Shite in Miniature II

13,860 · October 14, 2023

2 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

A quick scoot around Morrisons was disappointing. They're changing everything around and what was the toy department, including an empty Hot Wheels rummage box occupies half a shelf unit dumped near the tills. To think most of my Hot Wheels new case finds used to come from there...

Wasn't all tears though, on the end of an aisle was a stack of Majorette 5 pack gift sets at a tempting 50% off...

Yes, like a twat, I spent a tenner on a 5 pack just to get one particular car...................

I nearly did this morning, there were just two of this particular set left in my local branch. I'd have only been after the Cefiro, and I already have a couple of different ones in individual packs.

11,939 · October 14, 2023

I'm not into this small scale, but I might have to look out for one of these!

43,162 · October 14, 2023

13 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

I'm no expert on older HWs, apparently this screen-less version of the Dune Daddy is a promo from 1980 - does that sound right?

Yes this variation was never fitted with the screen. The Mexico production of Dune Daddy in 1983 did not either.

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Datsuncog sorted me out that same Dune Daddy a while back, and I picked up another in near identical condition more recently - yours looks like it's survived a lot better?

As you say, apparently a promotional item but why they chose to remove the screen I don't know - I thought they'd just gone missing

Well, it goes like this...

In 1980, four 'new' versions of previously-deleted Hot Wheels models with 'Red Line' wheels were released - but not by Mattel. There was a reason why they were Red Lines as late as 1980 and not the standard 'Black Walls' fitted since 1977.

Back in 1975, Mattel produced a number of Hot Wheels designs for a Proctor & Gamble soap promotion. The original agreement was for ten different models, which were cost-reduced variations fitted with unpainted plastic bases and bodyshells painted in base enamels. However, Mattel had already produced half the bulk order when the promotion was cancelled by P&G due to final costs.

Wisconsin Toy Company specialised in reselling superfluous stock. In 1980, four of the five moth-balled stock were acquired by Wisconsin to package and distribute themselves. As such they were never on a blister card, but in clear bags stapled to a header card or 'baggie' as they like to say in the US of A:

Note the Hot Wheels logo used is quite different from the traditional logo.

The Wisconsin models were:

Dune Daddy in dark blue with flowers. The plastic windshield was omitted.

Swingin’ Wing in yellow enamel with orange graphics outlined in purple. As per the 1973 Shell promotion version, the namesake rear wing attachment and pull-out rear engine was omitted.

Volkswagen in orange with a bug graphic on the roof. It used the non-sunroof casting with plastic engine. I assume it was produced alongside the Herfy's Hamburgers promotion as it shares the paint and roof tampo design

Warpath in red with blue and white stripes and stars. Surprisingly, it retained the opening rear hatches.

Buzz Off in dark blue with a beetle graphic was the fifth. It was not part of the Wisconsin acquisition, as Mattel released it to the Japanese market in 1977. Finding one of those will be fun and expensive as not just because they were an official boxed release but due to production halting during the run.

58,154 · October 14, 2023

51 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Volkswagen in orange with a bug graphic on the roof. It used the non-sunroof casting with plastic engine. I assume it was produced alongside the Herfy's Hamburgers promotion as it shares the paint and roof tampo design

That one is a seriously sought-after release, especially as it is one of the few versions of the Custom Volkswagen with no sunroof. Obviously silly money to buy now

58,154 · October 14, 2023

Talking of which, I bought a Hot Wheels Custom Volkswagen Beetle

3,013 · October 14, 2023

14 hours ago, Reluctant Adult said:

On the MG Maestro prototype in the pics Corgi had got the bumpers right… anyone know why they grew to comedy proportions for the production version?

I briefly had one of these but the lights stopped worked very quickly so my parents got it exchanged for a Rover SD1 police car my Mum still has around for my Nephew to play with.

13,860 · October 14, 2023

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Datsuncog sorted me out that same Dune Daddy a while back, and I picked up another in near identical condition more recently - yours looks like it's survived a lot better?..........

It's OK, I wouldn't say significantly better:

Also purchased these today in local PoundStretcher and The Original Factory Shop:

PS had Toyota AE86, Honda NSX and Mitsubishi 3000 GT in the same series, but at the price they were I could barely justify getting the Celica.....

Tesco and Morrisons still had nothing new.

5,306 · October 15, 2023

7 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I've got one reserved here for you, with a red Alfa! Now you can open one too...

Bloody hell, didn't know that! I'd all but given up on the Alfa too. Out of interest, you haven't got a spare orange MB Kadett by any chance?

58,154 · October 15, 2023

5 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Bloody hell, didn't know that! I'd all but given up on the Alfa too. Out of interest, you haven't got a spare orange MB Kadett by any chance?

Yes - I very nearly bought some more the other day too. I'll put one aside for you

10,190 · October 15, 2023

A couple of charity shop finds from yesterday.I wasn't particularly bothered about the Supra,but they were two for a pound

58,154 · October 15, 2023

Who made the ovloV?

40,286 · October 15, 2023

Corgi

33,083 · October 15, 2023

One of their best castings of the late 80s in my opinion. I've seen that variation before but didn't know that it had an Aberdeen Volvo dealer advertised on it.

41,892 · October 15, 2023

Some Majojos in TK Maxxxxx on Friday night...

Porsche has already been profiled upthread and was indeed very nice; E-Type was a new one on me but I quite liked it too, except for maybe the ultra-low-profile-tyre style of wheels.

Alpine A110 also pretty appealing, it has to be said - I don't collect Majorette as a general rule, but these are... giving me thoughts.

They're not, like, cheap-cheap but they certainly feel a little bit more special than Mattel products, so maybe worth the extra? I like these rather more than Siku's current offerings, to be brutally honest.

'Metal Series' is an interesting concept, though I kinda like models to look as much like the real thing as possible - so they don't quite land for me.

Twice the price because it comes with a metal tin is a bit perplexing too.

Patriotic 2CV and VW collection good-vibes T1 also available, though.

'Street Cars' range has some pretty nice renderings of, well, the kind of cars you'd see out in the street.

Y'know, had I been in there by myself... I might have buckled.

Luckily*, I had spousal glares to keep me on the straight and narrow.

However, I had no such supervision yesterday morning, when I was left to my own devices down the town.

So I feel I can't really be held fully responsible for what happened next.

Seems like quite a few places have new stock out, finally - after six months of nothing Hot Wheels on the shelves but a single unwanted Experimotors screwdriver car, today Poundstretcher was positively overflowing with recent longcard releases.

Very neatly displayed, too.

No need for digging through the hangers here - these were all pre-sorted, with the same model on each peg.

Mind you, at £2.50 a throw, you're deffo paying for the privilege.

Maybe a three-for-two or other discount promotion is on its way, eventually?

Home Bargains had also refilled its toy aisle, with plenty of recent-case Hot Wheels to be found.

They were rather less accessible, and flanked by a pair of teenaged Saturday workers bitching about their co-workers, so I didn't feel that an impromptu photoshoot was advisable.

I did, however, snaffle these:

The Nova wagon had, as predicted, been playing on my mind since Friday. The Defender is one I hadn't seen before, and just looks quite nicely done.

I nearly nabbed a dragstrip version of the Chevrolet Chevette, but felt that three models in the shopping basket was a bit much - even though, at £1.49, I think these are the cheapest Hot Wheels to be found these days at a nationwide chain.

A quick toddle through Poundland revealed refreshed shelves with more Hot Wheels and also some fresh Matchbox to be seen, though the Carrick branch still seems to be a case issue behind the Belfast stores.

They also had a few clipstrip hangers featuring some more of the older longcard HW releases too; who knows where they came from?

No pics, as the toy aisle was full of children, for some reason.

I know.

Andy's post upthread reminded me that I'd done a find earlier in the week, while at Tesco...

Yup, some new-case Matchbox releases.

I was a little annoyed to think that there might have been a Volvo 240 or two in here not too long ago - but alas now gone.

But if availability remains as good as the previous case, there should be plenty to go around for everyone.

Still, the li'l Honda was a nice find, despite being an odd choice for an off-roader model.

It's cute, for sure..

Front end tampo detailing is really well rendered, with even the tiny Honda badge legible.

Not really sure what I'm gonna do with these, but hey... it's the thrill of the chase, isn't it? Or something...

26,504 · October 15, 2023

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

One of their best castings of the late 80s in my opinion. I've seen that variation before but didn't know that it had an Aberdeen Volvo dealer advertised on it.

It is a nice looking casting. Definitely looks the part imho.

Ive got the green/blue version. Not sure there were many colours for it though?

33,083 · October 15, 2023

Grey, green and light blue are the only civvy colours I know of.

58,154 · October 15, 2023

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Corgi

Ah ok had a slight whiff of Hong Kong/China about it for some reason!

58,154 · October 15, 2023

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Alpine A110

Cor! I'll be on the lookout for that one - fortunately there's a black Porsche en route to me from Norfolk (hopefully)

43,162 · October 15, 2023

4 hours ago, 155V6 said:

A couple of charity shop finds from yesterday.I wasn't particularly bothered about the Supra,but they were two for a pound

Never seen that Volvo race livery before. It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection

3,396 · October 15, 2023

Clearing out at my grans.

Forgot I had these! Bought them in the early 2000's. Luckily I had the sense to keep them good!

10,190 · October 15, 2023

38 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Never seen that Volvo race livery before. It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection

They probably just used the 740 as it was a vaguely similar shape.See also Sierra 2.3 Ghia & BMW E34 BTCC models.

26,504 · October 15, 2023

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

Never seen that Volvo race livery before. It's fantasy, but David Gillanders did own and race this ex-works 242 turbo which it clearly was meant to represent

His dealership at Peterhead is still there and carries Kia today

I wonder what the back story was in the Gillanders/Corgi connection

Looks like it’s rhd too, quite rare for a 2 door.