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King Star Diecast Distribution History

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7.5K views 28 replies 7 participants last post by  bmwm5e60520i180cv  
#1 · (Edited)
Based in Korea, King Star, aka Kingstar or kingstar, made less than (12) castings in their brief history in the 1980s with (10) known currently. Many have different paint and theme variations having been issued. They are based on Amerian, Japanese, and Germany made full sized vehicles and are considered to be a fairly good likeness of them. Some of the castings are free wheeling. While others have friction pull back motors and have opening doors. They used 'speed' type wheels and have plastic bases. The commercial type vehicles are all based on the Izuzu cab truck with various different payloads used.

Their own first blister card design was clearly inspired by the mid 1980s Hot Wheels blister card design with the words 'Collect Them All" found inside the red 'flame' swirl. Their picture box package design was inspired by Matchbox's Superfast line. The blister card design was later changed to a yellow horizontal bar wth 'King Star Minicar' now found inside the bar field.

In 1976, Diamond Toymakers issued the Mercedes Benz Fire Chief and Medic cars in their "Danger: Explosives" brand of blister carded series.

Meijer Inc, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, marketed the "Kingstar Mini Car" castings at their chain of department stores.

Castings were also sold in Australia at Target retail outlets.


Known Castings

201 -BMW M1
204 - BMW M1 silver

KS-103 - Fiat Abarth 2000 Coupe

Fire Engine

206a - Ford Econoline Van E150

Izuzu COE Truck

205 - Mercedes-Benz 450SLC - Ambulance, Fire Chief, Green, Police and Red

Nissan Fairlady Z/T
Nissan 280Z

204 - Pontiac Firebird Trans AM

201 - Porsche 930 Turbo



Souced refernces -

King Star Diecast Cars from Korea

Joomla! - the dynamic portal engine and content management system
www.planetdiecast.com www.planetdiecast.com
Kingstar | hobbyDB
Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers - Sahakangas, Foster & Weber (2006)
 
#6 ·
If you follow the link to hobby db they also show some castings in red and silver. And a few in a more shiny (spectraflamish) colors. I only saw a green, yellow and blue Firebird though.

Would love to see pictures of the ones you have when you have time! 🤙
 
#10 · (Edited)
I kind of remember another reference to dm and the mispelled diamond toyma-r- kers as well. IIRC correctly they were also a distributor and not a manufacturer.


Adding link to Diamond Toymakers

www.hobbytalk.com

Diamond Toymakers Diecast Distribution History

This Skokie, Illinois base distribution company issued "Tiny Mites" branded diecast using Summer made castings in 1975. They also issued other brands series using Tak Wo 'TW' and Yat Ming made castings during this same time period. In 1976, they issued the King Star made Mercedes Benz Fire...
www.hobbytalk.com www.hobbytalk.com
 
#18 ·
Milton Fox Racing said:
Based in Korea, King Star, aka Kingstar or kingstar, made less than (12) castings in their brief history in the 1980s with (10) known currently. Many have different paint and theme variations having been issued. They are based on Amerian, Japanese, and Germany made full sized vehicles and are considered to be a fairly good likeness of them. Some of the castings are free wheeling. While others have friction pull back motors and have opening doors. They used 'speed' type wheels and have plastic bases. The commercial type vehicles are all based on the Izuzu cab truck with various different payloads used.

Their own first blister card design was clearly inspired by the mid 1980s Hot Wheels blister card design with the words 'Collect Them All" found inside the red 'flame' swirl. Their picture box package design was inspired by Matchbox's Superfast line. The blister card design was later changed to a yellow horizontal bar wth 'King Star Minicar' now found inside the bar field.

In 1976, Diamond Toymakers issued the Mercedes Benz Fire Chief and Medic cars in their "Danger: Explosives" brand of blister carded series.

Meijer Inc, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, marketed the "Kingstar Mini Car" castings at their chain of department stores.

Castings were also sold in Australia at Target retail outlets.


Known Castings

201 -BMW M1
204 - BMW M1 silver

KS-103 - Fiat Abarth 2000 Coupe

Fire Engine

206a - Ford Econoline Van E150

Izuzu COE Truck

205 - Mercedes-Benz 450SLC - Ambulance, Fire Chief, Green, Police and Red

Nissan Fairlady Z/T
Nissan 280Z

204 - Pontiac Firebird Trans AM

201 - Porsche 930 Turbo



Souced refernces -

King Star Diecast Cars from Korea

Joomla! - the dynamic portal engine and content management system
www.planetdiecast.com www.planetdiecast.com
Kingstar | hobbyDB
Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers - Sahakangas, Foster & Weber (2006)
Click to expand...
 
#23 ·
Would love to see the ones you may have in your collection! We usually guide a person asking about values to the eBay sold listings and then filtered down to your location. International shipping is a big factor in and out of Australia and effects the value (cost) of any casting. Which in turn varies by the individual casting and its availability. There are a lot more castings to see in the current listings but people can and do ask for way more than they are worth or will sell for. Then the actual condition of the casting will effect their value accordingly as well.

www.ebay.com

King Star in Vintage Manufacture for sale | eBay

www.ebay.com
 
B
#26 ·
i dont know if someone will ever read this/nor i will remember posting this, but today i found one of these castings, in italy (where i live) at the flea market, im going crazy to understand anything regarding this brand, and why the hell is there one of this cars in Italy since everything i found so far Never mentioned an export here in italy... thank u for anyone reading this
 
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