This model of Land Rover with crane is one of those few models by Guisval that are difficult to find complete and in good conditions. And all because of the small yellow plastic hook. I had these four models in quite a good condition for many years waiting to recover their missing parts, knowing that it was virtually an impossible mission to get them. I have that orange model since I was a kid, since 1985 or so. Maybe that is why it is in a slightly worse condition.
The good and unexpected news is that a Spanish collector cloned this part and is selling repro hooks for this particular models in several colours. To my knowledge, all models came with yellow hooks, but the hooks are also available in red or black. If you want some of these, leave a comment below and I will forward you to the person who sells them.
I bought all four straight away to finally restore my models. I have three models, but one of the models have a variant, can you notice it? The military model comes with blue or green windshield and siren. The one with the blue windows seems to be rarer than the one with the green windows.
This is one of my favorite models by Guisval. It is very similar to the one made by Corgi Juniors, but still have some differences.
There is another Land Rover model which is older than this one. I have some of these as well, but they are difficult to get complete, since they came with accessories/decoration (a missile/rocket, a tiger…).
Checking the catalogues year by year, I observed the following variants:
1976
- Nº19 Grua Municipal (Red with black hook): the catalogue image looks like a prototype, based on the older model. The produced toy seems to have been sold with a yellow hook.
- Nº19 Grua Municipal (Red)
- Nº50 Grua Militar (Dark Green with green windows, some have been spotted with black hooks)
- Nº19 Grua Municipal (Orange with black stripe at sides and blue windows)
The model has been for sale until the early 90s. These later model are easy to identify because of its wheels, which are different to the ones that these four models have (See for example this model in entry #502). There are several decorations of these.
UPDATE (Feb/2020): One new model with "Rescate" stickers, from the 90s (note the four spoke wheels)
FACTS AND FIGURES: UPDATE (Feb/2020): One new model with "Rescate" stickers, from the 90s (note the four spoke wheels)
- Name: LAND ROVER (GRÚA MUNICIPAL and GRÚA MILITAR)
- Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
- Year: 1976 to around 1990
- Company: Guisval (Spain)
- Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm
Nice lot. I have a couple, but both in poor/fair condition.
ReplyDeleteATB Steve
Thanks for the comment, Steve!
DeleteWhile Santana was making Land Rovers from CKD kits from 1958 onwards, it wasn't until 1968 that Santana started to go down a slightly independent road. To stereotype for these models, I would suggest that if the grille is silver, it represents a Land Rover, and if the grille is black, it represents a Santana. This is the fastest way in Latin and South America to tell Santanas apart from Land-Rovers. Series III's that it (1971-84)
ReplyDeleteHi Dixon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! Didn't know that. Guisval had some black bases at the time, as well as chromed and white, although the most common were grey (like this one). I don't believe they thought of that when designing the model. Same for the later model with plastic base. All or almost all plastic bases are black.
Cheers,
Juan