Three Discoveries By Steve Butler

Pictured are three Tootsietoy toy vehicles that recently changed ownership. Various reference sources have identified them as being a 1954 Cadillac, a 1955 Packard and a 1956 Dodge panel truck. All the model years are likely correct except for the panel truck which could also appear to be a 1954 or 1955 model. Numerous potential buyers definitely overlooked this trio of toys probably believing that all three were seemingly rather common … but not so.

Tootsietoy’s 1957 factory literature offered a No. 5030 JUMBO ASSORTMENT containing six vehicles that included the 1954 Cadillac and the 1955 Packard. Note that the suggested retail price was 35 cents per vehicle. In the same literature and actually adjacent was another group of six vehicles offered as the company’s No. 740 DELUXE ASSORTMENT which also included the 1954 Cadillac and the 1955 Packard plus the 1956 Dodge panel truck. The suggested retail price was 39 cents per vehicle. What about these six made them deluxe? It was because “All toys have base with simulated axles, etc.” per the factory literature.

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