The miniature vehicles produced by Playart in the 1970's and '80's deserve much more recognition then they have received from collectors. Primarily seen as Asian diecast of moderate quality, these 1:64 scale models represent much more. Perhaps the greatest attraction to the Playart models is the fact that so many are examples of cars never done by any other manufacturer in small-scale. Of the 27 examples in my collection, eight are one-of-a-kind in 1:64 scale. Most of the others are of models seldom done.
The Playart story is not easy to trace. Most major diecast directories
provide only a brief summary of the company. From the age of the company's
earliest products, it appears that Playart was a Hong Kong based response
to the success of Hot Wheels. Indeed, as the Honda S800 package to the left
shows, the brand name 'Fast Wheel' was used with '70's graphics not unlike
Hot Wheels packaging of the same period. Playart vehicles are not dated
on the base but must have first been offered in the late '60's, early '70's.
They were produced for about 15 years although when production stoped and
why is unclear. The last were produced sometime in the 1980's. Some Playart
diecast appear to be close copies of models from other manufacturers but
the majority are unique castings. Playart vehicles were re-packaged for
sale by large department stores including Woolworth's, McCrory's, Sears
and others. Any additional information or literature on Playart would be
greatly appreciated. Below is the most complete list I have available. Much
of the list is courtesy of Brian Willoughby, a fellow Playart collector
from Kentucky. Brian's own remarks about Playart follow on the next two
pages of this article. Car numbers have been added where available. The
number proceeding the entry is the earlier Playart number. The number that
follows is the later Playart/Yatming number. Cars currently in my collection
are in bold type. For a detailed look at one Playart car, the Jensen FF,
click here.
PLAYART MODELS
Adams Probe 16 #1005 7112 Alfa Romeo P33 Alpine Renault A110 7107 AMC Javelin SST Amphibious Jeep 7110 AMX "390" 7852 Army Jeep 7157 Austin Mini Cooper S Mk. II 7100 Batmobile 7101 Barracuda Formula S 7135 BMW 2002 #1017 BMW 633 CSi BRM Racer 7161 Bulldozer 7115 Cadillac Eldorado Camping Trailer 7113 Carabo Bertone Chevrolet # 1003 7121 Chevrolet Astro-1 7109 Chevrolet Camaro SS Chevrolet Caprice Classic Chevrolet Caprice Fire Chief Chevrolet Caprice Taxi 7136 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Chevrolet Racer #1002 Chevron #1022 Citroen CX 220 7166 Combine Harvester 7143 Crown Hardtop SL 7159 DAF 7137 Datsun 240Z 7105 De Tomaso Mangusta 5000 Ghia De Tomaso Pantera 7165 Diesel Roller Dodge Challenger Dodge Paramedic Dodge Sports Coupe 7162 Double Decker Bus 7164 Dump Container Truck Dump Truck w. Hinged Door Ferrari BB512 7158 Fiat 124 Sport 1600 7153 Fiat 850 Sport 7134 Fiat Dino Fiat X1/9 7167 Ford Ambulance 7126 Ford Cement Mixer 7128 Ford Dump Truck |
7160 Ford Freight Truck 7150 Ford Capri 1600 GT 7155 Ford Cortina GXL Ford Mustang Boss #1024 Ford Mustang Convertible 7120 Ford Mustang GT 7116 Ford Mustang Hardtop Ford Mustang Turbo Ford Petrol Truck 7173 Ford Police Van Ford Sealand Freight Truck 7172 Ford Station Wagon # 1015 Ford Tanker 7103 Ford Thunderbird #1008 Forklift Truck Formula Race Car Generic Dump Truck 7131 Generic Esso Gasoline Tanker Generic Fire Truck Generic Playart Freight Truck Generic Wrecker Truck Greyhound City Bus Hairy #1021 [Hino] 3-axle Fire Ladder Truck 7168 [Hino] 3-axle Fire Snorkel Truck 7156 Hip Up Coupe Galant GTO MR 7139 Honda N360 7140 Honda S800 7152 Honda Z GS Hyster 70 Forklift 7145 Isuzu 117 Coupe 7123 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 #1010 Jeep Renegade 7112 Jensen FF Lamborghini Countach 7125 Lamborghini Marzel 7108 Lamborghini Miura #1001 Lamborghini Silhouette Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Lancia Stratos Lotus Elite Lotus Esprit 7106 Mako Shark 7119 Man From Uncle Car Maserati Bora #1013 Matra Simca Bagheera 7127 Mazda Pickup 7129 Mazda Wrecker Truck |
7169 [Massey Ferguson] Tractor w. blade 7148 Mazda Discmatic Rotary Coupe 7130 [Merryweather Marquis] Fire Truck McCrory Truck 7154 Mercedes-Benz 350SL #1011 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL #1012 Mercedes-Benz Ambulance 7114 Mercedes-Benz C-111 7118 Mercury Fire Chief Wagon Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX #1007 7147 Nissan Sunny 1200 Coupe GX 7104 Opel GT Opel Admiral #1018 Police Motorcycle Police Van Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 7102 Porsche 910 Carrera #1020 Porsche 917 #1023 Porsche 928 Porsche Audi #1019 7144 Porsche Targa 911S #1016 Postal Jeep Range Rover 7133 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 7151 Rover 2000 T C Saab Sonnet #1014 7853 Saladin Armoured Car 7163 Sanitation/Garbage Collector Scania Dump Truck Scania Freight Truck Scania Girder Truck Scania Pipe Truck Shadow Racer 7117 Toyota 7122 Toyota 2000GT Conv. #1006 7142 Toyota Celica 1600 GT 7149 Toyota Corolla 1400 SR 7146 Toyota Corolla Sprinter SL 7141 Toyota Corona Mk. II 1900 SL 7124 Volkswagen Beetle #1009 7850 Volkswagen Kubelwagen 7851 Volkswagen Schwimwagen Volkswagen Station Wagon Volkswagen Microbus Volvo 164E Volvo 343 7138 VW-Porsche 914 7170 Zetor Tractor |
My collection currently consists of the 27 Playarts pictured (the Bulldozer is not pictured) on this and the next two linked pages. If you have a Playart model not in my collection, please let me know if you have an interest in a trade or sale. Full image profiles for each of these cars are linked to my 'minicars' list. The story continues and the next eight Playart models may be viewed if you click here.
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1970 Datsun 240Z - 1975 Citroen CX 220 - 1968 Cadillac Eldorado - 1968 BMW
2002
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1974 De Tomaso Pantera - 1968 Jaguar 'E' type 2+2 - 1968 Jensen Interceptor
FF - 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350SL