#515 EDOCAR – BUICK LESARRE STOCK CAR (Nr. 14), CHEVROLET’57 (Nr. 17), JAGUAR XJ-S V12 (Nr. 28) and PORSCHE 365A (Nr. 33) (1986 and 1990)

Here are my four Edocar models. These are all I own. They are quite rare (at least were I lived) and I cannot remember where my father bought them for me.

In any case, Edocar was trademark property of two companies: Edor Benelux NL BV and Fred Beherr BV that offered die-cast models between 1986 and 2007. They did not manufacture the models themselves, but bought to other Asian companies and sold them in Europe under their own brand.

According to Wikipedia, Edocar was the distributor of Matchbox-Lesney toys until 1985, and from 1986, they changed to distribute several Asian brands in Europe. Why, we don’t know.

The most important supplier of miniatures was MC Toy (later Maisto), but other companies also produced toys for Edocar: Yat Ming (mostly in the very early years), Hartoy, Real Toy, Tiger Wheels and Golden Wheels (all these in the later years). Apparently, there is only one model designed and produced exclusively by Edocar, and it is a Lancia 037 Rally.

Three out of four models shown here are actually early models, from the first series that Edocar marketed, at that was called Edocar Mini Series (short EM Series). The EM-Series comprised 50 models, numbered 1 to 50. Mine are numbers 14, 17 and 28. Numbers 14 and 28 are original MC Toy/ Maisto models, and they are marked “Macau” in the (plastic) baseplate, while number 17 is a Yat Ming manufacture, is marked “Hong Kong” and the baseplate is metallic.

The fourth model is also early, but a few years newer. It has a copyright from 1990, and it is also a MC Toy cast.

It is important to mention that Edocar models were made in exclusive colours, different to their Asian counterparts. For example, that Porsche made by MC Toy was metallic grey, while for Edocar, it was made in red.

But that was not their only series. Also from those first years, are the EA (Edocar Ancient, in 1:43 Scale), EC (Edocar-Color, with temperature-changing paint). This are actually lines from MC Toy, as I explained in entry #391. In that same entry I already showed the same Porsche 365A (Nr. 33).

Other lines were EB (with pull-back motors), AK (Alfred J. Kwack-Series), AS (Alarm-Series), TP (Trailer-Pack), ST (Super-Trailer), GS (Gift-Set), VC (Vehicle-Collection), AC (Accessories) and CC or CM (Coca-Cola).

In 1999, the series range was expanded with several new ones, and the numbering system was also changed.

In 1999, Edocar models were available in 13 European countries, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Edor Benelux NL BV declared insolvency in 2007, but there was a last batch of cars models that reached the markets distributed by Loyal Bright from Hong Kong.

*The name "Buick Lesarre" is actually a spelling error on the plastic base, it should say "Buick LeSabre".

UPDATE: I bought on May 2015 one more Edocar model, although this one is much more modern, probably from the early 2000s or maybe late 90s. It has reference number 0124-5, but I don't know exactly which model it is, some kind of big van with the Sheriff star on the doors and blue sirens. Cool model.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BUICK LESARRE STOCK CAR (Nr. 14), CHEVROLET’57 (Nr. 17), JAGUAR XJ-S V12 (Nr. 28) and PORSCHE 365A (Nr. 33)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: 1986 and 1990
• Company: Edocar (Netherlands) / MC Toy, Maisto (Macau, China) / Yat Ming (Hong-Kong)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm

#513 MC TOY – VARIOUS MERCEDES MODELS (1984, 1986, 1990)

I will show today four Mercedes-Benz models by MC Toy, three of them different. MC Toy also produced other Mercedes models, like a Van (307D), the famous 500 SEC or some CLK (never seen these ones by MC Toy, but from Maisto).

Ref. 8452 – Mercedes 500 SL (in gold or white with black roof)
In the white model the rear-lights in red are not original. The car has been customized.

Ref. 8615 – Benz 500 SL (burgundy red)

Ref. 9011 – Benz 260 SEL (dark blue)

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SL (Ref. 8452), MERCEDES-BENZ 260 SEL (Ref. 8615) and MERCEDES BENZ 500 SL (90s model) (Ref. 9011)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: The two first digits in the reference number indicates the year of design and manufacture, so: 1984, 1986 and 1990.
• Company: MC Toy (U.S.A./ Macau)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm

#483 MC TOY – PEUGEOT 205, 309, 405 TURBO and CITROËN 2 CV (1986 and 1987)

MC Toy - Peugeot 205GTI [8611] and MC Toy - Peugeot 309 [8614]

Here’s another entry with more MC Toys. This time I have chosen a trio of French made cars: two Peugeots and a Citroën. I am quite surprised that the Hong-Kongese company MC Toy decided to reproduce this car models instead of any other, since they’re small European cars, only popular in certain countries of Europe. You might argue that the Citroën is more than that, some kind of iconic car, a symbol for the generation born in the mid 50s that got a car in the early 70s, but the two Peugeots are quite ordinary cars, with no especial charm.

No matter what, MC Toy managed to produce quite nice models, The Citroën is probably not as nice as the model made by Guisval, but the 205 is clearly much better. The 309 instead, is a model that to my knowledge was never reproduced by any other brand… what makes it a very interesting piece.

MC Toy - Citroen 2CV [8732]

The 405 Turbo is a car that due to its participation in the Paris-Dakar rally became very popular those years. Majorette manufactured it in yellow with many tampographies, and it looked great, with that impressive spoiler, and extra high wheels. This version is not as accurate as the Majorette version, because it features a white model, but it is still a very nice collection piece. The tampographies are not among the best by MC Toys, but they are still nice examples of what they were doing by the early 90s.

Poliguri also made this car in 1:64 scale. See entry #132.

MC Toy - Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 [8741]

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: PEUGEOT 205 (Ref. 8611), 309 (Ref. 8614), 405 TURBO (Ref. 8741) and CITROËN 2 CV (Ref. 8732)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: The two first digits in the reference number indicates the year of design and manufacture, so: 1986 and 1987.
• Company: MC Toy (U.S.A./ Macau)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm

#434 MC TOY – TOYOTA MR-2, TOYOTA HILUX SR5, NISSAN MID-4 and MAZDA RX-7 (1986 and 1987)

I am showing today four MC Toy cars which represent Japanese models. You can review my previous articles in which I explained some facts about MC Toys here (#390) and here (#391), or you can click on label MC Toy to see everything published about this brand.

I bought these four many years ago and have never been used, that’s why they’re mint. These models look absolutely great. From the perspective of the European collector they’re interesting models, since they’re models which have only been manufactured as a toy by brands like Tomica, and therefore they were difficult to find.

TOYOTA MR-2 (Ref. 8619) and NISSAN MID-4 (Ref. 8737)

MC TOY - TOYOTA MR-2 (Ref. 8619) and NISSAN MID-4 (Ref. 8737)

TOYOTA HILUX SR5 (Ref. 8621)
 

MC TOY - TOYOTA HILUX SR5 (Ref. 8621)

This model was equipped with a different type of wheels made only for a few models. It also has some fragile plastic parts behind the cabin, that are sometimse missing.

MAZDA RX-7 (Ref. 8738)

MC TOY - MAZDA RX-7 (Ref. 8738)

Note the nice tampography work in all four models. Although it was not perfect yet, it was much better than the work of their competitors.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: TOYOTA MR-2 (Ref. 8619), TOYOTA HILUX SR5 (Ref. 8621), NISSAN MID-4 (Ref. 8737) and MAZDA RX-7 (Ref. 8738)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: The two first digits in the reference number indicates the year of design and manufacture, so: 1986 and 1987.
• Company: MC Toy (U.S.A./ Macau)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm