Toyota's Family Car

Introduced in 1961, the Publica is a small family car that was made by Toyota. It was only available as a two door vehicle. The name "Publica", was chosen by Toyota, referring to the english term, "public car". The car was made to fulfill the national car concept requirements of Japan. The car's target market was the general public. It was also the smallest Toyota car during that period that had a simple and economic design. This is a small car that has some similarities to the East German car, Trabant 601.

Above is the Toyota Publica Toys Club version that was released in February 2005 along with two other cars, the Isuzu Bellett 1600 Sport and the Hino Contessa taxi. The Toys Club version is a racing version of the Toyota Publica.

Prince Gloria Super 6

Prince introduced the S40 Gloria in 1962 and it was a much larger car than the previous cars that Prince released. It cannot be classified as a compact car anymore under Japanese vehicle classification regulations because of the engine exceeding two litres. This car was no longer based on the Skyline sedan and was also the first six cylinder car that Prince made. Tomica released the Prince Gloria S40's in January 2004 and the Prince Gloria Fire Chief in February 2004. There is also a Prince Gloria Fire Chief car that was released in February 2004 that was part of the Toys Club three car set. (The other two cars are the Toyopet Crown Police and the Nissan Cedric Taxi).

Racing Glorias

In 1964, the Prince Gloria Super 6 entered in the Japanese GP T-VI class race (1601 to 2000cc) and managed to secure both 1st and 2nd place. The pole position record was also made by a Prince Gloria at 2 min 56.4 sec. (Toru Ikusawa). When the Gloria's Super 6 engine was installed in a Prince Skyline, it won the second T-IV class race.

I had a hard time getting this rare boxed set that Tomica released way back in 2004. The cars on this boxed set are made well. The tampos are all printed well and the wheels look great. However, I think, being an old release, it is not up to par with the Tomica Limited Vintage cars that were released recently. Still, this boxed set has already been out of production and it would be a fantastic addition for Nissan and Prince model car fans.

Kei Sports Car

I saw this sports car at a local car show just a few months ago. It was very small but it was one of those cars that screamed attention. A Datsun designer, Shozu Sato, and a Toyota designer who was also a World War two aircraft designer, Tatsuo Hasegawa, designed the aerodynamics of this car. The Toyota Sports 800 was one of the first sports car to incorporate the targa roof design (which Porsche would eventually have on their sports cars). When the aluminum targa roof is not in use, it can be neatly stored in the trunk of the car.

Toyota Carina Road Runner II

I bought this car a few months ago and I wouldn't have purchased it, had it not been on sale (which would have been a huge mistake!) To be fair, the model car itself looks fantastic. I mean, what's not to like? The details, as usual, are impeccable. The paint job is excellent. The only thing I did not like was the color (but that itself is a personal choice). This was the last rear-wheel Toyota Carina.

This is the third generation "special" version that Toyota released in 1982. It was released to commemorate the three class victory in the 1982 Paris-Alger-Dakar rally, which surprised the French and thus gave the car the monicker, "flying Carina". This model car would look really good in a Hino car transporter which will be released on the first quarter of next year.

The All About Tomica Limited Vintage Book

The All About Tomica Limited Vintage Book was released by Neko Mook publishing a few years ago. It's a nice book that features all the Tomica Limited Vintage releases from January 2004 until February of 2009. The book even has a section on special releases like Tomica shop and Toys club Japanese exclusives. There are also sections on upcoming model cars, a sneak peek at the Tomytec factory in China and detailed descriptions of various TLV model cars. The book is a must-have for the Tomica Limited Vintage collector, even though if the text is all in Japanese. Sad to say, this book is now hard to find and is already out of production. I really hope Neko Mook makes a sequel to this fine big format book. A book that will feature model cars and trucks from 2009 to the present.

Tomica released this Toyota Corona RT40 in August 2008. Pictured here is the actual product and the prototype

A sneak peek in Tomytec's factory in China

More upcoming models

I'm sure that a lot of people are waiting for this Hino car transporter model to be released. It looks good with all the Toyota Carina Road Runners in it. The painted prototype looks awesome and it comes in two variants! Can't wait to get my hands on one. From the previous book that was released by Neko a few months ago (All About Tomica Limited Vintage), There were pictures of car transporters there, that I think, are also in the works. Among them are the Nissan C80 and the Nissan T650 car transporters.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that Tomytec has plans to release a streetcar in their Limited Vintage line very soon. This would look great on a small Japanese street diorama.

Some prototype images were borrowed from these websites:
http://www.minicarshop.jp/report/shobby52/sokuhou/tomy.html
http://kidbox.co.jp

First Generation Carina

The first generation Carina was introduced as a four-door version of the Celica. The basic model featured reclining seats, a clock, a radio and servo assisted brakes. The Carina was an affordable and reliable vehicle aimed towards the younger market. Tomica did an excellent job on the car's interior. I like how they painted the two-toned seat covers. The rear lamps were also done well. The Carina's name was based on the Carina constellation, which is latin for the keel of a ship.

The Fairlady

The Datsun Fairlady was a roadster made by Nissan in the sixties. It was the first real sports car that Datsun produced. The first roadsters had a unique third seat in the rear that was positioned sideways. The car's name was based on the Broadway musical of the time, My Fair Lady. During the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Nissan held a search for Miss Fairlady. They chose five winners to represent the brand and at the same time, help them market it.

These cars were recently released by Tomica on their Limited Vintage line. In spite of the small scale, Tomica again has amazed me by the intricate details that they put in these model cars. The roof is a separate part that can be taken off. The paint job is excellent and the instrument panel is well detailed too. Well done for a car that measures a little over two inches!

Vintage Coca-Cola Vehicles

As early as 1910, Japan wanted the rights for the Coca-Cola syrup to be sold at selected soda fountains in Tokyo. Between 1910 until the outbreak of the second world war, nearly a million bottles of Coca-Cola were sold in Japan. In June 1962, Coca-Cola Japan was granted the rights to bottle and sell Coca-Cola and Fanta in Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures. Operations began on July of that year. Between 1960 and 1970, sales more than doubled every year. Trucks help distribute the beverage throughout Japan.

Tomica did a good job on these trucks. The tampo printing, no matter how small, was excellent. However, some Coca-Cola cases which came with the set, barely fit inside the cargo bay of the trucks. Some do not fit at all.

Nissan C80 Coca-Cola Truck
This truck was launched by Nissan in 1966 to fill the gap in their truck models. It should be bigger than the Nissan Caball but not as big as the 5 ton Nissan 680. This 3.5 ton truck sold well during the seventies.

Nissan Caball C141
The Nissan Caball was based on the chassis and mechanism of the Junior pickup. The Caball C141 was launched in 1962. The C141 had a better engine than the C140 but they practically look the same. The Caball was the last Nissan ever to have rear hinged "suicide" doors.

Mazda E2000 truck
Mazda's D1500 trucks are quite popular in Japan during the sixties. Then in January 1964, after Mazda did some extensive research on their trucks based on customer reviews, they released the Mazda E2000. This truck can have a maximum load capacity of two tons.

Nissan Skyline Van 1600 DX
The Skyline was originally made by the Prince Motor Company in 1955, then continued by Nissan when the two companies merged in 1966. The Skyline was designed by Shinichiro Sakurai and remained a chief influence on the succeeding Skylines until his death in 2011. This van is a fourth generation Nissan Skyline which was produced in 1972.

Mazda T2000 Work Vehicles

The Mazda T2000 is a versatile three-wheeled vehicle. It can be used as a small dump truck or a vacuum truck. The Mazda T2000 dump trucks are used to transport sand, gravel or other materials used for construction. They are equipped with hydraulics at the back to allow the cargo to be deposited on the construction site. The vacuum trucks however are often used for sewer and street cleanup. They are also sometimes used to remove mud and oil spills.

Tomica's attention to detail is amazing. The vacuum truck even comes with a miniature bucket. I think that they are the only model car company who made these obscure trucks in 1/64 scale.

Italian Designed Sedan

Created by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti (who also designed for Triumph, Leyland and BMW), the second generation Hino Contessa was launched in September 1964, followed by the coupe in 1965. The coupe in particular won a concours d'elegance award (competition of elegance). However, the car had major issues like overheating. This was addressed by putting a radiator at the back of the car to help dissipate the heat.

This was one of the early releases of Tomica in their Limited Vintage line. Though the detail is not at par with their recent releases, I still think that they did a decent job. The green taxi is part of the Toys Club three car set which was released in February 2005.

Dynawedge Patrol Car

The Japanese police force are among the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world. They have tremendous amounts of equipment at their disposal like buses, vans, bicycles, disaster response vehicles and of course, their iconic black and white patrol cars, each one having a specific role to fill.

During the seventies, Mitsubishi tried to export an estate version of the Colt Galant to Europe to be made into a patrol car. Though no Police force in Europe ordered it, the car did receive praises for it's performance, handling, comfort and economy.

The Sixth Generation Crown

This Toyota Crown was the last series to have a four cylinder gasoline powered engine and was the first Toyota Crown to be imported in Germany. In Japan, the Toyota Crown have big rectangular headlights while other Crown service vehicles and taxis have the round headlights. Also, this Sixth generation car was the last Crown to have a two door coupe. A turbo version of the Crown was launched in 1980 exclusively for the Japanese Domestic Market.

More Upcoming releases for 2013 (September to December)

My apologies for not posting in a long time. I will try to update this blog as often as I can. Anyway, the previous Tomica Limited Vintage upcoming list that I made last January has all been released. Here is a short list of what's to come in the next few months. The long awaited Mitsubishi Galant Sigma will be done by Tomica Limited Vintage very soon. I am also excited to see the Toyota Sports 800 and the Isuzu Bellett 1600 GT Type R done in miniature. There will also be another release which is the replica of the van that Japanese actor Yujiro Ishihara used. These cars would be great Christmas stocking stuffers! :

- LV-N84c Datsun Fairlady 280Z-T 2x2 (Maroon)
- LV-N84d Datsun Fairlady 280Z-T 2x2 (2 tone)
- LV-N86a Audi 80 Quattro (gray)
- LV-N86b Audi 80 Quattro (black)
- LV-N87a Mitsubishi Galant Sigma Super Saloon (maroon)
- LV-N87b Mitsubishi Galant Sigma Super Saloon (yellow)
- LV-N88a Mitsubishi Galant Sigma Eterna 1600 SL (red)
- LV-N88b Mitsubishi Galant Sigma Super Saloon (yellow)
- LV135a Toyota Sports 800 (red)
- LV135b Toyota Sports 800 (silver)
- LV136a Isuzu Bellett 1600GT (yellow)
- LV136b Isuzu Bellett 1600GT (green)
- LV137a Isuzu Bellett 1600GT type R (orange)
- LV137b Isuzu Bellett 1600GT type R (white)
- LV138a Nissan Bluebird 1800 SSS (brown)
- LV138b Nissan Bluebird 1800 SSS (green)

- LV-RA04 Isuzu Gemini TBS
- LV-RA05 Nissan Cedric (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting)
- LV-RA06 Nissan Bluebird (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting)
- LV-RA07 Toyota Land Cruiser (Radio Japan)
- Seibu Keisatsu Volume 5 Machine RS-1
- Seibu Keisatsu Volume 6 Machine RS-2
- Seibu Keisatsu Volume 7 Machine RS-3
- Seibu Keisatsu Volume 8 Hakata Minato Kessen (two car set)

- Nissan Civilian Van (Yujiro Ishihara)

All prototype images above were borrowed from the web.

Upcoming 2013 Tomica Limited Vintage cars

There are a lot of model cars that Tomytec have in store for Tomica Limited Vintage collectors this 2013. I sure hope that they continue to make foreign cars as I really look forward to getting the Mercedes Benz 190E and the Audi 80 model cars that I pre-ordered. Tomytec will also release three boxed sets from the 80's television show, Seibu Keisatsu, which is an action packed police drama series in Japan. Also, if you haven't ordered the Datsun Fairlady 2000, now is your chance to pre-order this. Here is a short list of what's to come:

- LV-23f Hino Type RB10 Tokyo Bus
- LV-124c Nissan Cedric Custom Dunlop version
- LV-125c Honda S600 Dunlop version
- LV-131a Datsun Fairlady 2000 (red)
- LV-131b Datsun Fairlady 2000 (white)
- LV-132a Mitsubishi Galant AII GS Miyagi Police
- LV-133a Nissan Cedric Custom Style 1963 (brown)
- LV-133b Nissan Cedric Custom Style 1963 (green)
- LV-N05c Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (red)
- LV-N06c Subaru Legacy RS (black)
- LV-N44c Hino KB324 truck (green)
- LV-N73c Toyota Celica 1800GT-T (red)
- LV-N73d Toyota Celica 1800GT-T (blue)
- LV-N76a Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham (white)
- LV-N76b Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham (blue)
- LV-N77a Mercedes Benz 190E (silver)
- LV-N77b Mercedes Benz 190E (blue)
- LV-N78a Toyota Crown 2800 Royal Saloon (white)
- LV-N78b Toyota Crown 2800 Royal Saloon (white)
- LV-N79a Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 (white)
- LV-N79b Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 (red)
- LV-N80a Nissan Bluebird SSS Attesa Limited (black)
- LV-N80b Nissan Bluebird SSS Attesa Limited (white)
- LV-N81a Audi 80 2.0E (white)
- LV-N81b Audi 80 2.0E (red)
- LV-N82a Audi 80 2.3E (black)
- LV-N82b Audi 80 2.3E (blue)
- LV-SM01 Snake Motors Toyota Masterline
- LV-SM02 Snake Motors Nissan Caball
- LV-RA01 Nissan Skyline Van TBS Radio Car
- LV-RA02 Mitsubishi Galant AII Broadcasting Car
- LV-RA03 Nissan Laurel 1800 Nippon Broadcasting Car

TOMICA LIMITED VINTAGE BOXED SETS
- Seibu Keisatsu Boxed Set 1 Nissan Cedric type 230 (Set of 2)
- Seibu Keisatsu Boxed Set 2 Nissan Cedric type 430 (Set of 2)
- Seibu Keisatsu Boxed Set 3 Nissan Cedric and Nissan Gloria (Set of 2)

All prototype images above were borrowed from the web.