MAJORETTE "SUPER S" SERIES
This is an unusual entry in this blog because I am presenting a die-cast model that is “only” 19 years old. I will sometime explain why I do not collect modern toys.
Majorette “Super S” or “SuperS” (also “series 230”, don’t ask me why) was a
series of 1:64 scale cars released in 1995. They are particularly interesting
because they could be steered by pressing down on either front corner, as if it
was a skateboard.
When they came out, I had never seen this
steering method yet, and I found it quite fascinating, so I bought one car,
although I was already too old to play with it. The car was the first reference
201/202 of this series: the Fiat Coupé (well, actually the second -202- see
catalogue image below). I have kept it ever since in its original blister pack.
In other countries or releases, the cars were also available in the typical
Majorette plastic case. Some “sets” included a few orange traffic cones to play
with.
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| Note the difference between the blister packs from 1995 (1st pic) and these (1997). Note also the set car + traffic cones |
The series was for some reason quite short (at least initially),
consisting, to my knowledge, of only 11 models. Note that the references are
double. The first time these models were released there were two
versions/decorations of each model, but in the following years the same
reference were re-released in new colours and with different tampographies,
including several “promotional” decorations.
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These two scans are taken from 1995 catalogue, when the series was released. Note that some of the models are drawings and not the actual toy. As a matter of fact, it could be that none of the models in the pictures are "Super S", because the pictures are from cars like the Renault Clio or the Ferrari GTO that were already available in the normal "200" series. The bodies of those cars are exactly the same (even same colour) than the Super S releases, the difference is on the chassis and wheels.
These two scans are taken from 1995 catalogue, when the series was released. Note that some of the models are drawings and not the actual toy. As a matter of fact, it could be that none of the models in the pictures are "Super S", because the pictures are from cars like the Renault Clio or the Ferrari GTO that were already available in the normal "200" series. The bodies of those cars are exactly the same (even same colour) than the Super S releases, the difference is on the chassis and wheels.
The references are:
- 201/202 Fiat Coupé
- 203/204 Mustang GT Convertible
- 205/206 Mustang GT Hard Top
- 207/208 Renault Clio
- 209/210 Ferrari 456 GT
- 211/212 Ford Mondeo
- 213/214 Roadster
- 215/216 Ferrari GTO
- 217/218 Stock Car
- 219/220 Porsche Boxter
- 221 Mondeo Police (1998)
- 222 Peugeot 406 (1997)
- 223 Peugeot 406 Racing (1998)
- 224 VW Golf IV (1999)
- 225 Dodge Concept Car (1999)
- 226 BMW Z3 Coupé (1999)
The numbers are sometimes referred
with an S at the end, to indicate “Super S”, for example: 201.S. From 2000 on,
the numbering system is changed, so it’s difficult for me to say if the Super S
were still released that year…
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An interesting point is that in the bases of the cars the words “Patent Pending” appear. This means that the patent had been requested, but not yet granted at the time in which the toy was manufactured.
Although in the card it is specified that the
toy is “made in France”, it
was actually made in Thailand,
because Majorette relocated their factories in that country in 1992. In the base of the
car there is no reference to this fact.
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| Card Back incl. instructions |
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| Majorette Super S 201/202 Fiat Coupé |
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The following model is a new cast from which the roof of the car iss made of plastic. There were two "roofs" available, and thus two diferent models depending on which part was attached to the die-cast body: Convertible or Hardtop. This one is the hardtop version. The number is 205/206 no matter what's indicated in the base. All bases are marked with the convertible reference 203/204.
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| Majorette Super S 205/206 Ford Mustang Hardtop |
One of the most popular models Majorette chose for the Super S series was the Renault Clio from the early 90s. In blue the early release from 1995, in light yellow a later version (probably released around 2000)
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| Majorette Super S 207/208 Renault Clio |
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This Ford Mondeo was made of a new cast. Note that this might be a later reedition, since the Super S logo and the Made in France have been erased from the base.
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| Majorette Super S 211/212 Ford Mondeo |
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One of the most impressive model, is the new cast Roadster. This model is quite broad.
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| Majorette Super S 213/214 Roadster |
In the following pictures is shown the Ferrari GTO (215/216). This model was modified from a previous "series 200" version, as said above.
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| Majorette Super S 215/216 Ferrari GTO |
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| Opening bonnet as in the original "series 200" model |
The next car is the Porsche Boxter. I would say the yellow one is original from the mid 90s, the other one is a reedition, because those wheels seem pretty much modern to me.
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| Majorette Super S 219/220 Porsche Boxter |
This last model was released in 1997, and has only one reference number instead of the usual two, I don't know to which version the other reference number in the base (218) belongs. Maybe to a "normal" (not Super S) version?
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| Majorette Super S 222S Peugeot 406 |
UPDATE1 (Dec/2018): a different shade of blue for the Peugeot 406.
FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Name: FIAT COUPÉ (Nr 202.S or 201/202), MUSTANG GT HARD TOP (205/206), RENAULT CLIO (207/208), FORD MONDEO (211/212), ROADSTER (213/214), FERRARI GTO (Nr. 215.S or 215/216), PORSCHE BOXTER (219/220), PEUGEOT 406 (222)
- Scale: 1:58, 1:59
- Year: All 1995, except PEUGEOT 406, 1997.
- Company: Majorette (France)
- Size: approx. 7 cm
No conocía esto... muy curioso!! Majorette siempre nos encantó en casa, pero por las fechas que comentas ya estábamos a otras cosas (queriendo ser ya "mayores" XD) y ni recuerdo haberlos visto en jugueterías.
ReplyDeleteMuy muy interesante el sistema de dirección incluido en aquellas fechas en un coche de estas escalas... y tenía que ser Majorette, por supuesto.
Gracias por la información!!!!!!
Hola,
ReplyDeleteEfectivamente ya estabamos a otras cosas, pero cuando lo vi (de casualidad) en Hipercor me pareció tan curioso que compré uno, que como ves nunca llegué a utilizar. Creo que tengo alguno más de la lista comprado después en mercadillos, aunque si lo tengo, nunca he llegado a jugar con él a esquivar conos. Creo que debe ser muy divertido.
I love the old Majorette cars with the metal bottom and with working doors (sometimes even the trunk or hood) and with THE BEST suspension ever!
ReplyDeleteI am a bit disappointed with Majorette these days. They do not make the toy cars they used to when I was a kid. And are more expensive than say Hot Wheels or Matchbox but do not offer the quality of Siku.
I wrote an article about various die cast cars called Matchbox vs Hot Wheels vs Majorette Toy Cars and there I have an image of my old Majorette blue Corvette which was made in France. The amount of play that car has "endured" IS AMAZING! :D
I got my kid one majorette toy car (you can see the image of it, it is the hummer) and was completely disappointed. I had to mend it together with small metal screws.
Hi again!
DeleteMany thanks for leaving this new comment. I am not familiar with modern Majorettes, I haven't bought any since 1995 or so.
Qué gran post. Mi hermano se compró el Stock Car en continente, flipábamos con el blister diciendo "gira de verdad" o algo así. Después fue un poco así decepcionante, porque no se pudiera quedar fija la dirección, parecía casi a medio desarrollar el invento. (eso sí, el stock car con rueda más pequeña que ese cátalogo). Pero igualmente algo especial y digno de mención. Salieron al mismo tiempo que los coches medio-transparentes de Majorette, también muy impresionantes para la época.
ReplyDeletePuedo añadir que el Dodge Concept car de Majorette, también tenía este sistema (o al menos, la base era de este estilo). No sé si porque reutilizaba la base del Roadster remodificada o qué. Tambien tengo el Roadster de reedición, y él si lleva ruedas gordas, pero es imposible que hubiera ningun Super S, porque es demasiado ancha y no permite girar XD.
¡Hola Matthew! Qué alegría leerte.
ReplyDeleteEntiendo lo que dices, aunque a mí me gusta más así que si fuera la dirección como en los Bburago de gran escala que puedes poner la dirección aquí o allá, este modelo tiene más jugabilidad. EN la misma época se pusieron de mano los monopatines de dedos o de mano, que eran básicamente el mismo juguete que este.
Sobre los coches transparentes "serie Cristal" o "Crystal" (no recuerdo) son modelos portugueses fabricados por Novacar después de que Majorette comprara la empresa y la convirtiera en su filial, duraron poco a la venta. Casi al mismo tiempo en que hicimos el último cambio que venían unos Novacar, conseguí varios blísters de esa serie, y tengo pendiente escribir sobre ellos.
He leído el texto y efectivamente ya en los años 2000 hubo más modelos con este sistema, aunque ya no llevaban el nombre SuperS ni están marcados en la base. En el momento de escribir esto no tenía tantos catálogos de Majorette escaneados. Hay bastantes más modelos de los que menciono aquí.
¡Espero que vaya todo bien por allí!
¡Saludos!
I have many of them in new pack from 1995-1997
ReplyDelete