1978 Tomica American Dump Truck

I don’t really consider myself to be a ‘truck guy’, but I think this Tomica American Dump Truck is one of the finest models in my collection. One of three Tomica vehicles based on the Peterbilt 359, the No. F67 American Dump Truck was first released in 1978. (The No. F63 American Wrecker Truck was also released in 1978, followed the next year by the No. F18 American Mixer.) The Dump Truck was sold individually and was also included in the Currently Under Construction Gift Set. This example – another of my Wichita eBay finds – has a near perfect coating of blissful blue metallic paint and the details are faithfully rendered in 1/98th scale.

Tomica has a real knack for engineering their moving parts. The entire dump bed (including the hinged tailgate) on the American Dump Truck is diecast metal, and it features a post that allows for very smooth movement but also holds it in securely in place at a variety of tipping angles.

Tomica | 1978 | F67 (F63 stamped on base, F67 stamped inside tailgate) | American Dump Truck | metallic blue, tipping bed, black plastic base | 1/98 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels

Click here to see the American Dump Truck on the 1978 page of the online Tomica History Museum.

1974 Tomica Komatsu-Bucyrus 15-HT Excavator

Komatsu is a heavy-equipment manufacturer that was named after the city in Japan where it was founded in 1921. In addition to construction, mining, forestry and military equipment, the company also produces diesel engines and industrial equipment. From 1963 to 1981, Komatsu partnered with the U.S. based Bucyrus-Erie on a line of hydraulic excavators.

The Tomica Komatsu-Bucyrus 15-HT Excavator was first released in 1974. In 1976, the casting was included in the Construction Vehicle Series gift set. This yellow example with a gray shovel arm is another of my Wichita eBay scores. It is very clean for a construction toy, but is unfortunately missing the rubber tracks.

The Tomica Komatsu-Bucyrus 15-HT Excavator features a working shovel arm and a body that swivels on the tracks.

Tomica | 1974 | 9 | Komatsu-Bucyrus 15-HT Excavator | yellow with gray plastic shovel, black plastic base, missing tracks | 1/103 | Japan

1973 Tomica Hino Tank Truck Variations

The Hino Ranger is a medium- or heavy-duty commercial truck manufactured by the Japanese automaker in six generations since 1964.

In 1973, Tomica released three different models based on the same first-generation Hino Ranger cab and chassis: the No. 52 Hino Dump Truck; the No. 53 Hino Cement Mixer; and the No. 54 Hino Tank Truck. This example of the No. 54 Hino Tank Truck is another of my Wichita eBay finds and has early two-piece wheels with Shell logo labels on the sides of the tank.

The Tomica Hino Tank Truck features a cab that tips forward (although not very far forward) to reveal the engine cast into the metal part of the chassis.

Tomica | 1973 | 52.53.54 | Hino Tank Truck | yellow with red Shell labels, tipping cab, unpainted metal/black plastic base | 1/102 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs

This next example of the Tomica Hino Tank Truck with Shell livery is from the recently acquired Lamont’s Childhood Collection and has the later 5-spoke wheels. It is, unfortunately, missing the chrome plastic front grille.

Tomica | 1973 | 52.53.54 | Hino Tank Truck | yellow with red Shell labels, tipping cab missing grill, unpainted metal/black plastic base | 1/102 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels

Click here to see the Tomica Hino Tank Truck on the 1973 page of the online Tomica History Museum.

Playart Datsun 240Z

Playart diecast cars were made in Hong Kong from 1965 to 1983. In the U.S., they were sold under a variety of brands marketed to different department stores. As a child, I bought Playart cars under the Peelers brand at my local Woolworth department store. Early wheels were of two-piece construction, with a black plastic tire and a chrome plastic hub. Later, the wheels were a single piece of black with five raised petals painted chrome (often called flower wheels).

This fun Playart Datsun 240Z is another of my Wichita eBay scores. I love the metallic blue paint and the groovy racing graphics. This paint and tampo combination on the Playart Datsun 240Z can also be found with flower wheels, but I believe these particular 5-spoke wheels are associated with the Road Mates brand that was sold in Sears stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Click here to compare to the Hot Wheels Z-Whiz and click here to compare to the Yatming Datsun 280 Z-T.

Playart | 7137 (Road Mates?) | Datsun 240Z | metallic blue with yellow and white trim, black metal base | HK | 5-spoke wheels

1988 Majorette Toyota Land Cruiser and 1987 Lion Cage Trailer

The Majorette Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the J40 model (1960-1984), was first introduced in 1981. There are at least 11 variations of the street version, and another 13 or so of the 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser which have treaded tires on a modified chassis. At least six variations of the Toyota Land Cruiser were packaged with the Lion Cage Trailer in the 300 series, and this African Safari example – another of my Wichita eBay finds – is one of them.

The Majorette Toyota Land Cruiser features a tow hook and opening rear window.

Majorette | 1988 | #328 | Toyota Land Cruiser (missing Lion Cage Trailer) | beige with green and red trim, black interior, orange tinted windows, red interior, unpainted metal base, opening red rear window | France | or4s

Shortly after I added the Land Cruiser to my collection, I went in search of a Lion Cage Trailer to make it complete. I found this beige model with a green cage on eBay. This 1987 variation is not the exact match for my Land Cruiser, but the 4-spoke wheels look even better than the hashed wheels it would have been paired with.

The Majorette Lion Cage Trailer features a removable cage – but be careful if you decide to let the lion run free.

Majorette | 1987 | #328 | Lion Cage Trailer | beige with dark green plastic cage, brown plastic lion | France | or4s