M is for More . . . French Vieux Tacots

Well . . . three more! A Norev and two Minialux's, the Norev presumably predating the die-cast stuff they make nowadays? All plastic with metal axles and obviously of better quality than both the previously seen lots.

Originally claimed to be made out of 'Rhodialite', it's polystyrene to you or me, and rather like Britains/ICI's 'Alkathene' (polyethylene) or Wham-O's 'Zectron' (polybutadiene) a polymer only to be found connected with the one brand! It is now - however - like other early [read 'experimental'] 'styrenes showing signs of slight deformation, unlike the two below which are made of more stable materials.)

Norev are another company still going, but unlike Matchbox and the rest, and having had several owners, have managed to regain their independence, while many of the others (Solido, Majorette etc.) are now just brand-marks for bigger concerns. But like most of the others these days; getting their product made in China.

Sized for larger figures (whatever the given scale!), we looked at the figures for this line a few years ago here at Small Scale World! Minialux are sadly long gone now.

This is another quality toy, with lots of detailing, on what seems to be a motorised 'buggy' of the older horse-drawn type, and a four-poster at that! Note that any passengers beyond driver and a first are going to interfere with the driver's view - no wonder they needed a man with a flag walking in-front!

I really like this, it's also supposed to be 1:43 I think, but both would look good with 1:35th/32nd figures, and with this dating from 1910, there must have been a fair few still kicking around for WWI, and some must have been pressed into service?

The model is a mix of Polystyrene (main body, wheels, seats) and polyethylene (cab tilt and support bars (are they supposed to be straps?)), with rubber tyres and metal axles. And, purely by coincidence, that's the three main French makers - Citroen, Peugeot and Renault!