[REVIEW] Tomica Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL

Tomica time is here again. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a Tomica version of a German car, and this couldn’t be more German. This is Tomica F7-1, the Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL (W116). This casting entered the range in September, 1976, and remained in the lineup into the 80s. It’s a nice piece, meeting the high standards of Tomica for this period:

Scale is a claimed 1:67, which is believable - a little smaller than most models, as the real car is a little larger than most. The pearly white paint sets off this model - most are blue or silver, white is a lot less common. Of course, this model features the crisp glazing, springy suspension, and snappy door action we know and love about Tomica. This model features plenty of fine detail, and proportion is good. The only small issue might be the soft pillar in the rear door window, which is always a quirk for small scale MB sedans, as it is impossible to be cast without being too thick. Some makers cast it in the glazing, which I think can work just as well. From all angles, it is a nice Panzerwagen of the 70s:

Doors open to reveal a detailed interior. The steering wheel design is accurate, but a little small in diameter and hub size:

Front and rear have the same high quality finish as the rest of the model (I’d be disappointed if they didn’t cast in a hood ornament):

The metal base adds heft and a quality feel, and has ample detail:

This example is lucky enough to live in a nice original box:

Definitely a model I am happy to have in my collection. I also have this in blue and silver. As a MB enthusiast and a Tomica collector, this just fits in:

And a few 1:1s from flickriver, classicway.de, and auto-bild.de: