c.1956 Sanshin, Porsche 356 Coupe Polizei (Police) Car in Original Box
Superb example of an early scarce Porsche 356 Coupe Polizei (Police) Car made by Sanshin in Japan. It comes complete with its original box. I've never seen either the toy or box before. In fact it may also be the first toy tinplate Porsche ever produced. Smith and Gallagher's Big Book of Tin Toy Cars has no listing for it in either their commercial or passenger vehicle books. It runs on a friction motor which works great. The body is embossed brilliant white tin litho with a single blue celluloid emergency roof light. In back of the roof light "Polizei" (the German word for police) was lithoed in large black capital letters. The interior is yellow and orange (striped and checkerboard). "Made in Japan" was lithoed below the rear window. The underside is a single black plate. There are no identifying marks. Chrome plated parts include the front windshield, front and rear bumpers, and headlights. The tires are solid black rubber with polished tin raised centers. The box has a full panel illustration of the car in blue on a white background and "Polizei-Porsche" on all four panels. The Sanshin trademark was printed in the lower left corner. The trademark "F.I.A.M." printed in the upper right corner is unknown. It's probably the importers abbreviation. Polizei Porsche was printed on the endflaps. Size: 5½".
Price Sold: $ 150
