#688 MICRO MACHINES – ULTRAFAST COLLECTIONS FROM 1988 (1988)

The Ultrafast series, as explained several times already, is the “standard” series from Micro Machines, that is, the cars that did not have any specific feature. In general, these collections comprise 5 cars (or other vehicles) each, except in case these are bigger vehicles (for example the limousines).
I decided to open a new entry for the collections from 1988. Entry #128 dealt with collections from 1989. In several consecutive years, some collections were repeated (same cars), but using different colours. The same model could also be part of more than one collection, so, normally, each car was available in several colours and several collections.

#5 European Collection

The models in this collection are (left to right):

• MG TF
• Porsche 911 Carrera
• Lamborghini Countach
• Jaguar XJS
• Mercedes

#21 Hot Bikes

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: Micromachines Ultrafast Collection #5 and #21
• Scale of the cars: 1:150 aprox.
• Year: 1988
• Company: Galoob (U.S.A.)
• Size: approx. 3 cm

#687 POLISTIL – FERRARI 308 GTB (RN8) and LANCIA BETA (RN14) (1982)

Polistil did not only pay attention to the Formula 1 world, they were also interested in other motor competitions like Sport Prototypes (we will see an entry dedicated to this soon) and also Rally… especially if there are Italian cars or drivers involved. Both are made in 1:64 scale.

In this entry I am presenting two cars: a Ferrari and a Lancia Beta. Both are really impressive cars, and the Beta is one of my favorite rally cars of all times, although the evolution 037 was even more impressive.

To my knowledge is the only maker to make this model with rally decorations. Majorette had the Beta Montecarlo, but it looks slightly different, without the front and rear spoilers.

Regarding the Ferrari 308 GTB, I have to say it is an even rare model. I first thought it was a Porsche 935 and there was some error in the base, but apparently there was such a preparation for rally of the 308 GTB. In the “standard” version, the car looks very different, and there are several rally versions that resemble much more the standard model. I couldn’t even find a picture of the real car, so it must be really really rare, maybe a one-time car prepared for some competition, that was chosen by Polistil by chance.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: FERRARI 308 GTB and Lancia Beta (RN8 and RN14)
• Scale: approx. 1:64
• Year: Around 1982
• Company: Polistil (Italy)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#686 MIRA – SEAT 131E and 128-3P (Ref. 148 and 151) (Around 1978)

These two Miras are two examples of the finest Spanish die-cast from the early 80s. They remind a little bit of the Schuco modell cars, only in a slightly larger scale. I have shown other models in past entries, but today I will focus on these two Seats.

One of them is a Seat 131-E, a model which has been shown several times in this blog because it is one of my favorite cars of all times and I have it several times from several manufacturers.

The other one is the 70s and 80s sports coupé by Seat, the 128-3P (3P comes from "3 doors"). The model is also extremely beatiful. At the time it was a real eye-catcher, probably it was very expensive compared to other vehicles, and was sold in small numbers.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: SEAT 131E and 128-3P (Ref. 148 and 151)
• Scale: Approx. 1:64
• Year: Around 1978
• Company: Mira (Spain)
• Size: approx. 6 cm

#685 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE – KING HISS AND TUNG LASHOR (1986)

I don’t know if you, MOTU collector, had access as a kid to all the cartoons, comic books and stuff. I personally didn’t, so the concept of the Snake Men was a bit strange to me. One of my first figures was Kobra Khan, who is himself a Snake Man and a friend of Skeletor, so when more Snake Men were made I was a bit confused. Who are they? Are they friends of Skeletor or not? Sometimes the concept of having more than two factions (good guys vs. bad guys) can be a bit confusing.

I got only Rattlor as a kid, and it was one of my favorite figures, because it had the coolest feature among all I had. Of course I knew the rest from the catalogues, and like also King Hiss very much.

Later, I knew that the Snake Men are kind of evil race that tried to conquer Eternia and failed. They made the Snake Mountain, and during war with Eternia, they were set away to a kind of parallel universe, where they were trapped. According to the story Kobra Khan remained in Eternia, and, when Skeletor later freed King Hiss, he was some kind of link between both leaders. They of course soon agree to destroy He-Man and take over Eternia. They free the rest of the Snake Men and prepare for the fight, release the Eternia towers (yes, the same from the huge Playset) from the earth (they were buried). Of course He-Man will succeed, but there are lots of fun in the process.

These two figures today are King Hiss and Tung Lashor. I like the feature from the first one, that comes with a second, human-like skin that reveals its true nature. The figure came with the classic Snake Men staff in green and a red shield, which is rare to find.

From Tung Lashor I love its design, The head resembles a toad, the hands are very peculiar and its feature is also not bad… This figure came with the same staff in purple and some kind of insect crossbow.

Two great figures!
Another entry in this blog dealt with Snake Face (check here: #289).

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: KING HISS (Ref. 2420) and TUNG LASHOR (Ref. 2331)
• Toy Line: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (Wave 5)
• Year: 1986
• Company: Mattel (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: Around 14 cm

#684 CGGC GRISONI – INNOCENTI MINI MK2 and FIAT 500 (Around 1970)

These are two cars in 1:72 scale made by the Italian maker Grisoni (CGGC). I already dedicated one entry to this scale model manufacturer and where I showed two models in 1:43 scale.(http://toysfromthepast.blogspot.com/2015/09/585-cggc-grisoni-fiat-128-rally-and-bmw.html)

These two are made in a smaller scale and represent two older cars.

 

 

 

As said before, there are almost no information on the web about Grisoni, the only reference is that the company was active during the 70s and the 80s. I guess this two cars could be older than that, but I date them 1970 anyway.

 

 

 

I found other site that says some of these models in 1:72 scale are marked PEZ on the base. These were promotional giveaway from the famous sweet dispensers from Austria "PEZ". The promotion was active sometime during the mid 70s and there were at least 7 models to get: 3 utilitaries and 4 formula ones, each of them in different colours and/or colour combinations. The two cars presented in this entry were among them, but they are not marked PEZ, so they should belong to the standard series.

• Fiat 500 (not numbered)
• VW Maggiolino (not numbered)
• Innocenti Mini MK2 (not numbered)
• 1 Ferrari
• 2 BRM
• 3 Cooper
• 4 Lotus

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: INNOCENTI MINI MK2 and FIAT 500
• Scale: 1:72
• Year: Around 1970
• Company: CGGC Grisoni (Italy)
• Size: approx. 4 cm

#683 BRITAINS LTD. vs. DINKY TOYS –BATTALION ANTI-TANK GUN and 6 POUNDER ANTI TANK GUN (1973 and 1975)

These are two samples of British military die-cast from the early 70s. Both are very similar, not only the type of cannon (Anti-Tank), colour and year (both WW2), but also their mechanism is similar. Both toys could actually fire projectiles, but, after so many years, the missiles are missing. 

No. 625 by Dinky Toys is the 6 Pounder Anti Tank Gun from 1975. British made, this gun was premiered in the North African campaign, 1942. Later was adopted by the American army. THe Dinky model was made with great detail and realism, as you can see, the towing part is practicable, just like in the real cannons.

The cannon from Britains can be seen in this catalogue image, and the text written for it says:

BAT gun. No. 9720 Anti Tank gun can be mounted on Jeep or such small vehicle or just used as it looks sitting on the ground. Modern Military. 1973 till closing down. Modern Military Series.

BAT stands for Batallion Anti Tank and is also British made. This gun is slightly more modern, since it was designed and made in the early 50s. A very impressive weapon!

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BATTALION ANTI-TANK GUN and 6 POUNDER ANTI TANK GUN
• Scale: Approx. 1:24
• Year: 1973 and 1975
• Company: Britains Ltd. and Dinky Toys (Great Brtain)
• Size: approx. 14 cm

#682 FIGURAS EN ACCIÓN (F.E.A.) Nr. 14

The 14th issue of F.E.A. is out now. This number is again quite long: it includes 8 articles, one interview and all the usual sections (news, museums and books).

I wanted since a few numbers to include articles dealing with toylines or toy figures “for girls”, so this time, I wrote about Sylvanian Families, which I found great back in the 80s, and even greater today. They are still selling, and I am amazed by everything they offer.

I also interviewed Javier Aguilar, who is an experienced action figure collector from Spain and was the founder of Figuras En Acción.

The rest of the articles have been written by other colleagues and include topics like:

• The TV Program “Un, Dos, Tres” and all its merchandising
• Remco “American Defense” and similar figures
• Warriors of Virtue
• Two very nice MOTU bootleg lines from Spain
• Three old Citroën DS 19 from three different makers
• The Spanish cartoon Sylvan
• Roman figures representing home gods. Were this the first “collectable” figures?

Hope you like this issue, please download and share it with whoever may like it!

You'll find the link here:  figurasenaccion.blogspot.com/2016/05/revista-numero-14-mayo-2016.html

#681 RICO MINI SANSÓN – BUGGY DUNNE SIN CAPOTA (Ref.504) (Around 1970)

Buggys were quite popular in the 70s, they were simple, fun, could drive over sand (for example on the beach) and were associated with freedom and freshness. There were thousands of buggy toys, and this is one of them, made in Spain by Rico under license of Tonka.

In some Rico boxes it is clearly specified that the license comes from Tonka, although in this case it is not stated… A friend of this blog posted a comment in one of my old Tonka/Rico entries, telling me that there are some hints that Rico started manufacturing Tonka models without the license and after being warned, they turned everything legal.

I would like to prove this, maybe I can ask somebody at the Toy Museum from Ibi (when I finally get to visit it), or maybe, if you are reading this and you know something, you could leave a comment in this entry.

I love this buggy, it is sturdy as every other Sansón product, it has a nice colour and a sticker that gives it a very “hippie” look. The box is also very interesting: the buggy is depicted in green instead of red and there are some Sansón Trucks on the back: the car transporter, two fire trucks, an excavator…

I want to write one or two entries on Sansón trucks, but I always forget to take pictures of them. Hopefully I have another chance next and the entry will be published soon.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BUGGY DUNNE SIN CAPOTA (Ref. 504)
• Year: Around 1970
• Company: RICO (Spain)
• Size: Around 9 cm.
• Scale: Unknown