Gama offerings
Gama did not seem as regular or uniform in its offerings compared to other diecast companies who may have been better at marketing. Like Siku, Corgi or Dinky, Gama made a wide variety of cars, trucks, construction, and commercial vehicles in diecast. These included recreational vehicles like the rounded Tabert Senator trailer, DKW 'Schwimmwagen' type Jeep, fork lifts and skid steers, or the Porsche ORBIT Sectional Hydraulic Platform which actually squirt water. Some of these were similar to Gescha, NZG or Conrad, but Gama always seemed more oriented to toys and didn't seem to penetrate the truck promotional market like these companies did. Gama usually produced German brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen – Faun was a common truck brand.
In the late 1970s, Gama introduced its diecast old car series, once again applying the "MiniMods" name, but now only used for these models that were similar to Matchbox Models of Yesteryear. A brightly colored box style was used (see photo above) that hinted of the 1920s or 1930s design. Sometimes the castings were a bit crude, but often the selection was interesting like the three wheeled German postal van. The similarity to Yesteryear models was evident in simpler detail, dull precision and size, but instead of British selections, the focus was on classic cars of the European mainland.
Though Gamas are usually as detailed and finely rendered as Schucos or Marklins, they don't seem to carry the same respect from collectors. Perhaps this sentiment comes from the diecast seconds sold to other countries and brand 'inter-breeding' which makes identification of true or original Gamas problematic.
Brand Inter-breeding
Gamas have appeared in other countries as dies have been sold. For example, a battery operated Gama 1:12 scale plastic Opel GT later appeared marketed by the Greek firm 'Ellas' by the Gavrielides Bros. The MIR Toy factory in Mir, Bulgaria (later to become Mikro'67; see website below), reproduced about 20 different Gama vehicles through the 1990s, in several colors. Sometimes they were packaged with "Made in Germany" still marked on their bases – but after a time the country designation was gradually removed. The diecast Micro'67 Opel GT, in 1:41 scale, for example, does not say the manufacturer on the base, but does say 'Made in Bulgaria' on the box.
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Also, Force points out that, especially after Gama purchased Schuco in the mid-1980s, company model offerings were not brand unique. The firm often, with lack of discretion, marketed other manufacturers' toys. Schuco models were dumped, without much change, directly into Gama boxes and Conrad Models, Norev, and Nacoral dies would appear as Gamas, virtually unchanged. Some of the Micro'67 models made in Bulgaria also appeared in Gama boxes back in Germany.
Japanese toy manufacturer Bandai before made Gundam plastic models (GunPla) in 1980s licensed and marketed German Gama Toys products in Japan from 1962 to 1986.
Unlike other brands like Polistil, Corgi, or Dinky, the cross-country appearances of Gama models makes collecting them a challenge and it is often best to consider the foreign made (outside of Germany) makes as model companies in their own right.
