What makes me interested in this diecast is the story of the real car Iconic custom car built by Sam and George Barris in 50's If you see logo in fender, that's the Barris Custom logo Named for the car's original owner, Bob Hirohata of Los Angeles, California many custom parts from other cars in this Hirohata Merc Hirohata sold the car after a few years. Under new ownership, it was damaged in a traffic accident, sold again for a couple hundred bucks, and ended up at a used car lot. It was recognized and purchased for $500 in 1959 by Jim McNiel, and disappeared. until 1988 when it was "discovered" in McNiel's garage, where it had been all along.Rod & Custom magazine sponsored its restoration Restoration completed in 1996 to exact 1952 Motorama specifications Restoration detailed by Pat Ganahl in several issues of Rod & Custom magazine Restored again by the original builders, including Herschel "Junior" Conway and Frank Sonzogni, in 2015 2017 added to the National Historic Vehicle Register Jim McNiel died in 2018 and his famous car went to Mecum sold at the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, Florida, in January 2022 for $1,950,000