Looking through the collection

This time of being forced to stay at home gives us the opportunity to enjoy our diecast collections. Below a few Corgi cars I pulled off the shelf.

Here are some of my Corgis: Mini Marcos, Mini Cooper, Ford Capri, Morris Marina and Rover 2000TC

I was reading about the Porsche P-911 that Marc of  The Race Case had found on the Facebook Marketplace, Hot Ones P-911. This inspired me to find my own P-911, then I found myself pulling off the shelves some other favourite Hot Wheels, old and new, for a photoshoot. These aren’t all my favourites, some favourites like the Mystery Machine Super Treasure Hunt are still in their blisters.

11 Hot Wheels cars

In the picture are some recent models like the Lamborghini Countach Pace Car, ’70 Ford Escort RS1600, BMW 3.0CSL, VW Kafer Racer, Lamborghini Aventador and TV Series Batmobile. Also a few older models like the P-911, Mercedes 280 SL, Rodger Dodger, Z-Whiz (Datsun 240Z) and my only “sweet sixteen” a Custom Firebird.

This period of quarantine won’t be ending anytime soon, so I’ll have plenty of time to explore my collection further in the coming weeks.

Stay safe and healthy.

Secondhand Haul

I had some time on my hands, so I thought I’d take a look in the secondhand toy shops near Tbilisi Central Station, I’d been told they weren’t expecting fresh stock in until the end of the month. But I thought I’d take a look and boy, I’m glad I did! The box of cars didn’t look too promising at first but then I spotted a Freeman Inter-City Commuter, a Matchbox model from the early seventies.

box of vehicles

Searching more closely I found nine models that interested me.

My haul

They weren’t in great condition but included four regular wheels Matchbox models, the nostalgia buzz was strong. The Fiat 1500 and Cadillac Ambulance had been on my Wants’ List. There was also a Hot Wheels Custom Firebird, my first “sweet sixteen” model. The shop assistant suggested 2 lari a piece, because that came to 18 lari she suggested I add a tenth model to make it an easy 20 lari. So, I added a Lotus Sport Elise. I then went to a second store and was surprised again, when I spotted a Matchbox 8-wheel tipper from 1969 in the box with a lot of more recent Chinese toys..

Can you see the Tipper?

I also found an ERTL Batmobile (from the Tim Burton movie) and a Matchbox Refuse Truck, making 13 models in all. Some say 13 is unlucky, but I was happy with the haul.

15 July 2019 haul

The total cost of the haul was just 30 lari ($10.54), I paid 30 lari earlier in the month for just one car (a Corgi Lotus Elite).

Freeman Inter-City Commuter

Leyland 8 Wheel Tipper

Custom Firebird (Hot Wheels)

The condition of many of the vehicles was rough, the Fiat 1500 looked rather playworn and was missing its luggage, but it still had its tow hook intact after over 50 years.

Fiat 1500 (Matchbox) this car has been played with a lot…

Nine of the 13 models were Matchbox, the brand most associated with fond childhood memories.

9 Matchbox models (8 Lesney)

It has been a very satisfying day.

 

 

American Cars: Cadillac

 

14 Cadillacs

They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple
But man I ain’t going for that
I know it was her pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats

from “Pink Cadillac” by Bruce Springsteen

Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile brand following fellow GM marque Buick. Cadillac was founded in 1902, I have a nice 1913 Cadillac from the Matchbox Yesteryear range. Cadillac was named after a French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701.

Historically, Cadillac automobiles have always held a place at the top of the luxury field within the United States just as Rolls Royce have in the UK.

One of the few cars I brought with me when I moved to Tbilisi in 2009 was a Dinky Cadillac Eldorado, which I had purchased in an antique store in Worcester (UK) a few years earlier (for £10 if I remember correctly).

I have fifteen Cadillacs. In addition to the Eldorado I have a Matchbox 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood, a Majorette Cadillac Limousine, a Hot Wheels Elmiraj, a Hot Wheels’35 Classic Cady, a Hot Wheels Ecto-1 (1984 Cadillac DeVille), a Matchbox 1913 Cadillac (Models of Yesteryear), a Hot Wheels Cadillac Cien, a Hot Wheels Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, a Matchbox Cadillac One, a Matchbox ’69 Cadillac Sedan Deville, a Matchbox Escalade,  2 CTS Wagons and a Matchbox 1963 Cadillac Hearse. 

My 9 Cadillacs

I heard some toy dealers were reluctant to stock a hearse, there is a strong taboo around death in many countries. The same toy dealers, I imagine are happy to stock toy guns, tanks and toy weapons.

Cadillac Hearse

I don’t have a Pink Cadillac, but I do have an impressive looking Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, which is longer than the Cadillac One…

Cadillac One (Matchbox) and Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (Hot Wheels)

Despite Cadillac being an American car, I have amassed three times as many Matchbox Cadillacs as Hot Wheels. A Custom Eldorado featured in Hot Wheels original “Sweet Sixteen” models, I’d love to find one but it was only made from 1968-1969. Whilst Hot Wheels has had many Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros, there haven’t been so many Cadillacs. In the current range I just see a Cadillac Elmiraj ( I see a ‘16 Cadillac ATS-V R is lined up as a new model in the 2018 releases).

Hot Wheels Custom Eldorado (not my photo)

6 Matchbox Cadillacs

Every soul deserves a shot at a Cadillac, but not everyone should be guaranteed a Cadillac.
Ben Stein