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Scale model diecast bus St. Petersburg Greyhound Scenicruiser PD4501

Scale Model Bus & Vintage Toy Bus Guide
Corgi Diecast Buses, Japanese Tin Litho Toys, Promotional Bus Banks, Hotwheels, Matchbox...

Model Diecast Toy Bus > Tinplate Litho Buses > Other Tin > GM Fishbowl Tin Litho Battery Operated Bus

General Motors Fishbowl Tin Litho Battery Operated Bus

GM Fishbowl Tin Litho Battery Operated Bus

Model # / Description...

Oversized Japanese tin plate litho battery operated bus from the 1960s

Tin Toy Bus Manufacturer / Country...

Manufacturer unknown / Made in Japan

Tin Toy Bus Dimensions and Scale...

16" long x 5 1/2 high x 5" width

Tin Toy Bus Description, Bus Collector Value ($US) and Notes...

While my girlfriend and I were walking through an antique furniture market she spotted this bus inside a cabinet in one of the numerous dealer stalls. She knows I collect old buses so whenever we go out for Sunday drives she'll keep her eyes open. As soon as she showed me this one I knew I had to have it!

This is a beautifully made Japanese tin plate litho bus of a General Motors (GMC) new-look fishbowl. It dates from the 1960s. What makes this tin toy unique is its large size and the fact that it takes 3 "D" size batteries so it can move around. This bus is easily worth several hundred dollars.

If anyone has more information on this bus please use the form below.

Bus photos posted by: ToyBusExpo.com

Collector Comments

I had the same toy when I was a kid. It was my favorite. My mom got it from an executive of our local transit agency after looking relentlessly for a toy transit bus for me. I still have the body and chassis, but the mechanisms no longer work and the bumpers are gone... needless to say, this got played with more than any other toy I owned as a kid. I want to say I got it around 1967, but it was used, so I have no manufacture date for you. Nice memories,though, to see one in nice shape. Thank You!

Ed | Feb 08, 06 | 10:07 pm

What you have there is called the Passenger Bus and it was made by Yonezawa introduced in the 1950's for Rosko. I had a beautiful example with the box and it had all four actions working. I don't know if yours is working but when operational it is quite impressive. First off it had the standard mystery action which would scoot it back and forth and reverse when it bumped something. Second it had lights on the front. But the most impressive attribute was when one would depress the red button on top the bus would stop. The people lithography in the windows would move forward as if they were disembarking, the door would swing open, and a tin litho woman would appear on the step of the bus! It was truly an impressive toy and worthy of the many amazing tinplate battery operated toys from Japan during the Golden Age.

Cliff | Jul 14, 10 | 3:43 pm

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Bus Photo Books here

Recommended book

1. A World of Bus Toys and Models
2. Toy Car Collectors Guide: Identification and Values for Diecast, White Metal Other Automotive Toys & Models
3. Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers
4. GM Intercity Coaches 1944-1980 Photo Archive
5. Mercedes-Benz Buses: Reference Guide for Collectors (English, French and German Edition)

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