Eric Janssen - Passion for car models
Eric Janssen, former
Lexus and Toyota PR manager in Belgium, started collecting toys
forty years ago with the well preserved models of his childhood. He
could never imagine a life without automobiles and trucks, much
influenced by his father and grandfather, both very active in the
automotive industry in the fifties and sixties.
In the early seventies he bought a huge collection (+- 2000)
models from a local Ford dealer. The start of a fascinating hobby
and collection of more than 12000 models nowadays. After leaving
university there was no alternative but to look for a career in the
automobile business. He got his first job at a Toyota (!) car
dealer in 1969, where he had the unique opportunity for a testdrive
with the fabulous 2000 GT. This was the beginning of a more than
usual interest in Japanese Motor Cars. Through his career he worked
for Volvo, Nissan and had been recruited by Toyota Belgium in
1994.
Toyota Model Car
Collection
TOYS for BOYS
Model cars are no longer toys, but became in the last
decennia valuable collecting items. Old Dinky and Corgi Toys or
Matchbox models became much sought after items all over the world.
Auctions are being held monthly in England., while prices appear to
remain stable in this financial crisis situation. Because of
the growing demand, the actual offer is so huge that a selection
becomes more and more necessary.
Particular interest in Japanese scale models
!
Collecting all models became an impossible challenge and target.
Priority has been given to Toyota, Lexus and other Japanese
brands such as Nissan, Honda and others. Sixteen years later the
Toyota and Lexus collection counts +- 1000 models in different
sizes, although the most popular scale remains 1:43.
Many themes within the brand offer a spectacular review of the
Toyota History since 1936 with the 1st AA Sedan. The
pre-war vehicles can be count on one hand. As soon as Japan started
to export to the USA and Europe, the first Toyota model cars
followed thanks to brands as ATC, Modelpet and Diapet. Escpecially
these ones are very rare in Europe, since they were imported in
very limited quantities. Nowadays thanks to the commercial
successes of the Japanese manufacturers and Toyota, becoming
worldwide number One, there is a good choice in actual and older
models thanks to Minichamps, Ebbro and Ayoshima. Toyota Motor
Europe installed an excellent tradition for collectors by bring out
a scale model of most of the new cars being launched. So at the
local dealer shops you can already buy the IQ, Auris, Yaris and
Urban Cruiser.
History in Motor Racing !
Toyota has a long history in motor racing. So there are several
versions of the Toyota 7 (Canam races in Japan in the '60s), the
2000 GT, the superb GT Ones that run in Le Mans in 1998 and 1999,
the Formula One history from the first prototype the TF101 until
the latest successful TF109, driven by Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock.
Rallycars however represent the biggest part of the racing car
collection with the very successful Celica's (4 wheel drive and
GTFour) and the Corolla WRC's. The Corolla's and the Celica 1600 GT
driven by the late Ove Anderson (who showed a particular interest
in Eric's collection) are as a matter of fact not missing in the
display cases.
The Japanese GT Championship is another success story with a
range of Supra's, MR and Celica. Since 2007 Lexus defends the
factory colours in both categories with the SC430 and IS350.
While Toyota recently decided to stop all F1 activities, they
score a lot of successes in the USA in the Nascar races with the
Toyota Camry. The scale is an exemption (1:24), but these cars had
to be represented in the collection. The only solution to find them
was going to the Nascar races in Los Angeles. At least 10 different
models are being produced, with smaller toy cars at a scale of
1:64.
Lexus - The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
!
The other brand, for which he keeps a special place in his heart
is the luxury brand Lexus, that he and his colleagues introduced in
Belgium. Model cars represent an excellent gift for Lexus
Customers. Looking at this collection we discover all different
models since 1990, the introduction of the brand in Europe. From
the first LS400 to the astonishing LS600 Hybrid, the different
generations of the GS300, the IS200 and IS250, the SC430 Coupé and
Roadster in all different colours and sizes, the winning SC430
racing cars in the Japanese Super GT Championship and last but not
least the powerful IS-F.
Apart from the Japanse Automobile History, his collection
represents also the Porsche Story, Milestone Automobiles in the
automotive industry such as the Volkswagen Beetle, Mini Cooper,
Citroen 2 Cv and Traction, while he also has a keen interest in
endurance races in Spa and Le Mans.
The Future !
The search goes on and his next aim is building up a complete
database of all Toyota models (including Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu and
Hino) by the end of next year. 1300 models already have been
registered and some Japanese websites offer excellent guidelines.
This database should lead to a book "The Toyota Story told through
Model Cars".
For more than 30 years he regularly writes articles on the model
car scene in Belgian and Dutch magazines. Within the automobile
world in his native country, he is well appreciated by colleagues
and journalists because of his passion for the automobile in
general. Since he retired earlier this year, as a matter of fact he
spends a lot of time in his Model Car museum.
As far as we know this Toyota & Lexus collection is probably
the most complete in Europe if not in the entire world. His
ultimate dream, having an opportunity to display this collection in
the Toyota Motor Museum in Japan for a certain period
