1957 Thunderbird Ford Dealer Promo Friction Model by AMT

From pressing a chronograph pusher to watching the smooth sweep of a seconds hand, there’s something to be said about watching a mechanical object put into motion. A model car evokes a very similar feeling. It beckons you to glide it across a table, to open its doors to get a closer look at its detailed interior and to pop the hood revealing a carbon copy engine. What’s more, there’s an element of playfulness between the two — a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously. Whether it’s watches, model cars or anything vintage, it’s the tactile experience that keeps us in the moment, and it’s what we love about all analog things. In the postwar years, automotive manufactures had a difficult time supplying their dealers with cars in every available color. Dealer promos, which were released annually just like the full-size cars they were based on, were a way for salesmen to make their pitch, even if they didn't have every color on their lot. Having these miniature creations sitting front