Georgia Marketing and Promotions, known to scale model fans everywhere as GMP, stopped producing its highly detailed automobiles in 2011. Now, thanks to a new joint venture between Acme Diecast, GMP’s parent, and fellow die-cast manufacturer Greenlight Collectibles, the GMP brand is poised to restart production in the coming months.
Much to the dismay of collectors, the GMP brand was forced in bankruptcy in April 2011, when funding for ongoing operations could no longer be secured through conventional channels (i.e., banks). While the GMP brand may have been dormant for the past three years, it was never forgotten, and its enduring value prompted discussions between Acme Diecast and Greenlight Collectibles. Resurrecting the brand meant purchasing the old tooling, and with new funding in place courtesy of Greenlight, a deal was put together to make this happen. Assuming that the restart of production goes smoothly, GMP models are expected to begin hitting store shelves this fall, in time for the 2014 holiday season.
Though the existing tooling will be used, that’s not to say that GMP will continue producing the same cars in the same liveries as before. Seven new models have been announced, including a pair of 1970 Chevrolet Novas (the patina-rich 1970 Nova from 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop, and a supercharged 1970 Chevrolet Nova drag racer lettered with 1320 Kings); a 1967 Ford Fairlane 427 R Code in triple black; a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro pro-touring car; a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner, in what’s described as “Corporate Blue,” but appears to be Petty Blue; and a pair of Fox-body Mustangs, including a 1991 Mustang 5.0 FBI pursuit vehicle (in black, of course) and a 1993 Mustang LX in Vermillion Red. Many of these had been in the planning stages before GMP ceased production in 2011, while some are all-new designs.
Assuming that the initial samples meet expectations of quality (as a new factory will be used for production), each is expected to be produced in quantities between 1,000 and 1,500 pieces, at prices ranging from $99.95 to $169.95. Per Acme Diecast’s Jeff Stalling, it will likely be 2015 before the new GMP models are produced in higher quantities, and possibly 2016 before production reaches 2010 levels.
Both Greenlight, which typically offers more affordable (but less detailed) die-cast models, and Acme Diecast bring existing licensing agreements to the table, which may allow the production of new products for both companies. The same can be said of distribution, as there is little overlap between the customers and products of both companies at the moment. Product photographs of the new models will be released closer to production; for additional information, visit AcmeDiecast.com.