Tomica | 1973 | 60 | Datsun No. 1 | cream body with cream plastic top, red metal fenders, red plastic interior, chrome plastic grille, black plastic base | 1/49 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs
The Tomica Camping Car was first released in 1973 and was produced until 1976. This example – another of my Wichita eBay finds – has been repainted and given custom details. I was surprised to find a Tomica camper, since of the more than 80 Tomicas in my collection, not a single one has a tow hook. But it does appear that in 1973, there were three other models released that had tow hooks: the No. 62 Nissan Bluebird U; the No. 74 Nissan Laurel 2000SGX; and the No. 80 Mazda Savanna GT. So you know which vehicles I will now be on the lookout for. (Also released that year was the No. 71 Yamaha Boat with trailer, another model that would have required a tow vehicle.)
The Tomica Camping Car is based on a real-life camper made by FranceBed. The Japanese company, which produced camping trailers for a time during the 1970s, is currently a manufacturer of beds, assistive products and health care equipment.
The Tomica No. 65 Camping Car features an opening side door. Notice the curtains on the rear side windows – apparently another aftermarket detail.
Tomica | 1973 | 65 | France Bed Camping Car | white with custom painted details, orange interior, opening door, black plastic base | 1/77 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs
In 2022, I added a number of pieces to my fleet of Tomica Fire Engines, thanks to my Wichita eBay friend, who was selling off several nice models. Now I should be able to handle just about any size or type of fire emergency.
The Tomica Isuzu Squirt Fire Engine was first released in 1974 and was produced until 1980. This example has the early wheels with chrome plastic hubs.
The Tomica Isuzu Squirt Fire Engine features a hose arm that raises and swivels.
Tomica | 1974 | 3 | Isuzu Squirt Fire Engine | red with white plastic hoses and hose boom, unpainted metal base | 1/110 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs
The Tomica Hino Aerial Ladder Fire Truck was first released in 1975 and was produced until 2003. It was packaged both individually and was also included in several different gift sets.
The Tomica Hino Aerial Ladder Fire Truck features a ladder that raises way up there and also swivels.
Tomica | 1975 | 29 | Hino Aerial Ladder Fire Truck | red with light gray plastic ladder and white plastic hoses, tinted windows, unpainted metal base | 1/125 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels
The Tomica Isuzu Pump Fire Engine was first released in 1973 and was produced until 1985. It was packaged individually and was also included in several gift sets.
Tomica | 1973 | 68 | Isuzu Pump Fire Engine | red with white plastic interior and hoses, unpainted metal base | 1/81 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels
The Tomica UD Condor Chemical Fire Truck was first released in 1977 and was produced up to 1988. It was packaged individually and was also included in several gift sets.
Tomica | 1977 | 94 | UD Condor Chemical Fire Truck | red with green plastic insert, white plastic hoses, tinted windows, unpainted metal base | 1/90 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels
The Tomica American Ladder Chief features a ladder that raises and swivels.
Tomica | 1978 | F33 | American Ladder Chief | red with white plastic insert, light gray plastic extending and swiveling ladder, unpainted metal base | 1/143 | Japan | gold 5-spoke wheels
The Tomica Tokyu Chemical Fire Truck was first released in 1975 and was packaged both individually and in a few gift sets. This example has early wheels and 49 labels on the sides.
Tomica | 1975 | 94 | Tokyu Chemical Fire Truck | red with black 49 labels, silver plastic insert and hose cannon, white plastic hoses, unpainted metal base | 1/130 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs
The Ford GT 70 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car that was produced by Ford UK in 1970. It was intended to compete against the likes of the Porsche 911 and Renault Alpine in the World Rally Championship. The GT 70 had a sleek, lightweight fiberglas body and custom designed four spoke wheels. However, there were suspension and braking issues, and the original 2.6L V6 engine proved to have too high a center of gravity and had to be swapped out with a 1.6L I4. Ultimately, only 6 GT 70s were built and none of them had much racing success.
The Corgi Juniors Ford GT 70 was first released in 1973. It used the standard base up to 1975, then was produced with the Growlers base from 1975 to 1976. In the 1980s, the dies were transferred to Brazil, where the GT 70 was produced under the Kiko brand. This early orange model with the Corgi Juniors base is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
The Corgi Juniors Ford GT 70 features a metal engine hatch that opens to reveal details of the blue tint and chrome plastic engine.
Corgi Juniors | 1973-75 | 10-B | Ford GT 70 | 73mm, orange with blue tinted windows, chrome interior, unpainted metal opening rear hatch, unpainted metal base | Great Britain | chrome foiled 5-double spoke Whizzwheels
The Isuzu Elf is a medium duty truck known outside Japan as the N-Series. It has been produced in six generations since 1959 and has been sold in markets around the world for a tremendous variety of uses. The second-generation Elf (1968-1978) was available as a “high roof” van.
The Tomica model of the Isuzu Elf Hi-Roof was first released in 1973. This example with Tomy Racing Team labels and early two-piece wheels is another of my Wichita eBay finds. It’s pretty rough and is missing the sliding side doors, but this little van has tons of character.
Tomica | 1973 | 49 | Isuzu Elf Hi-Roof | orange with TOMY Racing Team labels, cream plastic interior and roof rack, missing sliding side doors, unpainted metal base | 1/81 | Japan | black tires with chrome plastic hubs
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
The company known as Hitachi, Ltd., was formed in Japan in 1910 with the production of its first product, a 5hp induction motor developed for use in copper mining. Though the multinational conglomerate now has its many hands in a huge variety of products and services, the Hitachi Construction Machinery (North America) website claims, “we don’t get sidetracked building every kind of equipment. Instead, we build excavators and haulers.” In fact, the current line of haul trucks pictured on this site look very similar to the model that was being produced in the early 1970s.
The Tomica Hitachi DH 321 Dump Truck was first released in 1973 and produced up to 1983. It was packaged individually and also included in a few different construction vehicle sets. This orange model with two-piece black and chrome wheels is another nice Tomica model from my Wichita eBay connection.
The Tomica #59 Hitachi DH 321 Dump Truck features a metal body and a metal dumper with a very well-engineered mechanism which holds the dump bed securely at various tipping angles.
Tomica | 1973 | 59 | Hitachi DH 321 Dump Truck | orange with black plastic base | 1/117 | Japan | large black tires with chrome plastic hubs
Corgi Juniors | 1973-1976 | 28-B | Hot Rodder | 77mm, yellow with red, blue and white labels, amber windshield, vacuum plated plastic interior and engine, white diecast base | Great Britian | Whizzwheels
The Race Case Etc. 