The following editorial reflects the personal thoughts of Doug Breithaupt relating to our common hobby of miniature cars. It is intended to generate discussion relating to 'Tales of Toy Cars'. Your letters are welcome and may be submitted via e-mail. "Most Recognized" |
Do 1:64 scale toy car producers have a single model that best represents them? When someone says 'Matchbox', what image pops to mind? How about Siku, Tomica or Johnny Lightning? What do you think of my list of 'most popular' models for the following 15 manufacturers? These are my honest first impressions.
 Matchbox - Ford GT40  Majorette - Citroen SM  Hot Wheels - Red Baron  Ertl - 1969 Dodge Charger 'General Lee'  Johnny Lightning - Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda' (Bridges) |
 Maisto - 1989 Porsche Speedster  Corgi - Aston Martin DB6 'Bond'  Tomica - Honda Civic  Welly - 1955 Mercedes=Benz 190 SL  Racing Champions - Gary Cooper's Duesenberg SSJ |
 Norev - Ligier JS2  Yat Ming - Toyota 2000GT  Siku - VW Beetle  Summer - Tucker  Guisval - 1976 Jaguar XJ12 |
I decided not to include companies no longer in business like Playart or Impy. For me, newer companies like Jada or AUTOart need more time to create a lasting impression.
If this topic is of interest, I'll include this thread in my commentary for the August issue of TofTC.
Doug Breithaupt
1. "RE: Most recognized"
Interesting idea. When you mentioned Ertl, I first thought
of this one:
I think everybody will have different ideas depending on their ages and what they had as children. People who grew up in the Eighties may not think of the Ford GT40 as the most recognized for Matchbox. They may choose the Porsche Turbo. For me, I think a red double decker bus would be the most recognized vehicle for Matchbox.
I think you are bang on with the Red Baron for Hot Wheels. Then again, someone younger may choose the Volkswagen Drag Van or Purple Passion. Someone else will say the Deora or Paddy Wagon.
Interesting what others think about this.
2. "RE: Most recognized"
I immediately think of the 53 Chevy for Ertl. It seems you are looking at this from a personal level by not including commercial vehicles that reflect some of these brands. I'll leave mine with cars also for this purpose...
Matchbox-Ferrari Berlinetta (Pontiac GTO a close second)
Hot Wheels-Deora (a must!!)
Corgi-yes, James Bond (or the Saint)
Johnny Lightning-Jumpin' Jag (because my first JL!)
Racing Champions-57 Buick
Tomica-Toyota 2000GT
Guisval-Seat 127
Polistil (Penny)-Ferrari P4
Tootsitoy-3 inch Plymouth Belvedere
Yat Ming-Dodge Coronet
Siku-lots of Mercedes which are far from my favorites but which one?? The VW you describe is a good choice.
Majorette-okay, I'll break away from cars on this one...it has to be that "Dodge" truck! I can never get enough of this casting and it surely reflects Majorette as a mystery.
Kimmo
3. "RE: Most recognized"
When thinking of Siku as a brand the first thing that springs to a lot of minds will be the big 5-axle Faun crane. Big, heavy, robust and produced for 29 straight years in a row...
When talking about cars I think the Porsche 930 and Mercedes 300 SL (gull wing) will spark more memories than the Beetles (the only exception possibly being the 1300 ADAC assistance car) over here.
Your SIKU nut - Remco
4. "RE: Most recognized"
Matchbox would have to be the doubledecker bus....
Mark
5. "RE: Most recognized"
I agree that this is more of a personal issue, rather than global. All of the cars that I think of when a certain brand name is mentioned have to do with personal memories.
Matchbox - Ferrari Berlinetta
Hot Wheels - Twin Mill
Maisto - Ferrari GTO
Siku - John Player 911
Majorette - None really come to mind
Corgi - Batmobile
Johnny Lightning - Al Unser Indy Car
Racing Champions - Viper GTS
Tomica - Porsche 911
Norev - none
Yat Ming - none
Summer - none
6. "RE: Most recognized"
This is certainly a personal response with all the factors that Mark F. mentioned in place. Still, some common themes may appear. My primary purpose for doing this is to better understand what other collectors see as the models that best define a manufacturer. I expect manufacturers will find this useful as it will help them understand the products that best represent their style of casting and corporate image. Some might even consider trying to return to that image (you know who you are).
Doug Breithaupt
7. "RE: Most recognized"
For all it's worth, here's my list:
Matchbox (Lesney)- Studebaker wagon(blue, childhood favourite)
Matchbox (today) - that Radar truck that looks like a Golf Tee (the horror, the horror...)
Hot Wheels - Redline oval-window Beetle (my first)
Siku - VW Passat (green, not sure why)
Majorette - Peugeot 204 Convertible ('cause I don't have one, but want it bad)
Corgi - Aston Martin DB6 'Bond'
Johnny Lightning - Any late 60s, early 70s Mopar (no one does them better)
Tomica - Suzuki Carry Noodle Van (so very Japanese)
8. "RE: Most recognized"
The Chevy fast-back is nice, but I think that many would choose a farm tractor as being most representative of Ertl.
The Matchbox that immediately comes to my mind is the #24 RR Silver Shadow with opening boot. I didn't have the Routemaster bus when I was very young and received my very first Matchbox, but other companies made equally nice models. The Rolls is a "top of the line" MB!
9. "RE: Most recognized"
For Hot Wheels, either the Twin Mill because it was the first original casting, or the 67 Camaro because it's been done to death.
For Matchbox, the Lotus F1 in BRG.
Majorette, one of those stretch limos that still clog the pegs at the occasional drug store.
Tomica, the NSX that I finally got thanks to RC/Ertl
As for RC/Ertl, that oversized cast of the 63 Vette coupe.
For Ertl alone, the General Lee 70 Dodge Charger.
Corgi, either the Batmobile or the bond DB6
Maisto, their best is the Ferrari GTO, but the one casting they've done that nobody else has considered is the Trabant, for which I thank them.
Topper Johnny Lightning The Custom Turbine
PM Johnny Lightning a 41 Willys
Corgi - Austin Metro
Johnny Lightning - Plymouth Superbird (i still have no JLs for now, but that´s what I think of when I hear "JL")
Hongwell/Schuco - VW Beetle
Hot Wheels - AC Cobra
Maisto - '62 Ferrari 250 GTO
Majorette - Matra Simca Bagheera, Porsche 924
Matchbox - Boss Mustang (and variations)
Norev (old) - Renault 12
Racing Champions - any Nascar (still have no RC in my collection)
Siku - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Summer - Porsche 944 Turbo
Tomica - Datsun Fairlady 260 Z
Welly (old) - Mazda Savanna RX-7 (Tomica copy)
Welly (new) - VW Lupo
Yat Ming - Dodge Aspen
Sini
11. "RE: Most recognized"
Matchbox - ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT
Hot Wheels - LAMBORGHINI MIURA
Maisto - FERRARI 250 GTO SCAGLIETTI BERLINETTA
Siku - CITROEN 2CV6
Majorette - BMW M3 COUPE
Corgi - None really come to mind
Johnny Lightning - 2002 ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH
Racing Champions - 2003 DODGE VIPER SRT 10
Tomica - MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO IV
Norev - none
Yat Ming - CADILLAC SERIES 62 CONVERTIBLE
Summer - none
WELLY - JAGUAR S TYPE
HONGWELL - VOLVO C70 SALOON
DARRIN DUDDING, I
12. "RE: Most recognized"
Do 1:64 scale toy car producers have a single model that best represents them? When someone says 'Matchbox', what image pops to mind? How about Siku, Tomica or Johnny Lightning? What do you think of my list of 'most popular' models for the following 12 manufacturers? These are my honest first impressions.
MBX = type T1 barndoor bus
Siku = VW Karmann Ghia type 34
Tomica = Datsun 240Z
J.L. = Bomb bug series
13. "RE: Most recognized"
Great question Doug! My first impressions:
Matchbox - red London Bus
Hot Wheels - antifreeze green Silhouette
Maisto - Ford Pickup (Rallye and Tow Truck versions)
Siku - VW Beetle Coupe and Cabrio
Majorette - Citroen DS Ambulance
Corgi - Aston Martin DB6 'Bond'
Husky/Corgi Jr. - Batmobile
Johnny Lightning (Topper) - Custom GTO
Johnny Lightning (Playing Mantis) - 1967 GTO or Ghostbusters Ambulance
Racing Champions - Contemporary NASCAR Stock Cars
Tomica - Dodge Coronet Taxi, Fire, and Police
Norev Mini-Jet - Renault Fuego
Yat Ming - 1964 Chevrolet Impala
Summer - I don't think I've seen one of these.
MAC