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%.

 Special Agent 007, James Bond

Austin-Martin D. B .5. Number 261

… 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’.

Circa 1953, F.G. Taylor & Sons  produced this wonderful toy.  The set included a Roman chariot, a pair of horses and  a chariot driver.

 The chariot and horses have an overall length of 5″ .  The height of the chariot is 1-3/8″; the horses are 2-1/8″ tall.  The man is 2-1/8″ tall. 

• Some features of this toy are:
• Metal construction
• All pieces are hand painted
• Wheels turn
• Horses attached to harness by pin

The set was manufactured in England and would will be rated as moderately rare in today’s market – regardless of where you live – UK or USA.    It is marked on the underside of the chariot in raised lettering – Made in England, Copyright; with the manufactures name as well.

This Classic Hot Wheels T-Bird was only manufactured in the USA and came in 18 different colors.  The color of this car is gold.

The ‘57  T-Bird was produced with the following features:

• Lift- up hood to show engine
• Engine was metal
• Metal base
• Plastic interior
• Redlines wheels
• Made in USA
• Clear windows
• Produced  in 1969
• Cut-down windshield
• Painted red tail lights

 The ‘57 classic T-Bird was one of the better modified original redlines.

The Hafner company was founded in 1900, but the first Toys produced wasn’t until 1901. The firm’s name was changed to W.F. Hafner in 1904, which later became the American Flyer. Then in 1914 Hafner started his own company Haefner manufacturing Company, and in 1918 his son joined him and from that point on they produced only wind up trains until they were bought out by Wyandotte in 1950.

The picture shown in my post is a Hafner wind up train that was produced after 1918, this train was made up of four cars and circle track.

• Engine
• Tender
• Coal car
• Caboose

If you would like to see some larger pictures of the train cars . . .  click here. 

In my opinion if you are looking to adding a quality wind up train to your collection, I believe the Hafner wind up train would the be one to chose.

The “Corgi” name is a registered trademark of Playcraft Toys. Playcraft Toys began production in 1956 and are still in production today.

The 5-1/2 inch Batmobile pictured in this article was made in 1966 and in  several variations, all with very subtle differences, i.e. color, hub caps , cutter, etc.

The Corgi Rocket Firing Batmobile featured here has the following:

• Black color/red side logo
• Chain cutter
• Rocket tubes
• Springs suspension
• Batman embossed on chassis
• Red `bat hubs’
• Batman and Robin removable figures
• Made in Great Britain
• Blue windshield
• Jet exhaust-wheel activated
• Original box number 267
• Original operating guide

If you have any other variation of the Batmobile that is different from the one pictured in my blog please send me a picture of your Batmobile and I will be happy to include it in my next Corgi post.

If you’re a collector of Tootsietoys, you will find the following a great addition to your collection. This Tootsie set is Number 1693 and includes the following:

Mobil Gas Truck- red

Gas Delivery Truck – red

VW Beetle – blue

Shell gas station pump set – red

Pair of filling station lights- silver

Truck wrecker- white

Tootsietoy produced nine different sets during this time period (late 1960’s). The numbered sets are as follows:

1689 – Airport Set

1690 – Truck Fleet Set

1691- Firefighting Set

1686- Farm Set

1687- Grand Prix Set

1689-State Fair Set

1693-Service Station Set

1694-Car Fleet Set

FYI all of these Tootsietoy sets are highly sought after and will be hard to find in the original packaging. But if you are lucky enough to find one – you have a real prize.

If anyone has one of the sets of Tootsietoys please send me a photo of your set and I will gladly post it on my Texas Toyman Blog along with a note of who sent me the photograph.

Harry Bradley’s Custom El Camino was the first car he designed for Mattel. It was modeled after his own ‘custom truck’ which he drove to work every day.

This Custom Fleetside El Camino was produced in both the US and Hong Kong. The US version can easily be identified by the mold mark on the black plastic bed cover. Another identifying mark is the very small steering wheel. Below you will find some more design features:

• Produced in 11 different colors
• Metal chassis
• Plastic interior
• Black roof
• Black plastic cover on the truck
• Horizontal taillights (US only)
• Carburetor pipes extending out of hood
• Mold mark on truck bed cover (US only)
• Small steering wheel (US only)
• Raised dashboard (US only)
• Redline wheels

This was one of the original ‘redline’ Hot Wheel cars produced by Mattel and still remains a hot collectible today.

If you are looking for a good Hot Wheels book I recommend Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels. This is my favorite guide book for identifying Hot Wheels.

This 20th Anniversary Chrome Hot Wheel was based on the 4-wheel drive minivan and  produced in Malaysia.

The Tall Ryder came with the following:

• Black plastic windows
• Black plastic lower body strip (fenders)
• Metal base
• Tires are CT (Construction Tire)
• Only available  in 3 pack chrome
• No side tampos
• 20th Anniversary tampo (embossed) on roof
• Chrome body

If you are a beginner or experienced collector of Hot Wheels - vintage and/or current, my recommendation for the best identification guide is the Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels .

There are several editions issued by Michael Strauss, get them all if you can they are in my opinion a must to your collecting Hot Wheels.

Mattel introduced 36 different Crack-ups cars from 1984 through 1986 with most of the vehicles having the same casting. These Hot Wheels all have metal bases, bodies and came with basic wheels. This model has a prototype that was produced in the color yellow.

The Hot Wheel pictured above is call the Smak-Bak , Package Number 7066. This Hot Wheel comes with the following:

• Rear back crasher
• Two-doors
• Hatchback style car
• White body
• Red and Blue tampo
• Black plastic windows
• Black plastic hatch
• Unpainted metal base
• Made in Hong Kong

Of all the Crack- Ups cars that were produced, the Smak- Bak was one of my favorites.

I use the Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels for most of my identification – and if you’re looking for a good reference book and price guide I recommend Tomart’s.