The first of several Hi-Rakers cars produced by Mattel was the ’34 3-Window Ford Coupe . The Hi- Rakers cars were produced with a built-in attachment (in the base) that allow you to raise or lower the rear end of the car.
The first 3 -Window Ford Coupe had the following -
Metal chassis
Lightly tinted windshields (plastic)
Plastic engine-sticking out the sides
Scoop sticking center of hood
Brown plastic interior and fendors
Red and yellow flame tempo on trunk
Hot Rod and yellow line on roof
Black rectangle on roof
Basic wheels (BW)
Made in Hong Kong
Hi- Rakers attachment in chassis (gray plastic)
Red paint job
The ’34 Ford Coupe had many variations and would make a very good collector Hot Wheels for the Ford enthusiast as well as the Hot Wheels collector.
Check out the new Hot Wheel collector books on Amazon.com. For your convenience there’s an Amazon ‘search’ box in the left side bar.
Posted 6 days, 5 hours ago at 8:04 pm. Add a comment
The Mercedes Coach issued in 1968 came in two different colors…. orange and turquoise. However, the turquoise version of this coach is by far the rarest in the secondary market and commands the highest value. As much as ten times the value of the orange version.
The Matchbox Mercedes Coach was issued with the following features:
Body of metal
Base of metal
White roof
Clear plastic windshield/windows (1 piece)
White plastic interior
Black plastic wheels
License plates (front & back) read S-B157
Mercedes emblem shown on front and rear
It is note-worthy that in the market of this era, the manufacturer was still permitted to make a toy that could be basically dis-assembled into four parts. Those being the base, the seats, the plastic windshield/window insert and the top. Finding a coach today that still has all four parts is quite a feat.
To my knowledge, there are no replicas of this coach being produced today. However, should you find one check the base for the following embossed information:
Made in England
By Lesney
Matchbox Series No. 68
Mercedes Coach
In my opinion, with Matchbox toys (as with any toy), it is always best to buy the toy with the original box if given a choice. Having the original box – in good to excellent condition – will typically add 20-25% to the overall value of your toy – in this case your Matchbox.
The Commer Bottle Float – more commonly know here in the US as a milk truck – was produced by Lesney in 1961. This truck had the Catalog Identification Number of 20 c.
The truck pictured above has the following features:
Pale green in color
Black metal base
Milk cow logo on both side doors
Green plastic windshield
Open-air sides with white plastic cream bottles load (non-removeable)
“Drink Milk” sign on roof
Black plastic wheels
Made in England
There were several versions of the Commer Bottle Float produced. It can be noted that while there were differences; there were two features that remained constant in all the versions produced. These features were that the truck was always pale green in color and they all had the black metal base.
Posted 1 month, 1 week ago at 8:35 pm. Add a comment
The Hot Wheels, Number 9244, 1936 Ford Coupe Neet Streeter is a customized, drag racing style car. It was first manufactured and introduced to the market in 1976.
The first Neet Streeter of 1976 was issued with Redlines (rsw). The car was then reissued in 1977 with Basic wheels (bw).
The original Neet Streeter cars came with the following features:
Light blue in color
Black plastic scoop on hood
Redlines (1976) | Basic wheels (1977)
Made in Hong Kong
Logo on rear trunk: “Ford…Oldie but a Goodie”
Red, white and blue stripe on top
Black plastic interior
The original Neet Streeter cars also have more than average information embossed on the metal base. That information included:
This 1936 Ford customized Hot Wheel was one of the best models true to the “Original Car Style” made by Mattel. That being said. . . after 1977 Mattel continued to produce many different versions of the Neet Streeter – all the way into the 2000’s. All of these ‘new’ Neet Streeter cars were manufactured and can be found in different colors, and with different wheel types, logos, tampos and bases.
Check out all the versions of this Hot Wheel either in Tomart’s or O’Brian’s price guides.
Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago at 4:38 pm. Add a comment
The “Buzz Off” Hot Wheel was manufactured by the Mattel Company. It was first introduced into the market in 1970, and was call the “Tri-Baby. Mattel made several variations of this Hot Wheel but changed the name to “Buzz Off” in 1973.
In spite of there being several variations introduced to the market, the changes were very subtle.
For example, In 1970, the models had the following features:
Metal base
Swing-up rear engine cover
Blue Windows
Plastic interior
Redline-(RSW)
Hong Kong-MFG
Original name (Tri-Baby) -US/HK
Six different colors
The later versions produced in 1973-77 had the following features:
Redline or Basic Wheels
Gold chrome color (as seen in the picture)
Black base
Red, dark red and black tempo “The Gold One”
With so many variations available, it’s easy to understand why so many people make Hot Wheels their collector hobby!
Not only can it be fun but also very challenging to be a Hot Wheel collector. Remember when buying for your collection – or any
collection, it is always smart to buy the best you can afford.
The ‘Golden Era’ of the Japanese tin lithographed toys began after World War ll in the early 1950′s and continued through the 1960′s and into the early 1970′s.
Even though these tin toys were very popular because of their colorful exteriors and attention to details, there was pressure to discontinue production from groups that felt toys manufactured in tin were more dangerous to children. The pressure from these groups eventually won out and resulted in companies discontinuing the manufacturing of these great toys.
During the ‘Golden Era’ there were many different models of toys, like automobiles made in the United States, as well as many robots, character toys, ferris wheels, race tracks, play sets, etc.
Many of the toys had unique modes of action, i.e.,
Friction drive
Wind up
Battery-operated
Combination of both
These brightly painted, litho toys can be found in sizes ranging from eighteen inches all the way down to a very small 1-inch in size.
In today’s market, the collecting of tin toys is still one of the largest segments of toys that you can still find and enter into at very low cost. In my opinion, I would recommend that you buy a current toy price guide so that you can be come familiar with, properly identify and purchase your toys at a good price. Not knowing the market value can really cost you in the long run if you don’t do your homework with a good price guide.
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago at 3:47 pm. Add a comment
In 1921 Wyandotte Company was formed. They were originally known for making toy pistols as their main product. However, by 1935, the Wyandotte, Michigan company became noted for their production of streamlined Art Deco, steel cars and trucks. Interestingly, these simple metal, stamped-steel toys came with wooden wheels.
Wyandotte toys were noted for:
Heavy gauge steel construction
Baked enamel finish
Due to World War II interrupting the toy industry and its sales, Wyandotte begin making ammo clips for the M-1 rifle. After the war was over, they again began production of toys in their new location in Pigna, Ohio.
These toys included:
Aircraft
Doll buggies
Musical toys
Wagons
Games
Trains (Hafner Train line)
Sadly, Wyandotte went out of business in 1965, after many attempts to diversify their toy market.
The toy in the picture above is a Wyandotte “Medical Corps Ambulance”. It was manufactured circa 1939 and was one of the several different models that were produced over the many years they were in business.
The steel stamped cars and trucks they manufactured were so well made, there is a good chance that when you find one it will be in excellent condition. This is due to the outstanding craftsmanship Wyandotte utilized in their manufacturing technique.
If you are looking for a good toy collector market, you will find starting a stamped steel toy collection to be affordable.
Posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago at 4:57 pm. Add a comment
The Mamod-Teia steam powered tractor was manufactured in England. This tractor came in two different sizes. The one pictured above is nine inches in size and comes with spoked wheels – no canopy. A larger version of this toy was 10-1/2 inches in size and also came with the spoked wheels but with a canopy.
The pictured tractor much like a real steam tractor comes with the following features:
Brass boiler
Tall front stack (3″)
Spoke wheels
Tinder-box
Most steam powered toys were manufactured in the early part of the 20th century with manufacturing continuting until around 1930. Since all of these toys used fuel powered stream action for movement, they were all constructed of metal – including iron, copper, tin and ocassionally die cast aluminum. The live steam power generated by these toys was used to activate various actions on several different kinds of toys, such as
Large-sized boats
Tractors
Model engines
Other various steam-powered ‘novelty’ toys involving actions
Word of caution, if you find a steam powered toy do not attempt to make it operate on your own . . . particularly, if you have never started a steam engine before or had experience with these steam engine toys. In almost every case, the old steam engine toys that you may find in the market will always need some type of work to make them safe for use.
There are some very good books on the market on how to repair steam engine toys as well as some good collector books for your pleasure education.-
When you are out there searching for a Schuco model car to add to your collection, always remember that original Schuco cars will be marked on the bottom either ‘Germany’ or ‘U. S. Zone Germany’. If the car you find is marked differently, it will be a re-issue. Original Schuco cars that fall into this description were produced from the 1930′s to early 1950′s.
This very unusual clear plastic SCHUCO Racer # 1005 shown in the picture above has the following features:
Clear plastic body
Wind-up
Tele-steering
Marked Germany
Schuco Mark on tires and front scoop
Stop and go lever
Rubber tires
White rubber air scoop
Plastic exhaust
Clockwork action
5 1/2 inches long
If you decide to start collecting Schuco toys, always buy the toy in the best condition you can afford – and if you have the choice of buying with the box vs without the box – go for the box. Having the original Schuco box will add a whopping 70-80% to the value of your Schuco toy.
Note: Added box value is higher for Schuco than other toys which typically have an added box value of 15-20%.
Posted 4 months, 4 weeks ago at 9:12 pm. 2 comments
… was modeled and based on the car driven by James Bond in the movie “Goldfinger.” Box is marked – Copyright Glidrose Productions Ltld & Danjaq S.A. 1965.
Produced in Great Britian by Play Craft Toys LTD., London in 1965, this gold colored Corgi comes ‘action packed’ with the followig features:
James Bond Figure
Bad Guy Figure (Removeable)
Retractable Machine Guns (on front)
Opening Roof
Operational Ejector Seat
Rear Bullet Screen
Telescopic Over-Riders
‘Secret’ Instructions
Length: 3-7/8″
Just a point of information, if you’re trying to locate value prices on Corgi cars, remember that most price guides only show values for items ‘Mint in Box’.
Hot Wheels “34″ 3-Window Ford Coupe – 1980
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