#1012 SCALEXTRIC – SEAT 850 (Ref. C-42 or 4042) (1969)

I have the impression that Scalextric cars are losing value in the last few years, which is a good thing if you are still collecting them, or you want to play with them as it is my case. I have plenty of cars that I have bought in the last 30 years and I would like to start playing now with my son. It is bad news if you are trying to sell your collection.

Among the most difficult cars I have, I have two versions of the Seat 850, one in burgundy red and the other one in dark green, and they are both 100% original and in a very good shape. One of them is even boxed. These models have reached very high prices in the last 5 years, over 200 euros each, but I got mine for much less money. 

The real Seat 850 Sport Coupé was the sports car by Seat in the 60s, and, thus, a very rare car to spot, even at the time. It was usual to see other models, such as the 600, 1500, 850… but the 850 coupé was only sold in very low numbers, it was probably too expensive and not suitable for families. Exin chose this model to be made in the year 1969, right after the Seat 600, and was the second car ever made entirely by the Spanish branch, and the second Seat, for obvious reasons.

The slot car was also available in light blue and white, but all of them carried the same stickers (with different, random race numbers). There are newer reissues of the car, being the most important the “Vintage” limited edition from 1995, in white with race number 95, from which only 8.000 units were made. Even after that, already in the Tecnitoys era, there were many other models representing real racing cars.

It is a very cool car and it is also fun to drive. Note that both models shown here are the Race-Tuned versions.

   

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Name: SEAT 850 (Ref. C-42)
• Scale: 1:32
• Year: 1969
• Company: Scalextric Exin (Spain)
• Size: approx. 12 cm

#1011 STAR TOYS – MIGUEL INDURÁIN (1995)

   

This is a promotional figure made by Star Toys that represents the Spanish cyclist Miguel Induráin. He is the 5 times winner of the Tour de France, and the first person to win five times in consecutive years, between 1991 and 1995. There are other 3 people who also won that race five times. Lance Armstrong won the race 7 times, but was later disqualified for life.

Miguel Induráin also won the Giro d’Italia twice, as well as other prestigious races, and was also a gold medallist in the Olympic Games of Atlanta’96.

Right after the fifth Tour de France victory in the summer of 1995, El Mundo Deportivo, a sports journal from Spain offered this small PVC figure as a giveaway, presented in a plastic bag with a small card inside. It is an unique figure, does not belong to any series.

The figure is manufactured by Star Toys and it is relatively easy to spot in Spain, as it was probably made up to hundreds of thousands. It carries the corporate colours of the Banesto Team, named after a bank that is now part of the Santander group.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: MIGUEL INDURÁIN
• Year: 1995
• Company: Star Toys (Spain)
• Size of the figures: Around 8 cm

#1010 EDOCAR – VW 1300 MUSICAR “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” (1989)

 

What I found about Edocar was already explained in a previous entry, that you can review here. This time I am presenting a single model which has the special feature of singing Happy Birthday using the same mechanism than Majorette’s Sonic Flashers.

The model, of course, it is produced by MC Toy in a color which is specific for Edocar, and the decoration is somewhat colourful although not especially remarkable. Most MC Toy models have better tampographies. The windows are black to hide the electrical circuit that produces the music. It was sold in a blister pack.

Back to the musical feature, Happy Birthday was not the only melody available, there were other models which reproduced the tune of “Tulips from Amsterdam”, the theme of “Alfred J. Kwack” or the jingle of Coca-Cola. Edocar and Coca-Cola have a special relation about which I will write in another occasion.

What I dislike about this toys is that, once the battery is empty, there is no easy way to replace them. Also the batteries corrode, and at some point, they will spoil the toy, not to mention that many of these toys ended in the waste bin contaminating earth and water. Remember to remove batteries from the toys if you are going to store them for a long time!

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: VW 1300 Musicar „Happy Birthday“
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: 1989
• Company: Edocar (Netherlands, China)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm

#1009 BUCKY O’HARE – BUCKY O’HARE and AL NEGATOR (1991)

I am not collecting this line specifically, but, as I have two more figures with their accessories that I got in exchanges and in lots I bought, I have decided to make a new entry with these two nice characters from the toyline created by Larry Hama.

The first one is Bucky O’Hare himself, the main character of the series and one of the nices figures in the collection. I already and extensively talked about him in a previous netry, so this time I am focusing on the figure. It has the usual 5 points of articulation, plus the two ears, which is kind of peculiar. The figure came with an orange pistol that can also be attached to his belt, and cloak, that, for some reason I forgot to photograph. I has nice bright colours, but I miss at least one more colour applied to his uniform, and it is all red with some yellow and silver details. With one more colour, it may have looked much better.

Al Negator (Al Garto in Spanish) is one of the bad guys, some alligator with an astronaut outfit and also with a pistol, this time a green one. It can also be attached to his back, to carry it easily. This figure has 6 points of articulation, the usual 5 ones plus the tail. The figure has also 4 basic colours.

The figure in their blisters have been available for a long time, but now they are starting to scarce and the prices are going up. Maybe it is our last chance to complete this collection for very little money before it definitely goes up. Several year ago, I had the chance to buy all  figures at 5 euro each new in their blister cars, but I decided to get only one. That was the time when I was starting this blog. 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: BUCKY O’HARE and AL NEGATOR
• Alternate Names: Al Garto (Spanish)
• Toy Line: Bucky O’Hare (Wave 1)
• Year: 1991
• Company: Hasbro (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 12 cm approx.

#1008 SOHBI – VARIOUS MODELS (Around 1995)

 

I already wrote about Sohbi a long time ago, you can review this entry, if you are interested in reading a bit about the company or you want to see a nice Lancia Stratos or Two versions of a Volkswagen Golf.

Around three years ago I found a small lot of 6 Sohbi cars in a flea market, and I got Them all. These are the models I am presenting today. All of them are based on casts from MC Toy, Zylmex or Matchbox. Some of them have interesting decorations, although due to the low quality of the tampographies, these are partially lost.

E-18 - Ferrari Testarossa (MC Toy)

E-19 - Porsche 959 (MC Toy)

 

 

E-20 - Peugeot 205 (MC Toy)

E-21 - Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (Zylmex)

E-24 - Jaguar E-Type (Zylmex)

 

 

E-28 - Lotus Europa (Matchbox)

 

 

I also tried to elaborate a list of Sohbi models together with their reference numbers, using as a base the list in Swifty’s Garage and inserting one or two references from my own models.

• E-16 - Lancia Stratos (Zylmex?)
• E-17 - Volkswagen Golf (MC Toy)
• E-18 - Ferrari Testarossa (MC Toy)
• E-19 - Porsche 959 (MC Toy)
• E-20 - Peugeot 205 (MC Toy)
• E-21 - Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (Zylmex)
• E-22 -
• E-23 -
• E-24 - Jaguar E-Type (Zylmex)
• E-25 - DeTomaso Mangusta (Corgi Juniors?)
• E-26 -
• E-27 - Porsche 906 Carrera 6 (Corgi Juniors)
• E-28 - Lotus Europa (Matchbox)
  

• Citroen DS
• 11 - Ford Econoline
• 12 - Jeep CJ-6
• Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL
• Lamborghini Countach LP5000
• 32 - Porsche 911 Carrera
• 35 - Mercedes-Benz 500 SL

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: FERRARI TESTAROSSA, PORSCHE 959, PEUGEOT 205, MERCDES-BENZ 300 SE, JAGUAR E-TYPE and LOTUS EUROPA (D-E18, D-E19, D-E20, D-E21, D-E24 and D-E28)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: Approx. 1995
• Company: Sohbi (Hong-Kong/ China)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm