#250 SIKU – VOLVO 760 GLE (1065) and BMW 735 iL (Ref. 1070) (1986 and 1988)

 

 Siku’s 1000 Series:

The year 1974 came full of news for Sieper Werke. Administration was automated to keep track of production numbers, prices ranges… the factory was updated for automatic paintworks (V series are painted by hand!).

In 1975, Siku new models were already categorized in the 4 digit price system. The new series, was called “Super Series”, although now it is more often referred as “1000’s series”. This numbering system is still used today.

From the four digit code, the first two indicates the type of vehicle and price range of the model, the second two indicate the model number. For example, both cars I am presenting here are 1065 and 1070, that’s category “10” (regular passenger cars) and numbers 65 and 70. Re-released V models became new numbers in the new series.

With the new series the scale of the cars was also changed. Old V modes were mostly 1:60 scale die-cast, while 1000-series cars are a bit larger: 1:60. This way, the cars could be casted with more details. Apart from that, the wheels were new, and also the packages and new company logo.

In 1986 the factory was rebuilt because of an accident that burnt most of it, and was updated again with new better machines. In 1990, Siku opened its first factory outside Germany: it was in Hong Kong, were they gradually moved the production, starting with the “club series” and the “super series”. Bigger models are still produced in Germany (Ludenscheid).

  
Siku is especialized in German models, just as Matchbox and Corgi had many English models, and Guisval made almost every possible Seat. Siku models (especially in this era) are very robust pieces of pure metal. With the change of scale, when displayed near other cars, make the other look like a toy.

The same cars I am presenting had a couple of variations:

-Volvo 760 GLE (Ref. 1065) from 1986 to 1989: available in gold, black, white (Polis), and silver

-BMW 735il (Ref. 1070) from 1988 to 1990: available in red and blue two different shades), brown.

UPDATE:
Silver Volvo 760 GLE

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: VOLVO 760 GLE (1065) and BMW 735 iL (Ref. 1070)
• Scale: 1:55
• Year: 1986 and 1988
• Company: Siku (Germany)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#249 CORGI JUNIORS – TRACTOR SHOVEL, SHOVEL LOADER and FORD D1000 C CONTAINER TRUCK (1970, 1975 and 1972)

The History of Corgi Juniors:

 

Corgi manufacturer was a toy company named Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. Which was founded in 1956 and had its base in Swansea, Wales. The name Mettoy actually meant “Metal Toy”.

Apart from the well known 1:43 cars we have shown many times, this company also produced smaller cars and vehicles under the brand Husky. This brand was launched in 1964 to compete against Matchbox 1-75 series. Husky had better prices and were initially available at Woolworht’s.

Husky’s cars were lighter and less durable than Matchbox, although they already included some suspension and other nice features.

The Husky line got up to 75 models (like Matchbox). Under this brand a few accessories were also released, like carrying cases.

Massey Fergusson Traktor Shovel

To Husky we will return some other time. What’s important now about them, is that Mettoy decided to change the name of the line to Corgi Juniors in 1970. Exactly that year, the contract with Woolworth’s expired, and Mettoy/Corgi was free to sell its smaller cars everywhere, and compete more directly with Matchbox and other manufacturers. The change of name reinforces the Corgi brand and expands the Corgi family, which at that time already had a big fame in the Great Britain and outside of the Great Britain.

Together with the change of name, some other news were the usage of new Whizzwheels to make the cars faster (and compete also with HotWheels! And Matchbox Superfast).

The Corgi Juniors name was left by the mid 70s, and replaced by just “Corgi” in vehicles at the same scale. Corgi would manufacture this product until the end of its existence in 1983, Between 1984 and 1990 there were more models made until the brand was bought by Mattel in 1989. Some casts were reused in the HotWheels! line.

 Shovel Loader:

The variety of Corgi Juniors was huge, including all types of cars, trucks, machinery, prototypes, public service vehicles… these three are just three examples of trucks and machines. Older models have great quality casting, but models by the end of the line are very different and to my opinion not very well finished.

All Corgi Juniors models are numbered with a number, and from 1984 to 1990 with J plus a number. Some extra long-lived models saw different versions and there could be colour variations or even slight differences in casting. The three models shown in this entry are:

• #43 (1970-80) Massey Fergusson Traktor Shovel v2 Corgi Juniors
• #48 (1975-79) Shovel Loader Corgi Juniors
• #54 (1972-78) Ford D1000 Container Truck v2 Whizzwheels

 Ford D1000 Container Truck

We recommend this site to look for information of your Corgi Juniors (years of release, numbers, colours available…): (DEAD LINK, SORRY!) http://corgi.matchboxworld1-75.nl/Corgi_Junior_Index.html

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: TRACTOR SHOVEL (Nr. 43), SHOVEL LOADER (Nr. 48) and FORD D1000 C CONTAINER TRUCK (Nr. 54)
• Scale: Around 1:100
• Year: 1970, 1975 and 1972
• Company: Corgi Juniors (G. Britain)
• Size: approx. 6 cm

#248 TRANSFORMERS – ACTION MASTERS ATTACK CRUISER WITH SPROCKET (1990)

The last G1 transformers:

The Micromasters from the end of the 90s were the attempt before the last to revitalize the Transformers line. Hasbro decided to shrink transformers to fit the new fashion of small toys (mostly after the success of MicroMachines). The last attempt, however, were the “Action Masters”, and the line was with them “reinvented”.

Hasbro rescued the most popular characters to be re-released in new forms. The new concept was small, non-transforming, robot figures, that could ride converting vehicles. Some robots were sold with small accessories, other came with huge vehicles. The size of the figures is similar to G.I.Joe: ARAH, and the concept of transforming vehicles recalls a little bit M.A.S.K.

A promotional image of the "smallest" action Masters

The first Action Masters were released in 1990, but in 1991 there were a few more figures released, but only in some European countries. These are extremely rare and expensive, although in this particular line most items are cheap and easy to find.

Sprocket with the Attack Cruiser was one of the biggest boxes in this new branch of Transformers. The vehicle is a green car (off-road?) convertible in jet/helicopter.

The figure of the robot is ok, but the vehicles are poorly detailed. Maybe this factor was the key for which the toy-line didn’t succeeded.

The cabin of the car/plane has no details at all, the blue seats have a separation in the middle so one figure stays at one side only. There's no steering wheel, maybe because in Japan it would be placed right, while in most parts of the world it would be placed left... The wings spread and can carry one of the missiles in each end. Most pieces are very big, and the whole toy is built very robustly, mostly if we compare it with older TF robots. Action Masters are clearly designed as toys.

 
I have more of these, although not all of them are complete. I'll try to show more soon.

The decrease in sales couldn’t be stopped with either Micromasters or Action Masters, what finally led to the end of Transformers in most parts of the world. 

SPROCKET with ATTACK CRUISER

• Faction: Autobot
• Subgroup: Action Masters
• Function: Surface Surveillance
• Motto: “Know your enemy and victory is yours!”
• Bio: Sprocket is programmed to take fast, forceful action and no prisoners. This fierce warrior doesn't withdraw from a battlefield until he's covered it with the smoking wreckage of Decepticons. He drives a rebuilt, all-terrain Attack Cruiser which has the standard supply of two photon rifles, metal-immobilizing magnetic rockets, and bumper energy shields. The Attack Cruiser converts into a vector-thrust hovercopter, armed with front-moounted plasma-pulse machine guns.
• Tech Specs for Sprocket:

• Strength: 9
• Intelligence: 7
• Speed: 8
• Endurance: 6
• Rank: 6
• Courage: 9
• Firepower: 9
• Skill: 8

 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: ATTACK CRUISER WITH SPROCKET
• Toy Line: Transformers – Action Masters
• Year: 1990
• Company: Hasbro (U.S.A.) / Takara (Japan)
• Size of the figures: Around 11 cms or 3,75’’

#247 JOAL – MONZA G.T. and ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 1600 (Around 1969)

These two beautiful cars were made by Joal around 1969 or 1970. The first one is a Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT and the second one is a Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600, also known as “Canguro”.

The Monza GT is based on a previous model by Tekno, while the Alfa Romeo was previously produced by Polistil and Mercury. Joal's seems to be based in the second model (Mercury). In an old blog entry (#20) we saw a model based on Corgi.

Both models have great detail and practicable parts, but the Monza G.T. also has direction and opening headlights.

Detail of opened headlights.

Chassis detail. The peg above opens the headlights. The front wheels steer.

As usual for this brand, each model was manufactured in different colours, so a quick search on the internet will reveal these models in many different colours. Mine are both bright red.

A curious thing about these models is that both have license/plate number "A 100108" and "A 103065". This type of plate was used in Spain prior to 1971, and these number (if they were real) would have been issued by mid-1966. “A” as usual refers to Alicante, the Spanish province in which the Joal factory was settled.

Plate A 103065

Unfortunately there is not much more information I can add to what I already told in the previous entries about Joal. In their website, there’s a short history of the company, but I wish it was more complete.

In Rosaspage.com, however, there’s a long article dealing only with 1:43 scale cars by Joal. The production started by the end of the 60s (probably 1968), and continued during the 70s and part of the 80s. Among the first models, were the Seat 850 Coupé and also the Seat 124 (similar to Mebetoys').

The casts are very well detailed, including the interiors (in plastic). All cars had practicable parts, including opening doors, bonnet and trunks. In the last two cases, the motor and the trunk are also beautifully decorated in plastic or metal. These practicable parts fit very well.

The construction of the cars is very robust, made almost completely in metal. The wheels were also made of metal with a plastic tyre, and the suspension system was also extremely soft and nice to drive. Relative to the robust construction, even the paint had very high quality, and even nowadays, most Joal cars look great, with very few chips. As a negative point, we might indicate that in some parts of the body, the paint layer is too thick and can hide some details of the cast.

These models were available in cardboard boxes, that we will show some other time, or in jewel-cases with a yellow base.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MONZA G.T. and ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 1600
• Scale: 1:43
• Year: Around 1969
• Company: Joal (Spain)
• Size: approx. 9 cm