[Closed] Rex Toys

You certainly get input Gregg here is mine ......

All Rex Toys with the exception of the Rolls-Royce models were made by
Vitesse in Portugal. There must have been some disagreement between
Vitesse and the Swiss Count Giansanti-Coluzzi the owner of the Rex Toys
brand. This is because the Rolls-Royce was announced but not released
until some time after. In fact when the Rolls-Royce was eventually issued it
was made in France! No-one knows who exactly the manufacturer of the
Rolls-Royce models were but rumours abound that it was Solido. Now this
R-R has an interesting history because it was released just before a Corgi
model of the same R-R was issued! Co-insidence? Corgi still at times bring
this old casting out for a breather even today! However, I doubt if the Corgi
R-R ever had "Made in France" on the base!

Now back to Vitesse. At the same time as production of the Rex Toys
models was completed Vitesse began to move production out of Portugal
and onto China. Things were running OK for many years but around ten
years ago Vitesse hit problems and were taken over by Chinese companies.
Sunstar took a share of moulds and I cannot remember who the other firm
was. However, the other firm bought out most of the other castings under
the Vitesse brand just to confuse things further.

So did all the Vitesse moulds including the Rex Toys ones head out to China
or are they still in a warehouse somewhere in Portugal?

Did Count Giansanti-Coluzzi ask for these moulds back or were they
destroyed?

Did the new owners decide that the dies were to old and out dated and
destroyed them?

Who was the manufacturer of the Rolls-Royce models?

I have got no idea if this helps Gregg but .....

Cheers Chris

Rextoys produced late in the company's life had a catalog sheet of future releases inside their boxes. I do not have one at hand right now, but these included pictures of very interesting cars of the late 1930's, with Packard variations that looked very impressive.

I have one of Rextoys' Packards, the '40 Super Eight in CHP livery.

I like it a lot...great detail and a lot of visual appeal. It's model no. 69 according
to the catalog sheet you mention, David, which I'm looking at now.

I'd like to have some more of these, especially the Packard woody station wagon
and taxi, and some of the '38 Buicks shown. Nice models!

Chris Sweetman

Wow!.Thanks for your imput.I heard the count died and his kids let things go.I was always impressed with the quality of the Rolls and Packards for the money they cost.

David

Yes the Lasalles,Buicks would have been wonderful

rextoys

Thanks, especially for the history that is available. They were indeed nice cars for the money. I still have the brochure with some great cars including a Pierce Arrow.

Chris, to confuse things further- Caddy V16 was made in France!

At least this is what the box says on the convetible I have. And this is the correct box for the model. I did not unscrew the model to check the base.

Many thanks, gentlemen! Very interesting information.

(Pic) I am very happy with the Rextoys 1935 Ford that

I have. It looks good and displays very well !

There is no such thing as a perfect replica, whether hand-built, diecast or resin, so the only important thing to me is subject and whether I find it acceptably done. Naturally, budget will also play a role, simply because it dictates what one can afford.

Mike

WOW...Chris!! I Knew That There Was An Interesting Story behind the demise of Rextoys, but who would have thunk??:)

Just think "if" the company had continued or even had the
company been sold to a new owner...the additional models
that could have been produced like the Pierce-Arrow, Buick, Auburn, Chevorlet, not to mention more of the Packard models, such as the "Woodie". Sad to think what will more than likely NEVER be.:(

I have managed to collect ALL of the Cadillacs aswell as the Packards. I also a have (2) of the R-Rs. For what they are, not bad considering the times in which they were produced.

Thanks For The Informative Story, Chris!!

Jeff

Great Point, Mike!! For What Rextoys Are & The Times in which they were produced at the prices in those years, not a bad little model...and it does display well. Of course, your pictures tell a story in themselves, Mike!
Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. I think each collector generally has to make a decision on what to obtain based on their own criteria and which will be valid for them.

High-end, budget, or something in between, all have their advantages and attractions. It's also true, perhaps in a number of cases, that those beginning in the hobby may first see (and be able to afford) some of the more inexpensive models, so those cars have the positive impact of introducing many collectors to 1/43. Then, they may well additionally purchase replicas at a mid and higher price/detail point when they become more comfortable and can afford them.

The hobby benefits and there is choice and a selection for all. That's good !

The hobby needs cheapies so that newcomers ....

have access to collecting model cars and also those of us that do not have a
large budget to spend on them can still carry on collecting.

Cheers Chris

And I would be happy Mike to take a photo like ....

this one!
A fantastic set up with superb lighting.

Thanks for showing.

Cheers Chris