#146 NACORAL – ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III (Ref. M 3509) (1973)

We can tell between three “ages” in Nacoral miniatures depending on which kind of tyres they have. In the earlier models, the hubs were made of metal, and the tyres of gum/plastic, like those in the Mercedes in the previous entry. In the second age the metallic hubs were replaced by plastic ones, that surely were cheaper to produce, and that was a great error: the plastic compound of the hubs together with the tyres reacts in some chemical way and, as a result, the hubs are in most models deformed. It is almost impossible to find model today without this problem. This same problem also happens to the oldest miniatures made by Guisval.

After a couple of years using these two-part plastic tyres, Nacoral decided to change again the wheels of its cars and started making one-piece wheels in plastic. This was probably because the new ones were cheaper to produce, although it could also be that Nacoral had also noticed the problem in their toys.

Among the older toys, it is not rare to find toys whose zamak is very fragile and already broken or about to break. This problem is known as “metal fatigue” or “zamak pest”, and it a not-so-rare problem for die-cast miniatures.

 My car has the base plate broken, but I am not sure if this is because of the zamak pest, 

or somebody simply turn the screws too much.

  

Back to the main topic today, Nacoral launched a series in 1:24 scale, similar to the ones by Polistil. This was the first series in this scale in Spain, and are also very appreciated today among die-cast collectors.

The catalogue in this scale includes 20 references 3500M to 3520M, plus 8 references (3550M to 3558M) which are models of the 35xx series, but with rally decoration (most of them with simulated mud marks). They were all sold in that black plastic base with a red label, and a transparent cover. From some models there were more than one decoration made (different colours, different stickers…).

 This Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III is very similar to another one produced by the die-cast maker Polistil, which released this model in the same (1:30) scale, but differently to the Italian model, this one was sold in a jewel case.

Observe the many details in the next few pictures:

And finally, the base of the case with the name of Nacoral and "made in Spain". As you can see, it is not very well finished.

As a curiosity, the price of this toy for a toyshop in 1973 was 160 pesetas (0,94 Eur). A later version was released with different hubcaps and mirrors (the later hubcaps were the same for all car models).

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III (Nr. M 3509)
• Scale: 1:29
• Year: 1973
• Company: Nacoral (Spain)
• Size: approx. 25 cm