My whizzwheels chilDhood

I don't often write about die-cast.

Its largely because I don't have any anymore.

Apart from the odd hot-wheel die cast ended with my childhood.

However, as a kid I adored it! Die cast was up there with Action Man, Major Matt Mason and space.

Like all kids of the Sixties I was fed a nourishing diet of Hot Wheels, Whizzwheels, Superfast, Corgi Rockets, Corgi Juniors, Super Kings and Matchbox.

I remember so many of these cars its untrue, Its as of they are imprinted on my brain. I remember more about them than I do about being at School. Despite not being able to distinguish between Corgi and Dinky any more, here are a few I recall.

I loved the large die cast Accident Repair Truck. It had two cranes on the back and a huge dark red front cab. This was followed closely on the carpet by the white and orange Police Van. Inside where plastic Accident signs and orange bollards. God how I loved to set them all up round a die cast crash,

I also loved the cycling set too. It was a group of Citroens in a display box along with a set of very colourful cyclists. It was a gorgeous really gorgeous package with a French street scene on the backing card I think,

This reminds me of the TV cameraman on top of a BBC van I think it was. I have the feeling it was a display set too. Maybe it came with the cyclists? Again I adored that little plastic cameraman.

Once you start thinking about die casts from the past they start queuing up like IKEA's just opened!

Daktari was a cool set too. The striped jeep, the animal vets, the lion and chimp. I forget their names now but it was superb fun. Similarly veterinary was the amazing Chipperfields circus range. The main truck was a strange shaped blue and red carriage with ramps for the animals to descend. Similar trailers could be added I think and there were separate wheeled cages for lions and tigers although I may be fogging up on that.

Some of my favourite cars at the time included the futuristic blue and cream dream car. Aero 1 or something? Two beautiful plastic people were sat inside ready to drive to the Ivy for dinner [probably Lobster Bisque!]. 

I also couldn't get enough of American cars like the Stingray with its flipping lamps, the blue Marlin rambler, the gold Chevvy, the sleek Lincoln Continental with its rear illuminated TV screen [mine was a clown] and the small white Matchbox Ford Mustang with turning axles.

But of all the larger super cars in my bedroom I was in love with two the most - the sublime maroon Lincoln El Dorado and the even cooler lime green and white Lamborghini Marzal. I can see it's frosted rear windscreen tipping up even now. It was a Whizzwheels model I think. I used to play with the smaller single-piece matchbox version alongside it too. Flipping 'eck, those were good times!

I recall large scale British cars too like the Mini Countryman with its two surfboards on the roof, a neat turquoise Cortina panda car and a browny gold Capri I think. I reckon I had a Ford Granada as well but just can't picture it. There were older models too like an Austin with a large red plastic wheel on top which steered the car!

I haven't mentioned my adoration of many of the Hot Wheels red lines yet, but together with countless Matchbox cars and Corgi Rockets, I was never bored that's for sure. With miles of red track round my room it was Brands Hatch every day! I could have a separate blog just on these toys no probs!

The only real rejects in my die cast heaven were Matchbox Models of Yesteryear. I just couldn't get into that old timer vibe but I can see the attraction now.

So readers, which small metal cars did you cruise around with?