Schabak

Schabak is a die-cast toy producer based in Nurnberg, Germany. The company is well known for its line of German cars and commercial airline models. The company's on and off relation with German Schuco Modell is particularly notable.

Schabak was formed in 1966 by Max Haselmann, Gerhard Hertlein, Horst Widmann and Wolfgang Stolpe (Force 1990; Rixon 2005, 76). The company began as a toy distributor, mainly for Schuco Modell toys – and not as a producer (Bickford Diecast website). When Schuco went out of business in the late 1970s, Schabak acquired most of Schuco's tooling (cars and airplanes) and made agreements with many airlines to continue producing model aircraft (Bickford Diecast website).

The company reissued many of Schuco's own diecast airplanes (Force 1990, 211). Schabak then carried on the Schuco tradition of producing toy and model cars (Johnson 1998, p. 209).

In the early 1980s, Schabak largely replaced Schuco, but it should be remember that Gama Toys acquired dies from Schuco and reproduced many of Schuco's 1:43 scale line as well.

Schabak models were a range of exclusively German vehicles first in 1:43 scale (Bickford Diecast website). A Volkswagen Jetta was the company's first car, and Volkswagens, Audis, BMWs, and German made Fords were the company's common offerings. Many cars were offered as promotional models in manufacturer approved packaging with official logos.

Later diecast cars were offered in 1:24 scale – so Schabak was one of the earlier model manufacturers to move up to the larger sizes, in the mid-1980s. Vehicles offered in the larger scale were: Ford Sierra Cosworth (the Sierra also offered in police livery), Granada, Orion, and Fiesta XR2i; Audi 80 Quattro, BMW 750, BMW 850, and Z1; Mercedes S Class, and VW Golf VR6.

Over time, Schabak has carved a respectable name for itself in the die-cast car market, although it is not well known outside of Europe. Outside Germany, competitors Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Maisto, and Corgi were more popular.

Similar to Schuco which preceded it, Gama Toys, and NZG, Schabak car models have excellent detail and proportion usually with all apertures opening. Fit and finish of Schabak vehicles often seemed superior to the other German toy brands.

...
Wikipedia