[REVIEW] Tomica Nissan Skyline 2000 Turbo GT-ES

Tomica time is here again, and along with this it is Land of the Rising Sun-day. Today we examine a Skyline, one of the most adored model names in the automotive world. This is Tomica 20-3, the Nissan Skyline 2000 Turbo GT-ES (C210/211). This casting had a relatively short run, entering the range in October 1980, and remaining until July 1982. It is an ideal representation of a Tomica model of this era:

As one can see, this is from what I call the “sunroof era” of Tomica, when a number of models had a fixed sunroof, and in the case of the Soarer I reviewed a while ago, a sliding sunroof was possible. This casting is a pleasing metallic black with correct gold tampos that definitely match the aesthetic of the period. There is ample fine casting detail, with impressively accurate “Skyline” badges on the rear fenders. Scale is a claimed 1:65, likely accurate as usual. This model, being from a high point of Tomica quality, has the snappy door action, crisp glazing, and springy suspension we know and love about the brand. For some reason, my (phone) camera didn’t seem to like this model, and wasn’t delivering crisp shots - I tried a grey background too, and you may notice this. From all angles, this is a quality item for what was still a toy car:

Doors open to reveal an interior with nicely contoured seats, and as usual, an accurate steering wheel:

Front and rear have similar detail. The front bumper piece is plastic, which tends to show a little storage wear - I have two of these (the other with slightly darker paint), and the front clip is the same:

The base is metal, with ample detail, and lends a substantial quality heft to the model:

This example is lucky enough to live in its original black box:

I am definitely pleased to have this model in my collection. This generation of Skyline is seldom-seen, and the short production run of the casting makes it somewhat unusual as well:

A couple 1:1s from allauto.biz and bringatrailer.com. The C210/211 Skyline fits the late 70s malaise era well, as turbo was a big trend then, along with the color combination of this model. The sloped/kind of droopy decklid is also an unusual styling cue. Black and gold with a red interior, definitely of a certain point in time: