January wasn’t a big month for collecting, I added 10 cars to my collection, mostly Hot Wheels and only one Matchbox.
January Acquisitions
‘76 Chevy Chevette (Hot Wheels). Drag strip style, I got this because the Chevette brings back memories of the seventies. In England there was the Vauxhall Chevette that was very similar in style to the Chevy Chevette.
Mazda 787B (Hot Wheels). I have this model in blue as well. This was a car I liked to race in Gran Turismo 6.
‘62 Corvette (Hot Wheels). I like how the car has a black and white style like it is from an old film or TV Series.
Track Manga (Hot Wheels). The very antithesis of monochrome a bright deco like a manga comic on this crazy looking car in the Bouzouki style.
1980 AMC Eagle (Matchbox). The only Matchbox model added to my collection this month. The AMC Eagle has the faux wood panelling along the side.
Lamborghini Aventador (Majorette). 1:64 scale. I now have four similar Aventadors produced by different diecast manufacturers. Made in Thailand.
’17 Acura NSX (Hot Wheels). Japanese supercar.
VW Golf Mk1 (Hot Wheels). Tooned style, not sure about the style I’d prefer a regular Golf. This is a regular treasure hunt.
’94 Toyota Supra (Hot Wheels). Tooned style. Fast and Furious. The car Paul Walker drove but a tooned version.
‘89 Mercedes 560 SEC AMG (Hot Wheels). Very popular with the scalpers here, I managed to find one the scalpers missed.
Lamborghini Aventador (left to right) Hot Wheels, Majorette, Welly and Maisto
Another few hauls this month, from Manana’s secondhand toy shop and from the meeting of 1:64 collectors’ club and a few models picked up here and there.
Matchbox
Most of the old Matchbox came from Manana’s Secondhand Toy Shop 321 Tsotne Dadiani Street, a 10 minute walk from Didube Metro in Tbilisi. I was very pleased to find some of these.
19 Matchbox additions
Maserati Bora. Opening doors. 1:58 scale. I got this in a part exchange with a Hot Wheels Datsun 510 Wagon. The Maserati Bora was my dream car as a kid in the 1970s. I now have two of these little Matchbox models of the Bora. Made in England
MG 1100. With a dog in the back. 1:57 scale. Regular Wheels. Made in England.
Mercedes Unimog. 1:68 scale. The tyres are loose. Made in England
Ford Zodiac Mk IV. 1:66 scale. Opening bonnet. A previous owner has painted it red. I hope to remove the added paint some time. Regular Wheels. Regular Wheels
Jeep CJ6. With tow hook. Made in England.
Mercury Police Car. 1:72 scale. Superfast Wheels. Transitional model. Made in England.
Pipe Truck. 1:92 scale. Missing pipes. Made in England.
Fire Pumper truck. 29-C. 1:104 scale. Missing ladders on side of vehicle. Made in England.
Dodge Wreck Truck. With slightly damaged tow hook. 1:85 scale. Made in England.
Pony Trailer. 1:63 scale. Opening tailgate. Regular Wheels. One horse. Made in England.
1928 Mercedes SS. Yesteryear Model. 1:52 scale. Made in England.
1907 Peugeot. Yesteryear Model. 1:43 scale. Made in England.
Ford D800 and Tasker Trailer. Super Kings model. 1:52 scale. Made in England.
Bugatti Type 44. Yesteryear Model. 1:38 scale. Made in England.
Merryweather Fire Engine. SuperKings model. extendable rotating ladder. 1:60 scale. Made in England.
Combine Harvester. Rotating harvester blades. Regular wheels. 1:106 scale. Made in England.
Porsche Turbo. 1:64 scale. Opening doors. Made in Macau
Ferrari Berlinetta. 1:62 scale. Regular Wheels. Missing tyres. Made in England.
Nissan Hardbody. In blister pack. Part exchange for Mercedes AMG GT (Majorette). Made in Thailand
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels additions
VW Beetle. Valentine Holiday tampo. Made in Malaysia
‘73 Honda Civic Custom (orange and green). Made in Malaysia
’47 Chevy Fleetline. MoonEyes tampo. Made in Malaysia
Maserati Quattroporte. My first Hot Wheels Maserati. Made in Malaysia
Track Manga. Made in Indonesia
’84 Audi Quattro Sport. Made in Malaysia
Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia S15 (Gold). Made in Malaysia
Ford Escort RS2000 (exchange for white BMW 507). Made in Malaysia
VW Hot Rod (not pictured)
DeLorean DMC10 (exchange for Ford Mustang). Made in Malaysia
’58 Chevrolet Corvette. Opening hood. Made in Thailand
Mazda Repu. Made in Malaysia
Datsun 620. Made in Indonesia
Nissan Proto Z. Made in Malaysia
Nissan Fairlady Z, Aftermarket wheels added. (exchange for Ford GT). Made in Malaysia
BMW 507 (red). Made in Malaysia
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 (Orange). Iconic design. Made in Malaysia
Other Brands
My main focus is on Matchbox and Hot Wheels and 1:64. I got a few larger models this month. Two old army Dinkys and a recently produced Lada Niva made in China.
Army Water Tanker. (#643) Dinky model produced from 1958 to 1964. Made in England
Austin Champ (#674) Dinky. Made in England
Lada Niva LWB. Opening doors. Made in China.
Bilan
Matchbox 19, Hot Wheels 18, Dinky 2, Unbranded Chinese model 1
11 Matchbox, 11 Hot Wheels and one other car added to my collection in November. Black Friday sales saw me adding more to my collection than I had intended.
Matchbox
Matchbox additions
’65 Volkswagen Tyoe 3 Fastback. Opening doors. I already have this model, but I couldn’t resist getting a second when it was reduced to half price in toyz.ge It gives me such a nostalgia buzz for the old VW Fastback from the Matchbox 1-75 range in 1970. Made in Thailand
1975 Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste. Moving Parts series. Opening bonnet (hood). Also in the Black Friday sale. Made in Thailand
1969 Volvo P1800S. 1:61 scale, Made in Thailand
Freeman Intercity Commuter. Missing roof. Made in England
Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6×6. Superfast series. Made in Thailand
Mercedes G500 x2. Made in Thailand
Mercury Cougar “Rat Rod”. Missing engine and stickers. Made in England
VW Taxi. 1:58 scale. Made in Thailand
Nissan 300ZX. Made in China
Ruff Trek. Based on Holden Kingswood Utility. 1:67 scale. Missing cargo. Holden Kingswood Utility. Made in Macau
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels additons November 2023
Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0. Made in Malaysia.
‘64 Nova Wagon Gasser. Made in Malaysia.
Dodge Viper. Made in Malaysia.
Subaru WRX STi. I got this in part exchange for a Mercedes 500E, it wasn’t the car we’d agreed upon (Track Manga), I was not happy with the exchange Made in Malaysia.
’82 Toyota Supra. Made in Malaysia.
’88 Honda CR-X. Made in Malaysia.
’64 Ford Galaxie 500. American Steel series. Made in Thailand.
Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. Made in Malaysia.
BMW i8 Roadster. I got this for exchange material in the future, BMWs are popular here.
DMCDeLorean “police”. Made in Malaysia.
VW Golf Mk 7. Made in Malaysia.
Other Brands
Opel Manta A (Welly)
I am trying to stop getting cars outside of the 1:64 Matchbox/Hot Wheels size, but I couldn’t resist this Opel Manta A, one of my favorite car designs. This model is by Welly and made in China.
Corgi Toys were introduced in 1956 to compete with Dinky, which had become complacent on the British Market. Corgi were advertised as the “the ones with the windows” having a small plastic window insert making them look more like their full size counterparts than their Dinky counterparts (Dinky introduced windows in 1958). Corgi were named after the Queen’s favourite dog breed, the parent company Mettoy also had a factory in Wales (Corgi dogs being Welsh). Corgi like Matchbox, remind me of my childhood and the hours of fun I had driving these cars around the carpet.
Austin Healey Sprite
I found this Austin Healey Sprite today in a secondhand toy shop in Miskewiecz Street in Tbilisi, (it cost 3 lari about $1.10) it looks in a rough condition with the paint flaking off but it gave me that nostalgia buzz that drives my collecting. This is one of the first Corgi Juniors vehicles. Corgi Juniors were introduced in 1970 when Husky was rebranded as Corgi Juniors. Whilst I am primarily focused on collecting Lesney Matchbox, Corgi Juniors also have that nostalgia buzz from my childhood. They would come in blister packs with a collector’s card on the pack.
My Corgi Juniors and Husky models
I am particularly interested in the sports cars that were in the 1970 catalogue.
Corgi Juniors Catalogue 1970
In the catalogue above you see the Austin Healey Sprite next to a Reliant Scimitar, I am happy to have found both models here in Tbilisi.
My Corgi Juniors Models that appeared in 1970 catalogue
You can also see the DeTomaso Mangusta on that page, I would like to find one at a reasonable price. I did come across one guy selling the DeTomaso Mangusta at Dry Bridge Market in Tbilisi (and the Jaguar E Type another model I want) but the price of 30 lari ($11) a model seemed excessive.
These models a mix of Matchbox and Corgi Juniors were 30 lari a piece
I don’t want every model in the catlogue, I have even offered many of my models for sale, I am not interested in trucks, I sold a few locally for 5 lari a piece.
These models I am interested in selling, the yellow splodges cover models sold or exchanged.These are the models I am keepingCorgi Juniors Catalogue 1970
As I wrote, I am not interested in the trucks but I would like to find a model of the Jaguar E Type at a reasonable price. I would be quite happy to find the Mini and the XJ6, too from these pages.
Corgi Juniors Catalogue 1970
From these pages I would be really happy to find the Mercedes 280SL and the Jensen Interceptor.
A regular month with 21 vehicles added to my collection, the majority secondhand Matchbox models, but a few brand new Hot Wheels and some others.
October additions to my collection
Matchbox
Matchbox additions to collection
BMW M1. 1:59 scale. Made in Macau
TV News Truck. 1:73 scale. With extendable antennae. Made in China
1957 GMC Stepside. 1:66 Scale. Mission Force (Farm). Made in Thailand.
1957 Ford Crown 300. 1:64 scale. Made in Thailand
Dodge Charger Mk 3. 1:62 scale. Early Superfast vehicle, opening canopy. Painted silver by previous owner. Made in England
VW 1500. 1:59 Scale. Early Superfast Vehicle. Painted by previous owner. Made in England
Nissan 300ZX. Made in China
‘83 Buick Riviera Convertible. Matchbox “Moving Parts”. Opening doors. Made in Thailand
Ford Sierra. “Tizer” 1:58 scale. Made in Macau.
Freuehauf Trailer. Part of K16 model. 1:64 Scale. Made in England
Refuse Truck. Regular wheels, tipping waste container. 1:85 scale. Made in England
Land Rover Safari. Superfast with adapters on axles. Missing luggage load. Made in England
Rock Shocker. Desert Endurance series. Made in Thailand
Hot Wheels
LB Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia (S15). Gold color
Honda CB750 Cafe. One of the best looking motorcycles I have seen at this size.
Audi RS6 Avant. Dark green
Ferrari FXX. Interesting because Hot Wheels no longer has a licence to make Ferrari models.
Other brands
Chevrolet Impala Kinsmart. Opening Doors. 1:43 scale. Push back motor. Made in China
Mobile Cement Mixer. Corgi Juniors. Made in Great Britain
Honda S2000. Realtoy. Made in China
De Tomaso Pantera. Made in China
+4
I wrote this on 30 October thinking my collecting for the month was done, but as often happens I got some more models on the final day of the month. All these models were made in Great Britain in the early 1970s, the era I love collecting.
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 x 2 Classic Porsche design, a new model in the Retro Racers series for the mainline Hot Wheels. I bought one and exchanged a Mercedes G500 for the second. Made in Malaysia.
Nissan Bluebird Wagon (510) x 2. These were both part of an exchange for the USS Enterprise and Disney Steamboat. Made in Malaysia.
Ford Escort RS2000. Another exchange. I exchanged a Mercedes 300SL for this. Made in Malaysia.
Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0. The highlight of the month for me, I exchanged an Acura NSX for this. Made in Malaysia.
Lamborghini Countach Pace Car. I exchanged a Fast and Furious Ford Torino for this. Made in Indonesia.
Matchbox
DeTomaso Pantera (Matchbox GT Series) Made in China.
Police Patrol (Matchbox Rolamatics) based on a Range Rover, when the car goes across the floor the siren turns. Made in England.
Soopa Coopa. Fantasy vehicle from the early 1970s. Made in England.
Porsche 959. 1:58 scale. Made in Thailand.
Pontiac Fiero. “Protech” tampos. Made in Macau
Other Brands
Ford Model A Van “Weetabix”. Lledo. Missing roof, I got this for the nostalgia of the cereal brand. Made in England
Ferrari 250 GTO. Maisto. Made in China.
Citroen 2CV. Maisto. Made in China.
Aston Martin DB6. Corgi Juniors. Made in Great Britain.
Honda CR Z. Majorette. Missing tailgate. 1:55 scale. Made in Thailand.
Bilan
Matchbox 5, Hot Wheels 7, Corgi 1, Lledo/Vanguards 1, Maisto 2, Majorette 1
16 cars added in August, 10 of which were Matchbox. A more restrained month than June or July. I used to get 5 packs, when there was just a single model that interested me, now I need more models to interest me…the Autobahn Express IV 5 Pack had 5 attractive models, I particularly like the Mercedes W123 Wagon and the 1969 BMW 2002.
Matchbox
’62 VW Beetle “Polizei” I have this casting a few times but not like this. I prefer police vehicles to have lights rather than simply a police marking on the side. Made in Thailand. 1:58 Scale.
1969 BMW 2002. Silvery blue. Made in Thailand. 1:64 scale
2019 Audi TT RS Coupe. Made in Thailand.
2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Made in Thailand.
Mercedes 123 Wagon. Made in Thailand.
BP Petrol Tanker. 1:85 scale. Regular wheels. Cabin tilts forward. Made in England (Between 1965 and 1967).
Mercedes Benz “Binz” Ambulance. 1:69 scale. Lifting hatch. Stretcher missing. Regular wheels. Made in England. (late 1960s)
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre. Matchbox Yesteryear. Produced in 1960s. Y5. 1:52 scale. Made in England.
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Opening rear hatch. Scale 1:55. Made in China (1991)
Vantastic. A model of a customised Ford Mustang. Cracked front windscreen. 1:65 scale. Made in England
Hot Wheels
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Made in Malaysia
Lotus Esprit. Made in Thailand
Plymouth Fury. Marvel “Avengers”. Captain America 75th Anniversary Series (2016). Made in Thailand
Toyota AE86 Sprint Trueno. For this I exchanged a Mazda RX7. Made in Malaysia.
Other Brands
Vauxhall Victor. (Vanguards/Lledo). 1:43 scale.
Batmobile. (Corgi Juniors). With Batman figure.
Bilan
Matchbox 10, Hot Wheels 4, Corgi 1, Lledo/Vanguards 1
32 cars added to my collection over 31 days, averaging a car a day…
Matchbox
Audi TT Coupe x 2, both of these came from other collectors, the red one was a gift, the orange the result of an exchange. Made in Thailand.
Renault 11 Turbo. Also from another collector in a part exchange. Made in England
MG 1100. 1:57 scale. Also from an exchange. Missing windows. Regular Wheels. Made in England
Renault 5TL. 1:52 scale. From Dry Bridge Market. Opening hatchback. Made in England
Porsche Turbo. 1:64 scale. Opening Doors. From Manana’s. Made in Macau
Porsche 910. 1:54 scale. From early 1970s. Found in Miskewiecz street basement shop. Made in England
Honda Ridgeline. 1:64 scale. Made in Thailand
Trailer. for Stake Truck. 1:86 scale.
Lamborghini Marzal. 1:58 scale. Made in England
Lamborghini Countach. 1:56 scale. Made in Macau
Porsche Turbo. Super Kings. Opening doors and rear engine cover. Made in England
Mercedes 190E. Super Kings. Opening Doors. Made in Macau
Baja Buggy. 1:49 scale. Made in England
Hot Wheels
Unlike the Matchbox which were loose, the Hot Wheels models are mostly on cards.
Toyota 2000GT. Sent from England by a friend. Made in Malaysia
Audi 90 Quattro. Made in Malaysia
Porsche 917 LH. Zamac. Made in Malaysia
‘73 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car. Made in Malaysia
Mazda MX 5 Miata. Made in Malaysia
Porsche Cayman S. Made in Malaysia
Corgi
‘Bessie’ from Dr Who. Missing windshield
Batmobile with Batman figure. Corgi Juniors.
VW Double Trouble Hot Rod. This brings back memories. Corgi Juniors.
Citroen Dyane. Opening hatchback. Corgi
Majorette
Mercedes 190 E. Opening doors. 1:59 scale. Made in France
Range Rover “Fire Dept” 1:60 scale.
Tomica
Mazda MPV. Opening hatchback. 1:65 scale . Made in Vietnam.
Mitsubushi Fuso Aero Queen. 1:156 scale. Made in China
Other brands
Moskvitch 427 shell. My father had a Moskvitch 427 in the mid 1970s in a French Mustard color. Made in USSR
Toyota GT86. Realtoy. Made in China
Bedford CA Van. “The Beano” Days Gone
Leyland PD2 Bus “West Riding” Livery. Growing up we would spend a week in Yorkshire every summer to visit my father’s friends and relatives, he was from Halifax. These buses were a common sight.
Diecast Car Collector 