Thursday, December 22, 2022

#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

Thursday, December 8, 2022

#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