BY STEVE MASSON |
As much as I can figure out, this company started life about
1976-78 (going by the early number S600's). Most cars are from the late
1960's to the mid 1970's (the newest being the Toyota crown of 1977) My
guess would be this is when the Summer company first started producing diecast
toy cars. The S8000's to S8500's take us up to the early-mid 1980's. Following
this are the S8700's-to-900's which are mid-late 1980's. As far as I can
tell (so far in my collecting) the last 'original' Summer cars are the Nissan
300ZX (1990 twin-turbo type) & the newer (2nd version) of the Toyota
MR2 (which came into production in 1991). This probably means that Summer
made these castings in 1991/92. Either the company stopped making 'original'
castings at this time and just continued with it's existing molds or the
company had problems (there could be many reasons for this!) and it stopped
trading/was taken over or sold off. Recently (the last year or so) I've
picked up a few cars (numbered in 900's) which seem to be mainly poor quality
cheaper castings of Summer cars (Summer cars weren't the greatest quality
to start with!). Are these cars Summer products? Who know's. Also,
a few cars with numbers in the 9800's with Summer 'type' five-pointed star
wheels have been found. Overall, these cars are not to everyones liking
but if you're a completest (like me!) and like to have as many different
cars/variations as possible, then maybe you should be out there looking
for SUMMER.!
Note - Numbers for these cars (if not found on the base!) can be located in the front passenger foot-well or on the floor behind the front seats.
Note2 - Wheel variations are out there ...but the most common are:- 4-dot & 5-pointed star.
Note3 - I believe some cars originally with (various) company logo's, had to have them deleted from later variants .... probably due to complaints/copyright/trading standards laws.
Model# Make Model Color and Graphics 671 FERRARI 308 GTB (1975) BRIGHT RED #18 671 FERRARI 308 GTB (1975) RED GO #21 S671 FERRARI 308 GTB (1975) MET-GREEN + DK.GREEN STRIPES #1 S672 PORSCHE TURBO BRIGHT RED 673 LANCIA STRATOS (rally) BLACK #5 674 BMW 3.0 CSL (1971) MET-GREEN HELL #8 S674 BMW 3.0 CSL (1971) MET-GREEN SHELL #8 S674 BMW 3.0 CSL (1971) STONE? #4 + GREEN STRIPES 674a BMW 3.0 CSL (1971) MET-GREEN FIRST TIME #33 675 LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP 400 (1974) BLUE FAST RACING S675 LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP 400 (1974) BLUE #7 676 FERRARI P4 412P (1967) OFF-WHITE #12 S676 FERRARI P4 412P (1967) SILVER FERRARI #12 S676 FERRARI P4 412P (1967) MET-GREY + RED #6 S681 F1 RACING CAR (unknown?) WHITE SPACEMATIC #74 S687 TOYOTA CROWN (1977) BRIGHT RED LION #87 S687 TOYOTA CROWN (1977) BRIGHT RED #87 688 MERCEDES-BENZ (200 SERIES) (1968) YELLOW LUCKY STAR #88 S688 MERCEDES-BENZ (200 SERIES) (1968) YELLOW LUCKY STAR #88 BENZINE S689 JAGUAR XJ6 COUPE (1973) MET-BLUE RALLY RACING #89 690 BMW 2800 CS (1968) SILVER 5-SPEED 690 BMW 2800 CS (1968) SILVER + RED FIRE MS VS SUMMER #06 691 VOLVO 164E (1968) WHITE + PURPLE/PINK/YELLOW #53 691 VOLVO 164E (1968) WHITE AUTO S691 VOLVO 164E (1968) WHITE S691 VOLVO 164E (1968) WHITE SANDO AUYO 692 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III (1962) BLACK + pink-yellow-blue S692 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III (1962) BLACK I LOVE ROLLS S692 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III (1962) SILVER (+ spirit of ecstasy pictures) S698 RILEY MPH (1934) BLACK & BROWN S8001 TOYOTA CELICA (racer) BLUE #12 S8002 FORD MUSTANG COBRA II (racer)(1976) BLUE #4 S8002 FORD MUSTANG COBRA II (racer)(1976) MET-GREEN #4 S8003 PORSCHE 935-78 (4-dot wheels) BRIGHT RED + YELLOW/BLUE/WHITE #37 S8003 PORSCHE 935-78 (5-point star wheels) BRIGHT RED + PALE YELLOW/DARK BLUE #37 S8004 BMW 3.2 CSL (racer) SILVER + BEIGE/PURPLE #89 S8004 BMW 3.2 CSL (racer) SILVER + RED/LIGHT BLUE #89 S8004P BMW 3.2 CSL (racer) MET.GREEN FIRST TIME #33 S8004P BMW 3.2 CSL (racer) SILVER + GREEN #89 S8006 LANCIA STRATOS (racer) WHITE + RED #91 S8006 LANCIA STRATOS (racer) WHITE + RED/GREEN #91 S8007 CHAPARRAL SPORTS RACER ORANGE DUNLOP AGIP #12 S8008 PORSCHE.? SPORTS RACER SILVER JOHN SPECIAL #18 S8010 MCLAREN SPORTS RACER WHITE #90 S8010 MCLAREN SPORTS RACER WHITE FERODO CHAMPION #90 S8011 LOLA SPORTS RACER RED #35 S8012 SPORTS RACER (unknown?) MET-LIGHT GREEN + RED/YELLOW #89 S8015 SHADOW DN4 (formula 1 racer) MET-BLUE ELF #15 S8101 LEYLAND JUMBO (double-decker bus) WHITE THAMES S8105 PACKARD VICTORIA COUPE (1930) YELLOW & BLUE S8106 STUTZ BEARCAT COUPE (1931) RED & BLUE S8108 BUGATTI TOURER (1926) GREY & BLUE S8234-36 (AMERICAN TRUCK-TRACTOR) RED ROADWAY EXPRESS INC. ACC 2202 S8301 JEEP (hardtop version) WHITE SHERIFF POLICE + star logo S8501 FORD THUNDERBIRD (1956) YELLOW LETRASET INTERNATIONAL S8502 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 429 (1969) PINK #31 S8503 Chevrolet CORVETTE (1956) RED & BLACK #68 S8504 PONTIAC TEMPEST GTO RAM-AIR (1969) WHITE + RED/BLUE STARS & STRIPES 8504 PONTIAC TEMPEST GTO RAM-AIR (1969) WHITE + RED/GREEN STARS & STRIPES S8505 Chevrolet BEL-AIR (1957) BLACK #85 S8505 Chevrolet BEL-AIR (1957) FLUORESCENT ORANGE #85 8506 Chevrolet CORVETTE (1963) TURQUOISE TIGER #52 S8506 Chevrolet CORVETTE (1963) SILVER TIGER #52 S8512 KRIEGER (VINTAGE CAR) GREEN + BLACK S8553 AUDI QUATTRO SPORT LIGHT BLUE #1 S8553 AUDI QUATTRO SPORT MET-GREEN + BLACK/SILVER/BLUE #1 S8553 AUDI QUATTRO SPORT MET-GREEN + RED/WHITE/BLUE #1 S8553 AUDI QUATTRO SPORT MET-DARK GREEN #33 S8554F PORSCHE 928 TURBO RED 928 TURBO #6 S8555 BMW M3 MET-LIGHT GREEN FIRST #21 S8555 BMW M3 GOLDEN-BEIGE #5 S8556F MERCEDES 500 SEC CREAM 500 SEC #4 S8556F MERCEDES 500 SEC GOLD 500 SEC #4 S8557F LOTUS ESPRIT TURBO MET-BLUE TURBO ESPRIT #2 S8558 FERRARI 308 GTB (+ wing) RED #11 S8558F FERRARI 308 GTB (+ wing) RED #3 S8558F FERRARI 308 GTB (+ wing) MET-LIGHT BLUE #3 S8561F Chevrolet CAMARO Z-28 (1982) YELLOW + PINK FLAMES #9 S8561F Chevrolet CAMARO Z-28 (1982) YELLOW + RED FLAMES #9 (+slatted window) S8561F Chevrolet CAMARO Z-28 (1982) LIME GREEN #9 S8562F NISSAN 280 ZX (+ body kit) BRIGHT RED 280 ZX #12 S8564F Chevrolet CORVETTE (1984) BLUE + RED/YELLOW FLAMES #11 S8565F FORD MUSTANG COBRA III(racer)(1981) BLUE #7 S8570 AMERICAN FIRE/LADDER TRUCK BRIGHT RED 8701F MAZDA RX-7 TURBO BLACK WILD HORSE (+ 5-spoke wheels) 701 MAZDA RX-7 TURBO BLACK WILD HORSE (+ 8-hole wheels) 701 MAZDA RX-7 TURBO GUNMETAL-GREY WILD HORSE 702 Chevrolet CAMARO Z-28 (1982) PURPLE + scorpion logo 703 Chevrolet CORVETTE (1970's customized) WHITE + flames & firebird logo #2 8705F PONTIAC FIREBIRD SE MET-PURPLE + red/white flames FIREBIRD 705 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SE BLACK + green/white flames FIREBIRD 8706F NISSAN 280 ZX (+ body kit)(as-S8562F) SILVER + RHINO & DART PICTURE (5-spoke) 706 NISSAN 280 ZX (+ body kit) SILVER + RHINO & DART PICTURE (8-dot) 706 NISSAN 280 ZX (+ body kit) MET-GREY ROADSTAR #98 706 NISSAN 280 ZX (+ body kit) RED ROADSTAR #98 711 F1 RACING CAR BLACK ARROW 712 F1 RACING CAR WHITE & GREEN FORMULA POWER #12 713 F1 RACING CAR WHITE & RED SAINA #13 714 F1 RACING CAR YELLOW TURBO BEST #14 715 F1 RACING CAR GREEN TURBO #19 716 F1 RACING CAR BLUE/WHITE/RED SPEED #16 729 LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP 500S LIGHT BLUE TIGER FORCE #77 730 PORSCHE 959 PURPLE SADA SPEED TURBO 959 730 PORSCHE 959 SILVER 2X2 SPEED POWER 959 731 MERCEDES 500 SEC WHITE SEL #3 732 BMW 3-SERIES CABRIOLET YELLOW WOLF II 733 FERRARI TESTAROSSA BLACK + firebird logo 740A NISSAN 300 ZX LIGHT BLUE + BLACK 300 ZX 740A NISSAN 300 ZX WHITE SUPER #9 740B NISSAN 300 ZX (no difference from A?) WHITE SUPER #9 741A HONDA PRELUDE (1986) BLUE 4WD 741B HONDA PRELUDE (1986) GOLD 4WD TURBO #57 742 BMW 635 CSI YELLOW + GREEN 743 MASERATI MERAK SS DARK BLUE SPEED #60 744 FERRARI 328 GTB BLUE RENOMA #26 8802 VOLVO 760 LIME GREEN BO SPORT CAR 8802 VOLVO 760 BLACK SAFETY #1 8803 MERCEDES 500 SEC BRIGHT RED SM SUMMER METAL #88 8803 MERCEDES 500 SEC CHROME SM SUMMER METAL #88 8803 MERCEDES 500 SEC LIME GREEN SM SUMMER METAL #88 8803 MERCEDES 500 SEC WHITE SUPERIOR #55 8804 PORSCHE 944S BLACK #11 8804 PORSCHE 944S RED #11 8804 PORSCHE 944S BLACK HAPPINESS ASSOCIATION #118 8804 PORSCHE 944S RED HAPPINESS ASSOCIATION #118 8805 MASERATI MERAK SS MET-LIGHT GREEN HILLTOP #52 8805 MASERATI MERAK SS WHITE HILLTOP #52 8805 MASERATI MERAK SS WHITE + GREEN/RED 2001 8805 MASERATI MERAK SS WHITE + BLUE/SILVER 2001 8901 BMW 635 CSI MET-LIGHT BLUE + RED/WHITE STRIPES 8902 FERRARI 328 GTB (1985) RED #18 8902 FERRARI 328 GTB RED + BLUE/WHITE IMAGE S8902 FERRARI 328 GTB BLACK WORLD RALLYE CHAMPION #18 8911 LANCIA DELTA HF S4 (rally) YELLOW 3000 MILES #44 8912 RENAULT-ALPINE A310 V6 (1976) BLUE + WHITE/GREEN SPORT RACER #21 8912 RENAULT-ALPINE A310 V6 (1976) BLUE + YELLOW/RED SPORT RACER #21 8913 PEUGEOT 205 (rally) BLACK STOP! SPORT #25 (black base/grill) 8913 PEUGEOT 205 (rally) BLACK STOP! SPORT #25 (chrome base/grill) 8914 ROVER 3500 SDI MET-LIGHT BLUE + BLUE/PINK #1 8914 ROVER 3500 SDI MET-LIGHT BLUE + BLUE/BLACK/WHITE #1 8916 JAGUAR XJS WHITE PROPULSION LOOK 8924 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE (ALL 1965-66) WHITE FIRE MOTION 8924 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE YELLOW FIRE MOTION 8924 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WHITE APPROVE ACTION #300 8924 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE YELLOW APPROVE ACTION #300 8925 Chevrolet NOMAD BLACK + firebird logo 89-26 DE TOMASO PANTERA FLUORESCENT ORANGE #77 89-26 DE TOMASO PANTERA MET-PINK #77 89-26 DE TOMASO PANTERA GOLD #77 89-26 DE TOMASO PANTERA LIGHT BLUE?#77 89-27 FORD GT 40 MET-GREEN #5 89-27 FORD GT 40 BLUE #5 89-27 FORD GT 40 ORANGE #5 89-27 FORD GT 40 PINK + horses head logo 89-27 FORD GT 40 LIME GREEN 9002 FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK DARK BLUE EXPRESS #5 9002 FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK LIGHT GREY EXPRESS #5 9002 FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK MET-LIGHT BLUE I LOVE NY 9007 FORD THUNDERBIRD (1955) ORANGE + BLUE FLAMES #3 9013 NISSAN 300 ZX TWIN TURBO (1990) LILAC GBS COMPUTER RACING #113 9013 NISSAN 300 ZX TWIN TURBO ORANGE GBS COMPUTER RACING #113 9013 NISSAN 300 ZX TWIN TURBO GOLD DON'T RACE YOUR ENGINE.... ALL BELOW (900-SERIES) ARE VERY CHEAP (usually poor quality) RE-ISSUES OF PREVIOUS MODELS. (note- not known if still manufactured by summer or castings used by another company?) 903 PORSCHE 959 PINK POWER #36 913 FORD GT 40 (with T-TOP) PALE GREEN + horses head logo 914 DE TOMASO PANTERA LIME GREEN #2 914 DE TOMASO PANTERA MET-DARK GREEN + WHITE 914 DE TOMASO PANTERA BLUE #2 915A PORSCHE 928 WHITE #88 917 JAGUAR XJS BLACK #98 917 JAGUAR XJS BLACK GOLF CLUB #93 919 NISSAN 300 ZX TWIN-TURBO (1990) MET-PINK RACING CAR 921 FORD THUNDERBIRD TURBO GREY-BLUE? FAST WINNING TEAM 924 MERCEDES 200-SERIES (1972) WHITE GOLF CUB #93 UNSURE IF THESE ARE SUMMER CARS.??? 9801 FERRARI 308 GTB MET-GREEN #218 + gold & silver 9805 FERRARI 250 GTO (1962) BLUE SUPER #89 9807 DODGE VIPER GTS PINK #7 + blue-red-white-gold stripes ALL SUMMER CARS BELOW ARE UN-NUMBERED OR HAVE NUMBER OBSCURED AUDI 200 5T BLACK alessandro moseo #5 AUDI 200 5T MET-BLUE " " " BEDFORD CF VAN (ALL-1/60 SCALE) BLACK 4WD BEDFORD CF VAN YELLOW SWIFT RUNNER BEDFORD CF VAN WHITE SUPERVAN BEDFORD CF VAN GREEN BEDFORD CF VAN RED THE SUNSHINE VAN Chevrolet BEL-AIR (diff.casting from S8505) LIME GREEN #28 Chevrolet BEL-AIR " " " MET-BLUE + FLAMES Chevrolet BEL-AIR " " " MET-BLUE BEST + red-yellow-white Chevrolet CORVETTE (1984) MET-BLUE + GREEN FLAMES Chevrolet CORVETTE (1984) MET-BROWN + WHITE FLAMES DODGE CHARGER (1968) GREEN + BLUE/WHITE FERRARI 308 GTB BLACK asia championship world team #4 FERRARI 308 GTB MET-PURPLE " " " " " FERRARI 308 GTB RED " " " " " FERRARI 328 GTB WHITE TH #31 FERRARI 328 GTB SILVER TH #31 FERRARI 328 GTB MET-DARK BLUE GOOD OSTE FERRARI F40 GREEN & WHITE AERO SUNNY #58 FERRARI P4 412P (as- S676) SILVER #12 FORD GT 40 BRASS 838 #7 FORD GT 40 PEA GREEN #7 FORD GT 40 LIME GREEN #7 FORD THUNDERBIRD (1955) BLACK CLASS 1 #3 FORD THUNDERBIRD (1955) LIGHT BLUE CLASS 1 #3 FORD CUSTOM VAN (c)1988 GREEN SUNRAY MASERATI MERAK DARK BLUE #2 MASERATI MERAK SS PURPLE ME TURBO #7 MASERATI MERAK SS PALE BLUE ME TURBO #7 MASERATI MERAK SS BLACK #98 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SE (as- 8705F) RED PANTHER #7 (+jaguar picture) PORSCHE 959 LIGHT GREY ENERGY #77 RENAULT-ALPINE A110 (1966) WHITE + RED/PINK #18 TOYOTA MR2 (1991) ORANGE WU.U.ABD T #12 +wolfs head logo
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