These Volkswagens Are Cool Collectibles The Kiddos Can Play With: Toy Car Thursday

I’m a very casual toy collector. I’m not even remotely a completist, and I barely even have collecting intentions beyond “that’s neat, I want that.” Collect ’em all? No, I’ll collect the ones I’m into, and the rest can collect dust on someone else’s shelf. And so, I would not call myself a Playmobil car collector, though I have partaken of the brand’s wonderful Beetle and T1 Camping Bus toys/models, as well as the very nice Back To The Future DeLorean time machine (which I shared in Only Fanbelts a ways back).

Sadly, all three are now discontinued, but are easy to find on the secondary market. (Playmobil’s Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is still available, however.) I actually scored my Playmobil-mobiles at Walmart on clearance for a mere $15 each – that was a fun day. They then sat in my closet waiting for the perfect alignment of free time and rainy day, which has yet to arrive. Instead, I made time to put the VWs together for work. This job sucks, I tell you.

I’ll spare you the history of Playmobil (like, just Google it) and get straight to the show and tell.

Other than the occasional blister insert to show a figure, Playmobil eschews window boxes in favor of fully sealed packaging, which I like. The photography offers plenty of assurance that a cool toy is within, and there’s a little thrill that goes with only seeing the actual car once the box is open.

Playmobil keeps it simple with the interior packaging – they just chuck everything in there with parts bagged to protect their finishes and/or collect categories of parts. Tires, figures, accessories – you get it.

Part of the fun with Playmobil toys is putting them together. We’re not talking Lego complexity here, but there’s enough to do to pleasantly fill 20 minutes or so if you’re not trying to set a record. Surprisingly, the Bus only includes two figures, while the Beetle gets Mom, Dad, and a kid.

The parts snap together satisfyingly, and you can feel how rugged the toys are with their thick plastic moldings. The cars are surprisingly well detailed, too, complete with opening engine bays. The passenger doors do not open, which is standard fare for most Playmobil vehicles. Instead, the figures are installed by removing the roof.

I expected to find the same engine mold for both models, but the Bus and Beetle get unique parts. And it’s clearly the classic air-cooled flat-four, complete with distinct fan belt, fan shroud, distributor, air cleaner, and other bits.

I wish Playmobil hadn’t molded the engine cover supports into the Beetle’s engine, but it looks less funny once the cover is snapped into place. You may recall Torch has written about these engines at the old site, and in greater detail (being the expert and all).

More accurate details are found in the interiors, with a few concessions for figure access and play value. The Bus gets a knob placed to fit a figure’s hand …

… while the Beetle’s wheel is close enough to vertical for the figures to grab it with both hands, but is oversized to suit their shoulder span. And because they can’t squeeze their legs under the wheel, it’s missing a third of its circumference. I am unbothered. Props to Playmobil for including the passenger-side grab bar.

Some toy collectors (action figure guys, specifically) scoff at the unabashedly toy-stylized figures that have been a Playmobil staple for decades. I happen to love them and appreciate the design consistency and the interchangeability of the figures. The two above are the campers traveling in the Bus – a bit on the nose there with the shaggy beard and flannel, Playmobil.

The Beetle family is more hip, and those fits are incredible. Sepia-tinted aviators beneath luxuriant hair paired with a sporty T, dark jeans, and boots? I wish I were so stylish. And who can resist a woman in jorts?

… and they like to party! The Beetle includes three bottles of what I assume is soda since there’s one for the child, but I like to think these two are each going to drain a bottle of rosé while they watch the sunset.

The Bus gets opening side doors complete with a fold-down table that reveals a mirror, with storage on the opposite door.

Let’s see, we have tinned fish (sardines, I guess?), milk, and whatever’s in that yellow jug. Juice, I assume, but the label has crackers on it? I dunno. Note the sink with its own fold-down table inside the Bus.

Not sure if this is how it works in the real thing, but I assume it does since Playmobil did it: the seat folds into a bed, with clearance provided by the foldaway table.

Presto, ready for snoozing or canoodling.

Both VWs include roof racks, all the better to carry a suitcase (it opens!) and duffel bag …

… or a suitcase and cooler, plus the surfboard that I popped off for clarity.

While the proportions are squashed or stretched as needed for their play features and figure accommodation, both the Bus and Beetle are highly faithful to the real things and look terrific on display.

Both figures can fit in the front seats of both models (or front bench in the Bus’s case). Hop in, Madam Jorts!

The Beetle and Bus are office decor for me as my kid is now grown, but should a niece or nephew visit, I won’t hesitate to let them do their worst with my Volkswagens. They’re toys first, and ruggedly built. But no, you can’t have them! Those stay with Uncle Peter.