CMC M-231 Porsche 904 review: remarkable access, demanding small fittings
CMC’s Monte Carlo Porsche 904 combines an intricate rear cover with visible wheel screws, delicate locks and a front hood that needs attention.
At a Glance
Model essentials
- 1:18 number 150 Monte Carlo edition
- Compound-motion rear cover
- Sliding side windows
- Removable wheels
Collection highlights
- Engine access is unusually engaging
- Rally-specific fittings distinguish this edition
- Cabin and wheel details reward close inspection
Before you choose
- Wheel-center screws remain visible in rally form
- Front hood does not stay raised unaided
- Plate details draw source criticism
Available from Diecast Models Wholesale
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The rear cover is the main event on CMC’s Monte Carlo 904. Its movement travels back and upward to reveal the engine and rear structure, rather than simply hinging like a small trunk lid. That rewards a collector who wants to understand the miniature’s mechanism as well as admire the finished car.
Access comes with small-scale compromises
| Area | Useful detail | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Rear cover | Complex opening motion and exposed engine detail | Tiny locks require deliberate handling. |
| Front compartment | Tank and strapped spare wheel | The inspected front hood does not remain open by itself. |
| Wheels | Removable wheels and supplied hubcaps | Visible cross-head screws interrupt the uncovered rally appearance. |
The number-150 inspection identifies Monte-specific lamps, an extra wiper and a rear spoiler. It also criticizes the license-plate typography and front inspection sticker. Those small historical details matter more on a close-up rally display than on a distant shelf.
Covering the wheel centers with the included hubcaps hides the screws, but changes the rally presentation described by the source. Treat that as a display compromise, not a correction that improves every aspect at once.
Collectors choosing between a moving cover and strap-secured access can compare the 904 and green GTO handling tradeoffs.
Pros & Cons Analysis
See the source attributions and review limitations below.
Pros
- The rear cover reveals engine, transmission and suspension detail together, giving the opening movement a purpose beyond novelty.
- Additional lamps, wiper and spoiler make the Monte Carlo model more specific than a generic silver 904.
- Sliding windows and removable wheels offer different ways to inspect small details, provided the supplied instructions and tools are used.
Cons
- Hubcaps can conceal the cross-head centers, but the inspection states that they do not match the rally configuration.
- The front hood’s tendency not to remain open complicates an unattended all-open display.
- The source questions lettering weight and the front plate’s inspection sticker; a close historical recreation should retain those reservations.
Make the rear mechanism the centerpiece
M-231 is compelling when the cover motion and exposed rear assembly are central to the purchase. It is less convincing as a flawless, effortless rally miniature: the wheel centers, plate details and front-hood behavior remain real compromises. Patient inspection suits it better than frequent casual handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are alternative exhaust systems included?
The inspection describes the Monte Carlo model with the Sebring exhaust. Other compatible exhaust assemblies were separate accessories, not a set supplied with this model. Check the current offer before assuming an additional system is included.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | CMC |
|---|---|
| Product code | M-231 |
| Subject | Porsche 904 Carrera GTS |
| Edition / version | 1965 Monte Carlo number 150 |
| Color / livery | Silver with rally markings |
| Scale | 1:18 |
| Model type | Model car |
| Materials | Diecast metal with other materials |
| Length | 9.5 in |
| Width | 4 in |
| Height | 2.75 in |
| Measurement basis | Approximate merchant catalog model dimensions; pose unspecified |
| Opening panels | Doors; front hood; rear engine cover; rear luggage hatch |
| Moving parts | Steerable wheels; sliding windows; removable wheels; removable spare; screw-cap fittings |
| Lighting | Unknown |
| Power source | Unknown |
| Included figures | Unknown |
| Included equipment | Hubcaps and wheel-removal tools documented in inspected set; alternative exhausts separate |
| Display base | Unknown |
