You can expect anything from Takara Tomy’s Tomica line of diecast collectibles, but you probably never imagined it did platinum—and more recently, gold. That’s right, for those who think regular diecast is just too pedestrian, Tomica has crafted tiny cars out of precious metals.
The Pure Gold Tomica: A Pocket-Sized Fortune
The star of the show is the Pure Gold Tomica, a Nissan Bluebird SSS Coupe that takes “golden oldie” way too literally. Released in 2000 for a cool 1,000,000 yen (~US$6,600 at the time), this 152g miniature masterpiece is crafted from solid gold, right down to the chassis, grille, and tires. Oh, and those headlights? Tiny melee diamonds. Because why not? Sadly, if you’re thinking of adding this to your collection, tough luck—it’s long sold out.
The Platinum Tomica: When Gold Isn’t Enough
If gold isn’t exclusive enough for you, there’s also the Platinum Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z 432. This one-off model is made entirely from pure platinum and weighs 210g, making it roughly 35 times heavier than a standard Tomica. Back in 2010, its estimated value was 7,000,000 yen (~US$75,000 at the time), but since it was never for sale, it remains the ultimate “look, but don’t touch” Tomica.
The Urushi-Painted Tomica: Luxury in Lacquer
Finally, for those who appreciate craftsmanship but aren’t trying to remortgage their home, there’s the Urushi-Painted Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34). This lacquer-coated beauty features traditional Japanese Urushi painting techniques on a zinc-alloy body. Estimated at 80,000 yen (~US$900 in 2010), it’s downright affordable compared to its blinged-out siblings.
So, while most of us collect Tomica for nostalgia, some collectors apparently demand their toy cars to be investment-grade. Your move, Hot Wheels.
The one-of-a-kind Platinum Tomica, Pure Gold Tomica, and Lacquer Tomica made an appearance at the Tomica Expo in Sapporo: Full of Fun! Tomica World [JP] on January 02-05, 2025. During the event, at Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) 1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, guests received a Honda Civic TYPE R TOMICA EXPO undercover patrol car version as the commemorative Tomica for admission.
Images: Tomica [JP].
