#980 GAMA – OPEL REKORD, ASCONA and CORSA (893, 1140, 1159, 1176) (1978, 1981, 1983, 1984)

This is my second entry showing Gama die-cast cars. In the previous occasion, I showed a 60s Porsche Carrera in 1:43 scale, and this time I am showing four Opel/Vauxhall models from the late 70s and the 80s.

Not to repeat everything four times, I would like to summarize the common characteristics of these models. They are all 1:43 scale die-cast, have practicable parts, detailed interiors and the base include not only the name of the car, brand, etc., but also some technical specs for a particular model such as speed, power and 0-100 km acceleration time.

I would say they are all excellent, you cannot really confuse the models with any other Opels and the combination of metal and plastic parts, some of them painted in two colours shows probably the most accurate representation of the models available at the time. All these and most Gama I have seen on the Internet are in very good condition, so probably they were not really intended for children, but adult collectors, or they had an astounding paint quality, or, most probably, both at the same time.

They were marketed under the GAMAmini brand and sold in cardboard boxes with windows, but I also suspect they were sold at Opel athorised dealers to owners of the real cars or car enthusiasts in general.

So, chronologically…

Opel Rekord Limousine 4-Türig (893) / Vauxhall Carlton

The real model was for sale between 1977 and 1982, and this toy was probably made in 1978. It is the oldest model in the lot and was manufactured in Hong-Kong, while all the others were manufactured in Western-Germany. Curious that the production was moved from Hong-Kong to Germany and not the other way round, how did that happen? Hong-Kong marked models seem to be somewhat rarer than the German ones, and also more exensive, although any of these can be easily found on eBay or similar sites.

Opel Ascona Stufenheck-Limousine 4-Türig (1140) / Vauxhall Cavalier

This thrid version of the ascona premiered in 1981 and wasn’t modified until 1984. It represesented the mid-upper-range car by Opel between Rekord and Kadett. After a facelift, it was still sold untl 1988, and then it was replaced by the Opel Astra. This model was far more common than the Rekord on the streets when I was a child, but still a good expensive car.

Opel Corsa SR (1159) / Vauxhall Nova

At the time, he smallest Opel available, this car was expremely popular at the time. It was launched in 1982 and wasn’t modified until 1985, although not much. I recall this car as a kid, and I even travelled in it a couple of times, maybe because of this, it is my favorite model. Note that it has a practicable trunk door, but the bonnet cannot be opened, as it was the case of the Ascona. The other two models have both practicable trunk and bonnet parts.

 
Opel Rekord Limousine 4-Türig (1176) / Vauxhall Carlton

This car is the 1983-facelift Rekord that we have just seen before. It would remain for sale until 1986, when it was replaced by the Opel Omega. It is interesting to compare this model with the pre-facelift one, and see, for example, that the base is exactly the same, and the bodies also very similar to each other, I would say the main structure is exactly the same, and only the practicable parts and the front and back plastic pieces are different.

I bought altogether in the last half of 2019 for 5 euro/piece.

 

 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: OPEL REKORD, ASCONA and CORSA (893, 1140, 1159, 1176)
• Scale: 1:43
• Year: 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984
• Company: Gama (Germany/Hong-Kong)
• Size: Around 9 cm

#979 HOT WHEELS! - ATTACK TRACK BIG BONES (Ref. 1853) (1992)

This is one of the biggest models of the Attack Track series, but not necessarily the people’s favorite. It can still be found for very little money in auction sites.

The car reveals a monster with three mouths, one on the cab and two more on the front wheels, and this makes it roll with difficulty. I think Mattel should have solved this in a better way. This is its greatest flaw. The rear hook/crane and the bed with the bones cage are excellent, and you can really trap one of the smaller, ordinary cars, this gives it more playability than any other feature.

The name “Big Bones” refers probably to this cage, and I think it is well chosen. I guess it sold very well due to the artwork on the box, as the concept is much better than the realization of the toy. There were other bigger trucks in this collection, but they were surprisingly, very different to each other.

The toy is made of plastic, so it is also light and rather simple. It is decorated with some stickers, but these are not really very good. I would like to see more stickers and more colours in truck form. The chromed motor and front, as well as the exhaust pipes are good, but not great.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: ATTACK PACK BIG BONES (Ref. 1853)
• Scale: Unknown
• Year: 1992
• Company: Hot Wheels!/Mattel (U.S.A.)
• Size: approx. 20 cm