GREEN HORNET BLACK BEAUTY TOY CARS

Some American crime fighters were a mixture of cop and super hero. The Green Hornet was such a one and a show I always enjoyed because Bruce Lee was Kato.  Here is Bruce auditioning for the part way back in the mid-Sixties courtesy of You Tube. The show was a hit and the Hornet produced a whole nest of cool toys on the States.
 

 

 

In the UK and the US the most popular Hornet toy of its day was the 1967 Corgi Green Hornet Black Beauty, a sleek and gorgeous die-cast car with great accessories. The Hornet learnt out of the window with his pistol poised, whilst Kato drove. The boot contained a nifty red spinner and the front grille opened to reveal a formidable red missile. It all came in Corgi's beautiful packaging and was topped with a fabulous Green Hornet roof transfer. I was always surprised it was never miniaturised for the Juniors range but nevertheless, the Corgi Black Beauty was and is for me quintessentially the Sixties. It was re-released and re-packaged for modern fans in the Naughties.

 

Fans in the States got the equally cool Aurora Black Beauty slot car in 1967 too, although the packaging wasn't in the same league as Corgi's. Polar Lights re-issued it in a new box for modern fans years later.

 

 

ASC of Japan came up with their own unlicensed tinplate Black Beauty, the Secret Service Action Car. The front grille is completely different and it would appear that only the car itself had any reference to the Green Hornet in the form of two transfers.

 

I had thought that countries like Argentina and Mexico would have had their own versions of the car but I've been unable to find any. I will have to consult my old Toy Collector Green Hornet magazine when I dig it out of the loft. There maybe some more info in the Model and Toy Collector Green Hornet issue. Maybe you have that one readers?

 

What are your Green Hornet toy and TV memories readers? 

 

 

[pictures: Vectis, various]