Walk into the toy section of any Japanese department store back in 2005 and you’d see shelves stocked aplenty with Choro-Q. Older JNCers may recognize these small pullback toys as Penny Racers when they were sold in the US in the 1980s. Drop a one cent coin (or ten yen piece) into a slot on the back and the car would perform all manner of stunts across your kitchen floor.
However, despite their vast lineup of super-deformed (yet surprisingly detailed) Japanese autos, in recent years Choro-Qs have dwindled and disappeared from store shelves. Some blamed the lack of interest in toy cars among Japanese youth.
Apparently, reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. Takara Tomy is re-launching the line as Choro-Q Zero. Why Zero? Because the lineup is returning to its origins in the 1980s with a focus on the classics! The first four models released will be the Nissan Skyline Silhouette, Toyota Soarer, Nissan Caravan, and Honda City R.
Intended for the collector, they will be priced much higher than past Choro-Qs (¥1029 vs ¥360). The first four will be released September 30, 2011.
Hat tip to Toyotageek.
If the 80’s are “Zero”, I’d rather have a Choro-Q Negative One.
*want*
Especially the Silhouette and Soarer would be my favorite… Now where can I buy a whole box of them? 😛
I have a little collection that I’ve been wanting to expand for years but Ilike the article described… finding them was impossible…
I’ve really missed these things, and I’m glad they’re back!
i have a small collection of these, including a soarer and 2000gt from back before i even knew what cars they actually were. R31 skyline, honda CRX’s, city, today, suzuki samurai.. spoon sports EP3, NSX, Mooneyes Sunny truck.. i love these things!! i wish i knew what they were when i was buying them as “Penny racers”.. would have for SURE bought more..
Ebay is the only way (to buy these), these use be on sale at Hobby Link Japan (HLJ) but I can’t find them anymore.
Sorry, search HLJ under Takara Tomy. (Not just Tomy).
Huh, I had no idea that they had disappeared. My friend went to Japan a couple of years ago and picked up a KPGC10 GT-R Choro-Q. It graces my desk here at work (complete with 1 yen in the back), right next to a new Tomica toy I just bought.
Way cool! I have a huge collection of these, and more nostalgics is always a good thing…
I love these and have a great little collection.. didn’t realise they weren’t about any more.
I always wanted to get the distribution rights to them in Australia as I reckon they would have sold great…