Impy Super Models (1976-85)

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As the 1970’s progressed Lone Star’s existing ranges of ‘Commercials’ and ‘Flyers’ cars were looking increasingly expensive when compared to the influx of cheaper imported cars from the likes of Playart, Yatming and Zylmex. Lone Star responded in 1976 with a new range of low cost model vehicles branded as ‘Impy Super Models’. 

First to appear were a series of 12 trucks, these were much simpler construction than the ‘Commercials’ Foden and Leyland lorries which they replaced. There were 4 new cab designs based loosely on a bonneted Volvo N Series, a Scania LB, Mercedes and a futuristic looking cab. There were just 3 main components; chassis, cab and plastic body. Each of the 12 models tended to be issued with a specific cab and in a standard colour scheme but there are plenty of variations and ‘Friday afternoon’ specials to look out for!

Around 2 years later cars were added to the range. Of the 12 cars, 8 were actually old ‘Flyers’ castings now modified so there were no opening parts. Blacked-out windows eradicated the need for an interior and new low-cost black plastic base plates were used. The new range even included the old Jaguar Mk.X and Grand Turismo (now called a ‘GT Rally’) which had started off in the original 1966 line up of ‘Impy Super Cars’ 12 years earlier! Four new models were included in the range; a Mercedes, Volvo 262C and a nice Range Rover which was also issued as a police car. Unusually for Lone Star, especially given their long production run, the cars were generally only found in a single colour. Again there are a number of ‘Friday specials’ out there, particularly with red coloured bodies which was perhaps the back-up shade if there was a shortage of the usual colour.

The series last appeared in Lone Star’s 1983/84 trade catalogue which also featured a new range called ‘Soccer Champs’. These were the existing cars but with football club logos printed on the roofs. See the ‘Soccer Champs’ below for more details.

 The first 6 ‘Impy Majors’ appeared in Lone Star’s 1978/79 trade catalogue and were an effective way for Lone star to get extra value from its existing castings. The Impy Majors were made up from the current ‘Impy Super Models’ lorries now coupled to new trailers whilst two sets made use of exisiting stocks of old Flyers cars.

You don’t have to look too hard to see where Lone Star found inspiration for the ‘new’ articulated/semi trailers. The tanker and crane units shown in Lone Star's trade catalogue (and on some packaging) are actually pinched from Majorette! Note the distinctive Majorette wheels. Lone Star copied these trailers as did a number of Hong Kong based rivals including Yatming.

By 1980 the 'Majors' range had expanded to 12 models, mainly by adding 4-wheel draw-bar trailers to more of the Impy trucks. As stocks of Flyers cars were used up these were replaced with the 'Impy Super Models' cars.

The 'Impy Majors’ tended to appear with specific cabs and in set colour schemes, however, as shown below this wasn't always the case. The ‘Majors’ (along with the 'Impy Super Models' cars and trucks) last appeared in Lone Star’s 1983/4 trade catalogue. Around this time 3 new car sets (including a promotional Ranger Rover & boat set for the RNLI) were issued in ‘Impy Major’ packaging, although these never formed part of the numbered range.

The ‘Soccer Champs’ range are the old ‘Impy Super Models’ cars decorated with English Division 1 football club logos. This short-lived range only appeared in Lone Star’s 1983/84 trade catalogue (photo below). Only three of the 11 different Impy cars are used; the Jaguar Mk.X, the Volvo 262 and the Mercedes. Six different football teams are shown with some being duplicated.

Lone Star’s photo shows pre-production mock-ups with the printed logos and stripes on some of the Soccer Champs looking far from production ready. The packaging is also of interest, the carded model is on a fascinating hand drawn mock-up whilst the window box models are in packaging Lone Star used for Impy models supplied to the Dutch retailer Hema (see above) but with its ‘Litteltois’ branding blanked out!

Red and white paint colours obviously relate to clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, but the yellow, dark blue and green appear to be strange choices. I suspect all that has happened here is that these mock-ups have been quickly finished in paint colours which were already in use in the factory at this time, in this case for the large Superfreighter lorries. The yellow is from the Walls Ice Cream lorry, dark blue is Birds Eye, and the green from the Roadline livery. Red and white colours were in use for the Royal Mail, Pepsi and KFC truck cabs.

The Soccer Champs must have had a very short production run. I have only ever seen my one example, although a fellow collector claims to have one (come on Ian, dig it out!). The proposed packaging looks to have never materialised with mine coming in a plain card box. 

Lone Star’s Hatfield factory closed its doors for good in the summer of 1988 marking the end of production of Lone star toys in England.  All remaining plant and equipment were auctioned off along with the dies and any remaining stock.

It has recently emerged that the bulk of the dies and tooling were purchased by the Khan family who then had them shipped to Pakistan where incredibly production of Lone Star toys would recommence including the Impy cars and trucks. In 2022 I was lucky enough to contact Mr Khan (now residing in Texas, USA) who kindly told me his story. Please see my ‘Lone Star’s Lost Legacy’ article under the blog section of this website for more on this fascinating story. 

The Pakistan produced Impy cars still featured Lone Star and Impy branding underneath with just the ‘Made In England’ script crudely blanked out. Other than the wheels, which now featured a gold printed design, the cars remain very similar in appearance to the Hadfield produced originals although in very different colour schemes. Not surprisingly the quality and finish of the cars was not on a par with Lone Star but would have been deemed more than satisfactory for the intended domestic market. 

Initially the Impy cars were issued in rally colours with stripes and number printed onto the car bodies. Later ‘Unilever Pakistan Ltd.’ placed an order for 200,000 Impys as part of an promotional giveaway for its Surf detergent range. A local toothpaste manufacturer also used the Impys as promotional giveaways and placed an initial order for 1 million cars! This later production run now had ‘Lone Star’ blanked out on the bases although the ‘Impy’ brand and model names remained.  The ‘Natural’ toothpaste brand was printed across the bonnet of the cars which were available in an attractive array of colours. 

The Impy trucks were produced in an array of colour schemes and like the cars still carried ‘Lone Star’ and ‘Impy’ branding on the chassis. 

As yet only a handful of the Impy cars and trucks have been discovered. Unsurprisingly the ‘Natural’ branded cars are the most commonly found versions.