Coca Cola Route Truck Diecast Toy UPDATED

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 03/31/2020 at 13:19 • Filed to: I just can't get over the box, LALD, die-cast, toys

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Here is something for all you !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Oppos. This vintage toy sits on a shelf at my parents’ house and I have always thought it was pretty cool.

(I apologize in advance for the crappy photos but my phone’s camera was not having it)

Let’s start with the box.

Ooh, that vintage illustration really does justice to the sleek design of the truck. B A T T E R Y O P E R A T ED too I see. Oh but it’s NON-STOP, which presumably means they crammed a few energizer bunnies in the rear for the toy to haunt you beyond childhood. Open up that box years later and off it goes, never stopping, right into the setting sun.

Wait a minute, what is that off to the right side?

Oh, I see. Just a little nightmare fuel, complete with multiple poorly scaled off center coke bottles.

Umm, quickly! Let’s move on to the side of the box!

Blurry photo is blurry

Ah, this I can understand. It demonstrates (behind the blur) how the toy operates, presumably without stopping. A caster wheel can be turned to set the direction of travel for the toy, which could prove problematic if it really never stops. I had an old Snapper mower do that to me once. Not fun.

The side appears to contain an entirely new illustration only used here, with a nice skyline in the background. There is no further labeling besides the Sanyo of Japan logo on the front, so the year this toy was made is a bit dubious.

But let’s open the box, shall we?

Other than a slightly askew cab, the truck is resplendent in an Art Deco commercial livery.

I had difficulty photographing the striped bench seat, the only interior ornament. The hood and door shut lines are also surprisingly accurate where they are painted on.

As you can see, the model has a noticeable imperfection: a tipped cab. The place where the cab attaches to the base is damaged, allowing the front end to dip. There is a mess of wires underneath the cab, which appears to be the method of propulsion.

The rear end is reasonably well accounted for. The large plastic taillights add detail and the dividing stripe creates a nice bit of contrast.

Yup, it appears that once you set a trajectory, the vehicle just goes (non-stop, you might say). The switch at the rear turns on the wheels and the truck will go until it hits something or runs out of battery. Let’s take a closer look at the method of propulsion.

I know nothing about this whatsoever, so help me Oppo and/or LalD. What am I holding?

Better yet, explain this:

Stay safe out there.

UPDATE:

I did a little research and turned up !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for $1,000. This example appears to have never been used, which doubtless accounts for the jacked up price. Notably, their box is damaged significantly in one place whereas my model’s box is whole, albeit more faded.

Also interesting is that no one seems certain of the year of manufacture. Sometime in the late 50s seems likely. The model apparently came in red too.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/30/2020 at 22:58

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This is a nice item, considered pressed tin rather than diecast. You might notice the “Sanyo” brand - apparently unrelated to the electronics company. Condition looks excellent for toy and box, an item like this could sell for ~$500 if you get two bidders of a certain demographic who collect Coca-Cola and toys from their youth, and is reasonably worth a few hundred I suspect . If it takes modern sized batteries, it might even still work.

A Boy and His Longtail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/30/2020 at 22:59

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Can you get a video of it going for us?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 03/30/2020 at 23:14

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Thats good news. It's not mine but it might be some day. I really just took a few pictures and put it back but I might see what kind of batteries it takes. The box probably really adds to the value, I suspect 

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/30/2020 at 23:17

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Oh yeah, box doubles the value or more, especially as it appears to be nice.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > A Boy and His Longtail 03/30/2020 at 23:33

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Eh I really don’t have a good way to make one unless it would be camera-phone quality . It doesn’t turn in either but I’ll see how bored I am tomorrow 

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:12

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Wait a minute... I’ve had similar if cheaper and less cool versions of this type of toy before. Those caster wheels are driven via an axle through the center of the turntable. The way the wheels are set up, it has a natural tendency to want to drive in a straight line. But with this setup,  when the toy bumps into something, instead of the wheels just spinning in place, the resistance causes the drive axle to rotate the whole caster instead, thus pointing the drive wheels in a different direction and allowing the truck to turn around and continue in that new direction rather than just getting stuck. That’s what the box means when it says “non-stop”. It won’t stop going just because it runs into something; it’ll just go a different direction. It’s a pretty nifty idea, actually...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 03/31/2020 at 13:25

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Really? I was wondering how that would work. I thought with the front wheels off the ground it would just go in whatever sized circle you set it. That is much more interesting. It also makes the intact front end of the toy more remarkable.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:27

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Beware of ebay asking prices, they are an exercise in free speech, and sometimes get peoples hopes up. Searching for sold listings is a better way to gauge the market.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 03/31/2020 at 13:30

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Yeah and that was reduced . CP at that price, but a few hundred seems reasonable to the right person, as you mentioned yesterday.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:32

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Yep. I could see this at 500 on a very good day at the right auction , but 300 easy, especially if in a nicer retail setting . It’s a nice piece.

benn454 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:32

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 Not sure if the truck is more sad or disgusted in that last pic.

Tapas > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:42

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Man, that cab makes it look like the chassis has gone crunchhhhh while going non-stop.

I’ve realized that with old toys - On one hand, the materials used are amazing as compared to plastic-fantastic stuff today . On the other hand, attention to detail in assembly is completely out the window.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:49

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I can’t seem to find a video of one of these toys in action (probably because I can’t figure out what they’re called), but I did find a video of a Lego thing that works exactly the same way:

Tripper > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 13:50

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In all seriousness that is super cool!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Tapas 03/31/2020 at 13:57

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Yeah even the cheapest modern toy today would have more than a bench seat on the inside. And grille detail is remarkable for the method used but a modern rendition could knock the realism out of the park. But that’s not why people collect these.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Tripper 03/31/2020 at 13:57

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Offer not accepted. You would have to at least double that for me to even consider.

PyramidHat > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 14:10

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The truck looks sad..

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 14:23

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I need you to mail that to me right away.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 14:30

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I’ll even triple it! $3!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 14:31

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That’s one sad looking truck...emotionally. It’s cool, but it looks sad.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 03/31/2020 at 14:41

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With the crooked pseudo -Chevy badge as askew as the cab is on mine, I would say it looks like a wh impering bulldog that got bopped on the snout a little too hard. “

Skulking behind your box again, I see! I’ll cut you a new one if you don’t knock that off!”

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/31/2020 at 14:43

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Based on the warm reception this post got, I might end up trying some batteries for size, since apparently the headlights light up even if the motor is busted. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/31/2020 at 14:47

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I will install batteries once I receive it from you in the mail. Be sure to insure the package.