My Top Ten favorite diecast cars my in my son's toy box

Okay, I admit it.  I REALLY like to play with my son when he plays with his toys.  It's part of the reason I wanted a son in the first place, I think.  He has a small box full of Matchbox, Hot Wheels, and a few other brands that I picked up in good condition at yard sales and flea markets   He has his favorites (mostly trucks with larger wheels and his Lightning McQueen stuff), but seems to enjoy the quantity.

Here are my ten favorites in his box, in no particular order.

1. Matchbox Superfast Dump Truck #58 FAUN.  1976.

He's got two of these.  Nice large bed, solid construction, just an overall good design for a dump truck.  The bed practically stands vertical when dumping.

2. Matchbox Superfast Green Planet Scout #59

Another fun design from Matchbox.  Good solid car, and I have always enjoyed space and sci-fi themes.

3. Maisto GI Joe Jeep.

 I've never been big on Maisto cars - their larger stuff is better, but the Hot Wheels-sized vehicles tend to look good but have poor quality.  Their GI Joe collection is a little bit better made.  The wheels have a little "give" to them, and though it does not roll all that well, it's a fun, authentic design.

4. Hot Wheels Baja Breaker van - 1978.

 I had a green one as a kid, and found this to be my favorite diecast van design.  High wheels, a hood that opens, and an overall fun design.  I just picked up a later orange one at a flea market.

5. Ertl Ford F-350 Service Truck.

 Just a fun truck with solid construction by ERTL.  There are not too many like this one out there, particularly in details. 

6. Matchbox Ruff Trek - 1983

A modified Subaru pickup.  A tan truck which was actually one of my favorites as a kid as well.  Lots of nifty details.

7. Hot Wheels Torino Stocker - 1982 "The Hot Ones."

Another one I found in mint condition at a flea market.  Good, clean lines and fun paint.

8. Majorette Explorateur

It's missing a cover, but Majorette made some quality, well-built cars in the past.  This is a neat safari off-roader with some guys in the back and some nice detail.

9. Matchbox Rolomatics Badger - 1976.

A hefty little truck with a rotating satellite dish.  Matchbox tended to make broader vehicles than Hot Wheels, and this one came out nice.

10. Majorette Jeep Grand Cherokee

Another solid nice off-roader from Majorette.  The tailgate also opens up with some sort of critter in the back.

BONUS 11: Matchbox Convoy NASA Peterbilt Tracking Vehicle

I'd get in trouble if I started hanging on to some of the NASA diecast stuff I come across, but I hung onto this one.  A fun tracking trailer and truck.  Matchbox made several nifty vehicles with NASA themes in the 1980s, when Space Shuttles were still cool.

Anyway, there it is - my son loves cars, and it has created a little more of an enjoyment that I had as well.

Nice flea market find Sept 3

Not a huge haul, but some interesting pieces.


MIP Rambo figure - Nomad.  Try to not be too offended.  I think they were going for every stereotype.  I don't hate this line - I actually think the accessories for it are the best part.  The guns and weapons packs available are pretty good.  The figures are a little fragile, though.  The Matchbox cars are dated 1983, and still MIP.
Quick bit of trivia - the body count in the first Rambo movie: 1.

Next is the interesting bit.  These are essentially knockoffs of knockoffs.  From some of the information I have, these GIJoe-style figures were probably some sort of "impulse buy" items at KMart or similar store checkout counters.  The price on the back of them is .57 each or 2/$1.  They're similar to the early Remco figures, like the A-Team.  I wonder where the molds wound up...

Ah, and Snap and two Crackles.  Didn't someone notice something was wrong...

Here's a Nintendo gaming watch and some Russian tin windup toys.  They're fun and I can't get them to work.

Finally, Some dollhouse furniture, I think from the 1970s.  It sort of fits Joes - as Bo Duke attests, but is a little big.

I may post some more of the furniture as pics get taken, but that was the big stuff this past weekend.  I also managed to unload a TON of my stock, particularly a bunch that I haven't sold in a couple of years for a decent price.