Maker record
Cherryca Phenix
Cherryca Phenix was a Japanese miniature-car range introduced by Taiseiya in 1962. Its models depicted Japanese, European and American vehicles, generally at 1:40 scale. Many featured articulated parts, detailed interiors and suspension. Early cars were cast in antimony; from about 1964, Taiseiya used zinc alloy. The range included passenger cars and racing subjects, as well as taxis and police vehicles. After Taiseiya’s 1965 bankruptcy and acquisition by Yonezawa, some Cherryca Phenix models appeared in Yonezawa’s Diapet collection.
- Founded
- 1958
- Countries
- France
- Locations
- Japan
- Founders
- Unknown
The story of Cherryca Phenix
Taiseiya’s Micro Pet cars appeared in 1961. In 1962 the company gave its miniature-car series a new identity, Cherryca Phenix, after deciding that its existing commercial name was too similar to a competitor’s. The range focused on Japanese, European and American cars at roughly 1:40 scale. Models often had articulated parts, detailed interiors and suspension. They were finished using a Japanese chroming process: the metal body was plated, then painted areas were masked to leave selected surfaces metallic.
The early cars were cast in antimony. From reference PHE23, around 1964, Taiseiya changed to zinc alloy. The range grew to 49 references, numbered PHE1 through PHE50 with PHE49 unused; subjects included passenger cars, racing cars, taxis and police vehicles. Taiseiya went bankrupt in 1965 and was acquired by Yonezawa. Yonezawa established its Diapet series using Taiseiya’s equipment and techniques, and some Cherryca Phenix models were incorporated into Diapet.