Bandai, better known for their tinplate cars had a go at producing 1:43rd scale die-cast models. These were made in the late 1970's. Here is one, the Nissan Skyline:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Skyline.jpg

They also went to town on the underside:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Skyline-base-details.jpg

Enjoy!

Cheers Chris

Very nice. I like that a lot.

That looks very good Chris - unusual to see separate windscreen wipers on a "toy car" from 30 years ago!

Very nice:thumbsup: I have heard the name before but never seen the toys.
Back in the early 1990s I owned a 1979 Datsun 200B Bluebird stationwagon - top of my wants list is a diecast wagon of this 1976-1980 Bluebird shape, 4 door sedan if a wagon isnt available - did Bandi make either of these 2? I do have the Dandy 1/45 Datsun SSS from this generation but its a coupe not a wagon or sedan.
I am amazed that I have never found a diecast of the standard Toyota Hiace panelvan from 1984-1988 -I owned a real one for 4 years as my daily driver and this is equal top of my most wanted list.
As a child I rode in Datsun 120Ys, Honda Civic I ,Toyota Corrolla II and Corona III and have always wondered if these were done in 1/43 diecast -if Chris has these I hope he can please share a few pix of them.

Very nice. I like that a lot.

Thanks PWSchuh

I will post some more later!

Cheers Chris

That looks very good Chris - unusual to see separate windscreen wipers on a "toy car" from 30 years ago!

Hi Steve

IMHO Bandai were up there with the best in producing 1:43rd scale toy cars!

Even a well known white metal firm hasn't got around to put seperate wippers on their range for the collector market!

Cheers Chris

Very nice:thumbsup: I have heard the name before but never seen the toys.
Back in the early 1990s I owned a 1979 Datsun 200B Bluebird stationwagon - top of my wants list is a diecast wagon of this 1976-1980 Bluebird shape, 4 door sedan if a wagon isnt available - did Bandi make either of these 2? I do have the Dandy 1/45 Datsun SSS from this generation but its a coupe not a wagon or sedan.
I am amazed that I have never found a diecast of the standard Toyota Hiace panelvan from 1984-1988 -I owned a real one for 4 years as my daily driver and this is equal top of my most wanted list.
As a child I rode in Datsun 120Ys, Honda Civic I ,Toyota Corrolla II and Corona III and have always wondered if these were done in 1/43 diecast -if Chris has these I hope he can please share a few pix of them.

Hi SMS88

Bandai only did three Japanese cars in 1:43rd scale. The other two are:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Celica.jpg

Toyota Celica. This model was released just before the Skyline and features seperate wipers both on the windscreen and back window.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Galant.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Galant-open.jpg

Mitsubishi Galant. This model was the last one to be released and there are cut backs! The wipers are no longer seperate but part of the body casting.

All these models are in the Bandai Exact Collection (BEC range) and have opening doors, bonnet and boot.

I am sure the others you have mentioned have been available in the Yonezawa Diapet and Tomica Dandy ranges. Best bet is to try e-bay.

Cheers Chris

I have three Bandai 1/43 scale models. They are a Lancia Stratos; a Porsche 935-77; a Ferrari BB512. They are very nicely made.

I bought these during business trips to Japan in 1979 or 1980. I have never seen the brand Bandai available in the USA and I don't think I've ever seen obsolete Bandai models at swap meets here.

Back then the toy departments of Japanese department stores were jammed full of Tomicas and Diapets. There were a few odd brands - Bandai, Shinsei, Eidai-Grip, Sakura - and those were not to be found everywhere.

- ranchero -

I have three Bandai 1/43 scale models. They are a Lancia Stratos; a Porsche 935-77; a Ferrari BB512. They are very nicely made.

There were a few odd brands - Bandai, Shinsei, Eidai-Grip, Sakura - and those were not to be found everywhere.

- ranchero -

These odd brands are what I like to collect but they can be hard to find.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Ferrari.jpg

Banda Ferrari

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Lancia.jpg

Bandai Stratos - note this not a Rally version.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Bandai-Porsche.jpg

Bandai Porsche 935-77

Cheers Chris

That Bandai Ferrari is so awesome!!!