AMT Pups, Mego, Tuffy and Jet Wheels

Few existing diecast companies can trace their origins back as far as Ertl. Fred Ertl Sr. was the founder in the mid-1940's in Dyersville, Iowa. The original products were models of farm machinery. Since that time, Ertl has made a wide variety of vehicles in almost every scale from 1:64 to 1:18. Most recently, Ertl was purchased and merged with Racing Champions to become RC/Ertl or RC2. Under the RC umbrella, Ertl has done a nice selection of detailed 1:64 scale models, a story told be TofTC recently (click here). For this story we are moving back before the RC merger to look at the variety of 1:64 scale models that carried the Ertl name in the 1970's and 1980's.

Best known for their many models relating to movies and TV, Ertl established a reputation for quality, realistic castings. While many remember the 'General Lee' Dodge Charger from the TV show 'Dukes of Hazzard' as the best know Ertl model, it was just one of many offered over two decades. Individual blisters and multi-car sets were available. Many models featured opening doors or engine compartments. The wheels and suspension were not as strong as Hot Wheels or Matchbox and did not stand up to heavy play. Many promotional models were produced for companies like Chuck E. Cheese Pizza and Bell Telephone. For many years, Ertl was the only company to offer cars like the 1950 Mercury or 1961 Corvette. Even today, the 1951 Chevy and Manta kit car are unique models.

The first part of the Ertl story will look at American cars and next month we will review models representing the rest of the world. Today, Ertl is re-releasing some of their early models. The 'Dukes of Hazzard' cars were offered again although some of the models were re-cast no doubt due to the wear of the original dies. The Manta kit car first appeared as the 'Coyote' from the TV show 'Hardcastle and McCormick'. It has been re-released in stock and racing versions. It is great to see some of these castings being used again. Some Ertl models of American vehicles are missing from those shown below. if you have an image of a missing model, send it on.

GENERAL MOTORS

1951 Chevrolet Sedan #1630	1955 Chevrolet Nomad #1632	1957 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop #1636
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible #1614	1961 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster (Riptide)	1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray #1617
1974 Chevrolet Camaro (Chuck E. Cheese)	1979 Chevrolet Corvette (Speed Strips)	1980 Chevrolet Caprice stocker (Cannonball)
1980 Chevrolet Caprice	1983 Chevrolet Camaro	1983 Chevrolet Camaro (Simon & Simon)
1984 Chevrolet Corvette	1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (Speed Strips)	1969 Cadillac de Ville Convertible (Dukes of Hazzard)
1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am #1618	1985 Pontiac Firebird	1980 Pontiac Bonneville police (Dukes of Hazzard)

1969 Dodge Charger (Dukes of Hazzard) #1581	1937 Plymouth (Dick Tracy)	Jeep CJ ((Dukes of Hazzard)) #1766
Manta kit car	International Scout #1752	Cord (Batman)
Batmobile (Batman Returns)	'Bluesmobile' Dodge Monaco police #1580	Excalibur (Matt Houston)