Tales of Toy Cars - New finds for August 2004

Speaking of Hot Wheels, I was overwhelmed with new and old models this month from Matte. I found 18 and one more is shown that is going to Rainier Silwinski in Germany. That may be a record for one month.

The new Corvette C6 is more stylized than the Matchbox version but it continues the HW tradition of offering the each Corvette generation since the C3 of 1968. A pretty turquoise collector version of the '63 Thunderbird came with the '56 Ford Station Wagon at a recent toy show, 2 for $5. The '56 wagon in turquoise and white is a dramatic improvement over the previous versions.

Three of the HW WRC models were found on a recent trip. While plastic bodied, they are really quite good and perhaps will lead to more new and classic rally cars being offered by major toy car manufacturers. WRC Rallying is gaining in popularity and this is one toy car trend that would be very welcome. HW has done previous rally cars like the Ford Escort and Lancia Stratos so perhaps more are possible. The Subaru, Ford and Mitsubishi and welcome additions. Now I need to find the Peugeot.

Hot Wheels has offered a variety of dune buggies over the years so the latest effort, the Power Sander, is no surprise. The Extreemster is an interesting design as it combines the look of a classic roadster special with a modern 'Dodge-like' nose. I like it. Another interesting custom model is clearly inspired by the famous Firebird experimental cars offered by GM in the late 1950's. Some were turbine powered but the HW 'Fast Fuse' has a big V8 poking out of the hood.

For many years the Pontiac J2000 has been missing from my collection. I finally found a nice one for a fair price. I like the Peugeot 604 model in green and the price was right. This Dodge Neon is clearly intended for the drag strip but it is also the only example of Neon in small-scale. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider is yet another example of this tuner favorite. The Suzuki concept adds to the few models ever done of this manufacturer's products. The Redline Warpath is another model for Rainier Silwinski, and represents the AMX III.

McDonalds has long offered Hot Wheel models. Sometimes these are simple versions of existing HW castings like the Riley & Scott Ford racer I found. The Lotus is very close to the regular HW casting as is the Mercy Breaker, a custom spin on the Chrysler Crossfire, which itself is a spin on the Mercedes-Benz SLK so why not?. Both of these have light-up features.

Enough Hot Wheels already, the real scoop is that Yat Ming has introduced new models in their 1:64 scale toy cars. A Mercedes-Benz SL500, E-Class and BMW Z8 came in a five-pack with several older castings. Sure they are cheap, covered in ugly tampos and have plastic bases but that works for Hot Wheels. Seriously, the new Yat Ming castings have little to recommend them. Some decent paint would really help and we can all agree that Yat Ming has certainly received their moneys worth out of their 30 year old wheel design.

Kidco was one of the brands offered by Universal and the casting shown here is rather interesting. It is likely the only example of the 2-door version of the Dodge Monaco/Plymouth Fury from the late 1970's. I like the 'Dodge County' graphics on this police cruiser.

Johnny Lightning continues to do models in colors that I can't resist. Sure I have the Buick Riviera and Chevy Monte Carlo but the colors shown here tempted me to buy another example. The VW Karmann Ghia was finally found at a toy show and I made a trade for it. It is every bit as good as I had hoped.

Two older Majorette castings came my way. The first came in a selection of 200 models I bought for $20 at a toy show. My kids wanted many of them and I kept the ones I did not have. The military version of the Jeep CJ5 is suitably scarred and the big Volvo, a rare truck addition, was justified as it represents a support vehicle for the Paris-Dakar Rally. I like the chain saw on the seat with the two figures.

The Matchbox military police car is a curiosity. The lights still work and one has to wonder what lucky MP would get to drive a Mercedes-Benz 560SEC? I also picked up two classic MB models in the Diplomat and Zodiac. Even with their play-wear, these two regular wheels models look good.

The Jada Chrysler Crossfire looks a bit overweight on those rubber-band tires. I do like the two-tone interior. I found another Circle W model. Like many of these, it is a copy of an Ertl casting, right down to the color. It is a bit smaller and with reduced detail as is shown by comparison with the original Ertl model.

I had never seen this Uniborn hot rod which is going to Rainier Silwinski in Germany. I wonder how many Uniborn models were made?

The Hasbro name has seldom been associated with toy cars. This Oldsmobile funny car represent one campaigned by John Force and makes and interesting companion piece to an earlier Hot Wheels model of another Castrol Oldsmobile. It has nice engine detail too.

Two views of the 1977 Ford LTD Country Squire, also going to Rainier Silwinski, are required. The best feature is the side-opening tail-gate, a correct and unique feature. The grill is quite good but the casting is too short. Still, I want one of my own now, Also from Zylmex is a Fairlady 240Z with interesting chrome headlight bezels. It had ugly stickers which I decided to remove.

Novacar was based in Portugal and bought by Majorette in the 1980's. I do not recall anyone else offering the Nissan Pathfinder but I'm not sure. Was this model ever offered under the Majorette name?

Corgi made good use of castings and the German police version of the evergreen Mercedes-Benz sedan is a perfect example. I'm sure this car really saw service in Germany by the local Polizei.

For a brief period in the early 1960's, Tootsietoy offered more complex diecast cars with a separate base and body. My parents actually owned a 1960 Rambler Rebel Wagon and I remember it being in two-tone browns. I could not resist it for my station wagon collection.

I really like the Maisto model of the Saturn Sky roadster. Few Saturn models have been done and this pretty little roadster is very nice. It proves that Maisto can still do a decent interior when they have to.

At the toy show I mentioned, I found this VW Van in the original Siku package. I like these big Siku models in their metallic colors and 'Siku' wheels. They are so sturdy and well-made.

Lastly, two different packaged models are represented before they are shipped to Rainier Silwinski . The first is a Playart model in a Charmerz package. It is the Alpine A310 and one I have yet to find. The package includes a model list on the reverse.

The second package is one of my favorite packages. The car is a very nice 1974-78 Jaguar XJ6 SII by Ertl. Clearly, model research was limited as they identified it as an XJ10. Even worse, the picture on the 'bonus card' is a Jaguar XJ-S! The early versions of this car have an opening bonnet which shows the DOHC XK 6 cyl. engine. This is a later version with the sealed bonnet. The base of the car is correct and identifies it as an XJ6. .

PLAYART - Charmerz, Alpine-Renault A310 - Rainier Silwinski

ERTL

1974-78 Jaguar XJ6 SII - Rainier Silwinski

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