Most guys played with Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars when they were kids. The two brands dominated the market thirty years ago, and do today.  Both brands offer a wide variety of real and fantasy cars, trucks, hotrods and show cars. If you really like the pint-sized replica’s, did you know that there is another player in the business with some really cool miniatures?

Tomica is a brand made by the Japanese company TOMY.  Nearly all of the cars are produced in China, but a few are still made in Japan. There is a limited production series that includes collectable’s.  Most of these cars and trucks include working doors or deck lids, in addition to working shocks.

The interesting thing about the Tomica brand is that it is not sold through retail outlets in the U.S.  There are vendors on eBay who sell a range of models, but you can’t walk into your local toy store and purchase a sleek RX-7, like the one above.

The reason that Tomica has eluded the American market has a lot to do with pricing. They were just not made to sell for under a buck.  The manufacturer could not compete on price with the U.S. domestic brands, so Tomica remained big in Japan, but not well know in the states.

The limited series is a big seller on eBay because of the detailing. The models are mostly Japanese, so the uniqueness is another factor.  For $11 or $12 dollars, an American collector can have something really original though. Like the model to the left, the details and the paint job are really first class. This is a perfect example of toys for ‘big kids’. Next time you want something that your neighbor doesn’t, consider a Tomica car. They make our cool toys list.