Hood Mint
Diecast Cars for Auto Aficionados
For more than four decades, the Franklin mint has created treasured collectibles and works of fine art that have touched the lives of people throughout the world. From dolls and games to die cast models, the Mint’s gifted artisans craft keepsakes that can be passed down through the generations.
One such line of collectibles that bring joy to auto aficionados everywhere are their line of diecast cars. These exquisitely detailed models are collectible pieces of automobile history, representing all of the classic manufacturers and their iconic vehicles. So while most car lovers won’t have the chance to own their own classic Corvette or Mustang, the Franklin mint has a diecast model with all of their details intact. Sure, you won’t be able to take it around the block for a spin, but it’s the next best thing to owning the real thing.
The Franklin Mint’s line of diecast cars covers both domestic and foreign vehicle classics. On the domestic side, the big manufacturers such as Chevy, Ford, Plymouth and Cadillac are all well represented.
For Chevy, it is impossible ignore the Mint’s Corvette diecast models. Their 1965 Corvette Stingray is a perfect representation of this classic vehicle in all its glory. The mint captures all of the car’s details, down to the bulge hood, flip-up headlights and hinged fuel cap. Plus, any car aficionado will swoon with just one look at the recreation of the Corvette’s 396 Turbo Big Jet Block engine. The Franklin Mint’s 1965 Corvette Stingray is hand crafted with a body made from real fiberglass, just like the real version. Also, just like the real vehicle, there are a limited number of these models being made for sale worldwide.
With Ford, The Franklin Mint pays homage to a variety of different classic Mustangs from the 1960′s to the present, but it is their model of the 1965 Shelby Mustang that stands out from the pack. This precision engineered 1:24 scale replica is authentic in every detail, from the blue striping to the roaring 289 HiPo V-8 Shelby Cobra engine. The hood is even made of fiberglass, just like that of the actual car. Better still, every detail of the Franklin Mint’s replica of the 1965 Shelby Mustang has been authenticated by Carol Shelby himself.
The Franklin Mint’s line of Plymouth diecast model cars fittingly pays tribute to their line of 1970′s muscle cars, with the 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440 Six Pack. Though this car technically ended the muscle car era, today it stands as a cult classic that is one of the most sought after muscle cars to own. Thankfully, the Franklin Mint has created a replica of this vehicle that is the next best thing to the real car. The Cuda got its “Six Pack” moniker from the trio of two-barrel carburetors fitted to the 440cid engine. This car also has a distinctive grille, “fender gills” and quad headlamps. Hand-painted Triple Black, all of these elements are recreated in the Franklin Mint’s model, making it possible to share the legend of the ‘Cuda with your family for years to come.
Another iconic brand that has always been considered an American Classic is the Cadillac. Nowadays, we think of the Escalade as the symbol of luxury and the embodiment of the American dream. But back in the 1950′s it was all about Elvis and the legendary pink Cadillac. Fittingly, the Franklin Mint has a replica of just that. The 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood was as much of a social statement as it was a thing of beauty. It was a symbol of success for Elvis that exuded his over-the-top rock ‘n roll persona. The Franklin Mint’s replica Cadillac Fleetwood is modeled after the car Elvis gave his mama. It features over 175 hand-assembled components including operating features as well as Elvis’ favorite guitar: the Martin D28.
For fans of foreign sports cars, the Franklin Mint has models of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera and the Porsche 997 GT3 that will have speed demons licking their chops with envy. The Mint’s 1:18 scale diecast replica of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera comes in Nero Noctis/Metallic Black and features a workable steering wheel and opening doors, trunk and hood. It also has a detailed undercarriage and engine compartment.
The Porsche 997 GT3 RS Black Die-cast Model is a 1:12 scale precision replica of the actual Porsche 997 GT3 RS “warp speed” vehicle; the most successful selling 911 in the company’s history. The model version features 448 separate metal and plastic parts that include photo-etched planes, metal wiring, screws and nuts. Though you can’t take this replica for a 187 mph joy ride, the details in this model will make you proud to own such a high quality collectible.
The idea of surprising the auto aficionado in your life with their dream vehicle this holiday season mostly exists only in car commercials. But thanks to the Franklin Mint’s diecast auto replicas, the dream can be a reality. Though the reality is on a noticeably smaller scale, the details and craftsmanship in the Franklin Mint’s models will make them a gift that your loved ones will cherish for years to come.
About the Author
Christian Ruelas is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics including shopping for diecast cars
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1974 Topps #436 DON HOOD NEAR MINT *b3 $1.00 |
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LONE STAR TUF-TOTS CORVETTE IN YELLOW WITH A BLACK HOOD MINT CONDITON $12.56 |
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Vintage black fur cloak and hood, both with red lining. Mint! $15.00 |
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Robin Hood Prince of Thieves DVD 2003 2-Disc Set – Mint Condition – Nice Deal $4.80 |
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Nikon HN-1 HN1 52mm Lens Shade Hood Mint Condition Genuine $10.95 |
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LINCOLN,CONTINENTAL,HOOD SPEAR,BASE,1942,1946,1947,1948,NEAR MINT,long term stor $115.00 |
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MADAME ALEXANDER- RED RIDING HOOD. #482. ADORABLE. MINT CONDITION $29.99 |
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Olympus ZUIKO 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 zoom 4/3 with LH-61C bundle hood in MINT- optics $159.00 |
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(2) MOUNT HOOD (OR) “D&P Mints” $2.39 |
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1950s ROBIN HOOD RICHARD GREENE METAL SHIELD / PHOTO MINT ON ORIG.CARD RARE! $9.99 |
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CANON 70-200MM F2.8 “L” “USM” WITH HOOD,TRIPOD RING, CAPS, MINT CNDTN $1,095.00 |
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NIKON 60MM F2.8 G/N/ED MICRO NIKKOR LENS- W/ HOOD, & CAPS, IN BOX MINT CONDITION $485.00 |
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Mercedes Benz Original 300 Series Hood Emblem Assembly Mint Condition $35.00 |
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2007 Hooded Cobra Commander – 25th Anniversary – Foil Logo – Mint on Card – MOC $15.00 |
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DISNEY ROBIN HOOD MOST WANTED EDITION DISC MINT CONDITION WITH SLIP COVER $9.50 |
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DC Universe wave 20 GREEN ARROW hooded 100% complete & mint justice league $9.50 |
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WALLS 10X MOSSY OAK INSULATED HOODED JACKET – MINT CONDITION – SZ 16 – 18 $24.99 |
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1964.1965 FALCON HOOD ORNAMENT NEW MINT $29.95 |
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1966 THUNDERBIRD HOOD V MINT SHOW CHROME NO RESERVE $89.95 |
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1964 THUNDERBIRD HOOD LETTERS NEW MINT SET $35.00 |
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1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Coupe – 1/24 scale diecast open hood-doors- New-Mint $24.50 |
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1950 ,1951 FORD HOOD EMBLEM PLASTIC NEW MINT $29.95 |
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1/4 scale Dale Jarrett UPS Flame hood (metal and in mint condition) $11.60 |
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Hot Wheels 1956 MERCURY with Opening Hood 2 Paint Variations Mint in Boxes $5.49 |
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AMERICAN LEATHER Bomber Motorcycle Jacket ~ Faux FUR, HOOD, Buckles ~ L, MINT! $189.00 |
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PATTERSON HOOD 7″ RSD 2012 Widespread Panic REM Drive-By Truckers MINT VINYL NEW $19.99 |
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Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 70 mm – 300 mm F/4.0-5.6 AF G Lens MINT W/SUN HOOD $55.00 |
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ROCCOBAROCCO JEANS Brown Light-Weight Knit HOODED SWEATSHIRT w/ Sequins MINT $90.00 |
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Ladies Womens Baseball Tracksuit Hoody Hooded Onezie Top Gym Casual Jacket $31.42 |
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Ladies Womens Baseball Tracksuit Hoody Hooded Onezie Top Gym Casual Jacket $31.42 |
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1969 Plymouth Roadrunner GTX hood mouldings MINT $200.00 |
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Rolleiflex Binocular Viewfinder Hood “Super Mint” $189.00 |
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*Foil Death-Hood Cobra x4 MTG New Phyrexia Magic the Gathering *NEW MINT $2.99 |
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Youth Notre Dame Fighting Irish quilted jacket w hood sewn logo ,Mint Large / 16 $42.00 |
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Miami Dolphins Reebok beautiful hooded & quilted jacket Mint condition, Size XL $48.00 |
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Cleveland Browns Apex One beautiful lined jacket w hood, Mint Condition Size XL $49.00 |
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RALPH LAUREN POLO WOMENS GOLF CABLE KNIT HOODED SWEATER (MINT!!!) Sz S $11.99 |
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UNMOUNTED MINT SPECIALS- GERMANY 1960 Humanitarian Aid (4) Red Riding Hood ($6+ $0.65 |
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MINT CONDITION LANDS END ZIP FRONT COAT WITH HIDDEN HOOD SZ XL(18-20)-L@@K $3.99 |
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VINTAGE HASBRO ’82 – ’83 GI JOE HOODED COBRA COMMENADER MINT & COMPLETE G.I. JOE $9.95 |
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DONELL JONES in the hood LP mint- vinyl LFDP 4128 1995 $12.00 |
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*Mint* Contax 645 AF Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 350mm f/4 w/hood 350/F4 $5,533.00 |
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MINT MAMIYA 180 & 250mm LENS HOOD WITH 180 MASK IN ORIGINAL BOX $34.95 |
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Columbia-XCO Women’s Hooded Zippered Lined Jacket-long sleeve,blue. Large Mint+ $16.99 |
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Ohio State Men’s Hooded Jacket-long sleeve,red,pullover. Large Mint $15.99 |
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Mint Condition Faux Fleece Hooded Gap Sweater – Small (6 – 7 yrs)!!!! $0.99 |
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ROBIN HOOD Patrick Bergin, Uma Thurman Wide NEAR MINT $3.85 |
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HOT WHEELS 1956 MERCURY OPEN HOOD MINT 1/64 DIECAST $3.99 |
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HOT WHEELS 1956 MERCURY OPEN HOOD MINT 1/64 $3.99 |
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Contax Zeiss Sonnar 90mm F/2.8 Lens for Contax G.1, G2. Hood, cap. Mint. $96.00 |
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Oshkosh Baby Girl Infant Toddler Pink Winter Coat MINT Fur Lined Hood 12 Months $12.99 |
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CHILD’S RED CAMEL WHITE KNIT/FUR HOODED ZIP UP VEST SIZE M MINT $13.25 |
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Juicy Couture Mint Green Hooded Ladies Down Jacket CLEAN Style #12075 $40.00 |
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Baby Gap Pullover Hooded Sweater. Size 3-6 Months. Mint Condition EUC $8.99 |
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MAMIYA 7 7II 7 II 65MM F4.0 N LENS & HOOD MINT- $799.99 |
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Mamiya Sekor 65mm 1:3.5 Metal Lens Hood NEW OLD STOCK with Box MINT $29.95 |
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SPLENDID Mint Hooded Long Sleeve Shirt Sz XS $20.00 |
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MINT! TNA ARITZIA LADIES BROWN DETACHABLE FUR LINED HOODED DOWN JACKET COAT~XS $129.00 |
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THUNDERBIRDS The Hood F14 Chase Trading Card 2001 Cards Inc MINT $0.94 |
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GAP KIDS Bright Pink Fleece-Lined Hooded Jacket for Girls size XXL(14-16) MINT! $12.99 |
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RARE Leitz ‘Safari’-Green Elmarit R Mount 28mm F/2.8 Lens NEAR MINT w/ Hood $895.00 |
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Raincoat, Hooded, Wippette Kids, S. 4, 100% Vinyl Outer, Fully Lined, MINT $14.95 |
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ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS [MOVIE POSTER] ORIG. MINT $12.99 |
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Marmot Mens Goretex Hood Waterproof Shell Rain Jacket Coat Size M Mint Condition $19.99 |
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SOFT GREY SNOW LEOPARD FAUX FUR HOODED COAT MADE IN FRANCE SZ LG~M ~MINT!!! $198.00 |
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NOS 70 Super Bee Hood Front Emblem 2998065 MINT Hemi Dodge Mopar $79.00 |
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Matchbox Superfast #54 Ford Capri Orange with Black Hood Mint In Box $19.99 |
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Heritage Collection–Little Red Riding Hood–Mint–Nrfb $37.95 |
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CANON EOS EF 70-210mm 2.8 L IS USM LENS MINT- W/CAPS/HOOD/CASE/BOX $1,750.00 |
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SONOMA HOODED SWIM/BEACH COVER-UP~~~White~~~Adult Large~~~MINT/NEW $11.95 |
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Womens FILA SPORT Black Gray & Silver Hooded Athletic Suit GORGEOUS & MINT! L $39.99 |
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GREG HILDEBRANDT-TOLKIEN TO ROBIN HOOD.91- SPECIALFANTASY ART CARDS. MINT SHAPE! $12.99 |
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Mercedes Benz Hood Emblem 1960s 1970s OEM MINT! $40.00 |
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LL BEAN NYLON LIGHT JOGGING PULLOVER WITH HOOD JACKET SIZE MEDIUM MINT COND. $14.99 |
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DSQUARED2 Blue Cropped Hooded Jacket Made in Italy Size 6 Mint Condition!!!!!!!! $128.00 |
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2010 Mount Hood National Forest “HD1″ P&D QUARTER ROLLS IN SEALED MINT BOXES $24.99 |
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VINTAGE Red Riding Hood Cloth Storybook Doll with wolf and basket Mint A+ $21.99 |
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JEFF GORDON 1998 DUPONT RAINBOW 1/64 RCCA HOOD OPEN NASCAR DIECAST MINT $12.99 |
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GRENADA – 1982 – DISNEY – ROBIN HOOD – MINT – SET OF 9! $5.99 |
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TONY STEWART 1999 HOME DEPOT ROOKIE 1/64 HOOD OPEN RCCA SELECTNET RARE MINT $19.99 |
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Tales From the Hood (DVD, 1998) MINT RARE HTF OOP R1 LOW SHIPPING CAD & US $42.99 |
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ROBIN HOOD BLU-RAY RUSSELL CROWE CATE BLANCHETT *MINT* $3.02 |
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Minolta 75-200 mm rokkor-x md mount with hood f 4.5 Smells like mints. $19.75 |
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Vintage KEN Dolls #773 KING ARTHUR-Silver Hood-EX-MINT $23.46 |
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RARE Leica Leitz OLLUX Hood for Summilux-M 35/1.4 Steel Rim 12522H Mint $1,439.00 |
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TOPCON/TOPCOR GN 50MM HOOD/SHADE.FREE WW SHIPP.MINT $114.00 |
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FRANKLIN MINT ANTIQUE CAR COIN – 1906 FRANKLIN BARREL HOOD $3.99 |
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Leica 12586 hood mint for 50/1.4 summilux $299.00 |
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ROBERT WYATT Little Red Robin Hood VHS PROMO Mint $99.99 |
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Hasselblad V ProShade 6093T Bellows Hood (MINT) $299.00 |
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1978 TOPPS #398 DON HOOD MINT *151571 $2.00 |
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DISNEY StVincent Red Riding Hood Stamp Sheetlet MINT NH $1.85 |
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Robin Hood Prince of Thieves poster 1991 Near Mint Morgan Freeman Alan Rickman $8.00 |
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2010 P-D MOUNT HOOD QUARTER FROM MINT SET, WHITE GLOVES TO 2X2 $2.99 |
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RARE SET OF 6 HAZEL ATLAS ROBIN HOOD MUGS MUG CUP MINT $129.99 |
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MEN’S BANANA REPUBLIC BLACK PULLOVER COTTON SHIRT WITH HOOD SZ L MINT CONDITION! $17.99 |
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Girls “REI” winter hooded jacket – size Large 12-14 – mint condition $5.99 |
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ESTATE FIND…..CADILLAC Hood ORNAMENT Emblem CLIP CHROME MINT $24.99 |
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*Mint* Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH E46 + hood 35/F1.4 #02681 $5,050.00 |
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TAD Infrared Riding Hood LP Nr Mint Vinyl Pearl Jam Benaroya Twenty Nirvana Rare $299.99 |
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Viking DCW54MJ 54 Inch Kitchen Ventilation Accessory 54” W. Duct Cover for use with VWH 24” D. and 27” D. models… |
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Viking VCCI5410MJ Kitchen Ventilation Accessory Duct Cover for VCIH5408… |
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Viking VCCI4208MJ Kitchen Ventilation Accessory Duct Cover for VCIH4208… |
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1955 – The Adventures of Robin Hood – Vol. 1 – DVD Movie – TV Series – Richard Greene – 4 Episodes – 100 Min – B&W – New – Collectible $0.01 1955-1958 – The Adventures of Robin Hood – Vol. 1 – Golden Years of Classic TV – Stars: Richard Greene, Bernadette O’Farrell, Patricia Driscoll, Alan Wheatley – 4 Memorable Episode – Region Free – 100 Minutes – Black & White – Family Series – New – Collectible… |
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Absorba Baby Girl Mint Green Lucky Horseshoe Terry Cotton Knit Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt Hooded Sweatshirt & Sweatpant 3PC Set Infant 12M $40.00 Absorba Baby Girl Cute Infant 3 Piece Pant Set by Absorba In French Terry Cotton that Consists of a Hooded Jacket with Lined Hood, Shirred Front and Embroidered Horseshoe, Short Sleeved Shirt with Shirred Sleeves and Horseshoe and Four Leaf Clover Appliques and French Terry Cotton Pants with Ruffled Bum. Too Cute! Brand new with tags and hangers. Size 12M… |
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Kiss My Face – Grassy Mint Liquid Soap – 34 Oz ( Multi-Pack) … |
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OREGON NATURAL HOOD RIVER APPLE SPICE TEA $5.50 All Natural Herbal Tea, refreshing after dinner tea. Soothes the stomach. Helps digestion. Gluten Free, caffeine Free… |
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Leica V-Lux2 Super Zoom Digital Camera with 14.1 Megapixels CMOS Sensor, 24x Optical Zoom, 1080i AVCHD Full HD Video Recording (18393) $1,549.00 The super-zoom compact for travel and nature photography : the Leica V-Lux 2 is the perfect camera for adventurers, globetrotters and nature-lovers who want to discover more of the world. Thanks to its powerful 24x optical super-zoom lens with an enormous equivalent focal-length range of 25 to 600 mm, it is extremely flexible. The 3″ LCD display can be twisted and turned in almost any direction a… |
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Magic: the Gathering – Executioner’s Hood – Dark Ascension $0.01 Magic: the Gathering is a collectible card game created by Richard Garfield. In Magic, you play the role of a planeswalker who fights other planeswalkers for glory, knowledge, and conquest. Your deck of cards represents all the weapons in your arsenal. It contains the spells you know and the creatures you can summon to fight for you. Card Name: Executioner’s Hood Cost: 2 Color: Artifact Ca… |
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Franklin Mint 1/24 1933 Duesenberg SJ Twenty Grand – Champagne Silver $109.90 Considered to be the most luxurious Duesenberg ever, the world knew it as the “20 Grand” because it had the bold price tag of $20,000 back in 1933. First seen and built exclusively for the Chicago World’s Fair, it’s value today would be in the millions. This replica has been handcrafted out of 148 separate parts and is authentic down to the smallest detail. From the Duesenberg hood ornament to the… |
