[Jim]

I while ago I acquired this 1970 Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty by RS, on Flickr
Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty by RS, on Flickr
Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty by RS, on Flickr

It had a fair bit of damage, heavy scratches and a dent in the roof

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr

I got 95% of the scratches and the dent removed, and gave it a polish

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr

Then I laid on some stained glass paint (this is the forth attempt!), polished the base, painted the rear lights and replaced the wheels with a new set from Brightvision - not the easiest things to source in the UK now, the seller I used last time had shut his online shop but I tracked him down and relieved him of his remaining stock

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr
Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr
Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr
Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr

Today I'm attempting to cut some stripes from the backing sheet of a pack of stickers

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty resto by RS, on Flickr

That is just superb! Hats off to you dude!

 

[Clipper2Bay]

How do you separate the two halves? It looks like the rivets are intact in your photo?

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[bunglebus]

How do you separate the two halves? It looks like the rivets are intact in your photo?

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The rivet heads are drilled off, a 1.5mm hole drilled up each post then tapped to 2mm to accept a tiny allen head screw. I've got a few different kinds and they do look very similar to a rivet unless you look closely. Original Hot Wheel rivets of this era are rounded off though, pretty hard to fake - not that I'm trying

Hot Wheels Nitty Gritty Kitty by RS, on Flickr

These flatter ones work really well on most 70s onwards cars

Matchbox 1970 Ford Capri custom by RS, on Flickr

Matchbox 1970 Ford Capri by RS, on Flickr

 

[Jules65(on tapatalk)]

Since the first lockdown I started to collect "Tonka's" as I have good memories of owning them when I was younger. I didn't realise how expensive they can be and I've got to admit the collecting has got a tad out of hand and I've run out of places to store them (the wife hates them...and me for collecting them).

There's a traffic jam behind the sofa

And this lot is hiding in the back of the T5 van

My advice is......don't start collecting..... anything


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[Jim]

That’s quite the collection!!

 

[Jules65(on tapatalk)]

That’s quite the collection!!

Compared to others (predominantly in the USA) it's actually just a drop in the ocean.

Thankfully I think I've got it under control and as soon as the prices go back up I will start to sell the majority of them.


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[Hoosier]

Since the first lockdown I started to collect "Tonka's" as I have good memories of owning them when I was younger. I didn't realise how expensive they can be and I've got to admit the collecting has got a tad out of hand and I've run out of places to store them (the wife hates them...and me for collecting them).

There's a traffic jam behind the sofa

And this lot is hiding in the back of the T5 van

My advice is......don't start collecting..... anything


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Do you want some more?

 

[Hoosier]

View attachment 300937


Do you want some more?

 

[Jules65]

View attachment 300937


Do you want some more?

View attachment 300938

Thank you for the offer(s), but I'm going to have to decline. I've got no more space and like having my meat and 2 veg, which i know I would quickly lose if any more Tonka's arrived at my home.

 

[Hoosier]

No worries. Worth a try 😁.
Both from my childhood and i estimate they are from 79-1980.
Need to go to a good home.

 

[old gh bug]

Since the first lockdown I started to collect "Tonka's" as I have good memories of owning them when I was younger. I didn't realise how expensive they can be and I've got to admit the collecting has got a tad out of hand and I've run out of places to store them (the wife hates them...and me for collecting them).

There's a traffic jam behind the sofa

And this lot is hiding in the back of the T5 van

My advice is......don't start collecting..... anything


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

liking the collection especially the Mamod steam wagon

 

[Jules65(on tapatalk)]

No worries. Worth a try .
Both from my childhood and i estimate they are from 79-1980.
Need to go to a good home.

The style of Mighty Crane you have ceased being made in 1982 and they became more plastic in their construction. The decals, wheels and other changes help to date them.

Without seeing the front I can say it's from 1978 to 1982.

This may help you narrow down the year range.

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[Jules65(on tapatalk)]

liking the collection especially the Mamod steam wagon

The Mamod Steam Wagon was bought for me when I was 8yrs old (49yrs ago) and my parents split up (I think my father wanted to annoy my mother by buying me a toy that required me filling a container with methylated spirits then setting fire to it and boil water in a sealed metal container till it formed a high near explosive pressure.....which I did regularly).

I got it restored some 10yrs ago and I've never 'steamed' it since.

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[Hoosier]

The style of Mighty Crane you have ceased being made in 1982 and they became more plastic in their construction. The decals, wheels and other changes help to date them.

Without seeing the front I can say it's from 1978 to 1982.

This may help you narrow down the year range.

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Hard to say to be honest. Couple more shots.

 

[Jules65]

Hard to say to be honest. Couple more shots.
View attachment 300953 View attachment 300954 View attachment 300955

1980-1982 version.

 

[Jules65(on tapatalk)]

Some Tonka models are worth considerably more than others and some variants were only made in specific countries.

This is a late 1950's set that is/was still boxed and sold at auction in the USA in 2021........

Sold for $22,000

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[bunglebus]

Since the first lockdown I started to collect "Tonka's"

That's an impressive collection, if you do sell I'd be interested in one of the Beetles. I only have this fairly worn example, I love it because some kid obviously painted it and made number plates to match the family car - but I'd like another to restore

Tonka 154 VW Beetle by RS, on Flickr
Tonka 154 VW Beetle by RS, on Flickr

I've revamped a few of the buggies

Tonka 500 Fun Buggy by RS, on Flickr

Green one became purple...

Tonka Fun Buggy custom by RS, on Flickr

...and yellow one went blue

Tonka Fun Buggy custom by RS, on Flickr

This pink one ended up purple

Tonka 760 Tiny Sun Buggy by RS, on Flickr
Tonka 760 Tiny Sun Buggy custom resto by RS, on Flickr

I had a go at sorting out this Datsun, had heavy scratches in the glass and had lost its bumper

Tonka 1029 Datsun (Fairlady) by RS, on Flickr
Tonka Nissan Fairlady custom by RS, on Flickr
Tonka Nissan Fairlady custom by RS, on Flickr

 

[Jim]

That's an impressive collection, if you do sell I'd be interested in one of the Beetles. I only have this fairly worn example, I love it because some kid obviously painted it and made number plates to match the family car - but I'd like another to restore

Tonka 154 VW Beetle by RS, on Flickr
Tonka 154 VW Beetle by RS, on Flickr

I've revamped a few of the buggies

Tonka 500 Fun Buggy by RS, on Flickr

Green one became purple...

Tonka Fun Buggy custom by RS, on Flickr

...and yellow one went blue

Tonka Fun Buggy custom by RS, on Flickr

This pink one ended up purple

Tonka 760 Tiny Sun Buggy by RS, on Flickr
Tonka 760 Tiny Sun Buggy custom resto by RS, on Flickr

I had a go at sorting out this Datsun, had heavy scratches in the glass and had lost its bumper

Tonka 1029 Datsun (Fairlady) by RS, on Flickr
Tonka Nissan Fairlady custom by RS, on Flickr
Tonka Nissan Fairlady custom by RS, on Flickr

Been trying to check reg on bug lol YAY999J ? Not on system I tried 969 909 989 some showed as ford, Vauxhall’s, commers

 

[bunglebus]

Been trying to check reg on bug lol YAY999J ? Not on system I tried 969 909 989 some showed as ford, Vauxhall’s, commers

VAY 999J, 1970 1300 bug

 

[Jim]

VAY 999J, 1970 1300 bug
View attachment 300967

Quality !!!