Posts

Showing posts from September, 2022

Fanabri – Top Cars

Image
Scale models of automobiles constituting the series " Top Cars ". This series of eight models is presumably made in Portugal by Fanabri , or Fanabri – Fábrica Nacional de Brinquedos, based in Marinha Grande  ¹ , in the late 1980s. It is important to note that while the package shows the Gulliver logo along with Fanabri and " Made in Portugal " letterings, all models come with the Gulliver logo and " Made in Brazil " embossed in their bases. Gulliver , or Gulliver – Manufacturas de Brinquedos, is a well known toy maker established in Brazil in 1969. Was the " Top Cars " series made in Brazil and packed and distributed in Portugal by Fanabri? For all intents and purposes, the origin of these eight models is well known – they are released by Bruder in the early 1980s, as accessories to model railways and they can even be found on Primex  ²  catalogs, in 1985 as part of the 2772 set and in 1988–1991 as a separate set containing the eight vehicles, r

Novacar – Breve Introdução

Image
A Novacar é uma série de carrinhos com carroçarias em plástico e bases em metal injectado, disponível entre 1994 e 1996. É fabricada em Portugal pela Majorette através de uma subsidiária, a Minia Porto, com sede em Baltar, a cerca de 20 km do Porto. A série inclui pelo menos 19 referências, abrangendo uma ampla escolha de veículos, desde carros de corrida até um camião-tractor americano, sem reboque, em escalas à volta do 1:64. A série " Novacar " ou " Série 100 " aparece nos catálogos da Majorette de 1994, 1995 e 1996. A palavra "Novacar" deriva claramente da expressão "carro novo", denotando uma sensação de frescura e inovação. Os catálogos apresentam fotos de cada referência, 101 a 121, bem como das opções de embalagem. Os modelos Novacar apresentam carroçarias em plástico colorido, sempre com detalhes impressos, e bases de metal injectado – com uma excepção, o carro de corrida de F1, referências 112 e 112/10, onde a configuração é invertida.

Novacar – Brief Introduction

Image
Novacar is a series of small toy cars with plastic bodies and die-cast metal bases, available between 1994 and 1996. It is made in Portugal by Majorette through a subsidiary company, Minia Porto, based in Baltar, about 20 km from Porto. The series includes at least 19 references, comprising a wide choice of vehicles, from race cars to an American tractor truck, no trailer provided, in scales around the 1:64th. The " Novacar " series or " Série 100 " appears in Majorette's 1994, 1995 and 1996 catalogs. The word "Novacar" clearly derives from the expression "new car", denoting a sense of freshness and innovation. The catalogs show photos of each reference, 101 to 121, as well as of the packaging options. Novacar models feature colored plastic bodies, always with printed details, and die-cast metal bases – with one exception, the F1 race car, references 112 and 112/10, where the configuration is inverted. Normally, they show on their bases the

Novacar – Wheel Types

Image
Novacar uses Majorette wheel types . On most models we find the 8DOT wheels, with approximately 11 mm in diameter by 6 mm in width. The "rim" protrudes about 0,6 mm from the tire and is highlighted with "chrome" paint and decorated in a concentric way with 8 small circular recesses, visually resembling dots. On the Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari F40 and F1 models, we find the ELO wheel, approximately 12 mm in diameter by 9 mm in width. The "rim" features a "chrome" trim line protruding about 0,6 mm from the tire and, barely noticeable, 5 spokes in relief. The Nissan Terrano, Jeep and Van come with 5RDL wheels, with approximately 13 mm in diameter by 7 mm in width. The "rim" protrudes about 0,6 mm from the tire and is decorated in a concentric way with 5 curved dashes inside two trim lines. All these elements are molded in relief and highlighted with "chrome" paint. Novacar wheels are molded in black plastic. The quality of pri