AndyW201

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

I used a blade to carefully cut the glue, it can be re-stuck easy enough. I did intend to open and showcase the Moving Parts cars I've bought recently but just not had time - saved me a job on the BMW!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

If you're in/ near Mancland later this summer, and have the guts of thirty quid burning a hole in your pocket...
An immersive Hot Wheels experience is coming to Manchester - the first of its kind in Europe
The Hot Wheels City Experience will make its European debut at the BEC Arena in Trafford Park this summer, featuring interactive exhibitions, a gamer zone and the Hot Wheels Lab.
Perfect for fans of all ages, the experience will bring the legendary toy cars to life, offering visitors an exclusive glimpse into the best of Hot Wheels’ expansive collection of cars.
The nostalgic trip will feature a total of 10 interactive stations, including the design centre, where fans can use the latest technology to build their own virtual car, and photo opportunities with exciting backdrops.
Elsewhere, the Hot Wheels Lab will allow visitors to play with the most popular Hot Wheels toys on a pre-built racecourse in the Hot Wheels Challenge Accepted Championships, with the chance to win epic prizes.
There’s also the chance to take home your very own Hot Wheels driving licence – complete with an official lanyard, photo and your name.
Previously set up in São Paulo, this event marks the first time the exhibition has come to Europe. The Hot Wheels City Experience will take place for a month, from 13 August to 12 September 2024.
Tickets go on presale at 10am on 24 April, and on general sale at 10am on 26 April, starting from £27.50 for adults and £22.50 for children
https://www.manchestersfinest.com/featured/immersive-hot-wheels-experience-coming-to-manchester/

Not sure why like this one so much
It’s got squish on one roof side, but being tin-plate, could be encouraged to get back straight
Took apart, freed motor, now running good, but didn’t undo the Squish, because umm well historical artefact..

 
What is it, 65+ years old?  Anyway, made in Japan, of its time.  Any more tin-plate love?  Thought not

That BMW is lovely!
Ive never seen the Corrado before though. I had no idea they made it!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

Got home to a parcel from Ana's Hot Wheels site, who I use occasionally to get the stuff I can't find in the shit shops round here. 
First off, a couple of Matchbox mainlines,

I must be about the only person in the country who couldn't find this one in the shops when it came out, but now I've got one. Already got the yellow and metallic blue ones, but I'm still on the hunt for the Target-exclusive Onyx green version, after narrowly missing out on it a couple of times ...



The MR2 looks good in metallic blue,

A very sparkly metallic blue!

Bunglebus beat me to it with showing one of these, but I'm loving the Moving Parts Beemer CSL, like I did the original Superfast one I had as a kid.

I like the new Moving Parts packaging, but FFS Mattel, would it kill you to have tuck-in flaps on the ends of the boxes rather than gluing the bastards down? I wanted to have this one out but it was impossible to get the glued down flap open without damaging it,

Still, it's out now, and it's a lovely thing.

Nice detailing for the size,



Bonnet opens like on the real thing, lift the front first, and slide forward slightly, then open,

To reveal some lovely under bonnet detail.

In all, a little belter!
And a few HW Premiums which, again, I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of getting anywhere else,


Sierra Cossie looks great, apart from that bloody locating pillar,




Finally got the flat-front Escort MK2, again, a nice wee thing.

Very close to the livery of Björn Waldegård's 1977 British Airways-liveried car, one of my fave liveries.



But getting this one was the highlight though, I really wanted it at the time, then kind of forgotten about it until it came up on the sales site,

Yep, it's a bit '90s Max Power with the body mods, etc, but it's a bloody Purple Corrado, so that's good enough for me.



Another little stunner!

This is about the best I can do, re: Flip Tops chat!

A box arrived yesterday containing some bargainous Lone Star Flyers
Corsair & Jag are complete,just have some chips
Alfa Spider just missing the steering wheel
Lotus Europa had a wheel issue
I had this though,so easily fixed

Lastly,the Ford Taunus which is really nice,but it does have a slight issue

I have a plan for that though........

Oh how about that...

Mine 11 years ago.

Yup, there was one of them in with a load of lethally sharp broken Dinkys and Lesney King Size in my primary school classroom - it vaguely annoyed me, though I couldn't be sure why.
Never seen the Tom & Jerry prototype before - possibly it made sense as they already had the casting and there were already a couple of licenced character vehicles featuring the cat 'n' mouse in the Juniors range.

I had this earlier version of 'Jerry's Banger', for a short while anyway.
I also had this half-assed 'Wacky Races' effort when I was a kid - apparently it's not all that common, though probably not really valuable.

The camera on my iPhone is shite, apologies... the irony how the stickers said Flash! 😆
 
Before


 
After

 
 
 


 

Very little evidence online but I've finally found mention of it - it was part of the short-lived Flip Top series. It had a plastic roof with solid windows and an interior and windscreen moulded into the underside. The bootlid could be lifted up and the roof rotated to display it as either a hardtop or a convertible.
https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/hobbydb/catalog_items/mercedes-benz-500-sl-16e399ef-961d-4e27-8e52-56b55fff1a3e

 
 

There is this idea though


Sold at auction for £3000. 
Save £2900 by doing it yourself.

Neo did a resin 1:43 model for 1986

Anyway, back on track
Perhaps the use of 'Magic Top' became too much of a licencing headache?  Some bright spark at Corgi visited the German motor show and came back all excited?
The Mercedes 500 C126 Magic Top by the Buchmann brothers (bb Auto), offered for 1982.  10 examples built at an eye-watering price of $150k

Chevy from the Cogbox dismantled awaiting inspiration. 

New bits in Smyths 


I liked the Torino, but being as it's this exact release
Just on a different card, I'll keep my £9 thanks

As far as I know, the C257 Mercedes never made it into production. Like so many others shown in the 1985 catalogue, it appears to be a resin prototype.

I'd love to know whether its non-appearance was down to technical reasons (was the 'magic top' mechanism too easy to break? Unable to comply with new toy safety regs?) or financial reasons - the management buy-out of the Corgi factory from Mettoy's bankruptcy only the year before had left them fairly squeezed, so was it just a step too far to bring in another new casting, especially one which would require extra time and parts to manufacture?
The Toyota Supra and the Mercedes 207D panel van were both new for '85 castings, as were the Turbos range. The Supra didn't last long in the range, and the Turbos were brought in specifically to be cheap, simple volume sellers with good profit margin that could bridge the gap between the Juniors range and the bigger, more expensive 1/36 line-up.
I'd like to have seen the previewed Toyota Corolla TE71 in the Turbos range, rather than the AE86 which eventually appeared.