| When I was a young boy, my favorite toys were | | | | product of Mattel. MATCHBOX® now had major |
| my collection of MATCHBOX® cars. In the late | | | | competition coming from the U.S. and the popularity |
| fifties and early sixties, Matchbox cars were a basic | | | | of Hot Wheels® took off. Their design departed |
| component of every little boy's toy collection and I | | | | from that of the MATCHBOX ® cars with |
| was no exception. It was always exciting to see | | | | brighter colors, wider tires and car models more |
| what the next Christmas or birthday would bring. | | | | familiar to Americans. Mattel eventually bought |
| Would it be a passenger car, a construction vehicle or | | | | MATCHBOX® and markets both lines today. |
| sports car? Whatever the result, there was a spot in | | | | Another player entered the miniature die-cast car |
| my collector's case ready and waiting. | | | | market in 1970. Tomica die-cast cars are of a similar |
| MATCHBOX® cars were produced by the British | | | | scale as MATCHBOX® cars. Tomica is a division |
| firm; Lesney Products. Although Lesney had been | | | | of the Tomy toy company of Japan. Tomica die-cast |
| around since the '40's, the die-cast cars it produced | | | | cars first appeared in the United States in 1974. They |
| really took off during the 1950's and '60's, a period in | | | | were called 'pocket cars' and during the first two |
| which they dominated the worldwide market. The | | | | years, only included Japanese models. The company |
| MATCHBOX® collection was very detailed and | | | | introduced American car models in 1976. Seventy |
| included accurate interiors along with plastic windows | | | | different models were available. |
| and opening doors. The original standard series of | | | | In 1993, production of Tomica miniature cars began |
| MATCHBOX® cars was made up of 75 models. | | | | shifting from Japan to China. By 1997, that shift was |
| When a new model was introduced, an existing | | | | complete. Most MATCHBOX® vehicles are also |
| model was retired. | | | | produced in China as well. |
| By the time my younger brother was old enough to | | | | Today, there are 120 models in the Tomica line. |
| enjoy miniature die-cast cars, the Hot Wheels ® | | | | There is also a limited collector series. There have not |
| collection of cars supplemented the MATCHBOX® | | | | been regular sales of Tomica die cast cars in U.S. toy |
| series. Now there was a choice, with more of the | | | | stores since the mid-eighties. You can only obtain |
| sporty and exotic cars founds among the Hot | | | | them through specialty retailers. |
| Wheels® product. Hot Wheels ® were a | | | | |