Not on display

VW Beetle

Toy Car
1975-1979 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The car is lithographed tinplate and the mechanism is housed in the body with the key protruding from the left side. It is green with red black, pink, blue, yellow and white markings to show the number 35 and SHELL. The underside is plain metal. The hubs of the wheels are silver metal and marked VW. When wound up the car moves on four black plastic wheels set under the body and connected to the mechanism. There are the remains of a paper label underneath.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVW Beetle (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Lithographed tinplate, with a clockwork mechanism
Brief description
Tinplate clockwork VW car made in Japan in the late 1970s
Physical description
The car is lithographed tinplate and the mechanism is housed in the body with the key protruding from the left side. It is green with red black, pink, blue, yellow and white markings to show the number 35 and SHELL. The underside is plain metal. The hubs of the wheels are silver metal and marked VW. When wound up the car moves on four black plastic wheels set under the body and connected to the mechanism. There are the remains of a paper label underneath.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.4cm
  • Width: 6.4cm
  • Length: 2.1cm
Key protrudes 2 cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
T.T in a diamond with MADE IN JAPAN
Credit line
Given by Clio Whittaker
Object history
References: This collection of toys was acquired by the donor while attending Peking University in 1978 and 1979. The majority of the toys were made in China for its own market.

See additional notes, B. 106-1996
Collection
Accession number
B.171-1996

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Record createdApril 18, 2000
Record URL
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