[1up]

I recently picked up an Audi 5000 Turbo in 1:65th scale made in Hong Kong. On the bottom of the car is "CF 301". The one I have is not in nearly as good of shape as the picture below. I have started removing the paint and restoring the car. It has opening doors, a pull-back motor, rubber tires (JL tires are about the same size), and a base that is held on by screws. I rebuilt the pull-back motor and now it goes great. All in all a cool car, but I wonder how many different models are out there or if anyone else has any information. I know they have a model "CF 303" which is a Porsche 911 and a model "CF 305" which is a Fiat, but there isn't a lot of other information out there. It would be cool to find out more. Thanks for any help!

1up

 

[Tone]

Unknown for certain! My original edition of Diecast Motor Vehicles (2003) states that "CF is not a manufacturer, rather it may be an identification to which plant the models were made." The book's authors Kimmo Sahakangas, Dave Weber and Mark Foster, also note that these are Tomica copies, here is the taxi cab:

 

[1up]

Thanks for the information! Is that Taxi how the car came from the factory (interesting cab #)? Did tomica make pull back cars with opening doors and rubber tires? If so, I might have to try and track those down. They are cool little cars (way cooler than just about any HW I've seen). Maybe I'll have to hit up the library and see what their diecast books say.

Thanks again!

1up

 

[Roadster99]

I do remember there is a Tomica Bluebird 1800 in there as well; I think it was a dark red.

Here is the Tomica version:

 

[madmanmark]

Unknown for certain! My original edition of Diecast Motor Vehicles (2003) states that "CF is not a manufacturer, rather it may be an identification to which plant the models were made." The book's authors Kimmo Sahakangas, Dave Weber and Mark Foster, also note that these are Tomica copies, here is the taxi cab:

Check out the cab number!!

 

[AlanZ]

my small collection of CF castings

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

Looks like you have 6 of the 8 (?) know castings and some variations of them! Congrates!

CF Diecast Production History

In the late 1980s to 1990s, the first of 6 known models of these 'CF' name designated series appeared. The 'CF' designation is part of the casting identification # found on the license plates of these thought to be the 'third' made group edition of what are thought to be previously issued...

www.hobbytalk.com

I wasnt able to fix any of the lost images in the previous posts. Does anyone have new images of the variations and references already noted above. I can cut and paste them back into the previous posts as they become available.

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

Unknown for certain! My original edition of Diecast Motor Vehicles (2003) states that "CF is not a manufacturer, rather it may be an identification to which plant the models were made." The book's authors Kimmo Sahakangas, Dave Weber and Mark Foster, also note that these are Tomica copies, here is the taxi cab:

Thanks for the information! Is that Taxi how the car came from the factory (interesting cab #)? Did tomica make pull back cars with opening doors and rubber tires? If so, I might have to try and track those down. They are cool little cars (way cooler than just about any HW I've seen). Maybe I'll have to hit up the library and see what their diecast books say.

Thanks again!

1up

Check out the cab number!!

Sure would be nice to know what the tampo printed cab # was?

 

[AlanZ]

I think the number 8 in the Encyclopedia may be a misprint. I have never seen anything else besides the 6 (301-306). Has anyone seen any of the others? I would love to see pics of 307 and 308. More to collect!

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

Unknown for certain! My original edition of Diecast Motor Vehicles (2003) states that "CF is not a manufacturer, rather it may be an identification to which plant the models were made." The book's authors Kimmo Sahakangas, Dave Weber and Mark Foster, also note that these are Tomica copies, here is the taxi cab:

A word of caution about Sahakangas, Weber and Fosters (and other authors) use of 'copies' throughout their book editions and in their web site articles.

In some cases they were the actual molds used by previous makers like Tomica, Matchbox and others that were given, purchased or found (this actually happened in a few case) by newer die cast companies from around the World. But particulariily within China by government decree.

In some cases though, they were copies of assembled model kit cars those same companies and others had issued.

In other cases, it was just simply that another company also happened to have made a diecast model that CF issued or vice versa. After all, most of these were already copies of the 1:1 car models already!

And still yet, the manufacturers of the diecast pieces used to make diecast or ordered by a distributor who put the pieces together somewhere else under their own brand labels also sold their excess inventory, left over parts, just the body piece with new design cast bases and no interiors, etc, etc.

The wheel set makers did the same thing!

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

I think the number 8 in the Encyclopedia may be a misprint. I have never seen anything else besides the 6 (301-306). Has anyone seen any of the others? I would love to see pics of 307 and 308. More to collect!

I am thinking the same thing but no one has come forth to confirm it. That is what makes the Taxi Cab model really interesting to me! Is the model number the cab number? Was it after they stopped using them as the plate #? And that is why the connection hasnt been made?

It also seems plausible but just speculations but could the 8th model if it does exist - be a police car version? More than likely the Taxi Cab noted above is just a varation of one of the 6 other castings we already know about though. And I havent heard of a police casting or variation yet!

I also havent had the time to go back to Planet Diecast which still has much of Kimmo's original internet entries and his brothers photos to see if CF was included back then. But IIRC it has carried forth through both book editions so far without correction or notation.

Categories - Planet Diecast Forums

Joomla! - the dynamic portal engine and content management system. Categories - Planet Diecast Forums

www.planetdiecast.com

 

[AlanZ]

CF - Making Quality Copies

Joomla! - the dynamic portal engine and content management system

www.planetdiecast.com

Says they only produced 6 models.

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

I went back to the brand history thread and updated the question about the total number of castings known and the reference to possibly 2 more. As with many of the earlier diecast brand references there is a lot of personal beliefs and biase inserted into the Planet Diecast post information and it jumps around as to the friction motor versions and the related wheel sets used as well. I added another review to my task list for CF when I have more time to devote to it.

If you have the time or already have them - can you post a photo study of each of your castings? I noticed several different wheels sets being used and tampo variations in your collection. Images of the base plates for each would be nice as well. Colin has some of the base plates already showing at flikr, but we can use your photos to make more comparisons between them. No hurries or worries if you cant. It will be a while before I get back around to rereviews - unless new posts about them keep appearing!

 

[AlanZ]

I have one in its original box. The box has a checklist on the back.

 

[Milton Fox Racing]

Nice! That pretty much establishes the casting list numbers and names at only 6. And the series name as well! 🤙