Acceptance of Recent Special Edition Tomica

I received another box of Tomica again today. OK, it's not just these 5 cars as shown above but 5 of the many cars in the box. I have bought a few spares for some of the models shown here. After merger of Takara and Tomy, I have stopped buying special edition issued by the 2 toy giants until recently. Before the merger, limited editions were issued by mini car shops such as II ADO or Gulliver (and many others). These companies have made a number of interesting models based on actual race cars and different colour variant of road cars. Many of the models made are still based on old moulds which are Japan made and there are only 3000 pieces made. Some models such as Skyline made by these shops have different casting compared to Tomica regular release. The reason why I shunned from the current special edition after the merger as most of them are "re-issue" models which are once made in Japan. I felt that they could have concentrate on current models which were initially China made. Making old models such as Toyota 2000GT or Bluebird SSS pissed vintage collectors off and it doesn't pleased many new collectors because they don't appreciate old cars. The worst is the old mould is modified which I consider it as a "destroyed" mould. Some new collectors might argued that "re-issue" are good for them as they cannot afford vintage. Well, I have to say that, keep it that way then. If the old mould were to be kept untouched, Tomica could still be able to produce special edition for certain special occasion which can be still made in Japan. I don't mind paying the premium for Japanese made Tomica. As for Tomica Shop models, I avoid them totally as I don't feel really like "Tomica Shop" accents around the toy car. The same reason goes for the Tomica Factory model as I don't collect these range. I might buy them as souvenir if I visit Tomica Shop physically. Event Tomica is another range I do not collect because of the huge "Event Tomica" tempo on the car.

Recent special edition from AEON, Apita or even Toy Dream Project series release some recent Tomica which are road cars such as the STi WRX above. I have started buying the newer range of special edition not too long ago as they have more interesting road cars now. Nobody know how many pieces were made but definitely more than 3000 pieces as they have stronger funds than private small mini car shops. I am rather selective in current special edition as I will not buy a Hakosuka within the same series unless I like that particular variant. I don't really fancy this bug eye Rex when it was released as a regular. I have to say the Tomica Limited version, some limited edition 3000 pcs and Event Tomica version of the WRX are nicely made. I would say the same if it is a 2000GT do it the same way if it is made in China. Toyota 2000GT are made initially in Japan! I don't know if you realised that recent Event Tomica does not shout "Event" as loud as earlier models now. I have also started buying event cars selectively now too which I never did few years ago.

Another nice example is the CR-Z which I ranked it as top 3 model in its released year. Yellow is my favourite colour and this CR-Z is given a carbon fibre rework on it bonnet. Quite cool for a Tomica but I will never do it on my own car. Although I have started accepting these newer Tomica into my collection range, I still kept doors closed for Tomica Shop, Factory and Anniversary models. I hope Tomica will address on that to make it more collectible.