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Thank's Ritchie.

I was not aware Mattel was having some of it's recent models made in Vietnam, I need to get out more and start buying some 'Hot Wheels'. There you go, I have learnt something new today...

Ghosty.

you're right....partially.... Mattel does not have a factory in Vietnam... hot wheels is now basically made in Malaysia, while matchbox made in Thailand. The porsche is a Tomica (who tookover Johnny Lightnings and Ertl in recent years), has productions in Japan, Vietnam and mainly China, is not related to the Mattel group.

cheers,
r

This is my latest copy,it came in a job lot and i hadn,t seen it,the ramp looks like a lesney copy,the BP sign has echoes of lesney the rest i don,t know ,i have seen these loose but not carded and i had never heard of prince august uk ltd,the title of the set is motoplay
dave

The original tooling for these was made and used in UK from late 1960s, have seen pumps and tyre rack around about all my life!

Here are a couple of Mira models you might recognise...







Cheers
Superfastkid

Thank you Superfast, The Javelin is recognisable if you already know the Matchbox version, but the Horsebox is very good on it's own, but I suppose it is a much simpler design with very little to go wrong, as opposed to sleek and curvy cars...

Ghosty.

MOKOSEX wrote:This is my latest copy,it came in a job lot and i hadn,t seen it,the ramp looks like a lesney copy,the BP sign has echoes of lesney

This sign and the Lesney sign are modeled on the design of real sign posts.

For me, just making the same model of something real is not a copy, it's the same product by two different manufacturers. When you duplicate someone elses specific model in exacting detail, now that's a copy.

We have seen quite a few 'BLUE-BOX' toys in this thread, but there is always room for more!

Here is a 'Gift Set' of 5 vehicles some of which can be seen as copies of Matchbox models from the Regular Wheels '1-75 series'. This is not dated on the packaging but blister carded toys are from the mid-60's in general, but I would put this as a 1970's product.
GHOSTHUNTER.

I've just stumbled across what looks to be a good Matchbox copies website.

Idris wrote:I've just stumbled across what looks to be a good Matchbox copies website.

'Gary's Cars', I've mentioned his site before somewhere on the forum. It is very good.

GHOSTHUNTER.