bunglebus Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Talking of Beetles - this one just landed. If you haven't experienced a Galanite before, they're quite odd. They're made of a flexible plastic that always pops back into shape no matter what I remember playing with one of these in a sandpit as a kid and being fascinated with it. Think I had one before but it's disappeared somewhere over the years. There are others but the blue Beetle was the one I really wanted, I might try and find the split bus too Datsuncog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Thinking back as a kid, probably repeating myself here but the Matchbox was available everywhere, the local market had a stall where they had the proper display to pick from. I do recall there was one of these fly-by-night shops that did sell for a very short time Tomica and the Siku, the Siku being twice the price of a Matchbox. I didn’t know if the Tomica I bought at the time were a one off import or something that had somehow landed in the U.K. as a cancelled order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 48 minutes ago, bunglebus said: Talking of Beetles - this one just landed. If you haven't experienced a Galanite before, they're quite odd. They're made of a flexible plastic that always pops back into shape no matter what I remember playing with one of these in a sandpit as a kid and being fascinated with it. Think I had one before but it's disappeared somewhere over the years. There are others but the blue Beetle was the one I really wanted, I might try and find the split bus too I had quite a few of those at one point - including that Beetle sedan, and also a police Beetle which was a completely different moulding, despite being the same thing only with a roof lamp and a wing-mounted siren added. I also had a T1 pick-up in the same range. Other Galanite toys I had included a Renault Floride, Peugeot 403 Convertible, Land Rover S1 (with driver and dog) and a Morris Mini which was similar but in green, and branded Tomte-Laerdahl. I got rid of them a while back, but I'll see if I can find some pics... bunglebus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 They're not usually bargain prices on eBay, but a vague listing helped me out here. Amusingly for a toy that's almost indestructible, it was sent in an oversize box and heavily bubble wrapped, when it would have been fine in a Jiffy bag... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 7 minutes ago, Datsuncog said: I had quite a few of those at one point - including that Beetle sedan, and also a police Beetle which was a completely different moulding, despite being the same thing only with a roof lamp and a wing-mounted siren added. I also had a T1 pick-up in the same range. Other Galanite toys I had included a Renault Floride, Peugeot 403 Convertible, Land Rover S1 (with driver and dog) and a Morris Mini which was similar but in green, and branded Tomte-Laerdahl. I got rid of them a while back, but I'll see if I can find some pics... I had a red beach buggy and my brother had an odd looking racing car that was a rather lurid green. bunglebus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Datsuncog said: Yes, but I think it was only after the mid-90s - the model shop where I used to work stocked them in blister packs, after our Matchbox rep went AWOL and we were stuck for pocket-money toys. Dunno exactly where they were sourced from, but from memory they were mostly US/European range models like a Mini, 2CV, Lotus Europa, VW Kombi, Morgan Plus 4, Chevrolet Pickup... though there was a Mazda RX7 in the mixed selection too (see the front row of what was formerly my small Tomica collection - except for the Datsun Cherry) We also did Siku and some of the bigger Majorette models and gift sets, though never the small individual Majorettes. I recognise a few of those😉,a couple are in this picture Datsuncog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 One more scan for today - with a twist. I somehow ended up with both the English and French versions of the 1971 Matchbox catalogues, and on initial inspection they appeared to be the same bar most of the smaller text being in different languages, so no point scanning the French one. However the centre pages and the three after are completely different. I've included the French pages at the end And the French: Spottedlaurel, flat4alfa, Tenmil Socket and 4 others 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 1 hour ago, bunglebus said: Talking of Beetles - this one just landed. If you haven't experienced a Galanite before, they're quite odd. They're made of a flexible plastic that always pops back into shape no matter what I remember playing with one of these in a sandpit as a kid and being fascinated with it. Think I had one before but it's disappeared somewhere over the years. There are others but the blue Beetle was the one I really wanted, I might try and find the split bus too I've got these,if they look a bit wet in the pictures,it's because they live in the bathroom with the rubber ducks 🤣 The Jeep has been around for over 40 years,the rest are more recent finds.We had quite a few when we were kids as they sold them at a local toyshop(which is still there!) A few years ago,I found a Jeep Forward Control breakdown truck in green.I didn't collect them at the time,so put it on eBay & it sold for about £90!.Apparently,it's quite rare in that colour. warch, andrew e, Datsuncog and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 34 minutes ago, bunglebus said: And the French: That's quite peculiar - a short essay on customization, and how Matchbox toys are part of a noble tradition spanning the Crusades, Scottish clans and Native Americans... I wonder if there was some requirement in France at the time for printed matter aimed at children to have some educational content included - kind of like how children's TV programmes in the UK couldn't just be adverts for toy ranges, but had to contain some form of 'morally improving' dimension (paraphrasing here), which is why action cartoons such as He-Man tended to contain some sort of clunky bolt-on bit at the end about stranger danger, or saying no to drugs? warch and bunglebus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 I’d love a Matchbox Auto Sales. Chances of finding one that’s not broken or fifty million quid though... Might just have to get the Plywood out and build one... eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 17 minutes ago, Datsuncog said: which is why action cartoons such as He-Man tended to contain some sort of clunky bolt-on bit at the end about stranger danger, or saying no to drugs Indeed Reluctant Adult and Datsuncog 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 10 minutes ago, sierraman said: I’d love a Matchbox Auto Sales. Chances of finding one that’s not broken or fifty million quid though... Might just have to get the Plywood out and build one... I'd like one of those too,I don't think I've ever seen one in real life & I'm.quite old 😂 eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheffcortinacentre Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 5 hours ago, bunglebus said: Talking of Beetles - this one just landed. If you haven't experienced a Galanite before, they're quite odd. They're made of a flexible plastic that always pops back into shape no matter what I remember playing with one of these in a sandpit as a kid and being fascinated with it. Think I had one before but it's disappeared somewhere over the years. There are others but the blue Beetle was the one I really wanted, I might try and find the split bus too Ive several MK3 cortinas obviously from the corgi one Datsuncog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezzabsa Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 3 hours ago, bunglebus said: Indeed didn't we have something similar in the 80's over here???? Nik o teen rings a bell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 I definitely remember the picture on the left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 So... tomorrow the Matchbox arrive at Tesco, I’ll be there on reconnaissance waiting for the boxes with ‘Mattel’ to come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat4alfa Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 14 hours ago, bezzabsa said: didn't we have something similar in the 80's over here???? Nik o teen rings a bell They are from over here The Ministry of Health set up the Health Education Council in 1968 and is part of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today I remember the Nick O'Teen ads above. Very likely wouldn't be allowed today, in our era of political correction troublemakers bezzabsa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 2 hours ago, sierraman said: So... tomorrow the Matchbox arrive at Tesco, I’ll be there on reconnaissance waiting for the boxes with ‘Mattel’ to come out. I wouldn't put money on it, they keep putting the date back in one store, and the other doesn't have a space for them at all sierraman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 20 hours ago, 155V6 said: I've got these,if they look a bit wet in the pictures,it's because they live in the bathroom with the rubber ducks 🤣 The Jeep has been around for over 40 years,the rest are more recent finds.We had quite a few when we were kids as they sold them at a local toyshop(which is still there!) A few years ago,I found a Jeep Forward Control breakdown truck in green.I didn't collect them at the time,so put it on eBay & it sold for about £90!.Apparently,it's quite rare in that colour. I had a couple of those (or something similar) when I was a kid. One was a Bedford TK breakdown truck, and I think the other was a Renault 16(?). I always thought they were Greek in origin, but it could just be that they were bought for me in Greece by a Greek relative. I think I can vaguely remember a 60s Thunderbird too. Never really thought about them until I saw those. EDIT: The Renault is apparently by Tomte-Laerdal of Norway (mine was orange) This is the Bedford, which is a Galanite morrisoxide, AndyW201, 155V6 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Finally got my hands on the black Matchbox VW T3 from the Commando series. I think this means I have all the variations now Typically two popped up on eBay at the same time, this one on its own and another in a lot - so a second one will be arriving shortly... eddyramrod, 155V6, andrew e and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 17 minutes ago, bunglebus said: Finally got my hands on the black Matchbox VW T3 from the Commando series. I think this means I have all the variations now Typically two popped up on eBay at the same time, this one on its own and another in a lot - so a second one will be arriving shortly... How many variations are there?.I've got 4 different ambulances,I know about the Graffic Traffic version & this one.Are there any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Wotcha Shite pickers! NZ's still in lockdown measures so I've decided to hop in the old Trans-Pacific time travel box for a quick break in the olden days. Yep, back in the old US of Stateside and I picked up an out and out sports coop to get me about the place. If I'm going to do this, I might as well do it dreadfully. What's not advertised in the time travel box literature is the side effects of such activities: namely, it doesn't half make you famished. Dropped in to the catchily titled Father's Also for a sammich and a Coors. Parked the steed out by the window, so I could gaze at its coherent styling whilst I dined on a deep fried hummus and sundried tomato sub. Classic American vegan dining at its best. A little down the road, I encountered a sugar parlour, so what better way to celebrate 8 untroubled miles than to stop in and try some wares? Talking about wares...... wares my tires* gone?!!? But let's ignore that mere detail for a moment and instead, enjoy a photo of the T-Bird BASKING in the sun shine. Luckily, the second establishment visited that day with a large chicken on their sign proved just as welcoming as the first one. Initially, Norm tried to palm me off with a set of used tires(*) but little did he know that I was a patron of a yet to be invented motoring forum for powerfully built gents, so in the end I opted for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s. Luckily, he had a set of prototypes in stock. As the evening drew to a close, I ventured forth towards the cultural hub, a hallowed land where you can rest awhile, day or night. And penguins pump gas. TBC.. warch, bunglebus, Datsuncog and 9 others 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 23 minutes ago, 155V6 said: How many variations are there?.I've got 4 different ambulances,I know about the Graffic Traffic version & this one.Are there any more? I think this is it: I have this with blue glass too I'm going to have to paint that Graffic Traffic. Is there a forth white ambulance I've missed andrew e 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Not sure how clear this will be,but the the markings on the right hand one are orange,rather than the red on the one you have bunglebus and andrew e 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 You have the two different glass colours too. I'll keep an eye out for that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 I've got this other one with the orange markings,yours for the price of postage if you want it? andrew e and bunglebus 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 22 hours ago, Datsuncog said: I had quite a few of those at one point - including that Beetle sedan, and also a police Beetle which was a completely different moulding, despite being the same thing only with a roof lamp and a wing-mounted siren added. I also had a T1 pick-up in the same range. Other Galanite toys I had included a Renault Floride, Peugeot 403 Convertible, Land Rover S1 (with driver and dog) and a Morris Mini which was similar but in green, and branded Tomte-Laerdahl. I got rid of them a while back, but I'll see if I can find some pics... I found some pics, though not all... Galanite Police Beetle and 403 Cab Regular Beetle and S1 Land Rover. Galanite VW Type 1 Transporter. Tomte-Laerdahl Mini. Not sure why I've no pics of the Floride - sheer disorganisation, I guess. bunglebus, Split_Pin, 155V6 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.E Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Driver didn't wear the seatbelt and smashed his head through the windshield? Gruesome! Schuco reused the polizei baseplate for this taxi. I'm pretty sure a German taxi would usually be a 200D or 240D instead of a 200. Remspoor, AndyW201, Datsuncog and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 26 minutes ago, Datsuncog said: Galanite VW Type 1 Transporter. I'd like to find one of those Datsuncog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 ^^ I thought you might. 😉 bunglebus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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