O F F - T H E - S H E L F
Model |
2 door coupe | Racing Champions Hot Wheels |
Renwal | Hasbro Tootsietoy |
Racing Champions Ertl Johnny Lightning |
Imperial | Lin Mar Hubley |
||||
4 door sedan | Goodee | |||||||||
convertible | Imperial Racing Champions Ertl |
Renwal | Imperial Tootsietoy |
Racing Champions | Yat Ming | |||||
wagon | Kinsmart | Tootsietoy | Matchbox | Tootsietoy | Matchbox | |||||
truck | Johnny Lightning | Imperial Matchbox Hot Wheels |
Racing Champions |
I have left off the plastic models by F&F and Siku and have only
included toy car smaller than 1:54 or larger than 1:87 scale. I'm sure I've
missed something but this is everything I can find. It is interesting to
note that while 1950 Fords are well represented, none from 1951 or 1952
appear. Perhaps the Fords of 1951 and 1952 are not as popular with collectors
as are the landmark 1950 models. 1956 is also interesting. Next to 1950,
1956 seems to be the most popular year for Fords in 1:64 scale. I'm not
sure why 1956 instead of the more handsome 1957 models but that's the way
it is sometimes.
One reason that toy cars may be bunched into one year is that toy car makers
often 'take advantage of' plastic kits or 1:43 scale models to use in preparing
their 1:64 scale versions. If few 1957 Fords are available in plastic kit
form or 1:43 scale diecast, it takes a while for a manufacturer to produce
a unique casting. Interest in full-size models on the collector car market
is another major factor today. Matchbox has even gone as far as to offer
cars from the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction as part of their 2002
line.
I often receive e-mail or phone inquiries from owners of real cars wondering
if a toy car version of their pride and joy has ever been done. Most recently,
the owner of a 1958 Ford Skyliner called me and I had to tell him I have
never seen one although perhaps a 1:43 scale model has been done. From my
own real car collection, no one has done a 1:64 scale version of the '72
Buick Sportwagon or the 1975 Ferrari 308GT/4. Maybe if I could get one of
the characters in Buffy The Vampire Slayer to drive one of my cars it would
appear? After all, who would have ever bet on a 1959 Desoto 4-door sedan
showing up in small-scale?
Let me know if you want to add to the list or offer corrections doug@breithaupts.com.