#149 NOREV MINI JET – CITROËN VISA, VOLKSWAGEN GOLF and RENAULT FUEGO (1982)

These cars belong to the Mini Jet series by the French die-cast maker Norev. The Mini-Jet series was the 1:64-scale collection that Norev made to compete against other companies like Matchbox or Majorette between 1975 and 1994 approximately.

It is very interesting to mention that the first casts Norev used in this series were actually bought from Schucco. The line was expanded again in 1976 with more ex-Schucco models and also in the following years, with self-made casts. After 1984 no new models were added to the Mini Jet series, although it kept selling until 1994, when the production of small scale Norevs ended.

These toys were sold in cardboard boxes with a window in the upper side (there seems to be at least two versions of these) or in a more sophisticated hard-plastic box. The models were made in different colours each, with different types of wheels and with variations in the colours of the windshields and the interiors.

Renault Fuego in red, blue and yellow with different windshield and interior colours

Renault Fuego in red, blue and yellow with different windshield and interior colours

About the casting and the overall quality of the models, I would say that the casting is great but they have some weak points, most notably the feeble axles that are very often broken. The interiors could be better casted, since most models do not even have a steering wheel and the chassis of each model could also be better done (including for example some casting, like exhaust pipes), they are in most cases plain (specially in the latter models).

Chassis with Mini Jet logo

The three models I am presenting are two Renault Fuego that I recently acquired plus a Citroën Visa and a Volkswagen Golf (first Golf, or Golf I) that Romain traded with me. 

The Volkswagen Golf in blue comes with stickers that seem to belong a well-known french brand for pasta. This car was probably a promotional gift by the mid-eighties. There are other brands that got to promote themselves using Norev cars, like "La Vache qui Rit" (cheese) or "Benco" (cacao drink).

I really like this brand although I only have a few of them (I own a few more that I expect to show some other time soon). It is very interesting to see models that were never or rarely produced by other brands, especially French cars from the 70s and the 80s.

See more vehicles from this series here.

UPDATE:
I have now a Renault Fuego in white and another Citroën Visa. The Visa is also in red, but has different window and interior colours. A nice example of a variant.

UPDATE2 (Dec/2018): Another Volkswagen Golf in blue, but without promotional stickers.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: CITROËN VISA, VOLKSWAGEN GOLF and RENAULT FUEGO (Nr. 428, 429, 437)
• Scale: Approx 1:64
• Year: 1982
• Company: Norev (France)
• Size: 6 cms