#655 MATCHBOX - VARIOUS SUPERFAST MODELS (1973)

A few Matchbox models, all of them marked 1973. A good year!

 

N°3d Monteverdi Hai

 

 

 

N°6e Mercedes 350SL - orange model, pictured with Lamborghini Countach and Hot Rocker.

 

 

 

 

 

N°21e Rod Roller

 

 

N°27e Lamborghini Countach – two versions

 

 

N°28e Stoat (Rolamatics) – two versions

 

 

N°33d Datsun 126X

 

 

N°47d Beach Hopper (Rolamatics)

 

 

N°65d Saab Sonett III

 

 

 

N°67c Hot Rocker (Rolamatics) - green model, pictured with Lamborghini Countach and Mercedes 350SL

 

UPDATE 1 (May/2017) Added second Beach Hopper with metallic base.
 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MONTEVERDI HAI (Nr. 3d), MERCEDES 350SL (Nr. 6e), ROD ROLLER (Nr. 21e), LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH (Nr. 27e), STOAT (Nr. 28e), DATSUN 126X (Nr. 33d), BEACH HOPPER (Nr. 47d), SAAB SONNET III (Nr. 65d) and HOT ROCKER (Nr. 67c)
• Scale: Approx. 1:64
• Year: 1973
• Company: Matchbox (Great Britain)
• Size: Around 8 cm

#654 MOTU - SY-KLONE vs. SPIKOR (1985)

Sy-Klone and Spikor are two of the figures I keep since my childhood, and therefore are among my favorites.

From my point of view, Spikor is based on an amazing concept, has a great action feature (I include.here its plastic spike skin) and an impressive colour and accesory. I like everything in this figure, for example the cool head with spikes and yellow eyes, which give it a very menacing look. The extendable fork/hand in combination with the twist waist is also great. Spikor´s skin, unfortunately, is after so many years a bit fragile. One of the spikes almost fell while I was cleaning it, and I had to glue it with superglue. I will be very careful with the figure from now on.
By the way... for the variant collectors. This figure of Spikor is Made in France.

Something similar can be said of Sy-Klone, as a kid I loved its colour combination with yellow/blue/red. Very basic colours. Today I am not so fond of it, but I still love its action feature, and its futuristic look with the image on its chest and the ring over its head. The first version I had was bought in Spain (marked "France") and had soft head. The versions with soft head can be usually found without the red ring over it. When biting the head (yes, we all did that), the ring tended to fall off. Later I got a hard head version (not marked with any Country of Origin - "No COO") in which that same ring is much more difficult to detach. Its only accesory was a round yellow shield.

I think this figure would later inspire Tornadorr/Spinwit, that featured a similar move, but, in my opinion, made perfect. 

Both figures get some additional points for its own designed body cast, making them very different from all the others. This is for me a very important thing.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: SY-KLONE (Ref. 7997) and SPIKOR (Ref. 7986)
• Toy Line: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (Wave 4)
• Year: 1985
• Company: Mattel (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: Around 14 cm

#653 HOT WHEELS! - DIE HEIßESTEN AUTOS DER WELT QUARTETT (Around 1991)

At the beginning of the 90s, David Hasselhoff was very popular for its TV appearances in Knight Rider (continuously being rebroadcasted) and Baywatch. At some point during those years, Hasselhoff signed a contract to be the image of Hot Wheels in Germany. In that country he was even more popular than in the rest of the world.

I have found many pictures of Hot Wheels models in their blisterpacks with a sticker on top “das heißeste auf Räder!” (“the hottest on wheels!”), but even rarer than those blisterpacks is this promotional deck of cards. I found it several months ago in unused condition and including its original case.

The deck has a small size and includes 6 families (4 cards each), 24 cards in total + 1 card with the instructions. It is a technical quartett, so you can find some data on each card, like speed, power and so on.

The models represented in those 24 cards are real models (Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari…) but also some Hot Wheels prototypes that do not exist in real life.

UPDATE: I just found this commercial in German... probably from the same year than this deck of cards

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: HOT WHEELS! DIE HEIßESTEN AUTOS DER WELT QUARTETT
• Year: Around 1991
• Company: Mattel (U.S.A.)

#652 INDIANA JONES (Part 2) - DR. HENRY JONES, YOUNG INDY, GRAIL KNIGHT, INDIANA JONES with ROCKET LAUNCHER, IRINA SPALKO, COLONEL DOVCHENKO and RUSSIAN SOLDIER (2008)

Apart from the two sets shown in the previous entry, I present here some other figures I got for 1 Euro in a 1 Euro shop.

I´ll start with the figures from the movie: The Last Crusade:

• Dr. Henry Jones
• Young Indy
• Grail Knight

I´ll continue with the figures from the movie: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

• Indiana Jones (with rocket launcher)
• Irina Spalko
• Colonel Dovchenko
• Russian Soldier

 

 

And to finish this 2-article series, a list of the released figures for each movie. I leave apart the playsets and vehicles because they do not interest me much.

 

From "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

• Indiana Jones (with Whip-Cracking Action!)
• Indiana Jones (with Golden Idol)
• Marion Ravenwood
• Cairo Swordsman
• Sallah
• René Belloq
• German Soldier
• Monkey Man
• Indiana Jones with Horse (Deluxe)
• Indiana Jones with the Ark (Deluxe)
• Indiana Jones with Temple Trap (Deluxe)
• Indiana Jones with Temple Pit Fall (Deluxe)
• Marion Ravenwood with Cairo henchman (Deluxe)
• German Soldiers (Deluxe)
• Cario Thugs (Deluxe)

From "the Temple of Doom"

• Indiana Jones
• Short Round
• Willie Scott
• Mola Ram
• Chief Temple Guard
• Temple Guard

From "The Last Crusade"

• Indiana Jones
• Dr. Henry Jones
• Dr. Elsa Schneider
• Young Indy
• Grail Knight
• Colonel Vogel
• German Soldier with Motorcycle (Deluxe)

From the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

• Indiana Jones (with Crystal Skull)
• Indiana Jones (with rocket launcher)
• Mutt Williams (in jacket)
• Mutt Williams (with snake)
• Irina Spalko
• Colonel Dovchenko
• Russian Soldier
• Ugha Warrior
• Cemetery Warrior
• Mutt Williams with Motorcycle (Deluxe)
• Crystal Skeleton (Mail-Away)

 

 

Needless to say that these figures can be very easily found today a very low prices. I don't know if they will be valuable in the future. The first action figures made of Indy in the 80s (by Kenner) are very sought-after colectables today. Also are the licensed figures from Startoys (see entry #462).

 

Mail Away Crystal Skeleton with Throne

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: DR. HENRY JONES, YOUNG INDY, GRAIL KNIGHT, INDIANA JONES with ROCKET LAUNCHER, IRINA SPALKO, COLONEL DOVCHENKO and RUSSIAN SOLDIER
• Toy Line: Indiana Jones - The Last Crusade and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Year: 2008
• Company: Hasbro (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 9,5 cm (3 3/4'')