Though Pocket Cars came in single blisterpacks (aka "on blistercards"), in multi-packs, and occasionally in sets with accessories; the following descriptions and pictures are of the blistercards only. This is a personal decision since it was from the listings on the back of the cards that I was able to 'create' my first list of the Pocket Cars that had been released here in the U.S. The descriptions are detailed on purpose in case the pictures (which follow each description) do not appear.
Also included at the end of the descriptions are 'lists' of changes in models/vehicles for the card that follows. In some cases, I mention that some models 'came back' on later cards. For many of these vehicles, their later appearances are due to a re-working of the die mold. For example, the Mitsubishi Jeep (09-25) looks like a military jeep and has a spare tire at the end. When the Jeep 'reappears' as the Baja Jeep (231-25), it looks more like the ones you saw on the streets (the front end and hood were re-worked) and did not have a spare tire. My sequencing of the 1974 blisterpacks is based on the size of the blistercard, the number of vehicles listed on the back, which model numbers (i.e., the number range) are listed, and the copyright year on the vehicles' chassis.
The first 1974-copyrighted blisterpack (41/16" x 61/4") was released in early 1974. The design on the front is of a button-closed blue jeans (or denim) back pocket with yellow stitching and a white rectangular area where a vehicle was held by a blistershell. Across the top of the white area, in the upper left corner, is the vehicle's name, and in the upper right corner, is the vehicle's hyphenated number. This printing is in a thin black sans serif font. There is no assortment number anywhere on this card. The button is a semi-opaque solid 'grey/silver-ish' plastic and the button-hole is oval-ish. In the upper left corner of the card is the phrase "Ages 3 & up."; in the upper right corner is a blue "TOMY" in a white 'bar' below the white silhouettes of a stylized boy and girl with raised arms (see black & white logo near top of Home page); at the top-center is an oval peg-hole with a centered 'hump;' and across the card below the peg-hole is "Pocket Cars" in large, sans serif, block-style print. All this print is in white.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Newell.
The back of the card is white to off-white; has "Pocket Cars" in large, sans serif, block-style print right below the peg-hole; "Super speedy little movers with frictionless wheels. Die-cast metal. Collect them all. Available separately." in small print (in two lines) right below the 'PC' name; and, a two-column list of 36 vehicles in numerical order. Near the bottom of the card, and centered below the lists, is the Tomy/boy/girl logo with the Tomy Corp. information/location (Long Beach, CA) directly underneath. All this printing is in black.
Of the 36 vehicles listed, 3 'disappear' and are never in the line again. This makes them among the rarest Pocket Cars around. Of the remaining 33 models that are listed on the following year's card, 1 has a slight name change.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Newell.
[model number range: 02-47 to 37-71]I don't think the above "long card" was used for very long; and here's why.
First, of all the stores and toy shows I've been to, I'd never seen a "long card" or heard people talking about one. Second, of all the online auction sites I've visited and the thousands of pictures/descriptions I've rummaged through, I've never come across a picture or description of a "long card" -- until March 2002.
That's nearly 20 years of collecting Pocket Cars during which time I'd never come across any mention of a "long card."
As of this update, I've only seen about twenty pictures of the "long card;" and from the information that people were willing to share, the "long card" only has a 1974 copyright year on it.
The next 1974-copyrighted card I'm 'listing' as a variation of the first one rather than 'number' it.
The only change is in the size of the blistercard -- it is shorter. The blue jean area where the blistershelled vehicle is attached is about half the length of the above card. In fact, that area is just 'tall' enough to 'hold' a blistershell.
This new size card (41/16" x 51/4") becomes the standard size card for the remaining years that Pocket Cars are available in the U.S.
Though I'm guessing on this, I think this card was released before mid 1974. The second 1974-copyrighted card was released in 1975 and has no changes on the front.
The back of the card is 'brown-ish' (kind of like a paper bag) and has 48 models listed (which includes 15 new ones) in two rows of 24 in numerical order. The other difference (besides an increase of models) is very minor and consists of the Tomy/boy/girl logo being to the left of the Tomy Corp. information.
[model number range: 02-47 to 49-09]
Out of the 48 models listed, 8 'disappear' from the line and are, also, among the hardest to find. Of the remaining 40 models that are listed on the next year's card, 1 has a slight name change. The third 1974-copyrighted card was released in 1976 and has only a few changes. On the front, the button graphic is
1974 #1 & #2 1974 #3
upside-down and "Tough die-cast metal. Real moving parts." in smaller, sans serif, block-style white print has been added right below the button. In the white area, the information is presented differently. Starting in the upper left corner and going across the top is the vehicle's number followed by its name, while in the bottom left corner an assortment number now appears.
The back of the card has the Tomy/boy/girl logo in the upper right corner and a two-column list of 72 vehicles (which includes 32 new models) with their numbers divided into three assortments of 24 vehicles each right below the 'PC' name. The assortments are: "No. 4502 Assortment No. 1"; "No. 4503 Assortment No. 2"; and "No. 4506 Assortment No. 3". The vehicles in each assortment are listed in numerical order.
[model number range: 02-47 to 93-21]
If you look close enough at the above two pictures (mainly the picture of the front of the third 1974 card), you might notice a thin vertical line centered in the white area. Beginning with this card, a 1/2" vertical slit 'stamped' all the way through the card appears. Apparently this was done to make it easier to remove the vehicle by giving you a starting place to tear open the back. In an unusual move, one of the vehicles has undergone a slight number change. On the first card, the Honda Pepsi Truck is number 31-18, while on the second card, the number has been changed to 31-19. {In fact, on the other cards where the Honda Pepsi Truck is listed, its number stays at 31-19. This makes me wonder if the 31-18 on the first card might have been a typo; however, if it is a typo, then there was consistency since the 31-18 also appears on the front of the card.}
I know of three variations on this third card.
The first concerns the back of the card and involves a changed vehicle number and vehicle name. In "Assortment No. 2" (No. 4503), the third vehicle ("No. 14-06 Datsun 240-Z") in the left-side list has been replaced with "No. 104-16 Diesel Dump Truck." The new vehicle listed is the blisterpacked one on the front. Even though the vehicle number is out of sequence on this card, it is in sequence on the fourth 1974 card (see paragraph after next one).
The second concerns the front of the card and involves a 'new' vehicle and assortment number. The vehicle is the Sakai Tire Roller (103-65) and the assortment number is "4514".
Photo courtesy of Bill Amdall.
Though I don't have a list of models for this assortment number, I have found other models on this card; however, the vehicles I'm aware of all appear on the back of the fourth card in the "No. 4506 Assortment No. 3" section.
The third variation has no printing in the white area.
Source unknownThough I don't know any other vehicles that were on this variation, the Toyota Camping Van pictured is listed on the back of the 'regular' card.
Taking into account these three variations, that means there were at least 36 new models for 1976 (possibly more if other vehicles are found with the "4514" assortment number) for a minimum of 76 models. Out of this for the next year, 20 models 'disappear,' 3 have model number changes, 2 have slight name changes, and 2 disappear until 1980. The fourth 1974-copyrighted card was released in 1977 and has slight changes. The 'Tomy' and 'Ages' have switched corners on the front with the Tomy/boy/girl logo being slightly larger. The two phrases are now directly beneath "Pocket Cars" and the closed button-hole graphic has reverted back to its 'first' appearance (which means it's upside-down when compared to the third card).
1974 #1 1974 #3 1974 #4 
The design on the back is the same, and out of the 72 vehicles listed, 19 are new to the line.
[model number range: 02-47 to 134-F13]I'm aware of two variations of this card.
The first one has no print in the white area on front.
The second variation of the fourth card is 'identical' to the second variation of the third card and concerns, again, a new vehicle and a different assortment number. The vehicle is the Auto Transport (137-14) and the assortment number, like the third card, is "4514".
Like the third card, I don't have a list of vehicles for this use of the assortment number; however, the "Auto Transport" is listed on the fifth 1974 card (see paragraph after next) as part of Assortment No. 1 (4502). This variation (at least the card I have) has a white to slightly off-white back (all my other non-variation cards are the usual 'brown-ish' color). It's the card I used for the picture of the back since the printing shows up better.
With the above variation, it means that there were at least 20 new models for 1977 (possibly more if other vehicles are found with the "4514" assortment number) for a minimum of 75 models. Out of this for the next year's card, 27 models 'disappear,' 1 has a model number change, and 1 'disappears' until 1986. It appears that, based on the two "4514" variations, Tomy used this assortment number as an interim for new models between the yearly 'series'.
The fifth 1974-copyrighted card was released in 1978 and has only minor changes on the back. Vehicle numbers don't have a leading "0" (zero); the copyright year is in Roman numerals; the Tomy information has a new location (Carson, CA); and, of the 72 vehicles listed, 28 are new to the line.
[model number range: 03-60 to 169-F39]
For the following year's card, 32 models 'disappear,' 17 have some kind of name change, 3 have number changes, and 9 have both name/number changes. The sixth 1974-copyrighted card was released in 1979 and has no changes, but of the 72 vehicles listed, 32 are new to the line.
[model number range: 3-60 to 212-F44-1]
For the "no copyright date" card, 7 models 'disappear,' 7 have some kind of name changes, 10 have some numbers changed or dropped, 4 have both name/number changes, and 1 reappears after the next card. There's a variation of the sixth card which has no printing in the white area on the front
From the collection of Ralph Bluemke.and the vehicles listed on the back are the exact same ones.
I don't know when this card was released, but I'd guess mid to late 1979. It's interesting to note that some vehicles listed on the fourth, fifth, and sixth 1974 cards have chassis copyright years up to 1979. To my knowledge, no Pocket Cars models/vehicles have a chassis copyright year past 1979 -- including the "1981 Cadillac Seville".
The next card is unusual in that it has no copyright date anywhere on it. Though there are no changes on the front when compared to the sixth 1974 card,
Photos courtesy of Bill Amdall.
[model number range: 03-60 to 226-2-1]
there are 8 new models among the 72 vehicles listed on the back.
I don't know when this card was 'issued,' but I'd guess late 1979 to early 1980.
If it weren't for the new models actually listed on the back, I would've listed this card as a variation of the sixth 1974 card.
Anyway, for the next year's card, 11 models 'disappear,' 6 have some kind of name change, 8 have some kind of number change, 2 have both name/number changes, and 3 reappear on later cards. There's a variation of the "no copyright date" card that has no printing in the white area. The card I saw had the Cadillac Superior Ambulance on it. Since the ambulance was also released on the card with print, I'm guessing that there are no new vehicles on this card (I'll try to verify).
The 1980-copyrighted card has slight changes. The blue jean color is a little lighter, the printing in the white area is thinner (not bold-looking) and a little smaller, and the vertical slit has slightly increased in size to 9/16" long.
The lists of vehicles on the back are not in numerical or alphabetical order, the 'section' headings are reversed (e.g., "Assortment No. 1 No. 4502"), the "No." is missing from each model entry, and the copyright year is in regular number format. Out of the 72 vehicles listed on the back, 9 are new and 3 reappear with new numbers from previous years.
[model number range: 03-60 to 248-F11]
As to when this card was 'issued,' I can only make a guess. One of the vehicles listed is the "1981 Cadillac Seville". I'm absolutely positive that the actual '81 Seville was not in dealership showrooms in early 1980! For most automotive makers, the next year's models don't appear until mid-year or later. With that in mind, my guess is that the 1980 card was 'issued' in late 1980 -- definitely after any information about the actual '81 Seville was made public. I don't think Tomy was able to pull the same coup as Mattel did with its 1968 Hot Wheels "Custom Corvette" diecast (#6215) which hit the store shelves before the actual car was at the dealerships. But I could be wrong.
However, it appears that a lot more 1980 cards were made than of the 1981 card. There's a variation of the 1980 card that has no print in the white area. The card I saw had the 1981 Cadillac Seville on it. Since the Seville was listed on both the 1980/81 cards, I'm guessing that there are no new models on this variation (I'll try to verify).
The 1981-copyrighted card is somewhat unusual in that, except for the copyright year, there are no changes of any kind!.
Photos courtesy of Leland Anderson.
As to when this card was 'issued', I'd guess early to mid 1981.
For the following year, 9 models 'disappear' from the line and 2 have some kind of name change. The 1982-copyrighted card has major changes. In the white area on front, only the vehicle name appears.
The back of the card has "TOMY" in rounded print (see red logo near bottom of Home page) replacing the Tomy/boy/girl logo in the upper right corner. The lists of vehicles has been replaced with line drawings and information on three vehicles -- "There is a Firetruck with a ladder that raises up." [American La France Ladder Chief]; "A Pontiac Trans Am with doors that really open," [Firebird]; "and a Maserati with a top hatch that opens." [Maserati Merak SS]. There's also a mention that there are "72 models to choose from". Though the city location is the same, the zip code is different (90749 vs. 90745).
[model number range: ??-?? to 248-F11(?)]
The "model number range" is questionable since there were 7 new models and 2 reappearances from earlier years and, though I have a complete list of the models, I don't have their complete model numbers.
Since I don't have a complete list of the models on the 1986 card (or for 1983 - 1986), I can't give a 'breakdown' of the 1982 models as to which ones 'disappeared' or had changes made in their names/numbers. There is a variation of the 1982 card that has no printing in the white area (and the back is the same -- graphics but no list of models).
Since there is no print in the white area, I'm treating this variation as a type of transitional card between the 1982 with print and the 1986 without print (see end of first '1986' paragraph). It's also possible that this card may have been used for 1983, 1984, and 1985 since I'm unaware of any cards having those copyright years on them. For trivia buffs, the 1980, 1981, & 1982 cards are the only ones on which there are "registered trademark" items. In 'micro' print near the bottom of the back of the cards, the ® items are of "Frito-Lay", "Pepsi", and "Pepsi-Cola".
Even though I don't have any pictures of a 1983 card, I do have a Tomy catalog for that year which has pictures and names for the Pocket Cars that were available (of which there were 8 new models). And there is a unique model that I'm not sure if it is/was a real-world vehicle.
Picture from "Fall Catalog Tomy Corporation 1983" p. 45.
The model is listed as the "Big Rig Racer." I'll see what I can find about the real-world counterpart. As with the 1983 releases, I don't have a picture of the 1984 card but I do have a 1984 catalog that pictures the models that were available. Unfortunately, there are a couple of 'problems' with the catalog (follow the link to see what they are).
The 1986-copyrighted card has very noticeable changes. The blue jean color is very dark, a rounded white "TOMY" logo has replaced the Tomy/boy/girl logo in the upper left corner, the yellow stitches are shorter, the stitching above the blistershell/white area has been lowered (making the area with the button in it look larger and the graphic lower), the button-hole is rectangular,
1974-82 1986
the peg-hole is triangular, and there is no printing in the white area.
The back of the card, basically, has nothing on it except for an assortment number (3010, 3020, 3030, or 3040 -- I'm not aware of any other assortment numbers) above the barcode on the lower right side, and the Tomy information is all Japan-location.
TKCI went through a couple of 'consolidations' during the time that the Pocket Cars line existed. One of the things that happened was a "re-numbering" of all the models. Though most of the re-numbering appeared only on the packaging, several models also had the numbers on their chassis changed. For example, the three Big Rig vehicles (cement truck, dump truck, & tow truck -- they look like Peterbilt/Kenworth trucks) had their chassis number changed from "F63" to "F18". Additionally, the BMW 320i went from "F43" to "F23"; and the Lamborghini Countach (LP500S) changed from "F50" to "F12". In the other (non-Pocket Cars) lines, the "F" was dropped from all the 'foreign' models and their numbers were increased by 80. For example, the London Bus went from "F15" to "95" though "F15" was still on the chassis. And from what I've been able to find out (since I don't have any of these particular models in my collection as yet), some of the non-"F" series (Japanese models) also underwent number changes -- some on the packaging and some on their chassis.
As usual, once I get any details and pictures, I'll add them in.
For the most part, the other types of Pocket Car packaging (multi-packs & sets) varies quite a bit in scheme from the above mentioned and pictured blistercards. Most of the packaging does not have the blue jean scheme, but is mostly white and retains the printing style/font.
Pictures by "toycaster" 
Pic by Gilbert Carreon
Of course, there are the exceptions!
