Super Smurfs Racing Cars

Back in 1999 Schleich released two different Racing Cars, one red and one silver. This was during a period which has been referred to as the ‘New Generation Smurf Series’.

Both Racing Cars Super Smurfs may look the same to the ordinary person but upon closer inspection they are not. Both car chassis were designed the same way, but have been painted differently. There are also no Schleich markings on the car, only a large cavity number.

The Smurf’s markings can be found under the feet – Made in China Schleich S Germany © Peyo 98 and a CE marking under bottom. It was produced with and without a blue paint dot.

Typically the ones with a blue paint dot, indicates that the Smurf was made out of a new pvc formula and can also be found with shiny blue paint.

Red Racing Car

The Red Racing Car #40255 was sold by Schleich from 1999 to 2005. The racing car is made out of a red plastic with the grill plates and exhaust pipes painted silver.

The Smurf should also be wearing a matching red racing outfit, with brown gloves and shoes. Along with a white racing helmet with racing goggles. The goggles have a brown strap and silver lens.

It was also sold as a bonus figurine with the French magazine, Je Collectionne les Schtroumpfs in 2005. This one is typically found with matte blue skin.

Silver Racing Car

Strangely, the Silver Racing Car #40256 was only sold until 2002. The racing car is made out of a silver plastic with the grill plates and exhaust pipes painted black.

Like the Red Racing Car Smurf, the Silver Racing Car Smurf should also be wearing a matching silver racing outfit.

Both Racing Car Super Smurfs are highly collectible and make a great display statement. This is possibly because once you take them out of their box, they are possible to put back into the box.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

P.S I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you would like to add your thoughts on the Racing Car Super Smurfs, please feel free to add a comment.

Laughing Smurf bringing happiness

Which Smurfs do you always mix up? I often find myself mixing up the Laughing Smurf with Jolly Smurf. I don’t know why they don’t look anything alike.

Laughing Smurf #20011 can be found with one hand pointing out sideways and the other hand covering his red mouth trying to contain his laughter. Both of his eyes are also closed. First released by Schleich in 1970 to 1973. Then by Bully from 1974 to 1977. Then again Schleich 1977/78 to 1985.

Due to the popularity of Laughing Smurf it was also made out of Hong Kong. This allowed it to be sold by BP and Wallace Berrie from 1980 to 1982. There appears to be no real difference between the ones made of West Germany and Hong Kong.

If anything, sometimes you may find a small difference in the height of the Smurf or the blue paint used. Generally the older ones can be found with lighter paint colours. Compared to the ones made out of Hong Kong that have darker paint colours.

Like many of older Smurfs that can be found, you will notice on the back of their heads that they appear quite scaled. This is quite common and is nothing to be concerned with. I have a few Laughing Smurfs like this and most appear to be painted out of Portugal. I can tell this by the mustard paint dot found under the foot.

However my favourite Laughing Smurf, is one made out of red pvc material. These are also sometimes referred to as Rohling (blank) Smurfs. In the Der Schlumpf Katalog IV book, they list there are three different coloured Laughing Rohlinge Smurfs; red, blue and lilac.

I have no idea where I picked it up but I do adore it. Which sounds just like the story of my entire Smurf collection.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

P.S Don’t you think this would make a great Christmas tree decoration!

Toothbrush Smurf

There are many different markings of Toothbrush Smurf. First sold by Schleich in 1980 through to 1991, then 1993 to 2000 and 2004 to 2006. But there is more than just different markings to be found with Toothbrush Smurf.

Toothbrush Smurf #20064 stands brushing his teeth with a large yellow toothbrush and holds a red tube of toothpaste. Typically the red tube of toothpaste will have a white stripe on the front. The size of the stripe can vary in length and thickness. Also in the beginning the toothpaste was long and curvy in shape.

This mould was also made in Hong Kong and sold by BP and Wallace Berrie. There was very little differences between the W.German and Hong Kong versions. If anything the thickness of the white stripe on the toothpaste tube.

Not that surprising, Toothbrush Smurf was used as a Promotional Smurf but several different companies. I don’t own any of these, but I have seen ones promoting Colgate, Broxo, Fluocaril Bi Fluore 180, PDH-Dental, Oral B and others.

Keep an eye open for this one

However, there is an extremely rare one made by Wallace Berrie. It was made with a long blue swirled toothpaste, wide white stripe on a blue tube. It has the markings – Made in Hong Kong Schleich S © 1980 Peyo markings.

So there is a good chance this was made after 1982. This was around the time Wallace Berrie changed the year marking on Smurfs produced before 1979 and then changed it back. No idea why they did this?

Toothbrush Smurf with short toothpaste

It was until the early 1990’s when they changed to short toothpaste. These are typically found with a CE marking. First they added the CE on the german mould. Then they blocked made in Germany and marked it made in China.

I also don’t believe you can find any Promotional Smurfs made with the short toothpaste. However, I am always happy to be prooved wrong….

Every now and then, you can find Toothbrush Smurf with different coloured toothpaste tubes. As pretty as they are, these are unlikely to be genuine. So if you don’t care about this, they could be nice to add to your collection. Good chance though, others might be thinking the same as you!

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B