NO.40 - CADILLAC
Flyers Version (1975-1976) Impy Major (1977)
No.40 Cadillac was numerically the last Flyers car and also the final Flyers car to be produced, remembering that they were not always issued in numerical order. Lone Star were renowned for promising more than it could deliver with several new models always proclaimed to be on the ‘drawing board’. The Cadillac probably spent longer in the pipeline at Lone Star than any other model, first appearing on Impy box listings back in 1968. Not only did it miss being part of the Impy range, it missed around the first 6 years of Flyers production so when it finally materialised right at the end it had been subject to the recent cost cutting measures resulting in it being the only Flyers model to have no opening features.
It was also the only Flyers model not to get its own picture box. I guess issuing the model with no opening features suggests Lone Star already knew the writing was on the wall for the Flyers range so there was little point going to the trouble of producing a box for this model. Instead, it was predominately issued on blister pack cards. When an order demanded boxed models the Cadillac was either issued in another Flyers box with ‘40’ paper stickers glued on the end flaps or it was issued in the new ‘Commercials’ window box! Examples of both are shown below.
Any frustrations caused by the delay of this model were not helped when in 1970 and 1971 Lone Star included the Cadillac in its trade catalogues complete with reference number and drawings of the car! It then disappeared until the 1975 trade catalogue when a photo of the actual model finally confirmed its release. Interestingly the 1970 and 71 drawings show the Cadillac with opening doors and bonnet like the rest of the Flyers.
Perhaps to compensate for its short run as a Flyers, the Cadillac enjoyed an extended life becoming part of the Impy Majors range in 1977 where it was issued towing the Tuf-Tots speedboat and trailer. Also in 1977 a new range of low-cost Impy Super Models was launched. These were basically the old Flyers models now with blacked out windows and black plastic bases. The Cadillac featured in the range as No.72 usually finished in a bronze colour. The production of both the new low-cost Cadillac and the Flyers version for the Impy Majors set has resulted in a very interesting cross over model as shown below. This example features the Flyers metal base, wheels and interior but married to a bronze Impy bodyshell complete with blacked out windows. A real Friday afternoon special!
Despite being easily identifiable as Cadillac’s distinctive 8th generation of Eldorado, Lone Star only ever listed their version as ‘Cadillac’. Flyers models were given the full ‘Cadillac Eldorado’ name on the baseplate but the ‘Eldorado’ part was later blanked out. Possibly there was some licencing issue with Cadillac (which may have also contributed to the delay of the model's release?). Perhaps a licencing issue is not surprising given rivals, Hot Wheels, Siku, Dinky Toys and Husky / Corgi Rockets had all produced models of this same 8th generation Eldorado!
Another slight anomaly with the baseplate was that it was marked “FLYER” rather than ‘Flyers’. This was also blanked out when the model was used in the Impy Majors range.
Red Flyers models are fairly common but the other colours are much harder to find.
tRADE CATALOGUE ENTRIES; 1970 / 1971 / 1975
