In my previous post I had mentioned that areas of focus or specialisation in one's collection could add a lot of pleasure as well as limiting ονε's urges to collect just anything that pleases. Most of us will at some point suffer with a lack of space for our treasures so the earlier we decide to specialise the better. I'm getting there...
Tomica models as I'd mentioned before are very dear to me. My collection is not huge but apart from some other 'likes' I have been making a point of looking for models of the police cars they made.
The earliest I have are the following all made in Japan.
The first three are from the Foreign series, hence the prefix F before the numeral. One will also note that the baseplates of all the models bear the number of issue of the original respective civilian version of each.
No. F44 (No. F17 on baseplate) - Citroen H Truck - German Polizei version. Purchased in Argentina.
No. F70 (No. F20 on baseplate) - Volkswagen Beetle Police
No. F24 (No. F7 on baseplate) - Mercedes-Benz 450SEL Polizei
No. 44 (No. 58 on baseplate) Nissan Fairlady 240ZG Patrol Car - Japanese Police
No. 4 - Toyota Crown Patrol Car - Japanese Police (box only)
Police cars are a popular theme and there are always a few different models available at any time in their 120 model lineup. I will be following up with photos of more recent issues.
There is a significant gap in the years of production of the above and the models that follow. These are already branded as TOMY instead of Tomica and are now made in China although some of these castings were previously also made in Japan.
No. 58 (No. 13 on baseplate) - Nissan Cedric 4 door HT Patrol Car - Japanese Police
Note the enclosed self-adhesive decals which appear to be common with those enclosed with the other models below.
No. 75 (No. 3 on metal baseplate) - Nissan Caravan Patrol Car - Japanese Police
The sign on the roof is retractable and note the opening rear door.
No. 106 (No. 30 on baseplate) Mitsubishi Pajero Patrol Car - Japanese Police
No. 85 (No. 20 on baseplate) - Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 Investigation Car.
No. 58 (No. 67 on Baseplate) - Nissan Cedric Patrol Car - Japanese Police
This model also came with self adhesive stickers to decorate it. The year of release must have been late 2009. The baseplate shows 2009 which normally aligns with the ear of release of the original 'civilian' model No. 67. Its a more recent version of the Nissan Cedric than the other model released under No. 58 shown above.
No. 120 (No. 78 on baseplate) Honda NSX Patrol Car - Japanese Police
I am not sure when this model was produced but it must have been either the year 2000 or just previously.
No. 36 (No. 55 on baseplate) - Toyota Crown Majesta Patrol Car - Japanese Police
Notice that the TOMY logo on this has by now been changed to blue and the font used is also sharper. This model was issued in 2001.
The subsequent 7 models come without their packaging so I'm not certain under what number they were issued. Some might have come out of a gift set.
No 13 on baseplate - Rescue Work Car Police
No. 65 on baseplate - Nissan Silhouette Formula Police
No. 20 on baseplate - Nissan GT-R R34 Japanese Police
No. 20 on baseplate - Nissan GT-R R34 Japanese Police (note different writing and different wheels to above)
No. 33 on baseplate - Toyota Supra Japanese Police
No. 82 on baseplate - Nissan Skyline 2000GT Japanese Police
(Note the 30th anniversary special decal on the hood/bonnet)
No. 4 - Honda Motorbike - Police (from a gift set I think)
It has rubber tires and simply TOMY China appears on it. I suspect that this motorcycle along with the Rescue Work Car and Nissan Silhouette came out of a gift set as they are all marked 'Police' i.e. not Japanese Police. Note the difference with the following Honda Police Bike.
No. 4 Honda Police Bike - Japanese Police (2002)
Note the subtle difference in the windscreens and markings.
No. 44 (No. 15 on baseplate) - Nissan Fairlady Z 300 ZX Patrol Car - Japanese Police (2002)
No. 84 (No. 35 on baseplate) - Nissan March (Micra) Patrol Car - Japanese Police (2002)
Note that this models comes already with Japanese script decals out of the box.
No. 117 (No. 94 on baseplate) - Mazda RX-7 Patrol Car Japanese Police (2002)
No. 3 Toyota Magacruiser Patrol Car - Japanese Police (2002)
This model was initially issued as a Patrol Car, so the baseplate also shows the No. 3 and it was first released in 2002. There are no additional decals but there is a marking on the bonnet/hood identifying it as Japanese Police.
My only 2003 release is the following. Its in not the standard packaging and it might have been produced for a particular department store chain; sadly I don't recall where I bought it but most likely in Japan in early 2005.
No. 99 on baseplate; No number on box; special issue - Toyota Estima (Previa) Japanese Police
I am not aware of a Toyota Estima having been normally issued as a Police Car.
The following three are a diverse lot of 2004 releases.
No. 16 on baseplate; No number on box; special issue. Mazda Atenza (Mazda 6) - Japanese Police
From the Tomica Mate (U-Mate) series I have this nice ensemble. To the best of my knowledge this model was not released as an individual toy in the 120 numbered series. This gist set does not bear a number
No. 86 on metal baseplate. Toyota Prius - Japanese Police
It is not very obvious form the photo but the wheel rims are painted white on this first series Prius which was initially released by TOMY in 1998.
No. 110 (No. 32 on baseplate) Toyota Crown Patrol Car - Japanese Police
I bought this model in Japan in April 2005 and you will note a special sticker on the packaging marking it as a 2004-2005 release. Models in Japan also often include small advertising flyers of gift sets or impending releases.
No. 44 (No. 96 on baseplate) - Mazda RX-8 Patrol Car - Japanese Police.
The Mazda is my sole 2005 release and is based on the model No. 96 first released in 2003.
No. 52 (No. 64 on baseplate) - Subaru Impreza WRX Unmarked Police Car. Released 2006
No. 23 (Baseplate No. 97) Toyota Probox Voluntry Police Car - Japanese Police, Released 2007
Notice the transition to the Takara TOMY branding.
No. 106 (Baseplate No. 55) - Nissan Fairlady Z (350Z) Patrol Car - Japanese Police, Released 2008
No. 110 (Baseplate No. 32) - Toyota Crown Patrol Car - Japanese Police, Released 2008
Notice the differences with No. 110 released in 2004/2005. Different lights on the roof and additional Crest with script POLICE on the sides. Both are based on the 'civilian' Toyota Crown released in 2004 with No. 32
No. 39 (Baseplate No. 67) - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X - UK Police, Released in 2009
Interesting to see a version in a truly foreign Police livery again. Bubble packs are not common but occasionally appear on the 'shelves'. The other one in my collection is a Nissan Fairlady Z with No. 55 which was released both in a box as well as in bubble packaging around 2002.
No. 83 (Baseplate No. 20) - Honda Insight Patrol Car - Japanese Police, Released in 2010.
This model is made in Vietnam. TOMY has shifted some of the production from China to Vietnam. The quality appears similar.
TOMY produces profuse varieties of gift sets; I will present a couple which I have containing Police cars.
The first one was released in 2000 and contains five vehicles.
Super Police Car Gift Set; released in 2000, Made in China
The contents are:
No. 20 on baseplate, Nissan Skyline, 1/61 scale, initially released in 1998, plastic base
The first one was released in 2000 and contains five vehicles.
Super Police Car Gift Set; released in 2000, Made in China
The contents are:
No. 20 on baseplate, Nissan Skyline, 1/61 scale, initially released in 1998, plastic base
No. 5 on baseplate, Toyota Soarer (Lexus SC400), 1/63 scale, initially released in 1992
Nice detailing of the lights at the back. Tomica toys in Gift Sets usually are different than those sold individually in the 120 series, and have more or different detailing.
No. 55 on baseplate, Toyota Crown Majesta, 1/64 scale, Initially released in 1992
Nice additional details of tampos and lights.
No. 13 on baseplate, Rescue Work Car, initially released in 1996 (same casting as a black and white Police car above)
No. 41 on baseplate, Isuzu Hi-Decker Bus (mok mesh on windows), 1/145 scale, initially released in 1988
As you can see at the bottom right of the box, there were also some road signs packed in too!
The second set I have, released in 2004 contains six models; no description in English is provided but it is a Vehicle rescue Set' as far aws i can guess. as it also contains the No. 13 Rescue Work Car in red and looking like it belongs to the fire-brigade, and Nissan Elgrand, No. 89 Ambulance at 1/64 scale which had initially been released in 1998. These two could actually also belong to the Police, if I can 'read' the Japanese writing on them correctly...
The Police vehicles are as follows:
No. 92 on baseplate, Toyota Crown, 1/62 scale, initially released in 2001
No. 8 on baseplate, Nissan Skyline Security Vehicle, 1/62 scale, initially released in 2001
No. 64 on baseplate, Subaru Impreza WRX, 1/59 scale, initially released in 2000
No. 81 on baseplate, Honda NSX-R, 1/59 scale, initially released in 2002.
(updated 27 May 2012)
Please feel free to write comments or ask questions.
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