Random finds from the Flea Market, part 1

Normally I do not do this type of stuff of collaborating vehicles from recent purchases into one blog article, but I did have a few from last year where I found some interesting stuff at the flea market that does not warrant their own individual post for each vehicle, so here are a few interesting finds:

Yatming in the lowest point of their career

Yatming used to make some awesome diecast models in 1:64 scale, but over time cost cutting has impacted the brand pretty heavy on these small scale vehicles, turning these 1:64 into cheap, no interior, half plastic monstrosity. That’s a shame since they did create a few unique models in the line and two of them here are Toyota’s. The Celica moved from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive in 1985 and by 1990 got a smoother design in the process. This blue hatchback has all the correct curves from the smooth front-end with hidden headlights along a horizontal grille slat to the rear taillight bar with round corners. After that things get crude with lower plastic base with no details and that base also supports the two front seats in an otherwise blank interior. This car would be more lovely if it had more detail and quality to it. On the other side is the Previa van, a unique take on the minivan by Toyota where the Hiace van’s unusual setup is transferred into a larger and more rounded minivan. The styling is more of a jelly bean with rear wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive supplied by a flat-four mounted below the front seats. After a while the unusual styling did not sell well in the U.S. prompting a move toward a more formal Camry-based minivan called the Sienna in 1998. This van in gold has the right shape, dual sunroofs up top, the late-model updated grille in chrome, and taillight bar in the back, but again the cheap wheels, plastic base, and only two seats inside ruins this casting.

Specifications: (Celica/Previa)

Engine: 2.0L DOHC I-4 135 hp./2.4L DOHC flat-4 135 hp.
Transmission: 5-speed manual/ 4-speed automatic
0-60 mph: 8.5 sec est./12.0 sec est.
Real vehicle price: $18,000 est./ $21,000 est.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars/1 out of 5 stars

Awkward Volvo

Even stranger is this Volvo 164 by Summer. Now the real looks pretty decent, a six-cylinder luxury sedan for the Swedish brand that has the front-end look of a Jaguar sedan with high beam lamps placed diagonally below the low beam headlights. However, this Summer casting makes it look awkward and crude: the headlights and grille are part of the chrome bumper, yet they fail to wrap around the metal body properly. The rear taillight and valence panel are part of the chrome bumper and again fail to blend in with the metal body, but at least it has an interior and nice Volvo graphics besides being a bit rough on the edges of this white body. Hopefully a nicer replica will come later on in this scale range because this example is by far the crudest model that I have ever seen!

Specifications:

Engine: 3.0L SOHC I-6 135 hp. Est.
Transmission: 4-speed manual
0-60 mph: 10.5 sec. est.
Real vehicle price: $4,000 est. 1968

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Better Zylmex examples

Not all is bad for the low-end diecast brands as Zylmex has created two decent vehicles for their lineup and one of them is unique to the brand. Everyone knows about the third-generation Pontiac Firebird and have seen all kinds of replica’s out there, including KITT from Knight Rider, but this yellow version looks rather unique. The body is simple, yet has all of the right edges and slants that identify as a Firebird with foglight cutouts up front, taillight bar in back below the detailed rear spoiler, and T-tops that are sealed up with the windows (usually in this scale range the T-tops are open just like the open side windows). Even the 5-spoke wheels look pretty good on this casting and despite lacking a dashboard the tan interior looks pretty nice and almost realistic. On the other side Zylmex can be known for making a few unique castings and one of them is this 1988 Plymouth X2S concept roadster that previewed the look of the 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon sport coupes. The red paint is accurate and the front is unmistakable Eclipse with large LED headlights (replaced with pop-up units in the production vehicles) and hood bulge near the driver’s line of view, then joins with large round foglights, a chop top profile with tonneau cover that flows from the headrest down to the trunk, and an integrated rear spoiler above a taillight bar surround. The interior, while doesn’t show much of detail, does show the driver-oriented dashboard shape and front bucket seats. The dot wheels look cheap, but do the job for a low-budget diecast model. Just like the real car finding one of these X2S roadsters from Zylmex in great condition is tough because the windshield frame is vulnerable to weight and can bend and even snap off under pressure (you can see how my example has that bend going; I’ve seen other examples with the windshield frame completely gone!) Still this is a very nice replica of a little-known concept car for a generation of Eclipse largely ignored in small scale.

Specifications: (Firebird/Eclipse X2S)

Engine: 5.0L V8 205 hp./2.0L DOHC turbocharged I-4 200 hp.
Transmission: 5-speed manual
0-60 mph: 8.0 sec est./8.5 sec est.
Real vehicle price: $12,000 est./$1 million est. (one-off concept)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars/4 out of 5 stars

Higher grade Mattel products

The final two in this group represent better quality from the Mattel brands of Hot Wheels and Matchbox, though one of them underwent a repaint. That vehicle is the AMC AMX Javelin from Matchbox, introduced in 1971 it features an aggressive hood scoop, green paint, flared fenders and rear spoiler of the actual car, and even has been transformed into a Trans-Am race car later in its life. Someone, however, disliked the green paint and painted the whole body black, which to me looked more appealing and added to the aggressive look of this car aided by that large hood scoop. The hood is rather short compared to the real vehicle, but those peaking fender flares are there, the roof has the T-top outline, the rear has the detailed taillight bar that along with the front grille and headlights are part of the interior trim, and superfast wheels that look great on this car. Speaking of wheels you can see on my example they are worn out so much that they are bent inwards on the tire side facing the base. The base is metal and the doors open to an interior with seating for four and barely any dashboard. A bit crude, but then again this is a kid’s toy modified back in a good way. On the other hand the Hot Wheels Ferrari F355 Challenge is in much better shape than the Matchbox AMX. The F355 was an updated model of the 348 in 1995 that looked much better and more refined; at the same time Hot Wheels released the new F355 casting with metal body, metal base, and much sharper details than the crude 348 casting that they offered. Not only that in 1999 Hot Wheels, now with the exclusive Ferrari licensing rights, released two more variants: a convertible and a track-ready challenge model. While most of the F355 Challenge models have graphics this one has a much cleaner look in red with 5-spoke wheels and a smoked clear rear spoiler to distinguish itself from the stock coupe. The front has the detailed grille, signal and foglights, the side scoops, and at back the quad round taillights and quad exhaust tips on a car that is small and low. The metal base is a real treat with excellent detailing of the V8 motor in the back, while the interior has a roll cage, a driver’s only racing seat, and the detailed dashboard with console shifter. On the track this is one fast and fun car with excellent handling characteristics just like a mini cooper or mazda miata. One of my favorite Ferrari castings I was glad to experience all three variations and this sleek Challenge version looks like a sleeper in stock F355 clothes.

Specifications: (AMX/F355)