This month I am going to describe some of what’s currently available and where, here in Memphis.  Recently I bought a 1/28^th-scale toy/model 1966 Karmann Ghia coupe from the Bartlett area Cracker Barrel Restaurant’s gift shop. It has a pull back motor, the trunk and doors open and it cost about $5. It is made in China by Sunny. They usually have a toy or model VW, of one sort or another, in their gift shop.

Sunny also makes an oval window Bug and a cartoon proportioned late model Bug as well, but that CB doesn’t have them right now. The Toy liquidator store (a K& B outlet) has some 1/18^th scale 1957 Karmann Ghia Cabriolets in stock, in both top up and top down form. They are made in China for Mira Solido. I bought mine, though, several months back, at Big Lots. They have great engine detail, a trunk rack and openable doors. as well steerable wheels. I think they are about $15.

Several model train magazines and a model car magazines have had advertisements for a line of VW Beetles and split window buses that come packaged alone or with several styles of trailers. They are marketed by K-Line, a model train maker. They are modeled in 1/43^rd scale as suitable for putting on a “O” Gauge train layout or displaying by themselves. The ones packaged with a trailer come in a plastic display case.  The Beetle is a late model is available as both a 1972 sedan and a 1970 convertible. 

The versions that include the trailers are complete with passengers that are posed in very animated positions and there is luggage on the engine lid mounted rack. Train shows always include a big selection of VW models! Much more so than model car shows! I also picked up the sedan without a trailer at the Hobbytown store on Sycamore. They are sold out now, but the good thing about hobby shops is that they are set up to be able to order things for customers, too.

Recently, some K & B Toy Store have had some Road Legends (Yatming, made in China) 1967 European Beetles (no over rider bars on the bumpers) in 1/18^th scale. These are actually based on the same pattern model (the development of all models includes a larger scale pattern model that is but a stage in the development of production models into whatever choices of scales and levels of detail the manufactures makes) as the Franklin Mint model although not at their higher level of detail.

They sell for $16.49 there. K &B also has some 1/24^th scale Maisto 1973 Beetle diecast kits. Toys R Us and Wal-Mart have Maisto New and old Beetle products as well. Yatming makes a 1/18^th scale 1966 Karmann Ghia that shows up from time to time (also based on a Franklin Mint pattern), especially at places like K & B.  I’ve seen some early ‘80’s Rabbit Cabriolets at Big Lots  (very detailed!) along with a recent shipment of Bburago 1955 Beetles and New Beetles. All of them are only $12.99!

Now, since Big Lots is a close out store you can’t linger too long in picking up their bargains. Even Walgreen stocks a line of 1/64^th, 1/43^rd, 1/24^th and 1/18^th scale Maisto models that includes VW’s. Maisto’s split window buses are really nice. There are some wooden toy VW’s, both old and New, at the Hobby Lobby on Exeter in Germantown as well as the best selection in town of those really nice Johnny Lightning 1/64^th scale VW’s (also made in China!).  

I’ve bought the JL “66 Beetle, 1965 Microbus, 1965 Single Cab Pickup, a 1973 Thing and New Beetles there! Sometimes Hobby Lobby stocks some colorfully rustic resin sculpture VW’s too. I’ve seen some nice 4-cars sets of Johnny Lightning Beetles in various different versions at several Wal-Marts, too. There are two versions of the sets. Johnny Lightning is coming out with a 1/18^th scale Beetle soon, too.

You can look at Target, Wal-Mart and/or Kmart for Matchbox 1/58^th scale 1962 Beetles, and 1963 (Package, incorrectly says 1967) Microbuses and Delivery Vans as well as the Concept New Microbus. They are packaged in basic form, or 50 states basic form, or deluxe detail in the Jackson Auctions series or the Matchbox 50^th anniversary form. They, too, are made, where else, but China!

Plastic model glue together assembly kits of various VW’s (most of which are made in Japan (what, not China?). can be bought at Trains and Things on Mendenhal, which is my favorite hobby shop. They also stock some very nicely detailed 1/32^nd-scale VW electric slot cars with brand names like Scaletrix. They make nice display models as well. I bought an Airfix 1963-1/32^nd-scale kit there that is a reissue from the 1960’s. It was originally intended to be built as a display with full interior but can be converted to slot car use.

As for collecting old toys and model VW’s, my favorite places to go are the Memphis Flea market held on the 3^rd weekend of every month at the fairgrounds and Bojo’s Antique Mall on Summer Ave.  At the flea market you’ll get the best buys by concentrating on the general mix booths, because those diecast vendors are quite pricey. At Bojo’s the second floor is almost a toy museum.