There's no particular order to the items listed on this page,
so you might have to do a little scrolling.
By the wording in the title bar on the "Home" page, it's obvious that the Pocket Cars line was also released outside of the United States. The following four sets of pictures are of non-U.S. lines.
The first two sets of pictures are examples of Canadian versions. Note the different layout on the front of the card below with "Pocket Cars" in both English & French (and done as sew-on patches!).
Pictures from eBay seller "ragtyme2". Model pictured is the Toyota Camping Van.The back of this card has 48 models listed in two rows with no assortment or model numbers. The models listed are a combination of models listed on the first two U.S. card backs.
Note the 'limited' French translations (arrow next to card front) on the card below as compared to the previous card. And except for the French, the card front is the same as the 1974 #2 U.S. card.
Picture on left courtesy of Nadi Mobarak. Picture on right courtesy of Bill Amdall (original photocopy of back courtesy of Nadi Mobarak). Model pictured is the Mobile Pick Rover Crane.The back of the card has the 72 vehicles in three lists with no assortment or model numbers! The list of models is the same as on the back of the 1974 #3 card. I don't know if this 'combination' of different year U.S.-cards is typical for non-U.S. Pocket Cars blisterpacks, but after seeing these two sets of pics, I'd say that there is a trend. Note that the distributor is not Tomy Corp., but "Parker Brothers" (the same Parker Brothers that here in the U.S. is better known for their board & card games!).
The third and fourth sets of pictures show a truly foreign language version (German). Note the different color "Pocket Cars" is done in, the different style button, & the lack of the "Ages 3 & up" phrase.
Pictures courtesy of Bill Amdall (original source: Yahoo Japan auction site). Model pictured is the Datsun Police Van.The picture on the right shows a sheet of unapplied stickers -- this is the only case I'm aware of where the stickers weren't factory applied (I don't know if this was typical for the foreign-language lines). Note the Police Car illustration on the sticker sheet -- I wonder if the van is the vehicle that's supposed to be in the blistershell. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the back of this card -- so I can't 'date' the card; however, the Tomy logo is in the same location as on the U.S.-cards of 1974 #1-3.
Added the following foreign card version to my collection. I don't know if it is the same year as the above card, but thought you'd like a clearer picture.
Model pictured is the Komatsu Forklift.This card is smaller than the U.S.-card, measuring 35/8" X 413/16" and the back has 36 models listed in two rows with no assortment number(s). Based on the listing of 36 vehicles, I'm guessing that this card was released in 1974. Surprisingly, all the 'made' information is Japan -- nothing European!
Another surprise are the vehicles that are listed. If my translations are correct, 7 were never released in the US Pocket Cars line; and, there may be 2 more depending on variations (tampos/stickers with English instead of German, or no tampos/stickers at all).
Yes, there were TV commercials for Pocket Cars. However, the only commercials I have any information on were the two run on TV in 1982 (not only because I remember seeing them, but I also have a "1982 Tomy Corporation TV & Promotion Program" which is the source of the following picture).
The actor pictured is Tom Poston.
At the time the commercials were run, Tom Poston had just finished a four-year stint as Franklin Delano Bickley on "Mork & Mindy" (1978-82) and was about to begin an eight-year stint as George Utley on "Newhart" (1982-90). For a lot of 'baby boomers,' Mr. Poston is best remembered for being a panelist on the "To Tell The Truth" (1958-67) game show. And though not usually mentioned as a "star," Mr. Poston has appeared in many movies, TV shows, on Broadway, and lent his voice to many animated characters. Mr. Poston won an Emmy in 1959 for Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series for his appearances on "The Steve Allen Show" (1956-61).
Mr. Poston did both of the Pocket Cars commercials; however, since the other commercial was for a specific set ("Pocket Cars Park") and that this site is focused on the blisterpacked vehicles, I decided not to include a picture from the second commercial.
Due to ongoing medical problems, it's taking a whole lot longer to get the pictures done.
Please be patient and keep checking back. Even if I don't get the pictures uploaded when I would like to, I'll still be revising/updating the information throughout the site as I come across other vehicles and packaging.
How To Do a Print Out
There are four methods to get a print out anywhere on the 'Net (with the possible exception of email); and they work here as well. As to which method(s) works the best, it depends on:
1. Your provider
2. Your browser
3. The versions you're using of the above two items
4. Your printer and its software
I give generic directions for each of the methods since many of the specifics depend, mostly, on your printer's software and the options it may or may not have.
The methods are given in order from easiest-to-do to most-complex.
Best thing to do is to read through each method before choosing a particular one. If you're very familiar with your printer's software capabilities, you should find a method that's best for you. Prior to doing any of the methods,
make sure the printer is turned on and loaded with paper!Method 1 -- Make sure you're on the 'page' that you want a print-out of.
In your provider's/browser's tool bar, click on the PRINT button.
In the window/frame that opens, click on OK or OKAY or YES.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
This method will print out the entire page and may be up to several pages in length. You'll end up with more 'stuff' than what you probably really wanted; and, though the easiest method to do, it 'wastes' paper.
Method 2 -- Make sure you're on the 'page' that you want a print-out of.
In your provider's/browser's tool bar, click on the PRINT button.
In the window/frame that opens, look for either a PAGES or PAGE RANGE or OPTIONS button.
Regardless of which button it is, click on it.
If it's either PAGES or PAGE RANGE, you should have an area where you can type in the pages (i.e., the page numbers) you want printed.
To know the exact page numbers to type in, you may have to do Method 1 first.
Type in the page numbers, then click on OK or OKAY or YES.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
If it's the OPTIONS button you clicked on, look for a PAGES or PAGE RANGE button and click on it.
Type in the page numbers, then click on OK or OKAY or YES.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
This method may print out several pages along with a little extra if what you want printed doesn't start/end at the exact top/bottom of a 'numbered' page. This method is a little tedious, but it saves more paper than it wastes.
Method 3 -- Make sure you're on the 'page' that you want a print-out of.
Scroll until you're at the start of where you'd like the print-out to begin.
Using the mouse, highlight everything you want printed.
In your provider's/browser's tool bar, click on the PRINT button.
In the window/frame that opens, look for either a SELECTED (or HIGHLIGHTED) TEXT (or SELECTION) or an OPTIONS button.
Regardless of which button there is, click on it.
If it's SELECTED TEXT you clicked on, now click on OK or OKAY or YES.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
If it's the OPTIONS you clicked on, look for a SELECTED TEXT or HIGHLIGHTED TEXT or SELECTION button then click on it.
Now click on OK or OKAY or YES.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
This method may print out several pages, but it will be exactly what you want and won't 'waste' paper.
Method 4 -- Make sure you're on the 'page' that you want a print-out of.
Make sure the cursor is on the page area and single right click.
In the frame that opens, click on SAVE AS.
In the next window/frame that opens, select where you want the 'page' saved. Most of the time it is automatically saved in "download."
Near the bottom of this window/frame, type in a file name.
Under the file name, select how you want the file saved as.
Click on SAVE.
Once you're offline, open your word processor and bring this file over from where you saved it.
Now, you get to edit it.
When you're done, print it out the same way you print anything you've created in the word processor.
Sit back and wait for the printer to do its job.
This method is the most tedious (both in what to do and in time spent) but you'll get only what you want and won't 'waste' any paper. This method is suggested for those who are at least somewhat computer savvy.
Method 4a -- A short-cut:
Read "Method 4" above.
Before doing the single right click, use you mouse and highlight [RE: Method 3] what you want.
Make sure the cursor is 'over' what you highlighted.
Now, do the single right click.
Follow "Method 4" above with the 'step' immediately following the 'right click' step to finish.
As mentioned just above, this method is the most tedious and should only be done by those who are rather computer savvy. This short-cut only reduces the amount of 'stuff' you'll have to edit out.
AcknowledgmentsGraphics: All graphics were done by Jim Sutton (creator of this site) except where credited by captions below the specific graphics.
A special "Thank You" to Chuck Newell for the time he spent finding & photographing cards that I don't have. Chuck's excellent photos can be seen on the Packaging page.
Data: All data was researched, collected, and formatted by Jim Sutton. The major sources are listed on the "Checklist" page. The third source, "The InterNet," covers many websites, webpages, auction sites, and other online references which would be too numerous (and boring) to list (and, probably, for you to read). However, a main source is the Super Great Tomica website.
A very special "Thank You" to Rick Fizer, Bill Amdall, and Ralph Bluemke. Rick spent lots of time answering my numerous questions about Pocket Cars released on the 1986 card. The 'orderliness' of that section of the Lists page is due, in part, to all the data Rick graciously provided. Bill also spent lots of time going through his Pocket Cars and copies of the 'Clubhouse' newsletter. He found either new cards or variations and took the extra time to photograph/scan them and send the pics to me. The list of models for the 48-car card is due exclusively to the pics he unstintingly provided. The 'green' wheel pics (coming eventually!) on the Wheel Chart page are from a 'guide' Bill found in one of the newsletters. Bill also found a few things that I missed and needed to 'correct.' Ralph let me take my time and 'rummage' through a rather large box of blisterpacked Pocket Cars he has. The data I found led me to revise some card & vehicle information on four pages at this site.
Many, many thanks to those -- both credited and uncredited -- who posted information that helped me get this site to the 'way' it is.
Thank You ! !
About This SiteThis site was activated on November 28, 2000.
This site was originally set-up using a 'conglomerate' computer with a Cyrix 120+ processor through AOL. Since July 2001, an eMachines 733 has been used to maintain the site.
From January 2002 to July 2005, most maintenance/updating was done through CompuServe. Since then, it has been done through COX.
The appearance or look of this site is determined by how it looks on my 16.25" monitor (with resolution set at 1280 x 1024 pixels) using COX. (If some items don't appear on your monitor, it may be due to the equipment & settings I use, the Internet access I use, the equipment & settings you use, or the Internet access you use.)
All non-credited graphics/pictures/photos (done by Jim Sutton, see above) were done by using an UMAX Astra 2000P flatbed scanner then cropped & changed in size by using Corel Print House Version 1.1.
