Best Vintage Opel Diplomat (KAD cars)... ("What other Diplomat's ARE there?!?")

When you think of a vintage diecast Opel Diplomat, exactly 1 car typically comes to mind...  Lesney's excellent Matchbox Opel Diplomat, shown here in the rare and preferred Superfast form.  

This has always been a favorite car of mine.  Not scaled too large (it is based on a contemporary Chevy II chassis after all, so it definitely should be smaller than an Impala or the full size Mercurys or Lincoln Continental), nice detail, nice suspension, etc.   A very nice car!

But this blog title implies that there are competitors...   ...So...   ...ARE there any competitors?  

Yes!  

Yatming, for one, made an Opel Admiral (same car, just different trim level).  And while many vintage Yatmings are cheapo-feeling car, without detail or heft, there are a few Yatmings that have high levels of quality (almost approaching Tomica-levels).  Unfortunately, this Admiral is NOT one of those few high-quality Yatmings.  Instead, this IS a cheapo-feeling car.  While it is an interesting curiosity, this car has no chance of upstaging the Lesney Matchbox!  

But there is another vintage competitor, and unlike the Yatming, this competitor is in fact a worthy competitor.  The car is a very rare car - a Siku Opel Kapitan.  Yes, its a different name, but like the Admiral - the Kapitan name just signified a different trim level on the same basic car (hence the acronym - "KAD" cars - Kapitan, Admiral, Diplomat).  

The first thing you notice about the SIKU is how large it is...  ...this Kapitan DOES in fact feel like an Impala.  In the photos at the end of the blog you can see how much larger it is than the more correctly scaled Matchbox.  Unlike the Matchbox, which has an opening hood, the SIKU has opening doors.  In typical Siku fashion, the headlights are actual glass/plastic.  The trim and detail are fantastic, easily eclipsing the nicely detailed Matchbox.  Siku really shows off the curve of the trunk (which is there, but much less evident, in the Matchbox).  And the baseplate actually has detail, unlike the Matchbox.  

So, what's the verdict?  Can the Siku compete with the Lesney?  Yes!  While I'm slightly bothered by its large size, I just find the Siku to be a more worthy model than the excellent and far-better-known Matchbox...  

Amazing Edai Grip Zechan pumper truck - and almost identical looking Tomica version

I don't know what to call this truck, or this post.  

I always thought this Edai Grip Zechan pumper truck (model on the right) in green with the white cab was a cool model.  But then I saw this Tomica model THAT LOOKED ALMOST THE SAME and... ...well...  now I have 2!

In reality - they really are very different models, of different trucks - but they are painted so similarly - that they kind of look the same!  

P.S.  The Edai truck is way nicer than the Tomica.  

 

944 Turbos... The new Hot Wheels casting of one of my favorite cars is awesome. ...But can it compete with the Original Matchbox version???

I've always wanted a 944 Turbo.  It was the hot car when I was in high school - cheaper but faster than a 911 Carrera, and with classic late '80s looks.  So when Hot Wheels released a retro 944 turbo this year - in both red and gold - and maybe more colors to come - I went crazy over it.  The shape is just right, the wheels are cool, etc.  

But the Matchbox version from the Matchbox Toys International era is the OG, and one of my favorite castings from that time.  So is the new How Wheels version it's equal?

Simply put, no.  It's no comparison at all.  Pulling out the Matchbox version - in red, green and amazing yellow - let alone the premium red version - instantly shows that the Matchbox is way better.  The 2 castings are almost identical in size - and both are nicely detailed - but the all-metal construction of the Matchbox gives it much more of a quality heft, the Matchbox has opening doors, and the soft suspension of the Matchbox (vs. the rock-hard ride of the new Hot Wheels) all conspire to eliminate any hope of a close competition.  

It doesn't make me love the Hot Wheels any less.  It's a great model.  And I'm thrilled with Hot Wheels for bringing out these retro cars.  I just love the Matchbox castings more!