HO 1:87 Vehicles

About HO 1:87 Vehicles

Ready-made cars, not brick builds

These vehicles are finished plastic models at 1:87, the scale model railway fans know as HO. They were meant to populate the streets of Town Plan layouts rather than to be built, so part counts here are tiny: a car with its garage usually counts as three or four pieces. The subjects are real vehicles from the period, which gives the range an almost documentary feel.

Cars of the late fifties and sixties

Several cars were sold with a garage in 1961, including 1:87 Opel Rekord with Garage (262-1), 1:87 Ford Taunus 17M de Luxe with Garage (263-2), 1:87 Mercedes 220 with Garage (264-2) and 1:87 Karmann Ghia with Garage (265-2). The larger multi-vehicle pack 1:87 12 Cars (698-2) from 1966 holds twelve models. Seeing Opel, Ford and Mercedes side by side gives a snapshot of what was driving on European roads at the time.

Lorries and branding

Commercial vehicles are part of the line too. The 1:87 Esso Bedford Truck (1251-2) dates from 1955, one of the earliest sets in the sub-theme, and the 1:87 Mercedes Truck/Trailer (652-1) followed in 1964. Petrol brands such as Esso appear on several early town sets, and the lorry fits alongside them.

Collecting the range

Many models were produced in more than one colour, and a few entries in this sub-theme are catalogue records that group parts from other sets rather than retail boxes. The parts list on each set page tells you which model and colour belong to it. For the wider context, the parent theme System collects the rest of the era. Sets from 1955 to 1966 are covered, so the list spans more than a decade of production.

FAQ

What scale are these vehicles?

They are 1:87, also known as HO, the same scale used by many model railways.

Do you build these cars from bricks?

No. They are pre-assembled plastic models, which is why most sets list only three or four pieces.

Which set contains the most vehicles?

1:87 12 Cars (698-2) from 1966, which bundles twelve models in one pack.