#448 MEBETOYS/ HOT WHEELS! vs. POLISTIL vs. JOAL vs. MERCURY– FERRARI 512S PININFARINA (Ref. 6621, M13, 119 and 66) (1970 and 1971)

This model is in my opinion one of the most impressive prototypes ever made by Ferrari. The car was made for the Turin show of 1969 taking as a base the 512S (which was a race car) prepared by Pininfarina. The designer of this version was Filippo Sapino.

In this case I’d like to compare three models at 1:43 scale (two made in Italy, one made in Spain). A previous entry also talked about the same car in the same scale, but made by Mercury (#256). In that entry I already mentioned that the car was in construction quite similar to the model made by Mebetoys. You can review that old entry and judge yourself.

The interesting thing about these two cars, is that even they are the same scale, they look quite different: the length and the width are different, the windshield has a complete different forms, and the Mebetoys model is flatter than the Polistil one. How can this be? Being the car a prototype, it is very likely that the toy manufacturers never got the real measurements of one of the very few units made, so from photographs the designers tried to make some casts, that are very different among them, since each team had probably photographs taken from different angles, different distances and with different references.

I like all these models very much.

I’d like to start my comments with the Polistil model (red), which is the longest between these two. It has practicable bonnet and cockpit door and has a very impressive simulated motor under the bonnet and also on the chassis. It is also the only model between these two that has some stickers to decorate the sides of the car, and the bonnet is made in black with a red mesh, much more like the real car.

Mebetoys/ HotWheels model (green) is wider and shorter, and has clearly fewer detail than the Polistil model. Apart from practicable bonnet and cockpit door, it also has a practicable trunk (in the front) with a spare wheel inside. The chassis is a bit disappointing, since it has very fewer details, but this is compensated with the lights in/out feature that can be activated by pulling the tab on it.
The rear part of the car is also quite disappointing, because instead of casted, Mebetoys simply applied a sticker with the rearlights and the space for the license plates.
This model was available in blue, yellow (like the real model) or green, and in a later reedition, in red.

The hubcaps are very similar but those from Mebetoys looks better and have a better 3-D effect.
It is one of the models made during the last years of Mebetoys, after they were bought by Hot Wheels, but before they discontinued the Brand.

The Joal model is also based in the Politoys model, so there is not much more to say about it. The stickers are very nice, and the mixed colours in body and Bonnet gives it a strange looking.

 

The Mercury model, as said before, is unfortunately in a previous entry, so please visit it here, and compare all models together. Mercury seems to have taken as a reference the Mebetoys model, although it is hard to say, I haven't seen all four models together yet.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: FERRARI 512S PININFARINA (6621, M13, 119, 66)
• Scale: 1:43
• Year: 1970 (Mebetoys, Politoys) and 1971 (Joal, Mercury)
• Company: Mebetoys/Hot Wheels (Italy/ U.S.A.), Politoys (Italy), Mercury (Italy)
• Size: approx. 9 cm