May and June were crazy months for collecting, and after a few rather restrained months, November sees the craziness return. This craziness is connected to the Secondhand Toy Store near the Station having had a lot of “new” stock. I posted about this : That Box Looks Interesting and Another Interesting Haul. Now as the month approaches the end I can reflect on all the models I have added to my ever growing collection.

Most of the models were in the 3 inch size (1:64) I prefer. There were a few larger models, like the Matchbox Super Kings Fire Tender (6​1⁄4” long and 1:55 scale) and a 1:38 Jaguar E Type. There were also some smaller models like the Cararama Peugeot 206.

Matchbox

The Super Kings Fire Tender was possibly the highlight, the model was introduced into the range in 1973 and produced until 1984. I am always happy to find Lesney Era (1953-1982) models, from this era I also found my first Vantastic and Plymouth Gran Fury. I also found models I already had like DeTomaso Pantera GTS, Cosmobile and Porsche 910. My interest in Matchbox doesn’t end with the end of the Lesney era…the Ford Cargo makes a suitable tractor cab for a trailer I found a while back.

The VW Transporter is always welcome (although I’d be more excited with the regular wheels VW Camper (#34) from the late sixties). The Oshkosh HEMTT A4 is missing its container, but seems fitting transport for Battering Ram a militarised police vehicle, I bought a few emergency vehicles this month, also a Ford Police Interceptor in Fire Dept livery and a Dodge Monaco Police Car.

Siku

The large number of Siku models I found this month suggest the stock came from Germany originally. Siku is a German brand, Siku historically could be seen as the “German Matchbox”. I haven’t seen any new models in the toy shops here for a couple of years, they were more expensive than Hot Wheels and Matchbox.

Separate rubber tyres add to the realism of the models, but on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo they are missing. The Mercedes GLK was obviously parked in a better, more secure neighbourhood and still retains its tyres. The hyrdraulic crane has a boom that extends and the operator’s cab turns on its base. The Porsche 959 and Polizei Helicopter are made in Germany, the other models in China. The BMW R1100 Motorcycle is in ADAC livery (ADAC = Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club – the German Automobile Club).

Majorette

If Siku can be considered the German Matchbox, Majorette can be seen as the French Matchbox.

The Fourgon Ice Cream Van is actually made in France, the other models are more recent and made in Thailand. The Jaguar F Type and Lamborghini Aventador were bought new from XS Toys, the only outlet for new Majorettes in Tbilisi. I had been searching an F Type for quite a while, in the Racing Cars theme it retails here at 15.50 GEL ($5.82). The regular line of Street Cars retail at 7.95 GEL ($2.98) which is the same price as Hot Wheels or Matchbox here. I got a Black Friday 30% discount but it was still 10.90 GEL ($4.09). The Chevrolet Impala was a long running casting for Majorette (1986-2010) and appeared in several different liveries, here as a “Military Police” car. The Honda Prelude is missing its windscreen.

Hot Wheels

I have more Hot Wheels than any other brand, this month I picked up some more.

I picked up a three pack for the yellow Ford Escort RS 1600, my dad had a first generation Escort (an 1100L not an RS 1600), the shape has a lot of nostalgic associations for me (My Dad’s Cars). In the pack were also an Infiniti G37 and a ’15 Dodge Challenger.

I also bought the Porsche 934 Turbo RSR new, looking great with in green without unnecessary tampos. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, by contrast, looks great in its elaborate decoration. Hot Wheels Ferraris are always worth picking up, Mattel no longer has a Ferrari licence, I was happy to find the 612 Scaglietti.

Other Brands

I found a variety of models from other manufacturers.

The monthly haul included two Corgi Juniors Ford Gran Torino Fire Chief cars, the two models are different, the stickers are different, one has a chromed plastic base, the other a plain white base, and one has a diecast post for the roof siren, the other has lost its plastic siren in the car’s interior. There were a few Chinese made models, an Audi Quattro “Notarzt” (emergency doctor) by Welly, a Mercedes SLK also by Welly, a 1:38 scale Jaguar E Type Cabriolet, some smaller scale models (Porsche 356 (Schuco), Peugeot 206 (Cararama), Beer Truck and Audi TT (Joy City)) and a Lancia Stratos of unknown brand. There is a Tootsie Toys Pick up Truck made in USA and a Lada 2107 (инкотекс with many opening features made in Russia. A Bburago Ferrari 512, made in Italy and a detailed Atlas Magirus Deutz Mercur Fire Truck in 1:72 scale (Made in China).

There were many emergency vehicles.

Bilan

Totals: 47 Models: 12 Matchbox, 8 Hot Wheels, 6 Majorette, 7 Siku, 2 Welly, 2 Corgi, 1 инкотекс, 1 TootsieToys, 1 Cararama, 1 Schuco, 1 Joy City, 1 Bburago, 1 Atlas and three Chinese models of unknown brand

6 bought new, 41 bought secondhand

Outlets: 40 Secondhand Toy Stores, 5 XS Toys, 1 Carrefour and 1 from Isaak in Vagzlis Basroba

Net expenditure: 164.80 lari ($61.84)

1 lari = 38 US cents