1967 Budgie Fire Engine

Based on the real-life AEC Merryweather Marquis Fire Engine, the Budgie No.59 Fire Engine was produced from 1967 until 1970, one of only two entirely new castings created after the company came under the ownership of Modern Products. It is a very close copy of the Lesney Matchbox No.9, which was first cast in 1959. There is only one variation of the Budgie model – red with silver trim, a gold ladder, gloss black base and black plastic wheels – but it could be found packaged in a blue Budgie blister pack, a Toy House blister pack in the U.S., or packaged with the No.5 Mobile Police Car and No.19 Rover in the Budgie No. 96 Service Set.

This great-looking model is the third of three fire trucks – along with the Majorette Mercedes-Benz T2 Pompier Aeroport and Majorette Pompier – I recenty scored from my Wichita eBay friend. I’m a little puzzled with the ladder on top of the truck; it is clearly a separate piece of diecast metal but is somehow (glued? soldered?) securely attached to the roof.

Budgie | 1967-1970 | #59 | Fire Engine | 66mm, red body, silver trim, gold ladder, gloss black base | England | black plastic wheels

Click here to see my other two Budgie models – variations of the 1960 Austin A95 Westminster Station Wagon.

1986 Majorette Pompier

The Majorette Pompier was first released in 1986 and was produced in at least 6 variations up to 2004. This example is the second of three fire trucks I recently scored from my Wichita eBay friend. This version with a white ladder and no tampos was produced from 1986 to 1991.

This Thailand-cast model violates one of my personal rules for collecting Majorette in that it was not cast in France. But it’s really clean, has nice details, and makes a great companion for my other two Majorette fire trucks, the Dodge Pompier and the Pompier Aeroport.

The Majorette Pompier features a plastic ladder that extends and swivels. On some later variations, the ladder was replaced with a snorkel.

Majorette | 1986-1991 | #207 | Pompier | red with light blue windows, white interior, white ladder, unpainted metal base | 1:100 | Thailand | nuclear

1979 Majorette Mercedes-Benz T2 Pompier Aeroport

Fire Trucks are the theme of my latest round of purchases from my Wichita eBay connection. I landed three nice fire trucks, including this really clean Majorette Mercedes-Benz T2 Pompier Aeroport. The Majorette Airport Fire Truck was produced between 1979 and 1985 in at least 5 different variations. Like the Majorette Dodge Camper from my childhood, this example is French-cast and has the distinctive 3-spoke wheels.

The real-life Mercedes-Benz T2 was a transporter made from 1967 until 1986. Available as a box van, flatbed or minbus, the versatile T2 was employed as a work truck, fire and rescue vehicle, and postal delivery van, among many other uses.

This T2 Pompier Aeroport, which features a rotating plastic water cannon, makes a nice companion to the Majorette Dodge Pompier that I recently scored, also from my Wichita eBay friend.

Majorette | 1979-1985 | #258 | Mercedes-Benz T2 Pompier Aeroport | red with light blue windows, white interior, gray watercannon | 1:70 | France | 3-spoke

1968 Husky Volkswagen 1300 Police Car

The Husky Volkswagen 1300 Police Car was first cast in 1968 and was produced in about 8 different variations until 1974. This example with smooth diecast wheels and black tires is from 1968 and is another recent score from my Wichita eBay connection.

The Husky Volkswagen 1300 Police Car is based on the Volkswagen 1300 civilian model, which had plastic luggage on the roof instead of the dome light. (Click here to see the blue Husky Volkswagen 1300 from my childhood.)

Husky | 1968 | 3-B Volkswagen 1300 Police Car | 66mm, white and black with red interior, clear windows, blue dome light, tall Police labels on doors, unpainted Husky base | Great Britain | smooth diecast wheels with black tires

Playart Jaguar E Type 2+2

Playart was a toy company based in Hong Kong that manufactured diecast cars from 1965 until 1983. The cars were distributed under different brand names; Peelers were sold through the Woolworth chain, Road Mates were sold at Sears. Other brands included Freewheelers, Road Kings, FASTWHEEL and Charmerz. The models were fairly well done, although some appear to be knock-offs of other brands like Matchbox and Tomica. Early versions had two-piece wheels with black plastic tires and a chrome hubcap. Later models had one-piece wheels with silver details. It’s difficult to find information on Playart cars, but a page at PlanetDiecast.com has compiled a list of over 160 different castings made by the company – and this does not include variations in paint color or wheels.

I still have a few Playart models from my childhood, so I like to pick them up when I find them. This Playart Jaguar E Type 2+2 is one of my latest round of scores from my Wichita eBay friend. I’m not sure the year of this model, but it does have the later, one-piece wheels with the five-triangle pattern – often referred to as flower wheels.

Notice that on this model, sandwiched between the metal body and the black plastic base, there is a chrome plastic piece which makes up the bumpers and headlights on the car.

In addition, there is a separate white plastic interior with a black plastic steering wheel – as well as clear plastic windshield and windows.

Playart | 7123 | Jaguar E Type 2+2 | dark red | HK | flower wheels