Toys TOYS

Odd Bods

  1. Home
    2. >
  2. Toys
    3. >
  3. Odd Bods

For sale in many newsagents and corner shops in the late '70s, these model custom car kits were a complete swizz. They were sold as snap-together kits of wild-looking an crazy vehicles, with terrific illustrations on the boxes that showed them in high detail, gleaming with chrome and giving the impression that they were much bigger than they actually were. They seemed like great value- until you'd bought one and opened the box. They turned out to be tiny, crudely-moulded objects in two-tone blue and orange plastic that required a minimum of assembly and, once built, barely resembled cars at all!

After being conned once, I didn't buy another one, although I still have the specimen I bought in a box in our attic somewhere. There was a lot of trade descriptions infringement over children's items back then (remember the 'Sea Monkeys' fiasco?) Thank Heavens youngsters can't be exploited like this nowadays.

Suggest an update

Author of this article:



Contributors to this article:

  • There are no contributors yet

Message boards

Discuss Odd Bods on the message boards

Do You Remember Odd Bods?

Do You Remember Odd Bods?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    Thanks for that RetroAndy- regret that it wasn't me who added the picture, it's the website team who research for these and put them on. The 'Odd Bod' I bought was the one of the vintage car driven by a caricature 'old timer' in a top hat and buttoned-up coat- the chassis could jack upwards from underneath. There was also one based on an aeroplane I think.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    The local Mace supermarket even used to have a complete revolving display of Majorette die-cast cars, too.Pocket money heaven! If you're wondering why I'm writing this at such an ungodly hour, I'm on shift (and on a break!) :D
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Hi, Roxxy. Brilliant! I've been looking for these for, like, ever!!! I had nearly all of these! When I used to go and stay with my Nan and Grandad in Hemsby, Norfolk, I remember making my way up Beach Road to buy an 'Odd Bod'. You're right about the colours; always two-tone. I remember one of them being dark green and cream, and another being turquoise and pink (?). They were great fun, though. Easy to assemble and tough when built. I only wish I'd kept them. Not sure who made them, but I'd love to own the set again. Halcyon days!!! :D Just out of interest, where did you get the picture from? Andy
    • Anonymous user
      on
      My god, I haven't seen these since 1983? Was looking for them. Wow, let me look at them again. I remember, especially the one second from top row, 2nd from left haha. Memories are floading back...I was crazy about these, my friend I would go into Aladdin's Cave in Molesey Surrey after school and buy one. I remember I would try to put it together on the walk home to our houses. Yeah they were blue and orange plastic. Thanks for sharing.

Do you remember these?