Our First TLV: The Second Wave...

Welcome to the Second Wave.....  If you haven't already, I strongly recommend you start here, with the original "Our First TLV" feature.

Originally intended as a one-off feature, it was decided that we bring it back after joining the Malaysia Tomica Limited Vintage Club on Facebook.  In this group of 1,300+ TLV collectors was Panchito Ponce de León.  He really enjoyed it & suggested that we do another one.

Part 2 almost became the "Facebook" edition due to so much participation & support received from the Malaysian TLV Club on Facebook, but I was also able to get handful of collectors from GTPlanet to contribute their post for this feature(Thank you so much guys!).  It's only fitting we get this one started with cars from the collector whose idea got the ball rolling:

Panchito - Peru

"Well, to begin "my first TLV" story, i must confess that they came as a challenge from a friend. 

Back in the day, as most of us, i started my collection with Matchbox and Hot Wheels, but then i figure that i preferred quality than quantity, so I started to choose other american brands, as Johnny Lightning and Greenlight. 

For a while, that was the top for me, but then a friend of mine showed me his newest purchases from the far west, i'm talking about Kyosho. I went nuts with those, specially with the Ferrari line, so I began to buy those and then other car brands (as Lamborghini and Porsche)

A year later, another friend, Dani Y., told me that he was changing his collection to another scale, so he offered me to buy some of his cars.  I only asked for his Kyosho, but he only released 10, the others i already had them buuuuut here comes the challenge.  Dani said that another brand from his collection was better than Kyosho but he will keep those. I didn't believe him until I saw the black Porsche.  Man..., i was stunned. I tried to bribe him with more cash to buy the whole lot. He didn't accept the offer and he only gave the next challenge: "If you buy 10 TLV from.another source and recognize that they're better than Kyosho, i'll give you one of mine.

I ran to eBay and lucky for me, i found a seller that had these sales promotion: 3 for US$40, 5 for US$60 and 10 for US$100.  I choose the 10 cars option and then waited for 3 weeks to finally have them.  I recognize by far the truth that Dani told me, and he accept to give me "The Prize", the black Porsche that made fall in love for TLV.

Johari - Malaysia

This FJ56V Land Cruiser is a nostalgic one for me. When I was 6 years old, I was on a car ride with my father and I remembered him telling me that he was going to buy a secondhand 4X4. When asked which one he was buying, he pointed to a FJ56V of a Health Department which coincidentally was on the road at that time. I immediately fell in love with the way it looked and told him I can't wait to ride in that Land Cruiser with him.

He passed away a year later and I never got a ride in the Land Cruiser.

When I saw that TLV had this exact model in their line up, I knew I had to get it, as a memory of my late father. That is how my love for TLV started.  The attention to details for a 1/64 scale model are a class on its own. Also my bank account kinda went downhill since I started collecting TLVs.

Saiful - Malaysia

"My first tlv casting is datsun fairlady 260z. The colour, the detail very meticulous. I couldn't take my eye away. Before this my collection diecast life was a lie. Overpriced stuff, lack of details, trendy whore, catching shadow, money game, hoarding, and then i find my true self in tlv. Perfectionist and Uber-Realist. Ape yg aku merepek da..  Thank you."

David - USA

The very first TLV I ever saw was on eBay and it was the light metallic blue Datsun Fairlady and I just couldn't believe how detailed it was for 1/64. Next I saw the Suzuki Fronte 360 and really felt I had found something that truly represents the whacky, obscure tiny foreign cars that for some reason I've always been attracted to. Finally when the tiny, little two door Mazda Familia wagon popped up I was sold, it's got to be one of the neatest little cars I've ever seen. I was already familiar with the Toyopet Corona and I have always loved its distinctive lines. My first order of TLV came from Japan Booster and Amazon at the same time and a total of about 6 to 7 cars were in that order. TLV have brought a huge amount joy into my life and actually I've learned so much more I never knew about many different marques. 

RaZact - Malaysia

I was never a fan to a miniature cars before, love to collect motorbikes diecast because I was so in love with motogp...

After a brief of time my wife cousins Haziman Bahaman introduced me to Tomica Cars, but i still doesn't understand them. Then one day He (Haziman) ask me to check tomica collection at Kinokuniya.  I went there and check for him...when I saw the TLV display for the first time, I was amazed with them how they are so detailed. Spend almost an hour at Kinokuniya and I was fall for them so ‪#‎myfirstTLV‬ is Toyota Crown Hardtop. Since then I never stop collecting them.

Jason - Malaysia

 The old timers' favourite Datsun 160J with was my dad's dream car when he was young. In order to go after his dream, my dad worked his pants off after opening his own workshop. He even traveled across the country with this Datsun 160J. It was a nostalgic moment that I have missed out on as the car has been sold before I was borned. I bought this TLVN Nissan Violet 1400 as a father's day present to bring back his precious memories.

Nor - Malaysia

Meet my 1st love for TLV...not a supercar..its not even a car actually..in fact I dont even have the clue what the heck this midget is..I merely bought her because she has a moveable functioning bed..to have such fixture for a 1/64 scale?? That is pretty much awesome by my standard..

Until this day, I still dont have a clue what do they call this tripartite ..I mean yes, of course u can easily Google them to know what is the answer..but seriously, this midget is a classic beauty regardless of whatever her name may be..

Despite of my love for TLV on their meticulous effort to pursue a real-deal casting for 1/64 scale...I seriously hope they will not venture into JGTC cars...leave them for Kyosho..please..

Shashi - Malaysia

This Hino truck was my very first purchase of tlv product. What amazed me back then and even until now,was the remarkable detailing on it and the level of craftsmanship it possess. Immediately i fell in love with not only the truck but also tlv as a whole...never once i regretted my decision to purchase this green beauty..

Shukant - India

I was searching the internet for my childhood favorite. It was a first small segment car in India by Maruti Suzuki(Collaboration). The original 800 was based on the Suzuki Fronte SS80, but a modernized version using the body of the second-generation Alto (SB308) was presented in 1986.

With over 30 years of production, Maruti 800(Alto) remained the second longest production car in India.

I am a fan of this car and was after a diecast model of the same when I hit "Tomica Limited Vintage". Sad to say but there was no other brand to make miniatures here in India so there was no option.

I instantly fell in love with it once I saw it. Now I have two variations of the same car, The red and the white one.

My introduction to TLV was with this tiny model and I followed TLV from then. No other brand comes this close to detailing, and I hail to that. 

Suhaimee - Malaysia

Well im very new in this hobby, started Sept last year and this is my first tlv. The Japanese Car Era Series Toyopet. Juz luv the details of the car and admire the story behind it as well.. So im still catching up and never stop since!.. Cheers guys..

Lala - Malaysia

The moment I saw it. The interest was initially triggered from a web image of a black Nissan Fairlady 2000. The model I have however, is the evergreen Fairlady 1600.  From there on, I embarked on my TLV adventure.
This is, my 1st TLV story.

Hendy - Indonesia

I prefer mercedez cos i fall in love with the detail of grill and the rims.

Wahid - Indonesia

Apok - Slovenia

My first TLV is quite special to me. It should be no surprise that it's a BMW to anyone that has read my top 10 list on this blog. Not only is it my first TLV, it is also my first 'premium' 1/64 scale car. Before this car my collection consisted of Hot Wheels, Majorettes and anything else that I could find at the stores, since Kyosho, Minichamps, CM's, Konami and especially TLV cars seemed too expensive and simply a hassle to get since I can't buy those locally.

This BMW was the catalyst that made me completely change my collecting habits, since most of what I buy nowadays is the aforementioned 'premium' brands, with Hot Wheels and the like taking a back seat.

Group B - USA(Part 1)

Pretty sure the C10 Skyline Van (wagon to everybody but the Japanese) was what first caught my eye. I like the unusual rather than the mainstream, and it was probably quite surprising to see a diecast Skyline that wasn't a GT-R hardtop, and with steelies no less! The quality was ultimately led to the purchase, as it seemed very serious for what was mainly seen as a toy category.

My one regret on this casting now that I'm more knowledgable is that it's missing the mandatory Japanese cargo bars in the rear quarter windows.

Group B - USA(Part 2)

A few years after selling off my collection of maybe a dozen TLV's, I took a peek back in and discovered they'd released the C110 Skyline Van, one of my favorite cars, in my favorite color, yellow. Not a fan of boring cars, I've always liked Nissan's odd styling direction from the early '70s, and this is one of the oddest. Done deal!

Ahmed - Mexico

I have been a Kyosho collector for a while and Cano was always trying to convince me to collect TLV, but my answer always was "they look very cool and detailed, but I don't like Japanese Cars", this was my answer until I made my first trip to Japan back in 2014, I was looking at the souvenir shops in Senso-ji temple in Tokyo and suddenly I saw a few TLV in a showcase, so I was like "let’s give a try, I'll take 3 of them" Nissan Violet 1400, Datsun Bluebird 1200 and Datsun Bluebird 1800, as soon as I get to the hotel I took them out of their boxes and I was amazed by the extreme detailing and perfect paint.  

The next day my goal was to get the more TLV I could find, on that trip I bought 21 TLV from different stores, today I have 390 TLV on my personal collection. (As you may guess by now that trip changed my perspective about Japanese cars)

So.... my first TLV was the Nissan Violet since that was the first one I choose from the showcase that day.

NDZM23 aka Joe KANNO - Japan

日本には「灯台下暗し」という言葉があります。遠くばかりを見ていて、近くの大切な事を見逃してしまうという意味です。

私にとってのTLVは、まさしくその通りでした。

当時までの私の主な収集対象は、MRcollection や paul's  model art などの1/43と、古い海外のダイキャストでした。子供の頃から慣れ親しんだ「TOMICA」に対しては興味を失っていました。

古い日本製のトミカを所有していたので、それだけで満足でした。

TLVの存在は知っていましたが、「TOMICA」自体への興味を失っている私は、長らくTLVを手に取ることがなかったのです。

それが変わったのは、2014年のことです。ある日オモチャ屋さんで展示されていた、この トリコロールカラーの PRINCE SKYWAY を見た瞬間です。

まるで博物館で、1/1の新車のストックを見たような感動でした。

造形、印刷、塗装の美しさ、コンセプトの明快さ……私はその時初めてTLVの本質的な魅力を知りました。

以来しばらく私はTLVに心を奪われました。そして同時に、TLVの可愛らしさの影響で、コレクションのサイズも3インチが中心となりました。TLVは私を、小さく愛おしい3インチダイキャストの世界へ、改めて引き込んでくれました。

私は多くTLVの custom をしていますが、それは元々のTLVの造形や細部の美しさがあるからこそ続けられます。

私は私の作品で、TLVに「時の流れ」を加えています。「時の流れ」を加えることでTLVに詩的な魅力が生まれます。

この魅力は、hotwheels の custom における陽気な楽しさとは異なる、深淵で癒されるものです。ですから私にTLV custom において派手な表現はしないのです。

画像の錆びた skyway は私の TLV custom の中で最も派手なcustom かもしれません。lol

私はこれからも、TLVに「時の流れ」を与え続けます。

これが私のTLVへの愛情と尊敬です。

Translation:

There is a saying in Japan: "It's dark under the lighthouse".  It means that by looking too far away, you may miss something in your close proximity.  For me, TLV was exactly that.

Before TLV, I mainly collected 1/43 scale cars like MR Collection, Paul's Model Art, and other old diecasts from overseas.  My interest in the "Tomica" brand I used to be very familiar with & fond of as a child had long faded away.  I had some old Tomicas that were "Made in Japan", and I was content with that.  I knew of Tomica Limited Vintage brand, but since Tomica brand no longer interested me, I didn't cross paths with TLVs for long time.

This all changed in 2014.  The very moment I laid my eyes on the tricolor Prince Skyway, on a toy store display.  It moved me as if I saw the perfectly restored original vehicle at a museum.  Beauty of the casting, printing, paint job, and this refreshingly straightforward concept....  This was when I realized the beauty of TLVs for the first time.

I was captivated with TLVs from that point on, and simultaneously, cuteness of these TLV cars pulled me into the world of adorable 3-inch diecast cars again.

I create a lot of TLV customs, and I'm able to continue thanks to the beautiful mold & detailing of the TLVs.

I apply the passage of time to my TLV customs.  This process adds poetic beauty to the cars, and the appreciation comes from place that's very deep.  Quite different from the fun, joyful style of Hot Wheels customs.  Because of this, you will not see flashy expression from my TLV customs.  However, perhaps image of this rusted Skyway is the flashiest of my TLV customs.  lol

I will continue giving passage of time to TLVs.  It represents my love & respect for TLV.

You can follow Joe & his customs on Twitter & Facebook.  Also his customs on this blog:  Skyline Van & Mazda Vacuum.

What an epic post to conclude the Part II of this feature!!  Thank you Joe, also my friends from Malaysia TLV Club & GTPlanet community.  

These stories & background sure adds little more fun to collecting for me.  I hope you guys found them interesting as well.

As always, thank you guys for reading.  Very special thanks again to the TLV collecting community on Facebook & GTPlanet, especially those who participated to make this post possible!!

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