Majorette

I have never heard of this brand.  Even though I've been living in France for five years and occasionally look through model car 'boutiques' (daren't call them shops) I don't recall even having seen this packaging.

@charles-rockett

Hi Charles

Maybe it was most prevalent before your time in France.

The company became the largest French toy car manufacturer by 1970.  Though French cars like Peugeot and Renault were emphasized, other licensed marques included European brands, and North American vehicles were in the line.  At the end of 1980, Majorette purchased revered diecast producer Solido. About this same time, the Portuguese company Novocar was also purchased and Majorette production commenced in Portugal.

Majorette declined badly in the 1990s but I noted in my last visit to Walmart that they had about a twenty different Majorettes in stock.

Also likely is that I'm simply not registering them.  I'd be visiting these 'boutiques' to look for, or collect from an e-bay purchase, Belle Epoque or CCC kit models, and whilst there are always plenty of Rami, La Belle Epoque (plastic toy) models from the veteran era, which I'll stop to look at, maybe others: utility / military or 1/64th. scale will escape my attention? Though I do feel I'd be intrigued if I saw packaging of a marque I didn't know, such as the box of your Renault 5.

On the subject of Solido - of which I've quite a few and which lend themselves to retouching, there are enterprising modellers here who make kits to alter these models, beyond of course, Elysee who sold, boxed and labeled, and ready built, Solido transkit models.

Here is a transkit for Solido's 1931 Cadillac of which I bought two, but please note the very fine models photographed are NOT, (sadly) mine.

@david-green Thanks, David. My first Majorette was A VW bug. I still have it. 

@charles-rockett

Hi Charles,

These Cadillacs are really well done. The variety and relatedly low price for quality diecast makes Solido a natural for transmits. Record, a French company made an extensive line of these, mostly of European Rally cars. I have a number of these, mails Peugeot 504s, Renault 30 Turbos and Renault Fuegos. Starter did several American cars. I have not seen that Cadillac transit before.

Thanks for this.

Majorette made many 1/24, I see them on eBay all the time. They are probably from the 90's as they are advertised "made in France". I don't own any.

Hi Chav,

Yes the Majorette 1/24 scale were not too bad; Bburago quality in the main.

I only kept a few Jaguar E-Tyoes for my collection even with the inferior wire wheels

.

@david-green Thanks Dave, I am looking for a good E type coupe in 1:24. The Marjorette has decent shapes but I want more details. The FM one has very annoying door gaps, I would rather have the doors sealed. Hachette made one that is decent. Already have a convertible from FM and convertible-hard top from Small Wheels/WM. Even considering 1:18, as it is an iconic car and I like it a lot.

Hi Chav,

I don't tend to collect  over 1/43 scale these days although I have the Monogram 1/8 scale kit built.

To me the current best in 1/24 is by Whitebox, which may be also the Hachette one. The wire wheels let both of these down

1/18 offers more choice right up to the expensive almost perfect Amalgum Series 1 Coupe.

Also, Norev make a fine one in 1/12th scale.

Good hunting. I would be interested in knowing your final choice.

@david-green Yes, I believe Hachette and Whitebox comes from the same tooling, but whitebox is usually available in US, while Hachette I have to buy from Europe, probably the colors are different too, I've seen the Hachette model in British racing green. The other model I am considering is from Autoart but I heard the wheels are undersized and have to be replaced. Amalgam are too expensive ...

Returning to the small size Majorette diecast, here are a few more.

Majorette in their early days did a series of trailers with cargos such as gliders,  motorcycles and this Formula 3 Alpine, similar to the racecats that got Stirling Moss started in competition.

 Here is the 219 Matra Simca Bagheera that was issued in 1974. Note again the early box.

 I'll add a few more shortly.

A couple more. 

First the #261 Morgan Plus 8 from 1979. Most of these came in revised boxes. This one came in the original cases, likely the last of Majorettes stock. One of my favourites.

Next is the #207 Jaguar E-Type V12 Coupe which came out in 1972

 For more details and images of this one go to 'Jaguars in 1/64th scale'.

A few more of #219 Jaguar E-Type V12 Coupe.

Majorettes are still readily available. This one was purchased last week at Walmarts in Canada. This one says 'Made in Thailand'. Another Jaguar for my collection.