FUTURE MEMORY | TOYS & MODELS

Scale model of a double-deck bus, the Leyland Titan , made by Matchbox . This example is reference 17, included in the "1–75 Superfast" series. It is made in China, between 1988 and 1990. Metal body painted in red, with paper stickers placed on the sides, showing the advertisement "AROUND LONDON TOUR-BUS". Black plastic base. Model without "glazing". Interior details in white plastic. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims. No suspension. The nominal scale is 1:124 and the overall length is approximately 3.1 in. About 2 oz. This model represents a double-deck bus used in urban services, the Leyland Titan (B15), introduced in 1977. Primarily operated by London Transport, the  Leyland Titan (B15) ¹ was 31.4 ft long and could accommodate up to 93 passengers, 73 seated and 20 standing. It featured air suspension and was fitted with either 177 bhp (132 kW) Gardner 6LXB or 170 bhp (127 kW) Leyland TL11 "L6" diesel  engine...

Scale model of a taxicab, the Austin Taxi Cab , made by  Tomica . This example is reference T12, included in the "Tomica T-Series" ¹ series. It is made in China, in the 1990s. Metal body painted in black, with printed details. Metal base, unpainted. Glazing represented in transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield. Interior details in red plastic. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). With suspension. Opens the front doors. License plate "F56". The nominal scale is 1:67 and the overall length is approximately 2.7 in. About 1.5 oz. This model represents a  taxicab , possibly the 1969  Austin FX4 , equipped with the 2178 cm³, 41 kW (56 hp) BMC "L4" diesel engine. Top speed around 59 mph. As a kid, I saw this London taxi many times in toy stores, but I always ended up choosing other models—until it stopped appearing. Years later, I finally bought it and I'm glad I did. Released by Tomica in 1978 as part ...

Scale model of a double-deck bus, the London Bus , made by  Tomica . This example is reference F15, included in the "Tomica Foreign" series. It is made in Japan, introduced in 1977. Metal body painted in red, with paper stickers placed on the sides, showing the advertisement "£ 1/2 million VERNONS" and the identification of the London route "94–Orpington". Red plastic base. Glazing represented in transparent plastic. Interior details in white plastic on the lower floor and transparent plastic on the upper floor. Plastic wheels with "chrome" details simulating the rims (1H). With suspension. The nominal scale is 1:130 and the overall length is approximately 3 in. About 2 oz. This model represents a double-deck bus used in urban services, a Daimler Fleetline , introduced in 1960. Although identified as a London bus, some aspects of its configuration remind me of versions bodied by Metal Sections , intended for the Asian market—but I might be compl...

Scale model of a concrete truck, the Foden Concrete Truck , made by  Matchbox . This example is reference 21, included in the "Matchbox 1–75" series. It is made in England, in 1968 and 1969. Metal cab and chassis; cab painted yellow, chassis red. Yellow plastic mixing drum. Cab windows represented in transparent blue tinted plastic. No interior details in the cab. Black plastic wheels. No suspension. Rotating mixing drum driven by a plastic gear mounted on the truck's second axle. The nominal scale is 1:89 and the overall length is approximately 3 in. About 1.8 oz. This model represents a concrete mixer truck. The cab-chassis assembly is based on that of the Foden S24 truck, introduced in 1964. The Foden S24 trucks were distinguished by their modern pivoting fiberglass cab, an evolution of the one introduced in the S21 trucks of 1958. The Foden S24 trucks could be equipped with Foden Dynamic "L4" diesel engines, with 117 hp (87 kW), or "L6" engines, ...