Super Smurf Review: #40243 High Diver Super Smurf

This is one of my favourites, High Diver Super Smurf. Wearing red bathers, with his hands held together the Smurf is preparing to jump off the high diving board. Is it just my imagination, but is the Smurf also taking in a deep breath before he dives.

When considering adding High Diver Super Smurf to your collection, there are a couple of things to be weary of. Both Schleich and W.Berrie created their own versions of High Diver Super Smurf.

Hong Kong W. Berrie Co. Schleich S (c) 1983 Peyo

Both the Smurf and pool have markings
Painted in darker and shiny colours
The ladder is typically shorter, measuring 7.4cm high
The edge of the pool has two stick plugs for the ladder
Smurf is made out of white pvc

W.Germany Schleich S (c) 1982 Peyo

Only the Smurf has markings
Painted in lighter and matte colours
The ladder is typically longer measuring between 7.5cm, to 8cm high
The edge is the pool has two holes for the ladder’s stick plugs to slot into
Smurf is made out of blue pvc

Therefore a Schleich ladder cannot connect to a W. Berrie pool. I learnt this the hard way.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

I am going to give High Diver Super Smurf, a score of 3 Papa Smurfs – Extremely Rare – you’re lucky if you have this one.

Rarity Guide

1 Papa Smurf	Not really rare but still worth collecting
2 Papa Smurfs	Rare – but not too difficult to find
3 Papa Smurfs	Extremely Rare – you’re lucky if you have this one
4 Papa Smurfs	Ultra Rare – requires skill to collect
5 Papa Smurfs	Very Rare – a legendary Smurf

Yellow Car – is not a Super Smurf

Around 1991 Schleich released a special edition yellow car and was sold exclusively without packaging. At first glance this Yellow Car looked more like a toy from a Happy Meal from McDonald’s than something from Schleich.

The light yellow car comes with a black steering wheel, four red, chunky wheels connected by a metal axle. The Smurf figurine is wearing white trousers and a hat with goggles resting on it. It is the same figurine used for Super Smurf Tricycle, article number #40203.

I don’t know the origin of the Yellow Car but its likeness to the Applause Roll-A-Longs is striking. In 1990 in America, the company Applause tried to relaunch the Smurfs but was unsuccessful. The Roll-A-Longs set of 4 included an existing Super Smurf figurine with a new mode of transport.

For example, Skateboarder #40204 now had a bright green rectangle-shaped skateboard with thick grey wheels. Or #40210 had a bright orange car complemented with a bright green steering wheel and thick grey wheels. Each of these accessories was made of a thick plastic with metal rods connecting the wheels. There was also no packaging. Sound familiar?

When I started collecting Smurfs in the early 2000s I was confused by this yellow car. It made no sense to me because this was nothing like the other Super Smurfs cars. To add to this, my favourite collectors websites and online stores would refer to yellow car with the article number 40210. Most still do because it’s easier to group the cars all together.

Yellow Car Facts

Article number 20910
Sold between 1991 to 1993
Yellow car, black steering wheel, light red chunky wheels, connected by a metal rod.
Smurf figurine same as the one used from Tricycle Super Smurf.
Marking on the Smurf: W.Germany Schleich S © 78 Peyo
Marking on the car: Germany Schleich S © 79 CE
Original Box: None. This figurine was sold exclusively without packaging!

Toy companies like Schleich or Bullyland make a variety of character figurines. So it’s not surprising that a vehicle made for one particular figurine ends up with a completely different figure. Everyone has their own right to do this. What I dislike is when someone tries to profit from this and calls it a rare, vintage piece.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Super Smurf Discovery

I have just discovered something new about Super Smurfs, which may have been obvious to most but not me. On some Smurfs made between 2000 to 2002, a blue paint dot can be found. I always thought it was just the Smurf that they added the blue paint dot too.

Only this week I found that with the Super Smurfs, Schleich also added a blue paint dot to the accessories. I am not sure if this was the case for all but it was for School Desk Smurfette.

School Desk Smurfette #40259 was sold by Schleich from 2000 to 2004. Sitting at a school desk, Smurfette is wearing a white dress with pink polka dots, matching pink underwear and small heeled shoes. Her right arm is pointing upwards, as if trying to get the teacher’s attention.

Not only was School Desk Smurfette sold as a Super Smurf but also part of the School Playset. The School Playset #40712 was also sold between 2000 to 2004 by Schleich.

Found by accident

I like to collect Smurfs with different markings and paint dots. I then like to record this into my own database. So when I began cleaning my Smurfs I rechecked the markings on School Desk Smurfette.

I found the following markings on Smurfette:
Made in China (back of right arm)
Schleich S Germany (on Smurfette’s back)
CE Peyo 99 (on Smurfette’s bottom)

Bench chair markings:
81 Schleich S Germany
Made in China CE
Cavity number 3

Desk markings:
81 Schleich S Germany
Made in China CE
Cavity number 1 and a blue paint dot

Like the majority of my Super Smurfs, not all came with their original box. The ones that they did come with their box I kept. Fortunately for me School Desk Smurfette did come with it’s box, which also displays a blue paint dot.

I was stumped, why hadn’t I only noticed this now? I have plenty of Smurfs with a blue paint dot so it’s not as if I didn’t know what it was. Now I am wanting to know if any of you have any other Super Smurfs like this.

If you have any like this, just leave a comment. It would be great to create a list, so other hard core collectors like me have something to look out for!

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Super Smurfs from 1999

Back in 1999 Schleich released six new Smurf figurines and five new Super Smurfs. Some of these are now considered highly collectible by collectors due to their short period they were sold and their unique designs.

This week I have decided to discuss the five Super Smurfs that were produced. If you are wanting to read about the regular smurfs, please click on HERE

Super Smurfs from 1999

#40252 BMX Smurf

#40253 Motor Scooter Smurf

#40254 Motor Scooter Smurfette

#40255 Racing Driver (in a red car)

#40256 Racing Driver (in a silver car)

(Please note that #20451 was not used)

Regular Smurfs from 1999

#20455 Tourist

#20456 Sportsman

#20457 Aerobic Smurfette

#20458 Newspaper

#20459 Smurf with Nameplate

#20460 Golf Smurf

Snippets of Information

BMX Smurf: Out of all the smurfs first released in 1999, BMX Smurf was sold for the longest period from 1999 to 2015.

Wearing light purple pants, with lighter green colours, riding a light red bike, with lighter yellow colours on the bike

Motor Scooter Smurf: Only sold for five years from 1999 to 2004, though possible to find with either shiny or matte blue skin. The number plate on the scooter has S1.

Markings under feet, Made in China Germany 98. Ce marking under smurf’s bottom. There are no markings on the scooter.

Motor Scooter Smurfette: Strangely this was only sold for three years, from 1999 to 2002. The number plate on the scooter has S2. Smurfette can also be found with a blue paint dot under her foot.

Some consider this one, the hardest one to find out of all five Super smurfs produced in 1999.

40255 Racing Driver (in a red car): Was produced between 1999 to 2005. The markings can be found under the feet, Schleich S Germany Made in China © Peyo 98. Ce marking under bottom. There are no markings on the racing car.

Racing Driver (in a silver car): Just like the Motor Scooter Smurfette it was only produced for three years, 1999 to 2002. Exact same smurf and car as Red Racing Car.

All of the five Super Smurfs from 1999 were made and painted out of China. They were all originally sold with a Circular Smurf logo with dancing smurfs pattern box.

I hope you have all enjoyed looking back 20 years to see what smurfs were produced. These were the days when Schleich created smurfs with a fresh, colourful, modern look to great effect. It’s unfortunate in my opinion this is no longer the case.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Super Smurf Scooter Smurfette, is my favourite from 1999 because of the beautiful design of the scooter and paint colours used.

Motor Scooter Super Smurfs

This week in Melbourne, Australia’s first scooter ride share business was launched calling themselves Scooti. Like others such as Uber it operates on a ride sharing app to connect with scooter drivers and passengers. Already their has been a reference to the smurfs as the scooters are a bright blue colour.

Like any passionate smurf collector, upon hearing the news my instant reaction was to find my Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, that were originally released in 1999 by Schleich.

In 1999 Schleich released five new Super Smurfs that included both of the Motor Scooter Smurfs. Some have referred to these smurfs released around this time as the New Generation smurfs.

Motor Scooter Smurf, #40253 can be found riding a red scooter with the number plate S – 1, while wearing a green jumper, navy blue pants, black shoes, yellow safety gloves and a white helmet. Schleich sold this between 1999 to 2004.

Motor Scooter Smurfette, #40254 can be found riding a purple scooter with the number plate S – 2 while wearing a pink jumper, brown pants, green socks, white shoes with black laces, brown gloves and a white helmet. Surprisedly Schleich only sold this one between 1999 to 2002.

The markings Made in China Schleich S Germany © 98 Peyo can be found under the feet and the Ce marking is under their bottoms. There are no markings to be found on their scooters.

There appears to be at least two different variations to be found with Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, one with lighter colours and one with slightly more darker colours. Typically the one with the darker colours can be found with a blue paint dot under the foot. This version was released around 2001.

If you are also keen to collect the Super Smurf boxes, both Motor Scooter Smurfs came with a circular smurf logo with a dancing smurfs pattern and should include a picture on the top of the box.

In my opinion these are both cleverly designed and beautifully painted Super Smurfs. A lot of thought must have gone into the design and making of the scooters as such they rarely full over when displayed. Little things such as an indent into the seat where the smurf sits and the stand underneath the scooter that it allows it to be displayed without detracting from the scooter.

If the idea of the scooter taxi service is to get around Melbourne more quickly just imagine how much more time that leaves me for collecting more smurfs.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Deceptive Super Smurf Boxes

Back in the day when Schleich first started producing Super Smurfs something unthinkable was happening. Some called it deceptive others called it misleading. So how would you respond if you just brought yourself a Super Smurf only to find it isn’t the same as what was shown on the box.

Between 1978 to around 1983 Schleich produced a box with Super Schlumpf!! printed on the box in black bold letters. All Super Smurfs from 40201 Bobsled to 40232 Log Car can be found with this style of box. Upon looking at the picture of the Super Smurf on the box to the actual Super Smurf inside the box, it was quite surprising how many differences could be found. Allow me to give you some examples:

Skier – pictured with green skies on the box and actually came with silver skies.

Car Driver – pictured with a gold steering wheel on red car and actually came with a yellow steering wheel.

Fencer – pictured with yellow foil guards and actually came with golden foil guards.

Lawnmower – pictured with a brown lawnmower and actually came with a yellow bladed lawnmower.

Fireman – pictured with a silver helmet and actually came with a light blue/grey helmet

Cyclist – pictured with black tyres with white spokes and actually came with grey tyres with white spokes.

#40210 Car Driver with the golden steering wheel

Both in the UK and the US the same pictures were being used on their prospective boxes between 1979 to 1983. I would have thought that Wallace Berrie would have used their own pictures considering their smurfs were being made in Hong Kong and quite often painted with different colours than their European counterparts.

Between 1983 to 1991 Schleich changed the details on the box to Super Schlumpf Smurf!! It was displaying details in German, English and French but in most cases the pictures were not changed.

To be honest I was quite amazed that there was not more fuss about this at the time. Maybe there was, I just could not find anything substanal. It definitely keeps us poor collectors on our toes.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Super Smurfs Cars

After receiving such a positive response from my previous piece on Super Smurf Papa Smurf Teacher it made me think of other Super Smurfs that sometimes can be found mixed up. Smurf in Car also known as Car Driver is one that can be easily found with the wrong smurf figurine if you are not careful.

This was one of the first Super Smurfs sold in Australia by BP Australia and was commonly made in Hong Kong and can be found with a red car and brown steering wheel. The markings are found underneath the front of the vehicle and the figurine is generally found with a dark yellow helmet.

In Europe, Car Driver was made both in West Germany and then also in Portugal. Once again a red car was used but this one has yellow steering wheel. The same kind of figurine was used wearing white pants and a yellow helmet. I do not think they ever produced one with a brown or black steering wheel on this version. It was first sold around 1979 by Schleich.

In 1990 Applause tried to relaunch the smurfs to the USA and introduced the Roll- A-Long Line of Super Smurfs. Though the same figurine was used, this time the car was bright orange with a bright green steering wheel. Sadly these were only sold for a short time and are now highly collectible.

Between 1991 to 1993 Schleich produced a new yellow car with a black steering wheel. For some reason Schleich decided to use the figurine that was originally produced for the Tricycle Super Smurf where it has racing goggles resting on his white hat. Then later on for Log Car produced around 1983.

Every now and then you may find the Car Driver with a smurf wearing a green helmet. This is incorrect as this smurf belongs to Go Cart.

So as you can see it is quite easy to mix up the smurfs and their vehicles whether it be a red or yellow car or go cart.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Questions for Papa Smurf Teacher

In my early days of collecting smurfs, the prospect of collecting Super Smurfs was really daunting. I wanted to confirm in my mind that the Super Smurf came with the original accessories. Papa Smurf Teacher was one of these….

Like a lot of smurfs made in the early 1980’s, Papa Smurf was made both in Germany (formerly known as West Germany) and Hong Kong. Generally when this occurred two different versions were made. For example if you have a dark brown stand, you should have a chalkboard that displays a stick figure along with the word ‘Teacher’ on it. If you have beige coloured stand, you should have a chalkboard that displays a maths equation on it.

The other thing with Super Smurfs is that the smurf that is sold with the accessories should all be made from the same country. The German made Papa Smurf is made out of a red pvc material, so only his chest, face and tail have been painted. The Hong Kong made Papa Smurf was typically made out of white pvc material and painted in dark shiny colours.

#40224 Papa Teacher, sometimes referred to as the Maths Teacher

#40224 Papa Teacher, sometimes referred to as the English Teacher

So if you have a dark stand with a maths equation on the chalkboard, it appears that at some stage someone has swapped over the accessories. For some of you, this might not be a big deal but for others this is just considered wrong! I know from my own personal experience I want my smurf collection to be as close as genuine as it can be.

The other thing you need to be mindful with Super Smurfs especially the vintage ones is the type of box that was sold with the Super Smurf. Sadly some people swap over the Super Smurfs inside of the box, so it is always best to check. If the box has Super Smurf!! on it, the Super Smurf should be from Hong Kong and if the box has Super Schlumpf Smurf!! it should be from West Germany.

More recently some of the Super Smurfs have been sold without their accessories and sold as individual smurf adding to the confusion with collectors. If in doubt it is always best to check on other smurf collection websites or online smurf shops. If you are still unsure, just ask me the question!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Bp Australia’s Super Smurfs

Anything blue catches my eye, particularly smurf memorabilia that carries the BP Australia symbol. To find a Super Smurf that was produced back in the 1980’s with its original box and all it’s accessories is even better.

By June 1980, BP Australia had already released at least five different Super Smurfs. These included Tricycle (ref# 4.0203), Skateboarder (ref# 40204) Skier (ref# 4.0205), Signbearer with the sign Let’s go Smurfing (ref#4.0208) and Car Driver (ref# 4.0210).

So if you ever wondered why you can easily pick up a smurf wearing a red shirt with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and holes on the bottom of his feet, it is very good chance it is Skateboarder Smurf without his leaf skateboard. Or that you find a smurf with racing googles on his white hat in a sitting like position, once again it’s a good chance this Tricycle Smurf without his tricycle.

By December 1980 and just in time for Christmas BP Australia announced the arrival of four more Super Smurfs and also for the first time three Playsets. This included Boxer (ref# 4.0508), Bars Gymnast (# 4.0509) Hurdler (ref# 4.0511) and Basketball (ref# 4.0512). The Playsets included Well (ref# 4.0090), Snail Cart (ref# 4.0100) and Boat (#4.0070).

Like everything, a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. In Australia the majority of the smurfs sold were made out of Hong Kong. Hong Kong smurfs were first made with a Schleich emblem and a © Peyo curved signature marking. There is no actual mention of Hong Kong or cavity numbers to be found on these smurfs. This would be around 1978 or early 1979. Later on the Hong Kong moulds started to include Hong Kong or Made in Hong Kong to the markings.

The most important thing to remember is that not every smurf should be considered rare or vintage in these times for collecting smurfs.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B