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Bulgarian Matchbox - need your help!
Topic Started: Jun 24 2017, 04:08 PM (383 Views)
bi-bib
Member Avatar
"Tear down this blister pack, Mr. Gorbachev!"
Folks, as you have already noticed I am not only trying to collect the endless variations of those exotic Bulgarians, but also any printed information (text and/or photos) about them. I have so far the Charlie Mack's book "Matchbox Toys - The Universal Years" where there are two pages covering them. I also found short articles about the Bulgarian Matchbox and other Bulgarian toys in:

Model Auto Review #122 06/1998 - magazine
Argus de la Miniature #155 05/1993 - magazine
De Courtivron's Collectible Coca-Cola Toy Trucks - book

I will appreciate if you can tip me for more books, magazines or other printed sources of information about them. I have taken those Bulgarians really seriously! :book:
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coldpopcarl
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I live a VW way of life eat breathe sleep dream & was HOME 16 years
There is a site page/s that has alot of pictures and ones
Sorry I CANT THINK of title as it is BOOKMARKED in crashed laptop . BUT will be searching for it to bookmark on me phone .

Also the CHARLIE MACK
The Big Book of Superfast Matchbox Toys vol 1 has many
ISBN : O-7643-2321-0
UPC : 9 780764 323218
not sure what this upc code is 52995


As does this site
BAMCA Bay Area Matchbox Collectors Association

http://www.bamca.org/database.php
^^^ many images are not on here but the info is ^^^


Also note there is also HUNGARIAN and BULGARIAN issuies


I too Love the HUNGARIAN and BULGARIAN mb cars
most can be found with same body or tampo can be FOUND with Multi Different Interiors

Do you have a PHOTO back and front of the CHARLIE MACK book you have and or the UPC , LIBRARY CONGRESS BOOK number , ISBN # I would like to also get that book to pkace in me diecsst plastic AUTOMOBILE Books


Thankx , will post the SITE pages when I can I NEED TO REFIND them _ i dont have internet at me house or computer So will look into that site when at WIFI and using laptop

col'pop ~ coldpopcarl
Edited by coldpopcarl, Jun 24 2017, 05:03 PM.
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coldpopcarl
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I live a VW way of life eat breathe sleep dream & was HOME 16 years
Not sure if this is one of the TWO i really liked

Dont have TIME or DATA to look into it deeply

But I DID BOOKMARK it in me phone

http://www.bulgariancollection.com/index.htm



This I know I have looked at before

http://www.garyscars.co.uk/mb/Bul/index.htm



On first page is info on BULGARIANS

http://www.mbxforum.com/11-Catalogs/02-MB75/MB75-History/jnchL085.php
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Douglas
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SUV
All I can offer is to try and remember to check my old Matchbox catalogues when I get home and see if I find much of anything in them. If I do remember, I'll try to post tomorrow.
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coldpopcarl
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I live a VW way of life eat breathe sleep dream & was HOME 16 years
Moderator PLEASE delete this if in any way IM in wrong of copy paste this from above SITE or I wi delete BUT leave comment with just a DOT PERIOD as edited comment
Thankx , col'pop ~coldpopcarl


was thought that by the end of 1980 we had seen the last of the Vauxhall Guildsman, but it was not to be. Eastern European countries had generally been unable to import diecast models from the West, although Matchbox had had some limited success in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Children there had a very poor range of model cars to select from. There had been some attempt to copy European designs but these were of a very poor quality. Some diecast toys from the Soviet Union did reach countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary but they were generally of a military theme! Purchasers of the real cars fared little better. In the 1980s the Lada was by far the most popular car in Bulgaria, although sales of Skoda were increasing.
For the less discerning, there was the East German manufactured 6-volt, 2-stroke Trabant. Perhaps the sales pitch for the Trabant could have been, You’re never alone in a Trabant, there’s bound to be another broken down a few hundred yards up the road. I visited Bulgaria many times and Trabants littered the highway.

Bulgaria in particular had requested Lesney to lease some of its moulds from deleted models in the range. Although Bulgarian children would have seen the Mercedes or Russian Zils in which the senior officials of the Communist party travelled, they would not have been able to recognise whether the Morris Minor or Hillman Minx, for example, was the latest model around in Western Europe during the mid-1980s. Management at Matchbox had always feared a drop in quality control and so it was written into the contract that models were not allowed to be sold outside of Bulgaria. Quality control in fact was very high as much of the work performed in England on machines was now done by hand and many checks on quality control occurred to give more Bulgarians jobs. It was said that the paint spraying was carried out by hand. This would help to explain the huge number of paint shades on models or perhaps it was difficult for the Bulgarians to match paint. Certainly, whatever paint came to hand was used.
Matchbox leased moulds a few at a time. The Guildsman was one of the second range of Bulgarian models produced and it was manufactured along with a Mark II 1968 Cortina in 1985. There were at least 20 body colours used on the Guildsman, but variations also abounded on windows, interiors and base colours. To avoid confusion and maintain legal requirements the bases were altered to read, Matchbox Int’l Ltd. and Made in Bulgaria. It was necessary for Matchbox to supply wheels and axles and in this way a check could be kept on the number of models made.
To brighten up rather a plain model, the factory decided to apply a design to the bonnet in the form of RUFF TREK tampo printing. I am not sure where the factory found this design which was rather incongruous on the Guildsman, for the same design was being used on an off-road Pick-up model currently in the miniature range.
It probably meant little to a Bulgarian child who, assuming they could read the logo, would have little idea of what it meant. I believe that the moulds were returned at the end of 1985 to be replaced by further new models. Black, red and silver models were the hardest to find and nowadays there is a premium on the Bulgaria produced Guildsman. I wonder whether Philip Gannon, the original designer, received a royalty for every Guildsman model produced. He may well be grateful for such a payment as this year he will be receiving his Old Age Pension
Edited by coldpopcarl, Jun 24 2017, 05:02 PM.
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bi-bib
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"Tear down this blister pack, Mr. Gorbachev!"
Thanks for the fast response! I have checked already these websites, in fact the first one is mine and not really updated. b:$

There are plenty of Matchbox books, the problem is that most I have seen don't cover the Bulgarian issues for one or another reason.

P.S. Speaking of the Guildsman, as a Bulgarian kid in the 80's I had it in my small at that time collection, but I didn't really like it, neither my fellows. It was plain and with no opening features. Another thing that contributed to the excellent paint job of the Bulgarian Matchbox cars was the paint itself - BASF.
Edited by bi-bib, Jun 24 2017, 05:10 PM.
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bi-bib
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"Tear down this blister pack, Mr. Gorbachev!"
Douglas
Jun 24 2017, 04:58 PM
All I can offer is to try and remember to check my old Matchbox catalogues when I get home and see if I find much of anything in them. If I do remember, I'll try to post tomorrow.
Thanks!

I wonder is there anything about them in the next Charlie Mack's book - Matchbox Toys: The Tyco Years?
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coldpopcarl
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I live a VW way of life eat breathe sleep dream & was HOME 16 years
bi-bib
Jun 24 2017, 05:03 PM
Thanks for the fast response! I have checked already these websites, in fact the first one is mine and not really updated. b:$

There are plenty of Matchbox books, the problem is that most I have seen don't cover the Bulgarian issues for one or another reason.

P.S. Speaking of the Guildsman, as a Bulgarian kid in the 80's I had it in my small at that time collection, but I didn't really like it, neither my fellows. It was plain and with no opening features. Another thing that contributed to the excellent paint job of the Bulgarian Matchbox cars was the paint itself - BASF.
Been brainstorming me brain , i think the really really big list and photos how I CAME across it was from CFR Chickluu's Fabulous Redlines SITE .


It was VERY BIG in DATA INFO and IMAGES .



I do have 1 little catalog ITS MORE like a 3 folded page pamphlet only like 1inch x 2.5 inch. And not really a catalog more of a TEASE just showing maybey 8-10 cars ,

Sorry I have no image posted of it nor any clue where it is

Its similar to the HW LEO little pamphlet

Like this
But even smaller
Posted Image




I did just look at your bulgarian page of the mb , IT IS NOT the SITE I used for short time
Edited by coldpopcarl, Jun 24 2017, 06:13 PM.
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Lummox
Microcar
No doubt the original Lesney Guildsman may have not appealed to some boys due to it's pink color.

Some of those Bulgarian tampos...inconguent is putting it nicely! ;)
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coldpopcarl
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I live a VW way of life eat breathe sleep dream & was HOME 16 years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikro%2767

Bulgarian Diecast Factory Mikro67's


Posted Image




Below is FROM WIKI ::


Matchbox
After making a deal with the Matchbox company in 1983 the factory initiated the production of the first five Matchbox Superfast models and the first few Superking models. The paint on all the models bearing pearl colors was not very durable, although this condition was later improved. The wheels sets were imported. Today it is very hard to find mint condition models from that time—even in Bulgaria. Up until 1989, 17 Superfast models and 7 Superkings models were introduced. Although all of the models had minor variations, they were essentially alike. Importantly, there was one primary condition for leasing the dies to the Bulgarian manufacturer - all the models produced were intended to be sold only to the Bulgarian market—with no export. Around 100 000-150 000 pieces of each casting were made. Additionally, after using the new dies, the factory was expected to return them.

In 1991, after the Cold War had ended, production began on the "second wave" of Superfast models. In the beginning there were again limited variations, but some of the early editions have the decals and the colors of the original models. After a few years business relations soured between the Matchbox company and their Bulgarian partner. It seemed that after opening the borders, many of these Bulgarian models were sold abroad and some were very popular. The Matchbox company eventually broke the contract with Mikro, but they were unable get back the dies for some models. The results of this split are that the nowadays Mattel doesn't recognize Bulgarian models as authentic Matchbox and second - the explosion of thousands of new variations by color, tampos and wheels.

At the end of the 90's Mukro'67 began offering advertising graphics on their models. Customers who wanted to personalize cars with a name, brand or a graphic could get a manufacturing deal for customized Bulgarian Matchbox models. There was a condition - the customer must order 100 pieces or more although the models may be different. This marketing tool was used by local companies to promote products targeting kids and youngsters and other companies related to auto care and auto parts. International Matchbox and other diecast models clubs also got some limited edition models for their members on special events. The quality of the models has slowly degraded. This and the uniform production list for more than 15 years, the higher prices and other issues are factors for the lower production nowadays. From time to time after running out of parts some new wheels variations appear - sometimes even Matchbox wheels get on a non-Matchbox models and vice versa.


Gama
In 1985 parallel with the Matchbox models, production began on the Gama models. The first 1–2 years they were all kit models for assembling and available in only one color—pearl grass green. Later they started making the regular factory assembled models. Some Gama models are still in production.



I SEE bi-bib Your Site is a REFERENCE to the WIKI Page at bottom



I Think this is the LIST I was Looking at for less then a YEAR
2500 Listings it says ( but this might be the FOR SALE ones , as I Have NONE LISTED Ones and before the site Page I am TOTALLY Thinking of HAD SO MANY VW & MERCEDES That I WANTED


The Tommy Wiczkowicz Museum consisted of over 25,000 Matchbox miniatures, including 500+ Regular Wheels, 3500+ Lesney Superfasts, 2000+ pre-productions, 2500+ Bulgarian/Hungarian models, 50 Brazilian Superfasts, 600+ hard-to-find offshore Superfasts, and 500+ ASAP/CCI Models! Click on the above pictures to see each list.


http://www.vintagediecasttoys.com/Bulgarian.html

and the HOME Page that this link is From

http://www.vintagediecasttoys.com/


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Atencio
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Station Wagon
Lummox
Jun 24 2017, 08:36 PM
No doubt the original Lesney Guildsman may have not appealed to some boys due to it's pink color.

Some of those Bulgarian tampos...inconguent is putting it nicely! ;)
Dave!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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bi-bib
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"Tear down this blister pack, Mr. Gorbachev!"
Quote:
 
No doubt the original Lesney Guildsman may have not appealed to some boys due to it's pink color.


The Bulgarian ones came in very nice colors actually so the pink wasn't the problem for us. The toy didn't have any opening features and the other thing was that big window that made the car look like aquarium - it used to get scratched and cracked so easily!

Coldpopcarl, thanks for the links!

The wiki link was written by me around 10 years ago and I need to update it too.

The second link - I bought some Bulgarians from Alan maybe 5 years ago, if I remember correctly, the Bulgarians for sale were 4000 in the beginning.

I have looked all over the net vigorously for the last 10 years so I gathered every bit useful of info, now I want to find all the info about the Bulgarians that was printed in books, magazines, etc.


I found out that in the middle of the 80's in Bulgaria was aired once a live program about the factory which had the name "MUKPO" at that time. The accent was on the new die-cast toys coming out from the factory. During an interview the production director/leader has put on the ground a Matchbox model and them has stepped over it to show the strength of the toy. A few years later there has been a TV commercial featuring the toys. So far I can't find any copy of these TV presentations, probably everything is lost for good. At least there is much more left from Lesney.
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Lummox
Microcar
Atencio
Jun 24 2017, 11:12 PM
Lummox
Jun 24 2017, 08:36 PM
No doubt the original Lesney Guildsman may have not appealed to some boys due to it's pink color.

Some of those Bulgarian tampos...inconguent is putting it nicely! ;)
Dave!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well howdy-do Mr. Ford/Ferrari! :wave:
____________________________________________________________________________________________

I like collecting the Bulgarians that are a part of the regular wheels/transitional lineage.
I'm a transitional freak for those who don't know me.
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Ice9
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Compact
Ive alwasy been interested in the bulgarian release MB's.

I have to say,I've learned a whole lot about them that I didn't know before just from this thread.

Good stuff!!!

Mike
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