Expanding the Collection

The following toy cars were purchased or received in trade by Doug Breithaupt in the previous month. Some are new but others are older diecast acquired from other collectors. The prices paid are also shown. This addition to 'Tales of Toy Cars'. is intended to share recent finds with fellow collectors. If you have found some interesting diecast cars recently, let me know and send an image if possible, attached to an e-mail.

W.T.

Alfa Romeo Iguana concept car # - $.50

Fiat Abarth 2000 concept - $.50

HIGH SPEED (W.T. castings)

1979 Ford Mustang #406 - $.50

Lancia Stratos #W1 - $.25

WHEELER

Toyota EX7 concept - $.50

JOHNNY LIGHTNING

VW Bus #276 - $2.99

VW Truck #277- $2.99

1999 Chevrolet Camaro GT racer - $1.99

1999 Ford Mustang GT racer - $1.99

PLAYART

Ford Wagon (military) - $.50

CAR OF THE MONTH

2001 Dodge Avenger Test Team stock car with cover
by Racing Champions $2.99



Recent Additions
May's new and old toy cars represent a real variety. From the sale aisle I bought a NASCAR model, something I rarely do. The feature car represents the test car produced using the Dodge Avenger name. I like the Dodge logos and colors but the real selling point is that it comes with it's own car cover. The cover is a good fit and a neat idea. The same cover is used on other RC NASCAR models in different colors. I think RC should do a series of street cars with car covers. This model sold for $7.99 but at a sale price of $2.99, I could not resist. It has rubber tires and an opening hood.

The last toy show provided many of this month's additions including two from W.T. in 'used' condition. Watch for a full story on W.T. next month. The Alfa Romeo Iguana concept is identified as a Karina 1700 on the base. This seems to be the only small-scale model of the Iguana ever done. The Fiat Abarth 2000 is also a concept car. This model was also done by Ertl.

Hot Wheels provided a '71 Plymouth GSX in a nice, restrained paint scheme. The Ford Escort is rough but I need one and the price was right. The Buick LeSabre stocker features a front nose that flips when crashed.

Johnny Lightning's new VW series includes the van and truck variations seen here. The truck is fun to see and reminds me of the four-door version my dad owned. I also found two of the JL GT race cars I had missed. The Camaro and Mustang are great examples of these Trans-Am racers in correct racing colors.

Thanks to one of our contributors, I've now identified the next car as a High Speed model. The '79 Mustang may have originally been offered by Tintoys. Playart's Ford Wagon in U.S. Army colors appears to have been in a war zone but I never miss a Playart at this price. Wheeler models are rather scarce so I was pleased to find this Toyota concept car in the $.50 bin.

Two more stock cars from Racing Champions feature historic racers. The early '80's Pontiac Grand Prix and '59 Plymouth saw use in the earlier Richard Petty race car series. It's nice to see these interesting castings in continued use.

Zylmex produced this Porsche 911SC with a friction motor. Early 911 models are not as common as the later turbo models. Speaking of friction motors, I had never seen this particular Summer model. The quality is better than Summer's usual fare and I'm always ready to add another Ferrari 308GTB to the collection.

The last cars include a 1975 Mustang II Cobra, and are identified as 'Stunt Squad' models on the base and were made by Universal who later bought Matchbox. This is the second of this series I have found, The other is a 1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am and may be the only example of this car in small-scale. I've had the Grand Am for many years but have not shown it before. These Stunt Squad models have a spring-loaded front bumpers that when pushed, pop out a bar on the underside of the car that flip them over. These cars were clearly inspired by touring stunt teams of the 1970's. They may have also been packaged as 'Bumper Blasters' by Universal. Mark Foster provided the image of the AMC Javelin 'Stunt Squad' model shown here.

HOT WHEELS

1971 Plymouth GTX - $.79

Ford Escort - $.50

Buick LeSabre stock car - $.50

RACING CHAMPIONS/ERTL

1982 Pontiac Grand Prix (NASCAR) - $1

1959 Plymouth stock car - $1

ZYLMEX

Porsche 911SC # - $.75

SUMMER

Ferrari 308GTB racer - $.50
STUNT SQUAD - UNIVERSAL

1975 Ford Mustang II Cobra - $.50

1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am

1972 AMC Javelin (courtesy Mark Foster)