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Schuco, 1/66 scale 1960's racing cars, Made in Germany

Schuco produced a series of 1/66 scale die cast models in the late 1960's and into the mid 1970's.  Most of them were of production cars but they also released a small batch or replicas of period racing cars.  I came across these in April 2012 in Switzerland.

BMW Formel 2 - No. 841, 1/66 scale, Made in Germany

BMW competed in the Formula 2 series in the late 1960's to about 1970.  Below is a period image of one in action.

The model, although very small quite nicely captures the spirit of the real thing.  IN those days a lot of experimentation went on with rear wings, fairings etc so the photo of the real thing does not exactly match the toy.

The BMW Formula 2 racers had 4 cylinder engines compared to period Formula 1 cars which were mostly V8s or V12s.

 Very nicely finished base plate - typical German quality.

Ferrari Formel 2 - No. 840, 1/66 scale, Made in Germany

This model is described as a Formula 2 racer but this is wrong.  Looking at the detail of the model it clearly represents the 1967 season Formula 1 Ferrari 312.

 1967 Ferrari 312-1 V12

 The basic baseplates appear to be identical for all models apart from the numbering/naming.

Schuco, for some unknown reason repeated the 'error' with their wind-up tin-plate, toy of about 1/18 scale.  Here is a picture of that model which is also part of my collection:

Ferrari Formel 2, No. 1073, Made in Western Germany

Formula 2 / Tasman series Ferrari Dino racers of the period were powered by V6 engines, and this is very clearly a V12, also on the 1/66 scale version. 

A similar 'mix-up' is apparent with the next model.  It purports to be a Matra-Ford, but all of these had a V8 Ford Cosworth engine with which Jackie Stewart won the 1968 championship - the Matra MS80. The Schuco model is clearly a V12 which would indicate that its most likely modelled on the less successful Matra MS 120 of around 1970.

Matra-Ford F1, No. 842, Made in Germany

All these models came in transparent hard plastic boxes, sitting on foam, with normally another piece of foam above it, in order to keep the toy in place.

 

Matra Ford's were also more rounded whereas the model has sharp edges.

Matra MS120

 List of Models available in the series - in the base of every box.

In the early seventies the series was expanded and the numbering methodology went from three to six digits.and below is a very neat replica of the Lotus 1972 which was at its peak around 1973.  This one is in JPS (John Player Special) colours but the only logo on the car shows the brand Lotus.

JPS-Lotus Ford 72 Formel 1, No. 306 870, 1/66 scale, Made in Germany

JPS Lotus Ford, 1973

 The model's baseplate is different than the earlier series taking account of the side air intakes which came into 'fashion' at the time.

Maserati Bora, by SAKURA, Made in Japan, 1/43 scale

I only recently came across this model and I'd never heard of SAKURA before.  It is very solidly made all in metal apart for the interior and engine compartment. All opening parts and pop-up headlamps which are lifted by a lever - see below.

 The proportions are not 100% as the front part is a little more bulbous than it should have been.

 The baseplate is beautifully finished and is held in place by two screws.

I have seen an image of a red version of the same model but otherwise know very little about Sakura.  

To emphasise the comment in respect of the proportions of the model have a look at a comparison with the version produced by Mebetoys of Italy.

 The front overhang of the Sakura model is way longer and the window proportions and cut-outs rather crude.  Mebetoys produced a much more elegant and true to style replica with far superior detailing.

 What is also obvious is that although both models purport to reflect a 1/43 scale, one is significantly larger that the other.  In reality, the Sakura is closer to a 1/42 scale whilst the Mabetoys is closer to 1/44...

To get a realistic idea of what the proportions ought to have been have a look at this, courtesy of blueprints.com:

Mebetoys did a better job and for the feel of the two toys, although Sakura's feels much more solid, in reality it probably is not that superior.  Still, a nice addition to my Maserati collection! I'll devote a separate section to them in due course...

On Sunday 29th April, 2012 there was a swap-meet at Geneva Airport; I had my own tables there so didn't have the opportunity to explore much.

Yours truly behind my tables...(photo courtesy of a fellow Cypriot collector who happened to stop by!)

However, I found the following nice little models on my neighbour's table (the gentleman standing behind me, on left of photo) and just had to have them...

Penny, Brabham-Repco F1, No. 0/11, Made in Italy, ca 1/64 scale

Penny, Ferrari F1, No. 0/4, Made in Italy, ca 1/64 scale

Speedy, Ferrari 250LM, No. 806, Made in Italy, ca 1/64 scale

All these must be from around 1965/66. Penny was the sub-brand used by Politoys for their small scale models and I believe Speedy was the small scale line made by Mercury.

Models by Siku of Germany have been increasingly getting a place in my collection; I mostly have focused on models of Police Cars and Taxis, of which they keep producing a profuse selection, mostly of German versions, but i also collect models of some of their VW Beetles and exotics.

The ones made in Western Germany are not easy to come across so when I do find one, I snap it up.  Here is the latest:

Siku, VW 1300, No. 1022, Made in W. - Germany

Its in a nice metallic blue finish and will join its gold metallic 'brother' in my collection.