We’re fast approaching the end of another year, and for some of us that means we’re coming dangerously close to the deadline we gave ourselves to finish that project car we told everyone would be ready by the end of 2023. So why not stave off that sense of feeling like a complete failure by treating yourself to a mini build you can definitely complete before 2024 rolls around?
German firm, Franzis, has a big selection of auto-themed advent calendars whose doors don’t open to reveal a bit of cheap chocolate or an image from the nativity story, but a part of a 1:43 scale model. One day you might get the chassis, another day the metal body shell, interior, windshield or tires.
Related: Motorized Mercedes-AMG One Scale Model Could Be The Perfect Christmas Gift
The first calendar to catch our eye was the one containing an early 911 Turbo in retina-burning Lime Green, but Porsche fans can also choose a plain 1960s 911, a 1973 Carrera RS 2.7, a Taycan or even a tractor. And don’t worry, if you’re not into Porsches, there are plenty of brands and vehicles to choose from, like a Mk1 Golf GTI, modern S550 Ford Mustang, Citroen 2CV, Fiat 500, Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, AMG GT, Trabant and even a Unimog.
The kits come with a plastic base and background panels to create a display scene, a large format book containing photos and information about the vehicle in question and tools to put it together – no gluing or painting is required. There’s even a sound module that lets you hear a realistic engine sound when you press a button on the display plinth.
As you’d expect this kind of Christmas countdown is going to set you back a lot more than a regular advent calendar at Walmart. A UK Porsche dealer will charge you £65 ($81) for the Turbo kit, for instance, but we’ve seen them much cheaper on Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic.
