UPDATED - Volvo 760 by Summer

I was able to buy last month two Volvo 760 scale models from a company called Summer. Both 3'' models are mint but don't have any longer their original box/blister. I knew for many years that Summer did the Volvo 164 and the Volvo 760 in various different liveries. But this was my first opportunity to buy mint models for a fair price. They are far away from being exact to scale replicas but they were missing in my small collection of 3'' Volvo 760 scale models. And these two models were also two versions I had never seen before.
Both models are with the exception of the paint perfectly identical : the bodies consist of diecast and the bottom-plate is a chromed and shiny piece of plastic. The front seats are part of the bottom-plate. There are no rear seats. The glazing covers just the windshield and the rear window. These Volvo's have no opening parts. The only working parts are the plastic wheels fixed on a piece of steel wire. Both models have wheels with four dots. Another usual wheel type had five dots. But a few other variations seem to exist too. Made in China is written on the bottom-plates. The silver-gray colored model has the number 8 stamped in the interior on the bottom-plate. The blue one has the number 6 stamped in the interior on the bottom-plate.
Both models have a pretty clean and proper paint. Both cars feature a geometric design on their hoods. The number 1 is always written in light blue on the top of the hood and you will find beneath four adjacent circles.

I had already listed four other versions in my database. But I was able to find a couple more versions. These are :

• a yellow model with a geometric design on the hood, the number 1 is written in light blue on the top of the hood and you will find beneath four adjacent circles
• a yellow model with '87' written in red on the roof, with 'DT' written in red on on the hood, with blackened windows and black seats
  
• a green model with 'safety' marked in red on yellow on the hood, with a red number '1' written on the roof, with black seats, with 5-star type wheels
  
• a lime-green model with 'B0' written in diagonal on the hood and the roof
• an orange-red model with 'safety' marked in red on yellow on the hood, with a red number '1' written on the roof ( sorry but no photo available )
• a black model with 'safety' marked on the hood ( sorry but no photo available )
• a plain silver version with the chromed bottom-plate and with 5-star type wheels ( as just seen on eBay )
  

Just let me know if you have eventually other versions in your collection.

Diecast on the Cheap - Summer (SM) Sunshine (SS)
by Doug Breithaupt


They come in a variety of packages and under different names but the toy car models of Summer carry the flag in the category of 'cheap diecast'. You often have to buy them in sets of 50 although they sometimes come in two-packs. For the better part of two decades, the models of Summer (SM) or Sunshine (SS), originally from Summer Metal Products Manufacturing, Ltd., have been the diecast poster child for crude Asian toy cars. While these models seem to carry various names, let's just call them Summer for the sake of simplicity.

What follows is surely the first (and perhaps last) attempt to create a catalog of Summer's toy cars in 1:64 scale. You may be asking why anyone would bother to attempt such a thankless task. Before you disregard Summer models as junk, take a closer look. You will find that while the quality is often as low as the price, Summer has actually produced some unique and yes, even collectible models. If you happen to have a 1949 Tucker by Summer, consider yourself lucky as this model is the only small-scale Tucker and considered quite a find by some collectors. As you look at the models below, note how many others are cars seldom seen in this scale.

Summer is perhaps best known for their 1:36 scale diecast cars, often found in discount or 'dollar stores' for a buck or two. The 1:64 scale models may carry a number but many do not. Most castings appear to be original work but some Matchbox models have provided clear 'inspiration' for Summer castings. Summer does have a Website and is currently producing some nicer models in 1:36 scale. Perhaps we will see the same thing happen in 1:64 scale as Welly and others have done. There seems to be a tie of some sort between Summer and Yat Ming. Some Yat Ming castings have a distinct Summer look to them and I recently found Summer's '55 Ford Thunderbird in a Yat Ming package.

Summer models have a mix of identifying features. If the base is numbers with an 's' prefix number, it is likely a Summer. Square wheel cut-outs appear on some of the cars. While different wheels have been used over the years, the most common are the 4-dot and 5-point star versions. One series of Summer castings appear to be their version of premier edition models. These feature opening doors and plastic interiors as opposed to the interior being cast with the base, usually in chrome. The Porsche 944 model is shown both ways below. While the Porsche 944 and Mercedes-Benz 350SL are much like Matchbox models of the same cars, the BMW 325i Cabrio and Jaguar XJ-S are unique castings in this series. Some of the earlier models like the Lancia Stratos and BMW 3.0 include the Summer name or SM logo. Where included on the base, numbers are provided. The Ferrari 308GTB shown here is also a Summer and features a pull-back motor.

Here are the Summer models I have and I am certain that this list is incomplete. If you want to contribute to the list, click here and send an attached image with your e-mail. I will be happy to update the list.

Perhaps we should give Summer a break. One important consideration is that it is unlikely that Summer's 1:64 scale toy cars are intended for the major markets in North America or Europe. While I can't prove this, I bet that Summer exports their products to many developing nations where the low price of the product allows children in Africa, Asia or South America to afford a toy car. Where $500 a year is still considered a representative annual income, even a $1 toy car is a big purchase. Are Mattel's toy cars priced for these economically disadvantaged markets? A Summer toy car, even with it's crude casting, could still have plenty of play value for a child. If that toy can be purchased for $.25, a parent in these developing economies may be able to bring the simple pleasure of a toy car to their child. Perhaps that is what I like most about toy cars, simple pleasure at a price anyone can afford. If Summer can do this, they deserve our thanks.

Source & copyright : breithaupts.com/totc309.htm

---

THE RETURN OF SUMMER / SM / SUMMER METAL LIST
by Steve Masson

Editor's note :
Steve Masson has provided the following article and list as a follow-up to the previous article I did on Summer diecast (see above). Steve also provided images of many of these models but we were unable to use them due to technical difficulties. If you wish to see images of any of these models, please contact Steve via e-mail.

As much as I can figure out, this company started life about 1976-78 (going by the early number S600's). Most cars are from the late 1960's to the mid 1970's (the newest being the Toyota crown of 1977) My guess would be this is when the Summer company first started producing diecast toy cars. The S8000's to S8500's take us up to the early-mid 1980's. Following this are the S8700's-to-900's which are mid-late 1980's. As far as I can tell (so far in my collecting) the last 'original' Summer cars are the Nissan 300ZX (1990 twin-turbo type) & the newer (2nd version) of the Toyota MR2 (which came into production in 1991). This probably means that Summer made these castings in 1991/92. Either the company stopped making 'original' castings at this time and just continued with it's existing molds or the company had problems (there could be many reasons for this!) and it stopped trading/was taken over or sold off. Recently (the last year or so) I've picked up a few cars (numbered in 900's) which seem to be mainly poor quality cheaper castings of Summer cars (Summer cars weren't the greatest quality to start with!). Are these cars Summer products?  Who know's. Also, a few cars with numbers in the 9800's with Summer 'type' five-pointed star wheels have been found. Overall, these cars are not to everyones liking but if you're a completest (like me!) and like to have as many different cars/variations as possible, then maybe you should be out there looking for SUMMER.!

Note 1 - Numbers for these cars (if not found on the base!) can be located in the front passenger foot-well or on the floor behind the front seats.

Note 2 - Wheel variations are out there ...but the most common are :- 4-dot & 5-pointed star.

Note 3 - I believe some cars originally with (various) company logo's, had to have them deleted from later variants .... probably due to complaints/copyright/trading standards laws.
......
table of models not reproduced here !
.....

Also in my collection are a number of Chevrolet pick-up trucks of the mid-late 1970's which I suspect (but not 100% sure.!) are probably summer. There are also a few more cheap china castings of various other cars ...which by the looks   & feel of them...could,possibly be made by Summer.(..there's no way of knowing ...unless there's someone out there who actually worked for summer or had major dealings in this company at the time.!)... any books/catalogues etc.??

Source & copyright : breithaupts.com/totc349.htm