An oddity today. Well, actually two of them. More about modelling archeology than anything else. Do you represent yourself the late 50's, when the only available model cars were classic Dinkys, Mercurys or Norevs, without windows nor interior? The only alternative was scratch built. Under such circumstances, a French man, who just lost his job, was building such scratch models out of wood blocks. He won a modelling concours in 1958, and that helped him establishing himself as artisan modeller, with both a catalogue (handwritten!), or on order. As far as he had the needed documentation from period magazines, he could build the model you wanted. It was also pretty cheap, considering the work involved. From a couple of photos, a piece of wood, some recuperation material such as clear plastic from shirt collars and craved toothpicks, plus a set of standard wheels, with a day of work, you got a fully built, brush painted (!) and well detailed miniature car. Paradoxical result: both flawed in shape or detail painting, and with a surprising attention to details, such as light combo or gear lever on the steering column, and painted model scripts.
The man was Raymond Daffaure, and he worked that way until 1978 in his flat in Western France, in Marmande. So are the models all signed with a stamped sticker under the body, "R.Daffaure Marmande", and handwritten description of the model. He may have built up to 12000 models over the years, of every marque and era.
The two Giuliettas here doesn't seem to appear on any period catalogue, they might have been built on order, since they also lack any progressive numbering on the stickers, as many have. That's no evidence, because consistency was not granted. They were also probably made in period, that is at the beginning of his activity, unless they were reproductions of cars owned by the customer who ordered them.
The result might not look stunning unless one remembers they are 50 years old, and were made on a kitchen table in single unit. Shapes ar so-so, yet not worse that contemporary industrial toys. Still highly collectible models.
As usual, more pics
here