#1002 FALLER HIT-CAR – VW PORSCHE 914/6 and MERCEDES 350 SLC (1970 and 1974)

Faller is better known for their electric trains and scale kits for train modellism, but in the 70s they were also active in other toy markets, such as slot cars and speed tracks, similar to those made by Hot Wheels. The difference, is that the Hit-Cars by Faller have plastic bodies and die-cast base

For this reason, they were very light and could make great jumps, but, on the other side, they were very fragile. Some models in very good condition reach today very interesting prices when sold online, probably due to the scarcity of mint models.

My two Faller Hit-Car models are a good example of what I say. I own a VW Porsche 914/6 in white, which is in mint condition plus a blue Mercedes 350SLC that has been stepped on and almost destroyed. So are a great percentage of used models. The first one could clearly sell for more than 30 euros, the second one is probably worth nothing.

The VW Porche was available between 1970 and 1980 and has some information on the base (110 PS and 200 Km/h). The Mercedes Model was available between 1974/75 and 1980 and the base indicates 200 PS and 210 Km/h.

Faller tracks were sold in packages that remind of the Matchbox colours. The tracks came in boxes, and the cars could be purchased in nice blisters. This line was active between 1969 and 1979, but the death of one of the Faller brothers stopped the development of this particular line. 

The company is much older than that, as it was founded in 1946 by the brothers Edwin and Hermann Faller in Baden-Württenberg, Germany. Originally they produced construction sets made of wood, and other articles such as clothespins. Soon they started with the model kits for electric trains in H0 scales, which is the niche in which they succeeded and are best known at.

The main part of their production was aimed at adult collectors and hobbyist, but in the early 70, they also produced the Hittrain, which was a toy for children. Other toys were the AMS Auto Motor Sport line of slot cars and the Hit-Car which I am showing in this entry.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: VW PORSCHE 914/6 (nr. 3441) and MERCEDES 350 SLC (nr. 3455)
• Scale: Approx. 1:64
• Year: 1970-1980 and 1974/75-1980, respectively
  
• Company: Faller (West Germany)
• Size: Around 6 cm long

#1001 CORGI – SURTEES T.S.9 F.1. and TS.9B-F1 (150 and 153) (1972)

It is very interesting that Corgi released two models of fairly similar formula ones with just a few months difference.

The first model is the Surtees T.S.9 F1, although for its shape, it looks more like the previous year’s T.S.7. In the 1971 season, the team did not very well with their main drivers John Surtees and Rolf Strommelen. Derek Bell, Sam Posey, Brian Redman and Gijs van Lennep started one race each, and Mike Heilwood, two.

The second model is the TS.9B, the direct evolution of the previous model. Maybe this came to Corgi as a surprise, and they quickly made a few changes in order to have the actual model of the season available for sale, and not the one from the previous season. Note that the base is very similar… and that some parts are also the same or almost identical.

The car was not very successful in the 1972 season, although the ex-motorcycle pilot Mike Hailwood achieved great results and finished the season in 8^th place. The other drivers of the team that year were Tim Schenken, Andrea de Adamich, and also John Surteets himself, who only ran one GP.

As Formula ones are, in general, small cars, the scale is 1:36, but the size is the same or equivalent to that of the “normal” 1:43 cars in the series. No matter what, they are great models to have in your collection if you like Corgi models, formula ones or cars in general in this scale.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: SURTEES T.S.9 F.1. and TS.9B-F1 (150 and 153)
• Scale: 1:36
• Year: 1972
• Company: Corgi (Great Britain)
• Size: Around 10 cm long

#1000 GUISVAL - RENAULT 5 (Nr. 14) and RENAULT 5 RALLYE (Nr. 51) (1979, 1981 and 1983)

This car is one of the best-selling cars in the history of automobiles in Spain, and also one of the most successful die-cast models made by Guisval. It was also reproduced by the most important die-cast manufacturers at the time: Matchbox, Majorette, Polistil… the Guisval version, although not so well finished, it is still beautiful, especially in some of its variants.

The car first appeared in 1975 catalogue, in orange with the classic first generation wheels, but I do not have this model. It is very interesting that Guisval changed the colour only after 10 years, so most of the versions you’ll find of the basic version are orange.

 

For example, the second generation from 1979 came with chromed base, and the third from 1983 with black metallic base, but otherwise, they are difficult to tell between the two. The third version is generally darker than the second one. Note the models in the pictures. Note that this model depicted individually is different from the one in the group picture as it has two round holes in the base, while the other has the two frames which came later. Also the colour of the windshields is different, so I guess there are many variants out there to be catalogued, as it happens with models that had very long runs.

Finally, in 1985, the colour was changed to light blue, and it still kept its metallic base in black. Up to then, it always kept the number 14 in the Campeon series.

The rally version is one of my favorites, and I keep it since I was a child. It came with that mud flaps in red plastic that is so representative of Guisval models. This version ran partially in parallel to the previous one, so it carried a different number in the series, and it was 51. The first version appeared in 1980 and was released in yellow with decals. This reference also lived long, and first in 1987, it changed the base to plastic, and the decals to stickers, but the base colour remained.

Having practicable doors, it was never available in the Club series, but some R5s were part of sets like this one here, in which a yellow body was released in the standard version and not the rallye one.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: RENAULT 5 (Nr. 14) and RENAULT 5 RALLYE (Nr. 51)
  
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: 1979, 1981 and 1983
• Company: Guisval (Spain)
• Size: Around 6 cm long

#999 TMNT – LEONARDO vs. SHREDDER (1988)

 

In entries #720 and #721 we presented Raphael vs. Bebop and Michelangelo vs. Foot Soldier respectively. This time, I bring Leonardo vs. Shredder.

There are so many resources online about TMNT, that I won’t be writing anything about the characters or the toys. Leonardo is considered the leader of the turtles and Shredder is the leader of the foot clan, so this is the big battle among the first series by Playmates from 1988.

I have some pictures I took close to my home and I hope you like them.

Shredder came with a piece of cloth that is very interesting. I don't like that the figure comes in an strange position that is not very playable. I have heard that this was imposed by the toy manufacturer, as the villain could not be much taller than the turtles themselves for practical reasons (it had to use the same vehicles).

       

 

Nothing to say about Leonardo… great figure and accessories.

I have two of these, I kept the second one as it was different from the first. Please observe carefully the pictures to see the differences. Any idea, which one is which? maybe some re-release?

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: LEONARDO and SHREDDER
• Toy Line: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) (Wave 1)
• Year: 1988
• Company: Playmates (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 3.75’’ or 9,75 cm