Who are or were CH Plastic Cars? I don’t know other than it is a logo on the baseplate of some small plastic toy cars that are obvious copies of Matchbox models. The series is nicely made for a cheap copy and there are colour variations that make them interesting. If you have come across this page trying to research a small plastic model cars that are Made in Hong Kong but are not branded then maybe you can find something useful here.
For the moment I have two references as well as my own collection.
http://www.garyscars.co.uk/mb/copies/ch.htm and page 102 from Andrew Ralstons out of print book via a Google search. If you have any more information on these toy cars that were made in Hong Kong in the 1960’s then please get in touch.
Having had my interest raised when I found the first two in a batch of cereal toys that I bought, I have done some searching and grown my collection to cover all bar one of the models and allowing for not having all the colours.
There is a CH Toys business noted in Hong Kong, however I am not convinced that it was the same CH from the 1960’s. I note that most of the models are unbranded on the base plate and that on one of my Rolls Royce models the hexagonal logo outline appears to have have whatever letters were inside it roughly scratched out in the mould. Blue Box are another common brand of the era but I dont think there is a relationship there as I would expect both CH and Blue Box to have existed at the same time.
As with most of my collection, reproduction boxes for the CH models are available from RecoverToy. With the boxes I have noted what I will refer to as early and later issues. The early issue are a standard card with offset printing while the later boxes appear as using a coated paper, either before or during the printing process. The colours on the early boxes have in some cases faded while the coated boxes are very sharp and vivid. My best guess is that this is from a change in the ownership of the moulds or the business called CH.
Finally a CH logo to display on the black baseplate. Made in Hong Kong and model number 104 also imprinted.
Contrasting the two distinct colours. The paler one looks like it is caused by thinning of the plastic as it is translucent.
The first CH toys Made in Hong Kong model that I bought after the Rolls and Kombi van.
This CH 104 Jaguar came with a box that has unfortunately been soaking up oil in a shed or somewhere. The box itself is ok as they were slightly waxy in the exterior finish but the cardboard has soaked up the oil.
This one contrasts nicely with the two orange colour Jaguars.
A second Jaguar in the series which suggests the target market was the UK. This is the XK140 styled after Matchbox model 32 in a maroon or burgundy colour.
This CH 105 Jaguar XK140 is in an earlier box which is printed on plain type paper or is uncoated.
The base plate is the common black with no logo, just the Made in Hong Kong and model number 105
CH 106 Austin Cambridge model in blue in a later issue coated finish box.
CH 106 Austin Cambridge model with the hand finished silver detailing.
Another base plate with the CH logo imprint, along with Made in Hong Kong and the model number 106.
CH 107 Austin Taxi London Cab model, blue with silver trim and the typical open door on the passenger side.
CH 107 Austin Taxi London Cab model, modelled after the Matchbox 17
Another model with a plain base plate not indicating the maker just Made in Hong Kong and the model number 107.
CH 107 Austin Taxi London Cab model, bright red with silver trim and its original late issue box.
CH 107 Austin Taxi London Cab model, showing the open door on the passenger side.
No logo on the base plate, just Made in Hong Kong and model number 107.