#1054 - LONE STAR - RANGE ROVER, CADILLAC ELDORADO & JAGUAR (Nr. 71, 72 & 79) (1976 and 1979)

As time goes by, we have seen websites dealing with die-cast models disappear. Great and free sources of information are lost and there is no way to get them back. However, one website that is still operative, since more than 20 years is: www.robertnewson.co.uk/articles/LoneStarImpy/index.html

There you can read the history and a chronological scroll of events, improvements, production, subseries and all related to Lone Star. The article goes back to 2003, when this brand was featured in the Diecast Collector magazine, and a sudden interest woke up. Taking this website as a reference, I mad a list of the models released and I summarised the history of the company, for me to keep track of the models I have and to which series do they belong.

Lone Star has been always rare to spot as they were not so popular as Corgi, Matchbox or Dinky in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. What I didn´t know if that Lone Star was more focused in toy guns and other toys, while diecast vehicles were only offered intermittently, even updating or revamping casts as they were not so actual anymore.

The company was founded in 1939 by Bob Mills and Sidney Ambridge in Palmers Green, London. Originally, they manufacted diecasting machines, and so the complete name of the company from 1940 onwards was Die Casting Machine Tools Ltd. (short: DCMT). There is evidence that many diecast firms after the war, including Matchbox, Modern Products and Kemlows used DCMT machinery and that both Matchbox founders Jack Odell and Rodney Smith worked for the company before starting their own business. One of the most popular models of DCMT was the M55 diecasting machine.

As they saw the commercial success of companies using their machines, they also started producing their first toys in 1946, so shortly after the three cited above. Initially, DCMT were only manufacturers, and the company The Crescent Toys Ltd. was acting as a distributor. These very first models included the Crescent Jaguar Saloon, hugely popular at the time. They also copied some casts from Tootsietoys. This situation remained until January of 1950, where they decided to stop the contract with Crescent and distribute their own products directly to wholesalers. They changed the name to Slikka Toy during approximately one year, and, in 1951, they changed it again to Lone Star. They had already many toy guns, and this second and final name was chosen because it was already registered and in use for several cowboy outfit sets. Business was going great and they opened new factories in other placed in England, such as Hertfordshire.

Theis most famous vehicle lines were the Roadmasters (1956-1969), Impy (1966-1968), Flyers and Commercials (1970-1972, although some were revamped later) and Impy Super Models (1976-1980).

The Roadmasters debuted in 1956 with a series of sport cars and classic cars in 1:35 scale. They were fragile, because the base and wheels were made of plastic. With the years, there were more models and other scales (such as thirteen models in 1:50, large scale trucks and planes in 1:250 scale). They didn´t have much success.

The Impys were a new trial to compete against the established manufacturers, and have nothing in common with the Roadmasters. They started in 1966 and despite the small scale, Lone Star wanted to include a lot of features, that is, windows, interior, suspension, jewelled headlights, steering wheels and practicable parts (more parts than Corgi or Matchbox, often doors, bonnet and trunk). The price was slightly higher than the similar models, but the toy itself was also a bit bigger in size (3 inches long). With the time, the features were cut, while the concurrence were adding more and more features while keeping the price tag stable. Lone Star was broadly advertised in children´s press and collectors magazines.

Unfortunately, the models are not very well casted and proportions do not match with the real models.

Other names used for the line were Lone Star Roadmaster Impy Super Cars.

Each model was typically available in more than one colour.

1966 Models (priced 2s11d)

• Nr.10 Jaguar Mk.X (1:64)
• Nr.11 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (named Gran Turismo Coupe, probably due to a missing license) (1:58)
• Nr.12 1963 Chrysler Imperial (1:73)
• Nr.13 Ford Thunderbird (unreleased) 
• Nr.14 Ford Zodiac Mk.III Estate (1:59)
• Nr.15 Volkswagen Microbus (1:59)
• Nr.16 Motorway Police Patrol Car (nr. 14 or nr. 12 with siren and POLICE decoration) / Variants: Mercedes 220E (nr.17 in dark green “POLIZEI” for Germany, “POLIS” Mercedes for Sweden and “POLITIE” Chrysler for the Netherlands).
• Nr.17 Mercedes 220E (1:63) 
• Nr.18 Ford Corsair (1:58)

1967 Models (priced 3s) and Accessories

• Nr.19 Volvo 1800S
• Nr.20 VW Microbus ambulance (based on nr.15 with slight changes in the interior and siren) / variant with POLITIE for the Dutch market.
• Nr.21 Fiat 2300S Coupe (scale 1:59)
• Nr.22 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Convertible
• Nr.23 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Spider
• Nr.24 Foden 8-wheel tipper
• Nr.25 International tractor
• Nr.26 Foden Petrol Tanker (announced as Foden Bulk Sugar Transporter) (Same as 24 with Tanker “Mobile”, rare variant “SHELL”)
• Nr.27 Ford Taunus 12M
• Nr.28 Peugeot 404
• Nr.29 Cement Mixer Lorry (announced 1967, but was unavailable until 1969)
• Nr.30 Merryweather Fire Engine
• Nr.31 Ford Transit Breakdown Lorry “ESSO”

• Nr.401 Car Lifting Ramp, price 3s 11d
• Nr.402 Lock-Up Garage, price 1s 6d 
• Nr.403 Service Station (unreleased)

1968 Models (priced 3s6d) and Accessories

• Nr.32 Fire Chief version of the Ford Corsair (with siren and FIRE CHIEF decoration) / variant: FEUERWEHR for Germany
• Nr.33 BLH Austin-Western Model 220 Mobile Crane
• Nr.34 Euclid 82-80 Twin Power Crawler Tractor 
• Nr.35 Articulated Flat Truck (unreleased) 
• Nr.36 Lotus Europa (announced but unavailable until 1969)

• Nr.404 'Mobil' Petrol Pump Island with canopy and a 'Mobil' forecourt sign (prized 4s9d)
• Nr.405, a new two-tier Service Station (unreleased)

The Flyers was a series conceived in 1968, that is why the Impy models from that year are all repaints, but released in 1969. In 1968, the Hot Wheels range was introduced in most markets, so every other company had to react to it. The new Flyers started with the old Impys in new wheels (although these were rebranded as Lone Star Commercials. They mounted new ultra-thin axles with a plastic piece on top to implement the suspension. The wheels were designed new and the base was screwed instead of rivetted. The steering feature was completely removed. Some tracks were also available. All these actions made Lone Star the fastest competitor in Britain to adapt to the new hot wheels trend (around 6 months ahead of Matchbox´s Superfast and 9 months ahead of Corgi Rockets). The price continued to be a disadvantage.

Flyers lost the jeweled headlights, but got more attractive painting and decorations. They were promoted as a cereal giveaway. On every package was one of six models available and a leaflet catalogue. 

1969 Flyers models (priced 3s6d) 

The 18 Flyers models comprised the 16 cars from the Impy series and two new additions.

• Nr. 36 Lotus Europa (appeared late in 1969) 
• Nr. 9 Maserati Mistral GT Coupe (spelled 'Mistrale') (1970)
• Nr. 29 Foden eight-wheel “Lucas Battteries” (not Flyer, but Commercial)

One new Commercial appeared in 1969 as no.29, using the Foden eight-wheel cab/chassis with a new plastic body representing a canvas side type of box van.  This had 'Lucas Batteries' transfers, changed in 1970 to 'Express Freight' labels.  Later there was a special issue of this model for Japan with labels in Japanese characters which translate (I am told) as 'National Railway Container'.

• Nr. 403 Fire Station (same as lock-up Garage) with small variations. Probably unreleased.
• Nr. 414 Same with a fire engine and fire chief's car. Probably unreleased.

1970 Flyers models (price: 3s9d)

• Nr. 37 Ford GT40 (never released) 
• Nr. 38 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (new cast), a more up to date car than the old Corvette, which was still no.11. The model was spoiled by ill-fitting doors.  
• Nr. 39 Ford Mustang.
• Nr. 40 Cadillac did not appear till 1976, by which time it had lost its planned opening doors, bonnet and boot.  
• Nr.8 Ford Capri (never issued, listed in the catalogue without illustration)
• Nr.13 Toyota 2000GT (never issued, listed in the catalogue without illustration) coloured plated finish similar to Corgi Rockets or standard paint.

1971 Flyers models (new wheel model with five spokes) (price: 4s6d)

New wheels and the Firenza

• Nr. 13 Toyota 2000GT
• Nr. 38 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
• Nr. 39 Ford Mustang
• Nr. 8 Ford Capri
• Nr. 7 Vauxhall Firenza (launched together with the real model, several colours and “Budget Rent a Car” version) (priced 5s or 25p). There is also a variant with the steering wheel to the left, in which Vauxhall has been casted off the base and the rear part of the body for the Canadian market.

1972 New Commercials

The commercials got new wheels on 1972, except the tractor and the crane.

• Nr. 41 Builders Supply Lorry (with plastic girders)
• Nr. 42 Foden S50 Half Cab “Tilcon” (variant of Nr. 24)
• Nr. 43 Routemaster Bus (shown in the catalogue but not sold as Commercial, but with Nr. 1259)
• Nr. 44 Marine Transport Lorry (with plastic speedboat)
• Nr. 8 Ford Capri (for the third year in a row, it went unproduced)

After 1972, the company could not continue with the production as until that time. The founder Bob Mills died in June 1973. What followed was no match for what they had done in the past. There were no changes in the products offered until 1975.

That year, some Commercial models were simplified to keep the prices as low as possible. Many plastic parts replaced metallic ones, some parts were redesigned to fit several models, and 8-wheelers turned 6-wheelers. The same happened to the flyers, where practicable parts disappeared, windows became black and plastic was used on the bases and accessories. Nr. 40 Cadillac Eldorado was finally added to the collection.

1975 was the last year for the Commercials, as they were replaced in 1976 by the Impy Trucks These are the trucks I have shown in this blog before: generic, sharing common parts, not very interesting for collectors. 

The same happened to the Flyers in 1976. From 1978 on, the Impy car range was simplified to a greater extent: no opening parts, black windows, no interior, plastic base…

• Nr. 71 Range Rover
• Nr. 72 Cadillac Eldorado (previously Nr. 40)
• Nr. 73 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (previously Nr. 38)
• Nr. 74 Toyota 2000GT (previously Nr. 13)
• Nr. 75 Police Range Rover (also Ambulance in set with Police version)
• Nr. 76 GT Rally (Chevrolet Corvette previously Nr. 11)

In 1979, the line was extended: 

• Nr. 77 Jaguar XJ6 (previously Nr. 10)
• Nr. 78  Maserati (previously Nr. 9)
• Nr. 79 Ford Mustang (previously Nr. 39)
• Nr. 80 Lotus (previously Nr. 36)
• Nr. 81 Volvo 262 Coupé (new)
• Nr. 82 Mercedes (new)

The production and the business continued decreasing over the years. In 1983, the company went into receivership and the toy division sold. The production moved to Asia in 1988.

FACTS AND FIGURES: 

• Name: RANGE ROVER, CADILLAC ELDORADO & JAGUAR (Nr. 71, 72  & 79) 
• Scale: Approximately 1:55-1:64
• Year: 1976 (Nr. 71 & 72) and 1979 (Nr. 79)
• Company: Lone Star (Great Britain)
• Size: approx. 8 cm

#953 CIBA CHINA - MERCEDES UNIMOG CIRCUS WITH SEAL (Around 1992)

I sometimes bring toys to this blog about which there is no information at all on the internet, basically because nobody cares about them. This is one of these cases, an early 90s plastic Unimog from China, produced by the unknown company CIBA Industrial Company, Ltd. This company was founded in Hong-Kong around 1985 and produced toys in Hong-Kong first, and then in China.

I have seen some toys from this company on auction sites, but nothing more: this friction motored Unimog in two decorations, a futuristic ATV operated by batteries and with exchangeable wheels and also a cable-controlled dinosaur.

All pictures: todocoleccion.net

These kind of toys were sold in bazaars during the 80s together with radios, TVs, watches and other stuff from Japan, China and Eastern Asia. At the time they were very well received, since the electronic toys were still very expensive in Europe back then. Anything with sound, lights or cable/remote controlled was the top.

In Spain they were imported by Cosas Internacionales, S.A. located in Ibi (Alicante), the village where lots of other companies were also manufacturing toys of all kinds.

Anybody out there who knows more about CIBA? Maybe the company continued under another name?

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MERCEDES UNIMOG "CIRCUS" WITH SEAL
• Scale: Around 1:55
• Year: Around  1992
• Company: CIBA Industrial Company Limited (Hong Kong/China)
• Size: approx. 9 cm

#952 MATCHBOX SECURITY TRUCK (Nr. 69) vs. MAJORETTE BANK SECURITY (Nr. 204) (1978 and 1980)

Majorette's Bank Security Van is one of those models that I had not known until recently. It was only a few years ago that I saw it for the first time. I have it now twice and I like them very much. The Matchbox model, I have it since a long time.

This type of vehicle is kind of rare, only Matchbox has a similar one which is also very nicely done with plastic roof, but it was just a matter of time that Majorette got its own security transport van.

The Majorette model has a practicable door on the rear part, so the playability is somewhat better than the Matchbox model, that has no practicable parts. Both look bulky and strong, like the real security vans, although the Matchbox model was made earlier and has a slightly older look today.

The Matchbox model was originally released in red with white roof in the year 1978, but a later and rarer version "Drescher Bank" can be found in green. Both have several variants depending on the shade of colour applied, window colour and so on, the usual stuff.

On the other hand, the Majorette model is available in many different colours and decorations, some of them very recent, since the look of the truck is still modern, or at least it was until a few years ago, I have seen more modern driving around the city.

The first model seems to be the greenish blue one, that first appeared in 1980 catalogue. Although not very clearly, we can see that it has a decal on the bonnet. We think this model was a prototype, because in the catalogue from 1981, we already see the famous model in metallic blue, one of the most common ones.

 

In 1982's catalogue, the van appears in grey with a decal on the bonnet with the text "BANK" and two crossed keys.

And every year a new decoration: in 1983, it was presented with some red and blue stickers on the sides, In 1984 with "post" stickers, in 1985 with "Bank" Stickers on both sides, and in 1986 the model presented in this entry. All of them in yellow. Note that the card depicted is the German version "Geldtransport", not the most usual "BANK" version.

And finally, in 1987, the most usual white version came out. This one was available during, least, three consecutive years. In the 1990 catalogue it appears in light silver, but keeping the tampos, although this may also be a prototype, because I have never seen it, and the following year, the picture appears in white again.

That appearance in the 1991 catalogue is the last for a long period of time. More modern versions of the van (Made in Thailand) are available in other interesting colours, like dark blue, but then it becames difficult to follow how many, which tampos they carry and so on.

Sorry for the bad photos of the Armoured Van, I'll replace them soon.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: SECURITY TRUCK (Nr. 69) and BANK SECURITY (Nr. 204)
• Scale: 1:57
• Year: 1978 and 1980
• Company: Matchbox (Great Britain) and Majorette (France)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#945 SIKU – OPEL SENATOR and MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SE (Ref. 1040 and 1042) (1981 and 1982)

These two cars are in a rather good condition, but present some scratches and paint losses. Still they are excellent miniatures quite rare to find today, as the approach their 40th anniversary.

Both are made in 1:55 scale as it is usual in Siku’s Super Series. Made in massive metal are bigger and heavier than most Matchbox models or equivalent in the 3 inches size category. The represent large cars, among the largest available back in the day.

Opel Senator was launched in 1981 and discontinued in 1988. My model is metallic red. Other colours include orange, and much rarer light blue, yellow and tourquoise.

Mercedes-Benz 500 SE was release one year later, in 1982 and discontinued in 1990. My car is metallic blue, but it seems to be available also in black and metallic red, but these are much rarer than the blue one here.

Great models!

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: OPEL SENATOR and MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SE (Ref. 1040 and 1042)
• Scale: 1:55
• Year: 1981 and 1982
• Company: Siku (West Germany)
• Size: approx. 8 cm

#909 POLISTIL - BRM P 201, FERRARI 312 T2, WILLIAMS FW07, FERRARI 126 C3 and MCLAREN MP4 (RJ7, RJ55, RJ70, RN24 and RN25) (1976, 1978, 1980, 1983)

Something I enjoy while writing about Polistil F1s is browsing the wikipedia for the years in which they ran, who were their pilots and how well they did that year. It is very interesting and informative, reading what happened in the F1 seasons from the 70s and the 80s.

I collected 5 more race cars ranging from 1976 to 1983.

We will go from older to newer. And precisely the first one is the most interesting of the lot. From the 1976’s season, the BRM P 201 is a rare model. Except Polistil, I do not know any reproduction of the car in this scale. This is probably due to the fact that the car was not very good (the golden era of BRM was long gone) and this car did not achieve any points in the championships. This model was reproduced by other manufacturers too. As a reader of this blog pointed out, there are BRM P201s made by Yatming, Playart, Tintoys, Summer and TimmyToys... maybe even more.

Driven by Ian Ashley (with RN14) in 1976, it was also used the next season with the same number by driver Larry Perkins. The BRM team (Stanley BRM) ran its last season in 1977 and disappeared as such.

BRM P 201 (RJ7) – 1976, Ian Ashley RN14
FERRARI 312 T2 (RJ55) – 1978, Gilles Villeneuve RN12

The car is not in excellent shape but it is rare to find. I guess it did not sell as well as Ferraris and other faster cars back in the days. It has reference RJ7

The car near the BRM is, of course a Ferrari. Most accurately, the 312 T2 from 1978. This model represents the car driven by Gilles Villeneuve with RN12. He didn’t do a great season, ending 9th, but winning the last GP of the season in Canada. The figure in the cockpit is not original.

The William FW07 with Saudia stickers is one of the iconic cars of the 1979 and 1980 seasons. It was a great car, making a third place in 1979 (and winning 4 races) and winning in 1980. I am talking, of course, about the Australian Alan Jones. Both years he carried RN27. In 1980, Williams-Ford won the constructor’s championship with a huge difference to the second team.

MCLAREN MP4 (RN25) – Niki Lauda 1983, RN8
WILLIAMS FW07 (RJ70) – 1979 and 1980, Alan Jones RN27

The next car is a McLaren MP4 with RN8. This car was driven by Niki Lauda in the 1983 season. This was not a very successful one for the Austrian pilot: he got only 12 points in 11 races, making two podiums in the first two races, and then two 6th places. He would win his third championship the following season.

And finally, we see another Ferrari, this time the model that ran the 1983 season. The RN28 belonged to René Arnoux, who did a great season, ending 3rd, right in front of his colleague and countryman Patrick Tambay (RN27), what gave Ferrari the constructor’s trophy.

FERRARI 126 C3 (RN24) – 1983 René Arnoux RN8

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BRM P 201, FERRARI 312 T2, WILLIAMS FW07, FERRARI 126 C3 and MCLAREN MP4 (RJ7, RJ55, RJ70, RN24 and RN25)
• Scale: 1:55
• Year: 1976, 1978, 1983, 1980 and 1983 (respectively)
• Company: Polistil (Italy)
• Size: approx. 7 cm