made in Japan

[daz28]

This thing has shaper edges than a cheap Chinese craft knife .

[GHOSTHUNTER]

These come in Two levels of status. Those made by a few established toy companies such as 'TOY NOMURA' (TN logo) and 'ICHIMURA' (usually showing an Indian Chief's head logo), of course made in Japan, or un-branded and only showing the MADE IN JAPAN script.

Both types are very cheaply made specially for the retailers who sell their goods on open markets for mere pennies, hence the general name of 'Penny Toys' for these toy cars and other vehicles. Not all of them were friction powered, usually only the 'Branded' toys have it.

Very few were based on actual prototypical car designs as it was just a toy and so a generic look was enough to suggest it was a car in Police, Fire, Ambulance or TAXI trim.

Similar toys in America were marketed as 'ARGO', below.

ARGO, America..JPG (29.6 KiB) Viewed 4922 times

England from GTP, below...

GTP, England..jpg (57.8 KiB) Viewed 4922 times

...and England again from METTOY, below.

METTOY, South Wales..jpg (50.81 KiB) Viewed 4922 times

GTP (Glam Toy Products) and Mettoy were made in South Wales.

Ghosthunter.

[daz28]

your a mine of information ghosty thanks

[brainstrust]

Daz it's a fairly small car right, matchbox size?

[Idris]

ARGO,%20America_.JPG (29.6 KiB) Viewed 4900 times

That would be so useful in modern traffic!

[Tinman]

That would be so useful in modern traffic!

I'm sure you're not the only one having that thought.

[daz28]

daz it's a fairly small car right, matchbox size?

Yes but very flat