According to globaldiecastdirect.com, the U.S.-based Road Champs began in the early 1980s making 1:64 scale models. However, they became known for their 1:43 scale vehicles which are popular for use with O guage train dioramas.
These nice 1:64 Road Champs from the RR collection – 3 of them still in their original if well-weathered packages – were made in the 1980s while the company was still owned by JRI, Inc. of Philadelphia. (The company was bought by Jakks Pacific in 1995.) All of these realistically detailed models have metal bases and opening doors. With the exception of barcodes, the backs of these blister cards are blank.
When I think of Ertl Diecast, I think of farm equipment, which is what the company was making way back when I first became aware of them. During the 2000s, I picked up several of their nicely detailed Novas and Impalas for my collection. The company was owned by RC2 for awhile, and now are a part of TOMY. They seem to have gone back to their farm equipment focus, as their current website proclaims “The Definitive Leader in American Farm Replicas since 1945” and has menus for John Deere, Case/IH and New Holland toys.
There were no farm tractors among the few 1:64(ish) Ertl toys in the box I got from RR. In fact, I was a little surprised to find a nice Rolls Royce model included with the expected American cars.
According to globaldiecastdirect.com, Zee Toys (also called Zylmex) was based in Long Beach, California, during the 1970s and 1980s. Apparently, they produced toys under various brand names such as Dynawheels, Victory Circle, Rough Riders, Windracers, Mini Macks and others. Most of the cars you’ll see below are made in Hong Kong. Some have the Z logo stamped on the bottom, some include “Zylmex”, and all seem to have a two- or three- digit item number preceded by a “P” or “D”.
Most of the cars I got from RR are loose, but a few are still in their original packages. And though the blister cards are in pretty poor shape, it’s great to think the cars inside are in true mint condition. This nice Porsche 959 is from 1985.
This nifty Datsun pickup is missing the plastic camper shell – and part of its hood decal.
Two variations of the ’63 Corvette with opening hood. Notice the different wheels.
This fun bulldozer is missing a wheel.
Glad to see the 427 Cobra still has its plastic windshield.
This GTO has a custom, hand-done paint job.
I like the dual carbs poking out of the hood on this Mustang.
And finally, a little red CRX.
In the box of cars I acquired from RR, I found this lonely Lesney Matchbox trailer. I knew right away I had to find a mate for it, after all, how much fun is a trailer without something to tow it behind?
A little research told me what I needed to find, and eBay offered a few possibilities. I settled on this cab from a lot of 3. The gray plastic wheels match the trailer, the well-worn condition fits with most of my other Lesney-era toys, and I really like the other two models in the lot (which you will see in a future post).
The Major Pack #7 first came out in 1960 with the Thames Trader cab towing the Jennings Cattle Truck. There are some variations in the trailer casting and the color of the plastic ramp (missing from mine) and some versions have black plastic wheels. Personally I think my reunited pair is greater than the sum of its parts.
My artist friend, Randy Regier, is moving to Kansas City. Randy’s meticulously crafted sculptures are toys inspired by the expectations of his youth. For this reason, his studio is a storehouse of old stuff – toys, books, advertising materials and mid-century appliances – to use as inspiration or materials for his work. So when Randy invited a few of us to come over and pick through a few boxes of things that he elected not to take with him on the move, I jumped at the chance.
Among other odds and ends, I brought home a box of old children’s textbooks, some vintage slot cars, and a box of mostly loose diecast cars. The diecast cars included some nice Majorette and Corgi models (that I will show in future posts) and an assortment of “off-brand” models. A few of these are unidentifiable brands. I don’t go out of my way to collect these kinds of cars, but you have to admit, some of these have a certain charm.
Even though they spelled Firebird as two words (Fire Bird) and the design on the hood is a little crooked, this is a pretty nice little casting of the classic Pontiac. It even has opening doors.
The ’63 Corvette is a beautiful car, but this casting seems a little lumpy.
Another lumpy example, this one a ’71 Mustang Fastback.
The photos don’t really show the glittery sheen of the paint on this model, which I think is supposed to be a Ferrari 308.
I like the interesting choice of colors and decoration on this Chevy Stepside Pick-up.
The next two are a pair of fun Formula One cars, though I wonder if the paint colors and sponsor decals are historically accurate.
This dump truck (maybe a Hino?) would be fun in the sandbox.
And finally, a rather badly proportioned version of KITT, the car from the popular ’80s TV show Knight Rider.