GL Limousine | 2003 |
| SPC 12 | 1956 Humber Super Snipe mk4 | 2006 |
| SPC 13 | 1935-37 Wolseley Super Six 25 | 2008 |
| SPC 14 | 1945 Humber Pullman mk1 | 2010 |
| SPC 15 | 1936 Morris 25 Coupé | test samples 2017 |
PITLANEITALIA 