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| Truck of the Day : November 23, 2013; Majorette '70s generic "Dodge" Tow Truck | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 22 2013, 11:40 PM (890 Views) | |
| craftymore | Nov 22 2013, 11:40 PM Post #1 |
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Support your local demo derby.
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![]() Majorette's Tow Truck is the vehicle for today. ![]()
![]() ![]() If there was ever a model to confuse collectors as to what exactly it is, this Majorette is it! Some say that it's a Dodge or a Simca. There's traces of South American blood in this one as well. My copy is listed at 1/80 scale wise. Discuss among yourselves. ![]()
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| Dean-o-mite | Nov 23 2013, 12:39 AM Post #2 |
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Muscle Car
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OK. This is torture for the guy trying to keep a running tally of all the vehicles run for COTD. Someone come up with an answer, please. Make, model, and year, or tell me with definitive certainty that it is a generic, so I can add it to the bottom of the list. |
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| pjedsel | Nov 23 2013, 12:40 AM Post #3 |
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Muscle Car
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It seems like all of the major and many of the lesser toy car makers include a tow truck of some type in their lineups. This is a nice basic tow truck model from Majorette and a basic casting they got lots of good use out of. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 23 2013, 02:10 AM Post #4 |
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I anticipate some good discussion over this one. I will start by saying that in my experience typical Majorette collectors refer to this model as a Dodge pickup. (BTW, if it is a Dodge, comparable to a late 60s - early 70s American market model, there is *no* way it is only 1/80 scale...a problem compounded even more if in the usual fashion it represents a vehicle issued elsewhere on a still smaller chassis) I have read it is based on a Simca, some say with some hints of early 70s Toyota in the front treatment of the quad headlight grill (there are two grill versions available on this model, the other with dual headlights). |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 23 2013, 06:32 PM Post #5 |
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OK, stirring the pot here:![]() ref: http://webmaster.simca.free.fr/Simca1100Utilitaires.htm ![]() ref: http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet152251-5040.htm borrowed from the 'bay
from Wiki, this may help explain some problems identifying this vehicle. emphasis mine, -jt3 So, it would appear this is a front wheel drive transverse engine light commercial vehicle built by Simca under Chrysler ownership and badged as a Dodge, and sold from 1967 until Chrysler divested itself of Chrysler Europe to Peugeot in 1978...clear now? My guess is this model represents an earlier version, say '67-70, and the quad headlight version from later in the 70s. Regarding scale, clearly there is no way this is 1/80 scale. It represents a four cylinder "sewing machine" drive light commercial vehicle, essentially a mini-pickup. Consequently scale is probably more accurate to around 1/68-1/70. Wheelbase given for the cars is 99.2 inches, the trucks are likely the same or marginally longer. |
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| FiatCoupe | Nov 23 2013, 06:57 PM Post #6 |
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Fullsize
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Nice try,but I don't think it's one of those.The Simca is front wheel drive,& has a very small engine,so wouldn't be any use as a tow truck.I remember these when they were current,& never saw one with four headlights.As discussed on other forums,I think this is a generic model,most Majorettes have the name of the car on the base,but this doesn't(although the Plymouth Fury Police Car doesn't either). Nice model though,& it's still got its hook
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| Pegers | Nov 24 2013, 12:19 PM Post #7 |
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Pony Car
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what is the casting number on the base? |
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| FiatCoupe | Nov 24 2013, 01:26 PM Post #8 |
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Fullsize
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It doesn't have one
Edited by FiatCoupe, Nov 24 2013, 01:26 PM.
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| JustDavid | Nov 24 2013, 04:11 PM Post #9 |
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SUV
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I learned something new...about the invention of the tow truck. Very cool. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 24 2013, 10:12 PM Post #10 |
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Fair enough, but considering Majorette (and MBX and others) have been known to pair a VW Bug or Porsche with a horse trailer or some other that it clearly would be incapable of pulling in real life, I'm not so sure that would be a disqualifier in toy car land... ![]() The thing I keyed on in my "research" is that Commer Simcas of this period were sold in many foreign markets under the Dodge name, so it does kind of make sense that it would be a "Dodge" and also a "Simca." |
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| Dean-o-mite | Nov 24 2013, 10:25 PM Post #11 |
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Muscle Car
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The Simca / Dodge connection is probably why both have been mentioned over the years. (i.e. "someone said this was a Dodge, but it is no Dodge I've ever seen. Simca sold trucks as Dodges elsewhere. Maybe it's one of those.") The pictures shown do not match in my eyes, at all, so unless there is another Simca pickup model not yet shown, I'm ruling out the Simca. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 24 2013, 10:34 PM Post #12 |
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You're right, there are a few differences, enough to avoid licensing no doubt. Just found this: ![]() ref: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugo90/4275429154/ What seals the deal for me is the "canopy cover," a fairly unique item for a civilian vehicle...and prominently featured on very many of the Majorette issues. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 24 2013, 11:03 PM Post #13 |
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ref: http://www.allpar.com/world/spain.html |
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| Dean-o-mite | Nov 25 2013, 02:35 AM Post #14 |
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Muscle Car
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Were toy makers getting licensing back in the 70's? I wasn't around in the 70's, but I thought the big push toward licensing came about in the late 80's / early 90's (Majorette's Ferrari models became smoothed out, to avoid licensing. The General Motors cars within the Zylmex casting bank were also smoothed out, and given weird add-ons (Nomad, Banshee, Firebird, etc)). Even the 1970's Summer cars had car names on the bases, and Mercedes cars had Mercedes logos - all of which I doubt were paid for, or even "used with permission." If this was based on a real truck, and modified to be generic enough not to raise any eyebrows, I'd say it looks more like the full-size 60's/early 70's Dodge pickup (see Greenlight's effort). The large hood, which covers the tops of the fenders, is a big issue for me. That was a typical design of the big three pickup trucks of the day. The Ford, Chevy/GMC, and Dodge all had hoods like that (and people say all cars look alike today!). It's not just details that lead me to refuse the Simca as a viable option. I simply don't see any of the Simca in the Majorette. The large headlights may indicate a smaller pickup, opposed to a full-size, which would have smaller headlights in proportion to the rest of the truck, but otherwise, nothing says Simca to me. So, most likely, this is just a generic representation of a U.S. style pickup truck, to keep the kids in France happy who weren't familiar enough with Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge to know the difference. Majorette had another generic pickup casting in the late 80's or early 90's (looked kinda like a Chevy S-10, with softer edges). If an educated group of car guys from around the globe can't come up with a 1:1 that looks like the Majorette, I'm satisfied that it is just a generic. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 25 2013, 09:32 AM Post #15 |
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Sourcing the Simca commers was a challenge, as soon as the Simca name is attached all searches go to the 1/2 ton vehicles (if you think about it, those "full size" American trucks of the era you mention are *also* 1/2 ton). I had a little better luck after I found the connection to Barreiros, and searched for Dodge Camion (Spanish/French for "truck") and 1 tonne, but then I got a huge amount of medium and heavy duty foreign Dodges. I know I spent well over an hour looking for anything that even approached the looks of an American 1/2 ton Dodge pickup of the era, and found none. Interestingly, Simca did make some heavier trucks for the Military, and I even saw a badge that suggests some cooperation with NAPCO, but these vehicles were as different to civilian models as a FWC Jeep would be to a CJ. I haven't looked outside of Dodge/Simca, other than Barreiros. If someone can show different, I'm willing to listen. |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 25 2013, 09:44 AM Post #16 |
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You may well be right about licensing, but I do know Mattel in the Hot Wheels line frequently altered their castings from the real life counterparts during this time period (1970+/-). (For example, stacked quad headlights on the Classic Nomad, a feature that has been with that model since the beginning...also the Dixie Challenger and alternates as another example of altered styling.) I'm not as familiar with Majorette at the time. I do wonder when the "Dodge" pickup first appeared in the Majorette line, as that may aid in pinning down what model it represents. I focused on 1968-1972, which may be a bit early. |
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| James | Nov 25 2013, 09:53 AM Post #17 |
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Mr.Bowtie
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hard to believe the Simca was a full 1/2 ton vehicle WOW! |
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| juantoo3 | Nov 26 2013, 09:44 AM Post #18 |
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I think I found a bone I can latch onto. The ID gets even more difficult:
ref:http://www.allpar.com/world/karrier.html |
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| Dean-o-mite | Nov 26 2013, 10:08 AM Post #19 |
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Muscle Car
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I don't disagree with the fact that Dodge was associated with Simca. I think we can etch that in stone and no one will argue. I still believe the Majorette is a generic, with no more resemblance to Dodge or Simca, than to anything else. |
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| ivantt | Nov 28 2013, 10:54 AM Post #20 |
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
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I feel a headache coming on... |
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| craftymore | Jul 20 2014, 09:42 PM Post #21 |
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Support your local demo derby.
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Found this pic on DeviantArt of a mod to late 60s Dodge which appears to be a ton and a half. The way the front bumper was dropped down and fender skits provide a slight resemblance to the Majorette model.
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| juantoo3 | Jul 20 2014, 10:47 PM Post #22 |
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FWIW, that's a '71 grill. ![]() I had one, well a 1/2 ton anyway. |
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| GothicCarsUrban | Jul 27 2014, 09:01 PM Post #23 |
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SUV
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May have found a near-match... they look Japanese to me, and these looked a lot like Prince or Mitsubishi, but I'm thinking it's an Isuzu Wasp:![]() anyone catch the similarity? Side sculpting, front fascia less grille, basic shape, and bed design all point to an Isuzu Wasp. Isuzu imported to Europe in the 60s, so no reason why this could not be a stylized Isuzu Wasp. |
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