The Majorette Story

Majorette is a French toy manufacturer which mostly produces small die-cast cars and other construction and military vehicles, particularly in 1:64 scale. This is a normal 2.5 to 3 inch size, thus Majorette has sometimes been called the Matchbox Toys of France. Traditionally, production was centered in the urban area of Lyon, but models are now made in Thailand.
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#majorette

[@danielstoykov1702]

I love the fact that Majorette makes the stickers on the models on the language of the specific market. Here in my country Bulgaria they come with bulgarian stickers. No other producer do that. Respect!

[@Boardinfourlife]

They really go above and beyond for there time 👍

[@kylesoler4139]

Majorette has definitely had a resurgence as of late, would love to see a adult nostalgic line focusing on classic cars with metal bases in the future. My favourite Majorette casting currently is the Calica GT that was released last year.

[@jimmyj1969]

Majorette cars had magnificent suspensions (just like real french cars of that era!) and incredible attention to detail: no generic interiors, but precise copies of the real models dashboards & steering wheels! Sometimes their love for details went too far = f.i. they shown the rear budges of the car, which would 've been impossible to be seen in such scale!

[@JMDrives]

The Majorette Cherokee XJ had such details that If I remember correctly, had a camping luggage molded on its interior. Also had a trailer truck 300 series, the one with a NASA rocket. The suspension on those 6 wheels where really satisfying. Castings where a bit off though compared to Matchbox, but boy Majorette metal chassis were complete solid toys. Almost Tomica-like if you consider them as weapons.

[@jimmyj1969]

@@JMDrives Yes, I remember the luggage in the Majorette cars trunk (suitcases, tennis rackets, golf clubs etc.!)

[@kylesoler4139]

The new Majorette interiors are amazingly detailed, only Siku can come close to detail as far as 3 inch toys go.

[@TheMasterNo6]

When Majorette were French owned and manufactured in France they were brilliant. The modern Majorette brand is ok but isn't a patch on the French originals. Sadly due to Mattel wanting Hot Wheels everywhere it's very hard to find Majorette or Mattels Matchbox brands in any shops here in the UK thesedays.

[@louisvidalinc2678]

They had a real low point in the early 2000s but I find they have gotten better lately

[@Jdmking-kp1mu]

Honestly I don’t mind only getting hot wheels in my opinion the real rider wheels are the best because the tomica wheels don’t have rubber on them and all the other brands have tires that seem to fat as from what I can see the majorette wheels don’t seem as detailed but that’s just my opinion don’t take it too critically

[@jimtaylor294]

Most model cars on sale today aren't even from Mattel, rather just very low quality store's own chinese tat. Makes one miss the era when good quality model cars where being sold almost everywhere.

[@JMDrives]

Wow, Majorette's booming here in the Philippines. They have this new marketing strategy online now and there are Majorette display booths everywhere here. If there are Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tomicas in near places, Majorettes clinging on the same areas as well. Siku, however, is rare. But they're still on the market here

[@alphatrion100]

Do you remember majokit? That was sooo cool.

[@danielcarlson800]

I remember back in 5th grade (1983/84), a classmate of mine had the Majorette 1/60th scale Agusta 109 ambulance helicopter (white w/red trim), and I haven't been the same since. I didn't get mine until 3 years ago (2020). I STILL have it in the package!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

[@MarkzOng]

Majokit is the coolest toy I own as a kid . multiple accessories for the minifig . Nostalgia to the max .

[@schmutzfabrikag5304]

As a kid I loved Majorette cars, in the early 90s I had Renault 5 turbo, Renault Express, Renault Clio, Toyota Pick up, Land Rover, Depaneuse tow truck, ... They were really good quality.

[@blue387]

4:47 I had that tank which came in a pack with two soldiers. My mother would drag me to our local Woolworths and I would get Majorette toys on occasion. I had a few of these tanks but I never knew they would light up or make noise.

[@gkhncnzdgn]

I don't know why but we used to have French made original ones considerably cheap in the early and mid 90's, back when I was a kid. they're the only brand I loved. thank you.

[@777Lxxx]

I remember when I was a kid is 2000’s growing up in Albania. There were a lot of stores with Majorette and Matchbox cars produced is the 70’s and 80’s. I have a lot of them in my collection and they are still working perfectly to this day!

[@nathancook1404]

I remember a time they use to come into America through Toy Companies like Toys"R"Us or other retailers but sadly the retail apocalypse came along and made it hard for Majorette to sell their products in the United States forcing them to cease making any sales in America but I do wish for Majorette to return the US Toy Market one day their Modern Diecast Cars have caught my interest and I have bought Tomicas at Walmart and as for Siku I have collected a few from a store in a Mall during the 2000's and I wish for that Brand to also comeback to the US Toy Market.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Wonderful!! I bought my first Majorette when I was a kid on a family holiday. Loved their presentation around the late 80s era.

[@shermansquires3979]

I loved my Majorette cars, all had suspension, and fab accesories like a glider in its trailer!

[@danielcarlson800]

Was it pulled by a Volvo Hatch-Back? I remember that one.

[@shermansquires3979]

@@danielcarlson800 I think it was a Toyota 4x4 from the 80s! But there were other cars towing the glider trailer.😁

[@danielcarlson800]

@@shermansquires3979 Copy. I LOVE gliders!!!!!!

[@louisvidalinc2678]

Thanks for listening to my suggestion to do them! Absolutely delighted!

[@TheShowgirl25]

I've got a few of the 1/32 scale ones, including the Traffic Jammers which play music when you press down on the front suspension. Also the Hot Rods with interchangeable engine blocks.

[@Twirlyhead]

I'm surprised you didn't make more of those excellent hard plastic presentation cases they once came with; a big selling point for me and I'm sure many others. Made them instant collectables I think.

[@mrdaykurutakuchannel]

Please make the tomica story ASAP! It's also my go-to diecast car brands to buy on budget alongside hot wheels, matchbox and majorette! Also for kyosho, Jada & bburago too!

[@Erik-uv8zf]

I miss that entire diecast aisle in Toys R Us. I remember Majorette had a nice selection there.

[@Bigreid92]

The Majorette Iberia Bus was my all time favorite

[@honestguy7764]

Bigreid92 I still ha a AirFrance neoplan

[@Bucketroo]

I have the Agusta 109 helicopters, including the Sonic Flashers version. If you press on more than 1 button at a time, you create a new weird sound! And since it's got 8 buttons total, you can make all sorts of weird noises! Endless fun at parties! I love that little Dyane desert racer!

[@MirkoC407]

As a German kid grown up in the 80es my toy cars were probably 40% Siku, 30% Matchbox, 20% Majorette and 10% Hot Wheels. Majorette was good for its rather exotic everyday models because of their French and Mediterranean focus. While you would get Mercedes, VW, Audi, Ford and Opel / Vauxhall (did not take this too serious back then, many Matchbox models had right hand drive and English names like Cavalier or Cortina instead of Ascona and Taunus) Majorette was good if you were looking for a Citroen, Renault or Fiat the others would not make. And as every boy in Germany at that period I loved the trucker series "Auf Achse" in TV. And I loved beside MAN the lorries from Renault/Berliet and Iveco, so I had to go to Majorette because only they would make them. Hot Wheels never was a big deal for us. Just the special effect cars that would roll over, get dents on a crash or change colour by temperature were moderatly desired.

[@bentullett6068]

I actually loved the majorette cars due to the diecast chassis and working suspension. The American Chevrolet pickup trucks were the ones I liked as they had huge off road wheels, tow bar and they usually came with roll over bars in the bed or a towing crane if it was a tow truck.

[@niklaswejedal463]

Wow - had no idea Majorette and Norev share the same background! Both are favorite brands of mine; Majorette as a kid, Norev as an adult model-car collector with a taste for the french.

[@Megadriver]

The limo you showed... I have one in white. It was a gift from someone back in 1993. I was only a year old, so my parents actually gave me the car when I had grown up a bit and knew how to take care of my toys. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. The Majorette limo is probably my favorite smaller model car. Such attention to detail, the doors open, the sunroof and it had suspension. And at age 6 that toy car is the same as a real car! And the gorgeous boomerang antenna... such an iconic Hollywood look, why don't limos have that now?! Now I kinda want to get the limo from my parents basement and put it on display somewhere in my house XD

[@JMDrives]

I have the the old Mercedes limo in white, with the curved antenna on its boot. It was a goddamn weapon of mas destruction when me and my sister argued who gets to play with the cars. Those metal chassis is a hazard to any "playful" kids. I still have it today, but the paint needs restoring.

[@Megadriver]

@@JMDrives Actually it's a 1980s Cadillac, not a Mercedes. A proper Hollywood icon.

[@JMDrives]

@@Megadriver His is a Cadillac. Mine is a Mercedes.

[@Megadriver]

@@JMDrives I just looked it up - sorry. I thought Majorette only made a Cadillac limousine.

[@seanc5226]

A real blast from the past, some great memories attached to these cars. Majorette still a very good brand but hard to get here.

[@exoroxx]

As a child I loved the tiny details of the majorette models of the late 80s/early 90s. I don't know much about this toy manufacturer, but this was my era.

[@Grimbot81]

Majorette was my absolute favorite brand of small 1/59 cars. The suspention and overall engeneering was absolutely brilliant. Even Matchbox went 1/59th with suspention back then.

[@anthenning]

I loved the Majokits, I had a couple of sets and played with them for years. I was always fond of the Majorette cars too, I recall they had a much springier suspension than Hotwheels.

[@nameruse1817]

That's because Hotwheels don't have suspension dumbass.

[@Notxnn]

Hotwheels only focuses on overcoloured racecars, while Majorette focused on realistic vechiles

[@MikeStavola]

I was one of the rare Americans that liked Majorette cars. I miss my red car shooter and my sonic flasher helicopter and tank.

[@kingfisherautomotif9884]

Now this I am really looking forward to!! Our local garden centre had a display stand & every week I would be begging to go there. The place is still there but sadly the Majorette stand isn't, however I still get a little shiver of excitement every time I visit the place ;-)

[@facoffee7036]

3:26 I received this truck from my uncle. I still have it some 25+ years later! These models were sturdy, and I had a few other models from Majorette. Back in the day, this was the only brand, together with Bburago, that could be found in shops where I used to live. I only came to know about Hot Wheels some 10 years later, and about Matchbox only a couple years ago.

[@zombiebrainstudios]

I had about a dozen of Majorette cars as a kid back in the 80s. From what I remember they were substantially heavier than other brands.

[@shaunw9270]

That's interesting , because they weren't in the 70's . The models were much lighter than Matchbox.

[@zombiebrainstudios]

@@shaunw9270 I was born in 1978 so 70s were mostly before my time. What I remember vividly is when my brother would lob a Majorette car at me it hurt like hell. If his aim was good.😁

[@shaunw9270]

@@zombiebrainstudios lol 😂

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

I have and still have some Majorette's in my collection (as a child)....very detailed cars. I have a great Alpha Romeo convertible...

[@YourOldUncleNoongah]

Man i loved the black lincoln limo! ive purchased several over my lifetime. Its a great model.

[@marymhayder875]

I have so many of old diecast majorette made in france keeping them since 40 years ago.

[@Wario7793]

I'm seeing Majorette at my local Wal-Mart, which is always good news for the brand.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Yep, when you hit Wal-Mart, you hit it big in the US, I suppose.

[@thehotlineofdiecast.7623]

Mine too

[@thierrylebreton226]

Majorette a fêté recemment ses 60 ans. Pour l'occasion ils ont sorti toute une collection pleine de nostalgie 🥰

[@odysseuslaertiades1528]

Another great video about die-cast model cars! Please continue this series by covering Siku and Tomica as well.

[@LittleCar]

I have community votes for upcoming videos, so be sure to vote if they appear!

[@bjornkeizers]

I had a few Majorette cars as a kid; they were excellent. Very tough builds compared to other stuff at the time. They also had unusual cars in their line-up like Mercedes-Benz limousines. I definitely hope you'll do a Siku story soon - that's the brand I owned the most of.

[@TCadillacM]

The cadillac limo is my favorite Majorette casting.

[@steverobsondiecast]

I had the dune buggy Majorette in the mid 1970 era. I liked it. Since then bought some of the used cars from the 1990 era and the new ones when they where in Walmart. The quality varies but you get some nice odd ball csrs not seen by other brands.

[@TheHorsebox2]

Another great video. Majorette produced some nice vehicles, but Matchbox castings really were superb.

[@hashrulsubzero]

I only started to take interest on Majorette when they've started to appeared in my local Tesco in Malaysia about two or three years ago (maybe before that). Their WRC car models is what I like to collect (being a rally fan) but the price (it's RM30 for one WRC model if I'm not mistaken) makes me think twice about buying it.

[@lazuardichoiri6123]

yeah, their WRC series is pretty much expensive

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I used to really like Majorette toys - particular favourites were the Matra Bagheera, BMW 733i and the FIAT 127 with the dog’s head poking out the window. They also did really good car and trailer sets.

[@SargeWolf010]

New to the channel interesting video keep it up also in Pa USA I've seen majorette cars in a lite blue package in Dollar Tree Stores ...

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Surprised they'd end up there.

[@SargeWolf010]

I was wrong [beacuse when I was younger I'd got them confused then to] The Dollar Tree cars are Maisto ...

[@chrisgurney2467]

I used to have a bunch of Majorettes, probably have a few still, and they were rarer to get here in Australia but not too hard to get

[@farouqomaro598]

One of my favourite brands. In fact my first 1:64 was a Majorette

[@edak482]

Majorette did a very nice series of little World Rally Cars some years ago, like the Ford Focus and Fiesta, Citroen Xsara and C4, Peugeot 206 and 307. I liked those a lot but the most impressive Majorette (for me) was the 1:24 diecast Peugeot 405T16 from the Dakar rally.

[@waelalabri7219]

This is a nice clip about the origin of the famous Majorette cars that me and my family grew up with. Thanks for the information. I liked the brand too.

[@ObsessionTheCat]

It's sad to see majorette go so bad in quality and models as it was my favourite toy car brand when I was a kid. Also really nice to hear someone talk about novacar, it was really nice cheap brand then and never heard of them after I stopped playing with toy cars.

[@henrimichelpierreplana4332]

Majorette, Solido, Dinky Toys... all my childhood... thanks

[@evilbarbiedoll9195]

The yellow beetle is a playart. Thank u for this video, very informative

[@aboutthemetal8783]

They made some good toy cars in the 70s and 80s.

[@AtTonisGarage]

Great piece of history of a very nice model car brand....congratulations for the clip and have a nice weekend ahead! 👍👍

[@chicherich]

I had 2-3 of them. I remember that they were really attractive and well built models.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

I first encountered Majorette when I visited Paris at the tender age of 9, way back in 1974. They were similar in size to Matchbox but Made in France not Made in England....here in Tbilisi, XS Toys stocks some of the current "Made in Thailand" Majorettes

[@chaimshamza5850]

I had the Citroën Diane in metallic gold and the r4 van in blue and a few other cars (peogeot 604 in blue, mk2 capri in red with white vinyl roof(plastic) I remember the majokit adds around '84' 85. I loved the french number plates!

[@loufadoros20]

I was having so many majorettes as a kid back in early 90's

[@exoroxx]

Me too! One of my favourites were from Majorette.

[@loufadoros20]

@@exoroxx one of my favourite was citroen xm car with the ability to open the engine department. My playground /"road circuit" was the long cement fence on village house . RIP village , rip childhood :(

[@exoroxx]

@@loufadoros20 The XM was also my favourite. I had one in silver. And I still have it in good condition. :) I got the Renault 25 in three colors (red, blue and grey), but only the red survived (others gone missing sometime) - in very bad condition. This is one of the first toy cars I remember.

[@ankbmm]

Amazing series. Keep it up 😎😊

[@tc5273]

I was lucky enough to live in Germany in the 1970s so had a feast of different manufacturers to choose from. Siku, Majorette as well as Matchbox and Dinky. Siku were the best and typical Teutonic quality with Majorette being quite prized. I had the Volvo estate and the Merc 350SL. I do wonder if kids still play with cars today? I feel sorry for kids in the future. Instead of perfecting the 'brrrrrm' sound, will they just make a 'hummmm' sound?

[@dr.jiIIaIicecooper2587]

Good stuff thank you. Had a lot of Majorette and Matchbox cars and trucks in the early 90s. I have seen some in this video but some with different colors.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I recall Majorette coming to the US by the 1990's and seeing ads for their cars on TV. I think the ads were for the Sonic Flashers I saw.

[@kaitospence18]

Can you do Tomica as well since it's 50th anniversary this year

[@LittleCar]

I have community votes for upcoming videos, so be sure to vote if they appear!

[@kaitospence18]

@@LittleCar ok but I'll add something in case it's happening... Otherwise.... There might be mistakes in there Including the one you made a misleading mistake in that rx-7 video from your other channel that the spirit r launched in 2002 and NOT 1999

[@evilbarbiedoll9195]

I collect Tomica

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Im a tomica collector also, be awesome cheers KC Tassie Australia

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

@@LittleCar like others here...please do a history of Tomica!

[@marcelogazzoli4279]

I'm from Brazil. I have several Majorette miniatures including that Volvo @ 2:31 (mine is blue and had a trailer with a small boat)

[@hotwheelscuration3242]

you are fantastic at this and i look to your videos as inspiration. if i had one ask it would be not to stick to revenue generating restrictions and make longer more in depth and or follow up videos. Keep up the good work!

[@flemingpandel5287]

I still have one of the glorious Foxbody Mustang Convertibles lying around somewhere. By now its been converted to a hotrod though, missing hood, windscreen etc.

[@dpistis]

As an 80s boy (born 1975) I must confess that I had matchbox and majorette (only these were available in Greece then). No much between them in terms of quality but I always thought that majorette were a little better back then. Now I have a toddler and I own Majorette, Matchbox, hotwheels and siku. My verdict? Majorette are better detailed and the only ones with suspension but also the biggest of the three. Matchbox are the smallest but still better deatils than the hotwheels. Hotwheels finally has the biggest share and variety. Siku are expensive and not better is any area. Finally the most annoying thing about the majorettes is the pure quality of the paint. They are very shinny and glossy with great depth but cannot handle the use and pills off very easily compared to mattel's.

[@waider]

Damn I remember that military chopper, its true the batteries lasted really long despite using the sound feature a lot. I had that 944 also which played la cuccaracha. I also had that carrying case that was able to launch the car, not as good as the commercial impliea.

[@Boardinfourlife]

I love my old 1980's Majorette Purple Porshe Turbo 911 💜 and my Red and Yellow Formula 1 Series Diecast Trucks and Trailers 😍 great video..

[@jimtaylor294]

Hadn't ever really heard of this make before, as Corgi and Matchbox where the main fare of UK shop shelves during the 1990's. (in the east-midlands at least)

[@alphatrion100]

Majokit was great. And the cars in the 80s had very good springs

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

Few more to do - Yatming - Siku - Norev - Budgie Toys - Polistil - Guisval - Mira

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Majorette was my absolute favourite of all the toy car makers, and nothing else really came close. It was the crème de la crème, n'est-ce pas?

[@lestariabadi]

Ingvar Hallström mais oui!

[@stanojevicnatasa2514]

Majorette Jaguar XJ6, one of my childhood favourites...

[@philpinto]

A double-decker bus with 3 spokes that looks cool

[@espenbjerke1905]

You should do a SIKU story. they made great comertial vehicles in the 70-80s

[@LMCarneiro]

I had a Sonic Flasher Ford Bronco German Fire jeep. Very cool.

[@kavkaz879]

I own a few majorette models. But I mainly buy Matchbox and hot wheels. But since I found out they paired with Gran Turismo. I'll be looking out up on eBay soon

[@lobolj53]

3:15 Damn! I was given those two same trucks when I was a kid around 2002(9years old), as gifts, and was told not to play with them... I did and then I was taught what collecting is. I don't have them anymore unfortunately.

[@zbyniurumek3235]

It's my favourite diecast firm. :)

[@hellabaloooga]

I wish collecting Majorette cars was just as common as Hot Wheels and Pokemon cards... I have too many

[@sarjim4381]

Did Majorette ever do private label manufacturing for stores in the US? I may be my failing memory, but I swear I saw some of their vehicles, especially that jeep and trailer, being sold in either Woolworths or Kresge under their company names.

[@jacksonkelsey3023]

If anyone needs the latest majorette, come to Australia, we have a LOT!

[@Decrepit_biker]

I had some Majokit! Used to make towns with it and the kelloggs village and airfield!

[@kiramiho]

just an additional point. majorette cars now mostly suffer from production issues. it seems that they now have a poor quality control before sending the cars to stores.

[@marcbaur677]

At 3.47: Siku made all Vehicles (Cars, Trucks and other Maschines) from 1954 till 1973 in scale 1:60, from 1974 till 2000 in scale 1:55, than various scales (Fit into one Blistersize). Matchbox and Hotwheels are in different scales too, like Majorette.

[@gorf959]

As someone who was a kid in the 90’s I always associated Majorette with cheap plastic junk compared to most other toy cars of that size which had a lot more metal. I had no idea they had a lot longer history.

[@jimmyj1969]

During the '70s & early '80s they were the BEST small-scale cars, by far!

[@espenbjerke1905]

majorette had great suspension

[@TheWacoKid1963]

5:18 quality control, we have a problem

[@1171karl]

0:55 I had that camper van! Still don't know what make and model it is though... I also remember having a Chrysler Simca Alpine and Service Autoroute VW van.

[@Phunker1]

Siku was MILES ahead of Matchbox, Majorette, or Hotweels. More expensive, but so much better. We even called them Siku-Cars, whilst everything else was called a Matchbox-Car.

[@kamikazekrew3873]

What about their 1/24th diecast series from the 80s? Those were pretty good.

[@goclunker]

I haven’t seen new Majorette cars in retail in forever

[@Brera011]

Another very fine video. Majorette was never as popular as Dinky, Corgi, and Matchbox cars in the Netherlands. On the other hand, they were cheaper. Later Solido cars had the same Majorette problem, the detailing, some very good, others just horrible.

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Excellent video, very informative.

[@xtreme814]

underrated brand in the diecast space

[@marcbaur677]

At 3.22, this is not a Majorette VW Beetle, its a Playart Casting.

[@NytroDesigns]

I've been seeing Majorette at Shoppers Drug Mart, had to grab some cause memories maaaan.

[@revolution1one]

I'm gonna have to check that out. I've only been seeing them at London Drugs.

[@dcarailandcar8538]

I have various models in my colection. The scale principal is 1/64.

[@kennyswonger5227]

I still have 3 lemos.in a case I had some black&white cars.and a spot -on car.