Not surprisingly the Jeep Surrey Gala has been the inspiration for a few kiddie toys over the years. This cast-aluminum Surrey promotional model made by Comet for Willys in the 1950's may have been the first Surrey toy.
The popular Tonka version was sold from 1962-64. The Tonka Dispatcher has features of the CJ-3B as well as the DJ-3A, but the pink one was clearly intended to represent the Surrey.
The two toys here were seen at Statewide 4-Wheel Drive Supply in Phoenix, Arizona: notice the size difference between the Tonka (right) and the tinplate toy (20K JPEG).
See a front view of the Tonka (60K JPEG). And see photos of a Tonka with a full-size Surrey in the The Original Tonka Surrey. The Tonka also came in a Jade Green version, as part of the "Outdoor Living" set which included two Jeeps, a camper and a boat. The set was on the cover of the 1963 Tonka Look Book (20K JPEG).
Bob Christy ran across a Japanese-made Surrey that appears to be a copy of the later, smaller Tonkas. He took this photo of it alongside two Tonka Jeeps. He says it has "no markings other than 'Made in Japan' on the bottom of the spare tire. It's just about the size of the smaller Tonka Jeeps and has the same basic shape, looks like a copy almost, except it has more body seams."
See also a side view (90K JPEG). Thanks to Bob for the photos.
The Jeep Surrey Princess Model was one of many Hamilton Pedal-Drive Jeeps built by Hamilton Steel Products of Chicago. This example belongs to Rick Leroy.
Like the Tonka Toys, the Hamilton Jeeps have a high hood and front grille design that appears to owe more to the CJ-3B than to the DJ-3A.
One of many Toy Jeeps by Marx was this remote control battery-powered tinplate Surrey. Interestingly, this example has blue fringe on the pink striped top; see a closer view of the Jeep (30K JPEG).
J-L Martin told me about a Surrey toy available in Europe in 2003: "This is from a collection published by Altaya in France called Taxis du Monde ('Taxis of the World'). Number 17 is about the Carribean Place Nassau Jeep Surrey. Each issue is sold with a 1/43-scale model of a very good quality for the price of 10.50 Euros."
See more photos of the Altaya model from the booklet:
Giorgio Vitale of Italy, who translated the Taxis of the World booklets into Italian, mentions that "In addition to these pages with photos of the model, the booklet contains four more pages concerning the original car. Our Italian edition is more accurate and informative than the original one (which is Spanish -- the French one is translated, like the Italian one). I always research each model and put in the booklet a lot more historical and technical information." (Giorgio also added, "For my needs The CJ3B Page was really helpful, allowing me to correct a few mistakes of the original edition and add many more details.")
There was a flurry of interest in the Surrey among toymakers just after 2000. In addition to the Altaya Taxi, there was the 2001 Matchbox 1960 Jeep Surrey in their Elvis Presley series. Too bad Matchbox didn't continue with the Fountain Green and Cerulean Blue versions.
But the 2002 re-release of the AMT 1/25-scale "Hogan's Heroes" MB model kit, does features a Surrey-style version in blue on the box (20K JPEG).
And here's a blue Surrey; Colin Peabody sent photos of this 1:43 scale 1962 Jeep Surrey in Cerulean Blue and White, made by IXO Models in China. Colin says, "It is very detailed, and accurate in most areas. I don't know the date of manufacture or even if the toy is still produced.
Externally, it has the chrome bumpers front and rear (30K JPEGs), California license plates LGV 929, taillights and chrome gas cap; front windshield supports to the fenders, striped top; steps on both sides, 5 whitewall tires with chrome wheels and hubcaps with the "W" in the center; tailpipe at the rear of the left bumper; spare tire on the rear. It also has the surrey fringe around the top of the body; painted hood holddowns, drain holes on each side and the assist handles painted silver on the windshield, but minus the word Willys on the hood."
"Internally it has the blue and white striped seats, correct steering wheel with horn button, column shift(!), speedometer decal, decals for headlight switch, windshield wiper and key ignition as well as decal for the windshield wiper on the windshield, and the vent handle, all in their proper locations. It does incorrectly have the outline for a glove box, however. The underside (30K JPEG) is detailed but unfortunately shows a transfer case with two driveshafts. It does have the engine pan, exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe and detailed springs on all four corners. On the underside is stamped 'Jeep Surrey' on the passenger side and '1/43' on the driver side with the logo for IXO Models on that side also."
Barbie does have her own official Barbie Jeep in pink and other colors (as well as a Grand Cherokee) (20K JPEG), but I've always liked the one seen here, because it's a flatfender. Labelled the "Powder Puff," it's plastic and made by Empire of Tarboro, North Carolina. This example has stickers including a "Canada" licence plate.
There's also the 1971 pink Matchbox Jeep Hot Rod.
For years Rosaline (20K JPEG) was the only full-size pink Jeep I'd actually seen.
Thanks to Joel Kamunen for the Surrey at the top of the page. Also Colin Peabody, Bob Christy, and Eric Lawson for photographing the toy Surreys in Phoenix, which belong to Earl Colton. -- Derek Redmond
Elsewhere on the web, check out Pink Jeep Tours, who give guided tours around the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.
See also full size DJ-3A Surrey Gala Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.
Return to the Toy Jeeps Pages.
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