Tomica Returns to America

mikeyb

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You may remember them as Pocket Cars, small-scale die-cast cars sold in a blistercard that resembled a denim pocket, in the 70s and 80s. Made by Tomica, they were a sort of Japanese homage to Matchbox opening features (the doors closed with a particularly firm click), sprung suspension, and fine detailing. Cars were a mix of Japanese cars we knew and loved like the Datsun B210 and Toyota Celica, Japanese cars wed never heard of like the Isuzu 117 and Toyota Century, and some foreign cars for good measure Cadillac Sedan de Ville, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Ford Mustang II. They disappeared from our shores about 25 years ago, seemingly never to return. Two Tomica castings turned up in the Racing Champions Fast & Furious line of die-cast cars half a dozen years ago, but no more were forthcoming. But now, its official: Tomica is returning to America!

The rollout starts in September, and will be exclusive to a certain chain that we are not allowed to name yet. (So stay tuned ) Some vehicles will be sold with play maps illustrated mats with drawn-on building features; cars will include the Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Queen bus, the Daihatsu Mira kei-car, the genre-bending Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and others. Other cars will be part of more extensive play sets the new Subaru Legacy sedan, for example, will be part and parcel of the Hypercity Gas Station set, while the hilariously named Super Big Set will include a Mazda MPV (not the version most recently sold here, although it looks near enough to it) and a Toyota Harrier, better known in some quarters as the Lexus RX300/RX350. The Mega Station set will come with two cars, including the Mazda Axela, known here as the Mazda3. Best of all, pricing is said to start in the $4.99 range and go up from there, depending on the size of the set.

For now, all cars will be decorated in the same colors and level of detail as they are sold in the home market, though this may change. No word yet on when/if some of the new upcoming Tomica castings, like a new Suzuki Alto and Nissan Elgrand, or models that will arrive on these shores like the Nissan Fuga (Infiniti M-series) and Honda CRZ hybrid, will be integrated into the line following their fourth quarter arrival in Japan. That said, were told that cars from American and European manufacturers may be on the horizon. Will these be newer tools like the Hummer H2 (RIP) and the Smart, or will Tomica actually resurrect older tools like the Citroen SM? Time will tell.
 
Use to but not sure about that now. Did you know Mattel the owner of Hot Wheels bought Matchbox years ago?

I knew that, yes.

I haven't been impressed with any offerings from matchbox or hot wheels lately.

they fell victim to the fast and the furious/outrageous style and stopped making cars that look like actual cars.
 
I knew that, yes.

I haven't been impressed with any offerings from matchbox or hot wheels lately.

they fell victim to the fast and the furious/outrageous style and stopped making cars that look like actual cars.

Have you looked at Matchboxs lately? Most are back to looking like actual cars. Hot Wheels were always fast and the furious/outrageous style...
 
I'll have to take a look. Usually if I'm in a big box store and jess wants to look at boring things, I wander off and browse the diecast cars. Usually I don't see too many that actually look like real cars.
 
Have you looked at Matchboxs lately? Most are back to looking like actual cars. Hot Wheels were always fast and the furious/outrageous style...

Yes, basically that's what happened when they did the merger. They wanted to signify what each brand stood for. Although you will find many Hot Wheels as concept or even production vehicles still. I stopped collecting years ago. It was getting insane.

LOL - Sean I do the exact same thing. Plus if I find them on sale I usually pick up a few.

What I don't like is how cheap some of them are produced these days. I try to buy only the ones with metal bottoms.
 
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I just picked up 3 Datsun 510s last night.

Nice!! how big is your collection? I so far I have about 36 car my last 5 additions are the Mazda Furai, 2008 Evo X, Lamborghini Reventon, Shelby(First/Original one), and 67 Shelby GT500.

Wat I like is how they only cost 97 cents at Walmart, but l dont like the other cars that Hotwheel sells the ones not made after real cars. I did not know that Matchbook is owned by the same company that owns Hot wheels.
 
Nice!! how big is your collection? I so far I have about 36 car my last 5 additions are the Mazda Furai, 2008 Evo X, Lamborghini Reventon, Shelby(First/Original one), and 67 Shelby GT500.

Wat I like is how they only cost 97 cents at Walmart, but l dont like the other cars that Hotwheel sells the ones not made after real cars. I did not know that Matchbook is owned by the same company that owns Hot wheels.

Oh god. I have atleast 15 of the 12 gallon Rubbermaid containers full. And I have 8 containers fill of open cars.
 
Oh god. I have atleast 15 of the 12 gallon Rubbermaid containers full. And I have 8 containers fill of open cars.

you are joking right?? 15 12gl containers:eek: lol..Thats great man so my question would be for how long you have been collecting or when you started?
 
you are joking right?? 15 12gl containers:eek: lol..Thats great man so my question would be for how long you have been collecting or when you started?

I still have all my cars from when I was a kid and kept buying them until 2006 or so. I sometimes will pick up one or two that interest me. But I no longer go out of my way to buy them now. I am sick of moving and storing them. I really should sell them. But the problem is 98% of them are not worth anything.
 
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