#1085 SCALEXTRIC UK - B.R.M. (C72.85) (1964)

I was never interested in Scalextric slot cars from Lines Brothers for the English (and other) markets, I decided to focus on the Spain-made by Exin, Tyco or Tecnictoys). But, as a collector of toys, I sometimes get things I didn´t look for.

I got this pristine model of a B.R.M., boxed, together with a large lot of old toys from the 70s and the 80s, although this car was originally released in 1964. I guess it was sold during many years without any changes, so, maybe it was available until the early 1970s.

The model is done at a scale of around 1:32 (as most Scalextric models are) and is British green. The tip of the car is yellow, but in some other models is white. This way, two models could compete against each other if they had this small difference. 

The construction is slightly different from the other cars I have. These older models "hide" the motor inside them, so it is more difficult to oil, repair the cables or simply replace the contact brushes. This is usual in other models from this first years of slot cars, especially from the models from Lines-Bros.

The box is smaller than the ones I know from Exin. The car also looks nice, much better than I had thought, when I saw the pictures online. The detail level is similar to the early Exin models. So, nice to have it.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Name: B.R.M. (C72.85)
• Scale: 1:32
• Year: 1964
• Company: Scalextric UK (Great Britain)
• Size: approx. 12 cm

#760 CORGI – LOTUS-CLIMAX FORMULA 1 and COOPER MASERATI F/1 (Nr. 155 and 156) (1964 and 1967)

Despite having consecutive numbers and looking very similar, these two formula ones are 3 years from each other. The Lotus Climax was released in 1964, and sold pretty well, probably because it was the car in which Jim Clark won the championships in 1963 with a clear superiority above all other competitors. Almost one million pieces were sold.

The second model, a Cooper Maserati, was released in 1967, but I cannot identify it among the cars that run that year or the previous one. The colour and decoration may point to the Rob Walker Racing Team, but I do not know who drove this car with RN7.

Both models were discontinued in 1969: the Lotus maybe after the death of Jim Clark in 1968. The reason why the Cooper was also discontinued after only two years is also unknown to me... despite being so short for sale, it was sold 726,000 times.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: LOTUS-CLIMAX FORMULA 1 RACING CAR and COOPER MASERATI F/1
• Scale: Around 1:43
• Year: 1964 and 1967
• Company: Corgi Toys (Great Britain)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#656 HUSKY - SEVERAL TRUCKS (From 1964 to 1966)

 

Husky is a brand from the Mettoy Company, the makers of Corgi model cars. We have talked about both Corgi and Husky before. Husky models were all in 3 inches size ("1:box" scale) and originally made exclusively for Woolworth´s in Great Britain, Canada and the United States. They were available in that supermarket chain between 1964 and 1969. However, some models were available in other countries from 1966 on. In 1969, after the Woolworth contract expired, the line was renamed "Corgi Juniors". Many models are available in two different versions that differ only in the logo on the base. Corgi was very popular in 1:43 scale, selling better than Dinky and other contemporary brands.

 

The bases of the different vehicles are mostly made of chromed plastic, although some were made in more robust metal, and originally with plastic grey/greenish wheels. These wheels were later modified for more durable metallic wheels with plastic tyres (see Guy Warrior Milk Tanker, Nr. 17-B2). Most models include windows and interiors, which is fine. The casting is quite good, but the durability is not the best. Another weak point is the suspension based on a plastic flap (in the plastic based models).

 

In 1969, shortly after Mattel´s Hot Wheels and the rename from Husky to Corgi Juniors, the "Whizzwheels" were introduced only in some models, which were more expensive than the "ordinary" series. The "fast" models were included in a series called "Corgi Rockets" that also included some tracksets, but from 1970 on, Corgi decided to mount Whizzwheels in all models, and shortly afterwards, the Corgi Rockets series was discontinued and the models released in the Corgi Juniors series.

 

The competition by Corgi to Hotwheels was successful and they got their own piece of cake. Hot Wheels lost a lot of market share and also started downgrading some features to be able to sell cheaper and cheaper.

 

10-A1 Guy Warrior Coal Truck

25-A1 S & D Refuse Truck

 

 

 

 

17-A1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Oval)

17-B1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Squarish) (only model with 2-component wheels)

 

 

11-A2 Land Rover Forward control

29-A1 ERF Truck (Cement Mixer)

 

 

 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: 10-A1 Guy Warrior Coal Truck, 11-A2 Land Rover Forward control, 17-A1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Oval), 17-B1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Squarish), 25-A1 S & D Refuse Truck and 29-A1 ERF Truck (Cement Mixer)
• Year: 1964, 1965, 1966
• Company: Husky (Great Britain)
• Size: Around 7 cm
• Scale: Around 1:100 (trucks)

#199 MATCHBOX – CHEVROLET IMPALA TAXI, 8-WHEEL CRANE, LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, CADILLAC S&S AMBULANCE, FIAT 1500 and MERCEDES COACH (Nr. 20, 30, 31, 54, 56, 68) (1964 and 1965)

MATCHBOX 1964 to 1966: EXPANSION YEARS

For this entry, I will present a nice bundle of Matchbox cars made in the year 1965, plus the Lincoln Continental that was released at the end of 1964.

This years are important in the Matchbox history, because at this point, Matchbox was selling more than half of their production outside the United Kingdom: mostly in the United States, and also in Europe. This fact was observed by Matchbox, and then, they decided to manufacture the first American cars in the 1-75 series ever. The new approach would bring slightly bigger toys, plastic interiors and plastic windows. By 1968, the whole 75 references had been replaced.

The politics of reproducing foreign cars was a great success, and by 1965, the company was producing over 2 million cars per week, and employing more than 3000 people. It is very interesting to note, that this year, Matchbox started working with more than one cast for each model. Each cast has a lifespan of around 5 million units, and that wasn’t enough, so it is not rare to find some cast variants in several 1-75 models.

In 1966, nothing changed much, each time more and more foreign vehicles, replaced the older references… up to 20 references this year. A nice model from this year was the Greyhound Bus, the first American bus model in the British die-cast company. Although most of these new 20 were American models, there were also new British (MG 1100) and German models (Opel Diplomat, Mercedes-Benz 230SL)

Nr. 20: Chevrolet Impala taxi was one of the very few models including the driver in the plastic interiors of the car.

Nr. 30: 8-Wheel Crane is an undetermined truck model, which replaced in 1965 a similar Magirus-Deutz crane. It was discontinued in 1970, so there are versions with superfast wheels too.

Nr. 31: The Lincoln Continental was probably one of the most beautiful models from that year (1964). The real model, however became famous for the assassination of the U.S. President J. F. Kennedy. Early Matchbox models were released in dark metallic blue, since they were planned before that tragedy. Later models were released in a turquoise (see pictures above), that were much different to the presidential car. This model survived a few years, and in 1970 it was released with superfast wheels in metallic gold color.

 

Nr. 54: The Cadillac S&S Ambulance was the first American Ambulance released by Matchbox. In the 1-75 catalogue, coexisted with a Bedford ambulance, that sold better in Europe.

Nr. 56: The Fiat 1500 is a extremely nice model, a sample of the first foreign (not-american) cars ever made: this model plus a Ferrari Berlinetta, both Italian.

Nr. 68: The Mercedes Coach appeared relatively late. The real bus (O 319) was in production between 1955 to 1965 approximately. The bus however looks great (and looked modern in 1965) with all those windows. The lower body is die-cast metal, while the upper body is made of plastic. 

Most information for this article has been taken from the chapter 5 of the book “Matchbox Cars: the first 50 years” by Mac Ragan. Although the book is out of print now, this chapter can be read for free in Google Books.

To finish, I’d like to recommend the following website, which is the only one that clearly indicates the years of release and discontinuation of the Matchbox 1-75 series, as well as many interesting catalogues (British, American and German editions) for free: http://www.hgm-matchbox.de/default.htm

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: CHEVROLET IMPALA TAXI, 8-WHEEL CRANE, LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, CADILLAC S&S AMBULANCE, FIAT 1500 and MERCEDES COACH (Ref. 20C, 30C, 31C, 54B, 56B, 68B)
• Scale: 1:64, 1:100 the Bus and the 8-wheeled truck (approx.)
• Year: 1964 (Lincoln) and 1965 (rest)
• Company: Matchbox-Lesney (United Kingdom)
• Size: 6 to 7 cm (approx.)