FORD truck collection began with a single Toostietoy pickup

By Mark Macreading
Note: This feature is in the Sept. TT&C 2016 issue.

Everywhere one looks in John Hare’s truck collection, one sees only Ford versions and a specific era of Fords at that. The 525 versions in the Hare collection all pay homage to the Bonus Built era made from 1948 to 1950. There are at least 52 scale manufacturers represented.

John Hare has just about everything one can imagine from the 1948 to 1950 Ford Bonus Built truck era in his collection. Among decorative touches set among the small scale trucks, ads and literature he has collected are authentic badges from the F-1 to F-8 Fords made during that time.

A pair of resin cabs in the John Hare collection show some interesting features. At left is a Canadian Mercury version with telltale trim and grille differences. On the right is a Bonus Built-era cab-over-engine (CEO) version with its tall hood line.

Among the Fords in John Hare’s extensive Bonus Built series collection are some versions made in other countries. This version is from PlastiMarx of Mexico. The box delivery van promotes a department store. ​

Here are three of the Tootsietoy versions of the 1948 to 1950 Bonus Built series Ford trucks in the John Hare collection. Scale truck makers like Tootsietoy likely enjoyed the relative simplicity of the grille and headlight design in crafting the versions. It’s part of the appeal of these Fords.

In 1949, the Ford Motor Company added a new style to its extensive number of truck versions in the Bonus Built series. It was originally called the “vannette” in 1949 Ford literature but soon was simply called a delivery van. This bright red version was made by Wyandotte.

Some of the hard-working Ford trucks in John Hare’s collection were made by the Ralston Toy and Specialty Company, usually known as Ralstoy. ​

An articulated soft plastic coal truck in bright shades of green and yellow is among many examples of Marx products in John Hare’s 1948 to 1950 Ford truck collection.

Mexican toy maker PlastiMarx crafted a series of popular beverage trucks in company colors. Among them is this Jarritos fruit juice beverage truck. Jarritos is sold in both Mexico and the United States.

The pages of collector John Hare’s Canadian Mercury truck brochures show colorful examples of familiar looking vehicles. The Mercury trucks had some slight styling changes and unique model names, but were very similar to their American Ford cousins.

This Marx version of a Bonus Built Ford dump truck is thought by collector John Hare to be a test prototype. It is nestled among typically brightly colored examples in his collection. 

Among the many unique Ford Bonus Built series Ford trucks in John Hare’s collection is this truck and low loader trailer with a tractor. ​

The John Hare Ford truck collection is interesting for a number of reasons. One of them is the backgrounds used to highlight the featured trucks. In addition to framed advertising pieces and original literature, John chose an original Bonus Built-era Ford instrument panel for the décor.

Among the more than 50 scale vehicle makers in the John Hare Ford truck collection are a series of Marx-made versions. Many represent working tasks or body styles available in the full-size Ford-made trucks. ​

A line of period Ford vans made by Crown Premium resemble a parking lot of the Bonus Built series delivery trucks ready for work. Ford introduced the truck as the “vannette” in 1949. ​

A line of Tootsietoy trucks stand among the shelves of Ford trucks in collector John Hare’s home. ​