Category:Impy Toys

1966: No.12 Chrysler Imperial [image info]

1966: No.15 Volkswagen Micro Bus [image info]

1967: Foden Tilt-Cab Truck, "The Greatest Impy Yet!" [image info]

Roadmaster Impy Foden Open Truck, opened box [image info]

Roadmaster Impy Foden Open Truck, details [image info]

Impy Toys diecast cars were produced by Lone Star (DCMT) from around 1965/1966 onward. The range was a follow-up to the company's 1956 Roadmaster range.

Impy Toys (officially Lone Star Roadmaster Impy Super Cars) were smaller than comparable Corgi Toys range, and made a point of including a range of "Corgi-type" opening doors and other features but in a smaller size (hinted at by the "imp" in the name). When Mattel then produced their Hot Wheels range with low-friction axles, Lone Star responded with their own low-friction models, later tagged the Lone Star Flyers range.

Although the common name "Impy Toys" doesn't seem to have actually appeared on the packaging we've looked at, and might not be technically correct, the name was fairly implicit considering the wider context of the competing Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, Husky Toys, and Budgie Toys, and the range is understandably often referred to casually as "Impy Toys", instead of the rather longwinded official name, "Lone Star Roadmaster Impy Super Cars".

Box artwork, Foden Open Truck, Roadmaster Impy Super Cars No.24, featuring Tilt Cab, Rising Back, Hinged Rear Flap, Seats, Engine Details, and Windows

Design characteristics

The attempt to give their small models "opening everything" meant that the profusion of doors and hatches with deep open clearance-spaces sometimes interrupted what would have otherwise been smooth lines – the Impies sometimes looked more "chopped-up" than the Corgi equivalents, which were better at hiding their joints, partly due to their larger scale, but also due to slightly more sophisticated designwork.

Pack listing

... from the box of a #24 Foden Open Truck, not necessarily the complete final range

10 – Jaguar Mk. X

11 – Gran Tourismo Coupe

12 – Chrysler Imperial (Hard Top)

13 – Ford (USA) Thunderbird

14 – Ford (GB) Zodiac Mk.III Estate

15 – Volkswagen Micro Bus

16 – Motorway Police Patrol Car

17 – Mercedes-Benz 220SE Limousine

18 – Ford (GB) Corsair

19 – Volvo 1800 S

20 – Volkswagen Ambulance

21 – Fiat 2300 S Coupe

22 – Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

23 – Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Spider

24 – Foden Open Truck

25 – Payloader

26 – Foden Tanker

27 – Ford (Germany) Taurus

28 – Peugeot

29 – Cement Mixer Lorry

30 – Fire Engine

31 – Breakdown Lorry

Gift Packs

301 – No.1 Gift Pack

302 – No.2 Gift Pack

Accessories

401 – Car Ramp

402 – Lock-Up Garage

403 – Service Station

Product range listing, box

External links

• Lone Star Impy Supercars (hobbytalk.com)
• Lone Star Impy Volvo 1800S, 1968 (toysfromthepast.blogspot.co.uk)
• Impy Roadmasters, Flyers and Commercials, listing (dfwbeckett.net)

• TOPIC: Lone Star Impy Road Master & Flyer toy cars (planetdiecast.com)
• Lone Star Impy, discussion (joesdiecastshack.yuku.com)