16 replies to this topic

[Mike Patterson]

PdL,

Have you ever seen one of these?





Here's what I know about it: It was made in Germany by Distler in the '50s. It has a cable with a (disintegrating) rubber suction cup that fits over the steering wheel, and a link to the gearshift. You could walk behind it, steer, and shift gears. IIRC, it has two forward speeds and reverse. I played with it quite a bit, as you can see by the missing windshield frame, which I am hoping I can still find.

My uncle was in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, and stationed in Germany. He came home one year for Christmas, and this is the present he brought me. I've always thought it was a neat toy.

[Mike Patterson]

Never mind. I ran a Google search last night, and discovered that Schuco re-issued this in 2004, and they are still available.

And here I thought I had something unusual. Wrong again.

[68Caddy]

Mike,

They are still cool even if they are available. Got some more stuff to show us?

Nesta

[TSR]

And here I thought I had something unusual. Wrong again.

Mike,

No, you are not wrong. The Chinese-built replicas have actually no part in common with the old Distler toy produced in Germany from 1953 to 1965 in seven different colors, then in Belgium with new bumpers with over-riders and also in a police version with working light, until 1970.

The Chinese cars are pale imitations of the original you have, with paint not reflecting the wonderful glow of the real thing (water-based paint is "dead" compared to leaded paint). No copy of a toy made in China will ever have any collectible value in the future, mark my word on this. When the replicas came out three years ago, they sold for 250 Euros or more. Now they will not sell at that price and the speculators that purchased those "limited editions" are stuck with them with no buyers. Shades of Franklin Mint and Beanie Babies...
Stick to your wonderful original toy, there is only one like it for you.

The Distler Porsche toy was incredibly popular, made in the thousands, and lots of original examples in excellent condition have survived, meaning that their prices are not too high despite the high demand, and hardly any more expensive than those reproductions at inflated prices.

HERE IS ONE of several on ePay right now in a pretty color. it needs some restoration but nothing too bad really. Here is ANOTHER in better shape.

There are excellent repro windshields and other parts such as the leather key fob for these beautiful toys, that have a working four-speed shifter. The battery fits behind the seats. I used to have a website of the guy making them, he is in California. I will try to find it for you.

I am lucky to have three mint originals, one in gray, a Belgium-issue in red, and the police car. I bought them 25 years ago at an antique toy show in Pasadena, paying something like 200 bucks for all three with their original boxes. Lovely toys. I could not afford them when I was a kid; they were so expensive for us...

[TSR]

Mike,

I found it and they DO have windshields and all other parts.

Please CLICK HERE!

[68Caddy]

Philippe
You are amazing person, and you got a hell of collection on top of it. It looks to me like you sure like the Euro trash cars, you got Mercedes and Porches.
Never seen you so busy on the blog before, you must have set a new record to post today or you took your Flintstones vitamins today?
See ya tomorrow.

Nesta

[TCW]

Philippe
You are amazing person, and you got a hell of collection on top of it. It looks to me like you sure like the Euro trash cars, you got Mercedes and Porches.
Never seen you so busy on the blog before, you must have set a new record to post today or you took your Flintstones vitamins today?
See ya tomorrow.

PdL has least provided something positive & germane
Nesta

[TSR]

It looks to me like you sure like the Euro trash cars, you got Mercedes and Porches.

Nesta,
That's because you know little of me. My faves are all American cars...

[Mike Patterson]

Philippe,

Thank you for the link, and thanks for posting some pics of your "toys". You mentioned that these were expensive back then, do you remember approximately how much because I have no idea.

Nesta,

Most of my stuff is from my childhood, and we have a couple of things that belong to my Dad, one of which you can see (a little) behind the Porsche. It's a Chrysler Airflow from the 30's. It originally had a spring motor and working headlights. It's pretty rough. We also have a Keystone dump truck. I'll try to remember to take a couple photos and post them.

[Old pink can guy]

Mr P please post a pic of your 1-1ride that beautiful SKYLINE. I will say nothing about were I have seen it. Thanks KB.

[TSR]

Thank you for the link, and thanks for posting some pics of your "toys". You mentioned that these were expensive back then, do you remember approximately how much because I have no idea.

Mike, the Distler Porsche cost 4 dollars in 1953, a FORTUNE for me when my MONTHLY allowance was about 25 cents. It was just a dream, as well as all the toys I wanted and could not have. They were for rich kids and this was only a few years after the war, and we were simply... poor.
I made may own toys by using my graphic talents (well, burgeoning talents, I was not that good), and drew cars, airplanes, boats... over cardboard, that was then bent and glued into shapes that were quite realistic. For inspiration, there were printed images since the 18th century sold in France in the city of Epinal. You could buy them in sheets and build all kinds of things, from town to battleships to aircraft. I could not afford them but I definitely used their example to make my own!
Many years after, I began collecting the toys I really wanted when I was a kid, then it expanded to collecting lots of other toys, large and small...
You can visit part of my ensuing accumulation HERE. Have fun!

Mr P please post a pic of your 1-1ride that beautiful SKYLINE. I will say nothing about were I have seen it. Thanks KB.

Ken, I don't have a Skyline, would it be a Ford or a Nissan. What did you see that I did not?

[BackAgain]

Awesome collection Phillipe, good work in saving a slice of history...seeing your collection would be the only reason I would want to visit LA again....and it would be a worthwhile reason....

[Mike Patterson]

I made my own toys by using my graphic talents (well, burgeoning talents, I was not that good), and drew cars, airplanes, boats... over cardboard, that was then bent and glued into shapes that were quite realistic.

Philippe,

One of the neatest toys I remember was the carboard box our new hot water heater came in. I took markers and drew all sorts of instruments and guages all over the inside. It was my own, personal space ship. I don't know how many light years I traversed in our backyard. Plus, as an added plus, the small hole in the end where the flaps came together taught me about "pinhole" cameras. I've always enjoyed a good cardboard box .

Thanks for the info on the price.

[Larry Mattingly]

Mike, the Distler Porsche cost 4 dollars in 1953, a FORTUNE for me when my MONTHLY allowance was about 25 cents. It was just a dream, as well as all the toys I wanted and could not have. They were for rich kids and this was only a few years after the war, and we were simply... poor.
I made may own toys by using my graphic talents (well, burgeoning talents, I was not that good), and drew cars, airplanes, boats... over cardboard, that was then bent and glued into shapes that were quite realistic. For inspiration, there were printed images since the 18th century sold in France in the city of Epinal. You could buy them in sheets and build all kinds of things, from town to battleships to aircraft. I could not afford them but I definitely used their example to make my own!
Many years after, I began collecting the toys I really wanted when I was a kid, then it expanded to collecting lots of other toys, large and small...
You can visit part of my ensuing accumulation HERE. Have fun!


Ken, I don't have a Skyline, would it be a Ford or a Nissan. What did you see that I did not?

P

Outstanding collection!

In your description of the 17" Troy Ruttman 1952 winning Indy car, you refer to it as a 'Kurtis-Kraft'. I believe the actual car was built by Eddie Kusma. I own one with the Aggie name on it. Not as pristine as yours. Paint faded... Missing windscreen... Found a missing knock off from the toy parts place in Wisconsin. Great flea market find for $100.00.

My open wheel toy collection continues to grow, but many of mine are 'home restorations', as I can't afford the going prices for mint examples. I enjoy them, and I guess that's what really counts in any hobby.

LM

[TSR]

Larry,
brain fade, of course it is an Eddie Kuzma machine!
I will correct that at the first opportunity.
I bought this one in Rochester, NY, in 1979 for $100.00. Lotsamoney then for a toy... I must have had 10 since, buying and selling, but none as clean as this one.
Bruce Meyer, the man who owns the full-size car also has one of those Yonezawa toys, but it is not in the best of conditions either.

[Mike Patterson]

I finally got around to taking a couple of photos of our 'large' showcase. Here they are:





The top shelf is modern die-cast stuff. The second shelf has more die-casts, as well as my Dad's telephone truck collection (he retired from Ohio Bell with 45 years of service). Third shelf has the Porsche, the Airflow, a couple of tether cars, and some aircraft. In the bottom are the large items, including the Keystone dump truck, and two Miller-Ironson trucks.

Hope you like them, we do .

[TSR]

Very nice!