I love little silver grilles on the bonnets of space cars.
There's just something about them that suggests there's an engine underneath.
The fabulous Moon Explorer has such a one above. It also has a small curved front bumper , which is broken on the front of this old old auction example. It may have had a function.
Below is a nice specimen of the Triang SpaceX Cricket P-1. It also has a neat silver bonnet grille.
I mentioned the small plastic curved bumper. A few Hong Kong toys have one. Here's another, the JR21 X-60 Space Rocket. The truck has a small red curved front bumper, which again may have a function.
Have you any Hong Kong or plastic toys with front grilles and bumpers?
The reason the grille on the Moon Explorer is broken is because when the car hits a wall, or solid object, it connects a switch which then ejects the third astronaut from the back seat. The circular recess is where a spring loaded figure would sit. Its the same kind of device as used in the similar Merehall Space Car, that shoots a missile from the bonnet on contact. You can see the poor astronaut getting kicked out on the box.
ReplyDeleteIf that was your car I guarantee I'd be the ejecting astronaut!
DeleteYes! Any little bit of plastic chrome accessory always made that toy very special!
ReplyDeleteTransparent green bubbley plastic windows had the same special effect on tin space vehicles for me too Zigg!
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