Oldsmobile

497 Oldsmobile Super 88 'Thrushbuster' Car

August 1966 - 1969

From the Man From UNCLE TV series, the Super 88 is revised somewhat and has Napoleon Solo and Ilyia Kuryakin firing out of windows and search lights on the roof. There is a sticker on the bonnet and in the box has a ring with both characters' images displayed as you turn it.

Available in metallic deep blue or the more correct but scarce creamy-white.

The wheels are usually cast but early editions have shaped.

Because many sellers now try to dispose of blue models repainted cream, or worse, white, it may be useful to set out the key things to look for.

The blue models have a raised section on the bonnet where the sticker is placed. The cream models don't have this, the bonnet being quite smooth.

The cream models also have an extension of the A pillar on to the driver's door. There is no such feature in the blue casting.

Early models had cast search lights which are now usually grey, in contrast to the shiny silver plastic variety of newer editions, unlikely to be seen on cream models.

There was no white edition. That's just a seller trying to excuse his selling one that colour and describing it as super rare or whatever.

264 Oldsmobile Toronado

January 1967 - 1969

Another collector's favourite. This model had just one main feature - twin jewelled lights that could be swivelled down using a cog wheel or lever under the front bumper. It was, however, a very attractive model as it stood, with a superb blue paintwork, clean white interior and shiny chrome fittings.

It was available initially with shaped wheels, which is a scarce edition, and mostly with cast wheels in shades from deep dark blue to turquoise.

It also comes with and without a tow hook. The edition with a tow hook was only available as part of Gift Set 36 towing a Glastron Speedboat on a trailer.

The headlamp covers are shiny chrome on the early issues but later models are plain metal.

276 Oldsmobile Toronado

June 1968 - 1972

The Golden Jacks version, otherwise unchanged from 264. This model was available in bright metallic red and a scarcer lime-gold or amber.

The headlamp covers are bare metal and the operation is by the lever and part cog wheel. This device is also vulnerable to breakage.