Look for Norev’s retro line to bow in the spring of 2009.
photo courtesy Norev
French die-cast outfit Norev’s resurgence in the small-scale market continues unabated. On the one hand, the company is introducing models of just about every significant new-car release — the Citroën C4 Picasso people-carrier, new-shape Mini Cooper and the new Mk VI VW Golf are among them. At the same time, it’s also expanding into the old-car market with a vastly expanded Retro lineup, due in spring of 2009.
A few Renault models have dribbled in over the past couple of years: All of the Renaults shown here have been available for some time. Now Norev seems to have convinced Citroën/Peugeot that a line of quality retro machines was a good idea as well. Peugeot fans get a 404 sedan and a 205GTi, and double-chevron lovers get four new Citroëns: 15cv, 2CV, an early single-headlamp DS, and, for the first time ever in small scale … a Mehari! That’s right, the open-topped, 2CV-based trucklet has not been done (at least, not well) in small-scale previously. Bodies have traditionally been metal, with plastic chassis, prototypical wheels, lots of separate parts, and a right-on stance. We’ll be keen to see this next set in person to make a determination.
We learned about this from our favorite European Norev source: Henri at www.tinytoycars.com, the Dutch small-scale seller.
(This post originally appeared in the November 6, 2008, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)
