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Vintage Nomura (TN) “Marvellous Car” Tin Lithographed Battery Operated ’56 Thunderbird Speedster, Japanese Toy Car with Box *SOLD*

Vintage Nomura (TN) “Marvellous Car” Tin Lithographed Battery Operated ’56 Thunderbird Speedster, Japanese Toy Car with Box

 

We have a highly desirable rare version of the “Marvellous Car” tin lithographed battery operated car manufactured by Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. (T.N) of Tokyo Japan.

This vehicle was based on the 1956 Thunderbird Speedster and is fully lithographed with “chrome” colored bumpers, headlights, accents, steering wheel, grill and hubcaps. There is also a fully lithographed rear mounted spare tire. The tires are made of rubber and are in excellent shape. This variation is a 2-door convertible with chrome headlights that are not meant to light up. However, the rear taillights do. The interior seats are a tan and cream color with the dashes being the same mint green as the spare tire. The license plate reads “3A-3960”.

We tested it and it works beautifully. As mentioned before this is a rare variation of this toy and it doesn’t work the way other versions do or how the box says it is supposed to. There are no front headlights; they are chrome for looks only. When you start the car there is a lever inside the vehicle on the passenger side that has the option of “Back” and “Go” or the middle position which is off. When you push the lever to the right in the “Back” position, the car backs up for a moment and then the taillights light up, the car stops and the driver’s side door opens. The door then closes and the car continues backwards randomly repeating this process. Shifting the lever to the left in the “Go” position does the same thing as the “Back” position, except it goes forward instead of reverse.

Included, is the original box that is also in great condition. It is marked with the letters T.N within the diamond logo which means Toys Nomura. The battery compartment is corrosion and rust free. It is in great all original condition with no restorations, repairs, or touch ups. We did notice light surface rust on the “chrome” colored parts. The lithos are bright and strong with some scratching, wear, chips, and scuffing due to age and display. This car measures approximately 11″ long by 4-1/2″ wide. We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.

 

 

A brief history of Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. (T.N) of Tokyo Japan:

 

Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, also known at TN, was one of the biggest and most prolific of all postwar Japanese toy makers. Nomura is believed to have manufactured toys from the late 1940’s through the 1970’s. The letters “T.N” within the diamond logo means that the company is often referred to as TN or Toys Nomura. A wide range of tinplate toys had this logo emblazoned on its boxes whilst its later die cast toys simply featured ‘Nomura toy’ on their boxes.

Nomura was an early manufacturer in the tin toy world of Japan. They opened their doors in the late 1940’s and quickly dominated the marketplace with colorful, original tin toy vehicles. They produced a wide variety of mechanical and battery (Electromobile) operated toys, military and civilian vehicles, space toys, and novelty items. They are responsible for many Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 toys. As well as, creating many Robby robot and Sparky robot toys; all were classics.

By the mid 1970′s, like many other Japanese toy companies, it had to make the move into die cast in order to survive.  Their toys designs have even reappeared with the company Masudaya Modern Toys (MT). Nomura continued in one form or another until 1992 when they were bought out by the largest toy company of the time Hasbro.

 

Additional information

Weight 4.5 lbs
Dimensions 14 × 14 × 14 in
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