Micro Review for a small model
There a few makes of small diecast model cars that I currently actively seek for my collection, of course has to be a JDM model or Japanese Company origins. This is a Tomica (Takara / Tomytec) car, if you haven’t already read my post on Tomica, especially if you like collecting small scale cars. This is the Toyota Altezza and its from the Vintage Neo range.
The Box
If you don’t know, these models are exceptional, that’s my opinion of course and most of them come from Japan. I normally get them through Japan Booster’s eBay store, at around £24 plus P&P (that’s the cheaper end). The boxes have a vintage feel and print design to them and the cars are bagged and in a plastic shell which holds the car in place, sometimes there is a leaflet inside. These boxes sometimes come in protector cases which is nice.
The Model
Looking at the Altezza with the naked eye, you’ll be hard pushed to find faults here, the side profile of the model is very good and matches up well with Autoart’s older 1:18th scale diecast model from the early 2000’s . It’s sporty styling captured in detail here with a good stance, the front of the car sports the bumper with inset fog lights and vent, a white number (ready for a custom plate maybe?), the the plastic lights, with slated grille and badge all meticulously produced in miniature.
The side of the model is really good with nicely done door handles, amazing for it’s size and painted window lines for the rear quarters. visible door shut lines and nice metallic blue paint, sitting on multi spoke wheels which maybe were 17″ on the real car.
The rear sports probably the only feature of the Altezza or IS200 (its Lexus counterpart) that I actually liked back in the early days was the rear lights and that of course set in motion a craze with the car culture of the late 90’s early 2000’s of companies release ‘Lexus’ Lights for other cars, in fact in 2005 I have Lexus lights on my 1993 Ford Escort XR3i, it was indeed the in thing for people who modified their cars that and massive bodykits (sound familiar in 2021?).
I digress this model has those lights are they still are the nostalgic feature for me. The boot holds another blank number plate with very legible printing for the badging on the rear, and interesting round inset fog lights, bumper has a nice lower lip and a sporty exhaust tip.
The interior is hard to access without a microscope, but its there and you know with its small size, the average persons eye vision will be quite satisfied that it fits with the rest of the model.
To sum up?
I’m not overly keen on the Altezza’s aesthetics , it has a few quirks and its not an ugly looking motor vehicle but rather normal looking, I get the appeal of the real car 2.0L rear wheel drive and Toyota build quality are all positives, but is still plain looking in standard form (nothing a body kit and rear spoiler wouldn’t correct!) . That said this is a very good model and is faithfully recreated in 1:64th scale, with a little suspension travel included and rubber tyres, freely moving wheels, great paint and intricate detail. At the time of writing this article (November 2021) this is still available on eBay if you look for Japan sellers like Japan Booster.
Overall rating out of 10