Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Friction #153 “Atom” Sport Race Car *SOLD*

Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Friction #153 “Atom” Sport Race Car 

This piece is a highly desirable vintage, tin, lithographed, friction #153 “Atom” sport race car that was manufactured by Yonezawa Toys of Tokyo, Japan.   

The friction works as it should and when revved up the car travels forward making engine sounds. Wheels have been reskinned with rubber, and two hub caps were replaced with “Sport” hubs.

This piece is in great all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs or touch ups (other than those mentioned above.) This piece shows the usual patina, fading, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, missing accessories and wear that are to be expected from age and play. This is approximately 16″ L x 6” W. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.      

A brief history of Yonezawa Toys Co. Ltd.  (Y) of Tokyo, Japan:   

Yonezawa Toys (米澤玩具 Yonezawa Gangu) (known also as Yone or simply Y) was founded in the 1950’s in Tokyo. It was one of Japan’s largest and most prodigious post-war toy manufacturers and an early participant in the growing radio control market.   

The company and focused on the production of thousands of different electrically operated and mechanical toys through the early 1970’s. Some were branded not as Yonezawa but as STS. It is unclear as to the origin of the STS label, but it is presumed to be that of an importer. Yonezawa briefly dabbled in radio control in the mid-1980’s with the introduction of the 1/10-scale Wave Hunter buggy, sold in North America as the Monogram Lightning.   

Under Sega’s leadership, Yonezawa Toys was briefly known as Sega-Yonezawa until the Yonezawa branding was dropped entirely in April 1998. Once Sega Sammy Holdings was formed, Sega Toys was reorganized under Sega’s entertainment contents business.   

Since the early 2000’s, Sega Toys markets itself distinctively from the Sega brand, with some occasional collaboration between the two. An example of their collaboration is Sega and Sega Toys producing the UFO Catcher prize games jointly, where Sega manufactures the arcade equipment, while Sega Toys produces the prizes. (From Wikipedia)