The following toy cars were purchased or received in trade by Doug Breithaupt in the previous month. Some are new but others are older diecast acquired from other collectors. The prices paid are also shown. This addition to 'Tales of Toy Cars'. is intended to share recent finds with fellow collectors. If you have found some interesting diecast cars recently, let me know and send an image if possible, attached to an e-mail.
 Rover 105 Rovermatic #19 - gift  Austin A 95 Wesminster Countryman #15 - gift EFSI  Ford Transit Ambulance #411 - gift HOT WHEELS  1957 (Metropolitan) Metrorail #083 - $.99 KENNER FAST 111's  Cam Rammer (Porsche 917-10) #3 - $.50  Shark Shifter #29 - $.50 JOHNNY LIGHTNING  1959 DeSoto #031 - $3.98  1977 Lotus Esprit #657 - $2.98 |
Recent Additions March provided much variety in new and old diecast for my collection. The Car of the Month is a lovely Citroen DS21 from Johnny Lightning. It is one of the TV cars from the show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and a welcome addition. The last time Citroen's classic DS was done in small-scale diecast was over 30 years back. While I have not seen this car on the show, it must have a rusty right fender as JL has added rust colored spots on the model. The casting is excellent and does the DS proud. I'm sure some European Citroen model collectors will be looking for help from U.S. collectors in getting this model as JL is not easy to find in Europe. Certainly the nicest surprise of the month was a package received from Bruce Mibeck, Abbott Park, IL. It included the two Budgie models, an 'auntie' Rover 105 Rovermatic and the Austin A 95 Wesminster Countryman. It also included three Efsi Ford Transit Van models, including the ambulance shown here. Thank you Bruce! I finally found the Hot Wheels Metrorail. This wild drag racer is only the second Met to be done in small-scale and will be a popular model. I once owned a '61 Met in these same colors but with a lot less power. Two more Kenner Fast 111's were found at a toy show in the $.50 box. The Cam Rammer is a Porsche 917-10 Can Am racer while the Shark Shifter belongs to my 6-year old son. I have never been able to come to terms with animal cars. Johnny Lightning provided a nice non-Bond version of the 1977 Lotus Esprit in John Player black and gold. More impressive is the 1959 De Soto Fireflight Sportsman Sedan. It is unlikely that this car has ever been done in any scale before and we can thank Buffy the Vampire Slayer for this one as well. Thanks Buffy! This is the first De Soto in 1:64 scale other than a crude '54 wagon by Goodee. Also from the toy show are two Matchbox variations I like. The '87 Cadillac Allante in Indy Pace Car form is a rare model from Matchbox's 1991 Indy 500 series. The Sauber - Mercedes in BASF racing colors is a nice version of this Le Mans winner. This model has suffered from a variety of non-racing color schemes so the correct racing versions are worth finding. The toy show also provided the more 'used' cars. The WWII Personen Kraftwagen #7857 from Playart is a nice addition but can anyone tell me who built the real version? Two Road Champs, a Chrysler LeBaron cvt. and a '32 Ford Model A were found. The LeBaron comes with top up or down while the Model A has a working rumble seat. Watch for a Road Champs feature in the near future. I can thank Brian Willoughby for both the Revell VW Beetle and the identification of the Triumph 2000 sedan. The Triumph is in 1:64 scale but all-plastic. The base has an 'S' and an anchor in a toothed gear but no maker name. Can anyone help? Lastly, the 1976 Dodge Aspen by Yat Ming is one of those cars that I always watch for if the price is right. This is one of the metal-based versions. It is safe to assume that this model won't be done by anyone else unless some future TV show decides that the Aspen is the right car for their star to drive on-screen. Hey, who would have bet on the '59 De Soto sedan ever being done? The Aspen also comes in blue and white variations and perhaps more colors I've missed. As always, I'm looking to trade my duplicates with other collectors. If you have a list of duplicate models to send me I'll be happy to do the same for you. Please e-mail me your list. |
 1987 Cadillac Allante Indy Pace Car #72-I $1.00  Sauber-Mercedes Group C Racer #66-H $1.00 PLAYART  WWII Personen Kraftwagen #7857 $4.00 REVELL  1960 VW 1300 #3341 - trade ROAD CHAMPS  1986 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible - $2.00  1932 Ford Model 'A' - $2.00 UNKNOWN  Triumph 2000 #02 - $.50 YAT MING  1976 Dodge Aspen #1056 $.75 |
