#296 YATMING – ADAMS PROBE 16 (1005), FORD THUNDERBIRD (1008), VOLKSWAGEN (1009) and MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SEL (1012) (around 1970)

Yat Ming or Yatming is a die-cast manufacturer from Hong Kong. Its founder is Mr. Wai Ming Lam, whose middle-name gave name to the company. Although it has been traditionally written “Yatming”, now we know that the correct form to write it is “Yat Ming”, that in Chinese mean “The best of Ming”.

The company was founded in 1970, and produced 1:64 scale cars, by the mid 90s, they changed their vision, and started producing higher quality scale models, plenty of details in higher scales, like 1:43, 1:24 and 1:18. This second part of the history of Yat Ming is not interesting for this blog, that focuses on toys made before the mid 90s.

Today, I will present a few Yat Ming models I have bought during the last 20 years. They’re just a few, because they’re pretty rare in Europe. I currently own 16 different models.

 The history of Yat Ming, is quite similar to the history of Zylmex, that was told in entry #193. Yat Ming produced cheap die-cast cars that could only compete with Matchbox, Majorette and others due to their low price.

Yatming models were sold in packages under the names: “Fastwheel”, “Real Wheels”, “Speeding Wheels”, “Road Toughs” and “Street Machines”. Yatming models, as it was the case of Zylmex, produced models for supermarket chains and retailers like F.W. Woolworth, but these were sold with a different numbering system.

 

To finish this article, I’ll leave a list of Yat Ming references for future use (I’ll use it as a checklist).

LIST OF PRODUCED MODELS (original by Doug Breithaupt, Mark Forster and others, list retrieved from die-castchile.blogspot.com)

1000-SERIES: This is the standard series by Yatming, the one with the most models. All models in this range have a metal body, but the chassis might be made of plastic or metal, depending on each reference. Plastic chassis might be black or chromed. Some references are double, that is, two different cars might have the same reference number. And within the same reference number and models, there exist colour and wheel variations.

In this series, we can establish some subseries, although I think it is best to check the names, because some of these sub-groups are really heterogeneous.

1001 LAMBORGHINI MIURA
1002 CHEVROLET RACER
1003 Chevrolet Astro 1
1003 Chevrolet Lumina
1004 LAMBORGHINI MARZAL
1005 ADAMS PROBE 16
1006 TOYOTA 2000 GT
1007 NISSAN LAUREL 2000SGX
1008 FORD THUNDERBIRD
1009 VOLKSWAGEN
1010 JAGUAR E4.2
1011 MERCEDES-BENZ 350 SL
1012 450 SEL MERCEDES-BENZ
1013 MASERATI BORA
1014 SAAB SONNET
1015 FORD Station Wagon
1016 PORSCHE TARGA
1017 BMW 2800
1018 OPEL ADMIRAL
1019 Porsche Audi
1020 PORSCHE 910
1021 Hairy
1022 Chevron
1023 Porsche 917
1024 BOSS MUSTANG
1025 FERRARI BB 512
1026 CADILLAC SEVILLE
1027 FAIRLADY Z 300ZX
1028 MUSTANG PACE CAR
1029 BMW 320i TURBO RALLY
1030 TURBO TRANS-AM
1031 DORGE [sic] MONACO, with and without light bar on roof
1032 CHEVY CITATION X-11
1033 THUNDERBIRD
1034 PORSCHE 928
1035 AUDI QUATTRO RALLY GR.4
1036 SUPPER [sic] CELICA
1038 1984 Chevrolet Corvette, revised casting of 1084
1039 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, revised casting of 1079
1040 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, revised casting of 1078
1041 Jaguar XJ-S, revised casting of 1076
1045 Chevrolet Corvette, revised casting of 1080
1051 PHANTOM VI ROLLS-ROYCE
1052 CONTINENTAL MARK IV
1053 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM
1054 DODGE CORONET CUSTOM
1055 TOYOTA CROWN
1056 DODGE
1057 PLYMOUTH
1058 VOLVO 244DL
1059 Lamborghini Miura Jota
1060 PONTIAC TRANS-AM
1061 MERCEDES 450 SEL
1062 DATSUN 280 Z-T
1063 CITROËN CX2200
1064 BLAZER
1065 Corvette
1066 Nissan Gloria
1067 FORD MUSTANG TURBO COB [sic]
1068 V.W. SCIROCCO
1069 MAZDA RX-7
1070 '64 CHEVY IMPALA SS
1071 Chevrolet Chevette
1072 HONDA CIVIC
1073 '66 MUSTANG
1074 '66 MALIBU STREETRAT
1075 '66 FORD GALAXIE 500XL
1076 JAGUAR XJ-S
1077 CAMARO Z-28
1078 '63 CORVETTE
1079 '57 CORVETTE
1080 CORVETTE
1081 DODGE CHARGER
1084 '84 CORVETTE
1085 1980's Pontiac Firebird
1086 '83 Camaro
1087 BENZ 500SEC
1088 BMW 635CSI
1089 Porsche 944
1090 4wd Blazer
1091 4wd Chevy Stepside Pick-up
1092 4wd Jeep
1093 1957 BEL AIR
1094 1994 Porsche 911
1095 Dodge Viper RT-10
1096 Ferrari F50
1097 '97 Chevrolet C5 Corvette
1098 Porsche Boxster
1099 Alfa Romeo GTV
1102 Tank
01111 6x6 Wheeled Assault Vehicle
01112 Military Tank Truck
01113 Halftrack Gun Truck
01114 Tank
01116 Tank
1201 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
1202 Ferrari 355
1203 BMW Z3
1204 Mercedes-Benz SLK
1208 MINI COOPER S
1209 Dodge Magnum
1301 Honda
1302 Ferrari
1303 March
1304 MELAREN-FORD [sic]
1305 LOTUS JPS 72
1306 Brabham BT44
1307 Tyrrell Elf 007
1308 HESKETH 308
1309 Brabham BT44
1310 Ferrari 312 B3
1311 Lola T 370
1312 BRM P.201
1351 Tipper Truck
1352 Wreck Truck
1353 Petrol Tanker
1354 Cement Mixer
1355 Aerial Work Truck
1356 Fire Engine
1357 Coca Cola Delivery Truck
1358 Heavy Duty Tipper Truck
1359 Dump Truck also listed as a Sanitation Truck
1360 Street Roller
1361 Tractor
1362 Ford D Series
1363 Front End Loader
1364 Boom Truck
1365 Bulldozer Front End Loader
1366 FORK LIFT
1367 Boom Truck
1368 Fuso Crane Truck
1369 Bulldozer Raker
1370 Bulldozer Scraper
1371 Back-hoe
1372 Touring Bus
01374/5 International Snow Plough
01374/5 Snow Plough
1376 Quarry Truck
01378 Road Roller
1381 Tractor Trailer
1382 Tractor And Tank Trailer
1383 Car And Boat Trailer
1384 Tractor And Log Trailer
1385 Delivery Truck And Long Trailer
1386 Car And House Trailer
1387 Tractor And Sail Boat Trailer
1388 Fire Engine And Rescue Boat Trailer
1389 Tractor And Gondola Trailer
1390 Farm Tractor And Trailer
1405 Truck Tractor
1408 Truck Tractor
1501 Ford Econoline
1502 Ford School Bus
1503 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Assault Vehicle
1503 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Launcher Vehicle
1504 HMMWV
1504 HMMWV, revised casting
1505 Double Barrel Tank
1505 Tank
1506 Tracked Missile Launcher
1506 Tracked Rocket Launcher
1601 CHEVY STEPSIDE, older issues have opening tailboard
1602 Jeep CJ-7, opening hood
1603 Jeep CJ-7, opening hood, revised casting of 1602
1607 CALIFORNIA PICKUP SNEAKY PETE
1608 Jeep Convertible
1608 Jeep Convertible, revised casting
1700 Chevrolet LUV

2300-SERIES: Consist of one single truck body with different “load”.

2300 DAF 95 Cement Mixer
2300 DAF 95 Container Truck
2300 DAF 95 Dump Truck
2300 DAF 95 Garbage Truck
2300 DAF 95 Ladder Truck
2300 DAF 95 Refrigeration Truck
2300 DAF 95 Stake Truck
2300 DAF 95 Tank Truck
2300 DAF 95 Tow Truck
2304 Mack Extending Ladder Fire Engine
2311 Mercedes-Benz Skip Truck
2312 Mercedes-Benz Tank Truck
2313/4/5 Ford E-450 Utility Van
2313/4/5 Ford E-450 Ambulance
2313/4/5 Ford E-450
2316/7/8 Mack Aerial Fire Truck
316/7/8 Mack Refridgeration Van
2316/7/8 Mack
02319 Utility Truck
02320 Tow Truck

3000-SERIES: Either 3100 or 3800 models seem to be equipped with a pull-back motor.

3001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY
3102 Chevrolet Camaro, friction motor
3104 Mazda RX-7, friction motor
3801 BMW 635 CSI, pullstring
3803 '83 Camaro, pullstring
3802 Pontiac Firebird, pullstring
3804 Benz 500SEC, pullstring
3806 '84 Corvette, pullstring
3807 Porsche 944, pullstring

8900-SERIES: Classic cars from the 50s decade (8901-8954) and more modern cars (rest)

8901 1959 Ford Convertible
8902 1953 Cadillac Convertible
8903 1948 Talbot-Lago Type T26 Record Cabriolet
8904 1950 Buick Convertible
8910 Tank
8911 Ferrari Testarossa
8912 Ford Granada
8913 Volvo 760GLE
8915 Mercedes-Benz

7100-SERIES: Unknown, they would perfectly fit in 1000-series. Maybe Woolworth’s references, have to look for “Yat Ming” original reference?

7114 TOYOTA CELICA
7116 SILVIA HATCHBACK 2000ZSE-X

71088 Jaguar X-Type Fire
71108 Alfa Romeo 156 Police
71148 Audi RS6 Police
71178 Opel Vectra GTS Police
71218 Mercedes-Benz E55 Taxi
71238 BMW E60 530I Police
72018 Lexus SC430
72028 Nissan 350Z
72038 Volkswagen W12 NARDO
72048 Mini Cooper S
72058 Opel Speedster
72059 2002 Vauxhall VX200
72068 Audi RS4 Wagon
72078 BMW M3 Convertible
72088 Jaguar X-Type
72098 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
72108 Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon GTA
72118 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
72128 Jaguar S-Type R
72138 BMW E65 745i
72148 Audi RS6
72158 2004 9-3
72168 Opel GTC CONCEPT
72178 Opel Vectra GTS
72188 Mercedes-Benz SL55
72198 B.M.W. Z4
72208 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
72218 Mercedes-Benz E55
72228 Porsche 996 Turbo
72238 BMW 5-series
72248 Dodge Magnum
72258 Ford Mustang
72268 Ford GT

OTHER SERIES: I don’t know anything about them

90501-1 Insecticide Tank Trailer
90501-1 Milk Tank Trailer
90501-1 Farm Trailer
90501-1 Stake Trailer

XXXX Jeep CJ-7, opening doors
XXXX Bernard Transport Truck
XXXX Formula 1 Racing Car
XXXX 1977-78 Pontiac Firebird, pull-back
XXXX 1970's Chevrolet Camaro Z-28, pull-back
XXXX Alfa Romeo 156
XXXX Audi RS4 Avant
XXXX BMW M3 Convertible
XXXX Jaguar X Type
XXXX Tractor With Scoop

800-SERIES – Low cost models with black windshields. Most of them were offered in packs with several vehicles each. Needless to say, all models are also available in the “standard” 1000-series

801 1980's Chevrolet Camaro
802 Ferrari 308 GTB
803 1980's Pontiac Firebird
804 BMW 850i
805 Toyota Celica
806 Toyota Celsior
807 Mazda RX-7
808 Nissan 240SX
809 80's Corvette
810 Chevrolet Lumina
811 Porsche 911
812 Mercedes-Benz 500SL
813 Chevrolet Pickup
813 1990 C/K PICKUP with cap
813 1990 C/K PICKUP tow truck
814 JEEP WRANGLER
815 British Ford
816 Audi 80
817 Lamborghini Miura
818 Honda Civic
819 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
820 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL
821 Mercedes-Benz 190 E
822 CHEVY PICK UP
823 Chevrolet Caprice Taxi
823 Chevrolet Caprice with light bar
824 Volvo 850 Wagon
825 Toyota RAV4
826 Toyota Estima
827 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
827 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE with light bar
828 1993 CAMARO
828 1993 CAMARO with light bar
829 Dodge Grand Caravan
834 2003 VIBE
840 Ford Crown Victoria
840 Ford Crown Victoria with light bar
899 Bedford Van

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: ADAMS PROBE 16, FORD THUNDERBIRD, VOLKSWAGEN and MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SEL (Nrs. 1005, 1008, 1009 and 1012)
• Scale: Approx. 1:64
• Year: Around 1970
• Company: Yat Ming (Hong Kong)
• Size: approx. 6 cm