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Sporting fins fore and aft, the Lincoln Futura screams space-age styling. Made in Japan, this Alps brand toy has a working friction drive. With its original box the tin litho car carries a $2,000-$2,500 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

Lloyd Ralston Gallery gears up for Bonanza-size toy car sale Nov. 21

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Sporting fins fore and aft, the Lincoln Futura screams space-age styling. Made in Japan, this Alps brand toy has a working friction drive. With its original box the tin litho car carries a $2,000-$2,500 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.
Sporting fins fore and aft, the Lincoln Futura screams space-age styling. Made in Japan, this Alps brand toy has a working friction drive. With its original box the tin litho car carries a $2,000-$2,500 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

SHELTON, Conn. – Veteran film editor Bob Blake, nominated for Emmys for his work on the sprawling TV series Dynasty and Bonanza, built an immense collection of toy cars and trucks to the point he has run out of room. Lloyd Ralston Gallery will sell part one of the Bob Blake Toy Vehicle Collection on Nov. 21. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Starting in the 1970s, Blake rounded up American cars and trucks by all manufacturers and all materials – cast iron, pressed steel, lithographed tin, die cast, rubber hard plastic and more.

Among the most impressive toys in his collection are the showy lithographed tin automobiles of the postwar era. A 1950 Cadillac convertible by Gama of West Germany is 12 inches long and carries two composition figures. Like new in the original box, which has minor wear, this friction-powered classic car has a $2,000-$2,500 estimate.

Another is the Lincoln Futura, made in Japan by Alps. This bubble-top beauty is 11 long and like new in its original illustrated box. It also has a $2,000-$2,500 estimate.

A fleet of Tootsietoy vehicles is included in the auction. A Tootsietoy Doodlebug counter display from 1933 contains a dozen no. 716 Doodlebugs in three colors. The original counter display box reads: “The Car of Tomorrow” and “As shown by the Briggs Manufacturing Company, Ford Motor Company’s Exhibit, World’s Fair, Chicago.” The set has a $5,000-$7,000 estimate.

Tootsietoy’s 450X Coppertoys set of 1938 is rated C5-7 in the original box. The set contains the 1045 Greyhound Bus, 1017 Jumbo Coupe (restored), 125 Lockheed Electra, 722 Transport Plane, 119 U.S. Army Plane (two propellers broken), and 1018 Jumbo Sedan, all in the color of copper. The scarce set has a $2,000-$4,000 estimate.

Some of the lower value toys have already attracted multiple online bids. Corgi’s GS 31 The Riviera, which includes a Buick Riviera, speedboat, trailer and two figures, one on water skis, is in the original box, which has some wear and minor tears. The set should exceed its $200-$300 estimate.

Likewise, a French Dinky 25 O Studebaker Nestle Milk Truck in its original box will likely top its $200-$300 estimate.

For details phone 203-924-5804.

View a fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Lloyd Ralston Gallery’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Tootsietoy issued the 450X Coppertoys set in 1938. The six-piece copper-color set in its original box has a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.
Tootsietoy issued the 450X Coppertoys set in 1938. The six-piece copper-color set in its original box has a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. built the Doodlebug for Ford Motor Co., which featured the streamlined compact at the Chicago World’s Fair. However, the Doodlebug did not go into production. This Tootsietoy counter display from 1933 has a dozen Doodlebugs and a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. built the Doodlebug for Ford Motor Co., which featured the streamlined compact at the Chicago World’s Fair. However, the Doodlebug did not go into production. This Tootsietoy counter display from 1933 has a dozen Doodlebugs and a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

Composition figures ride in style with this 1950 Cadillac convertible by Gama of West Germany. The 12-inch tin litho Caddy with working friction drive has a $2,000-$2,500 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.
Composition figures ride in style with this 1950 Cadillac convertible by Gama of West Germany. The 12-inch tin litho Caddy with working friction drive has a $2,000-$2,500 estimate. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

Ready for a day at the lake, Corgi’s GS 31 The Riviera set consists of a Buick, speedboat, trailer and two figures, one on water skis. Estimated at $200-$300, the set has churned up considerable interest. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.
Ready for a day at the lake, Corgi’s GS 31 The Riviera set consists of a Buick, speedboat, trailer and two figures, one on water skis. Estimated at $200-$300, the set has churned up considerable interest. Image courtesy Lloyd Ralston Gallery.