Gamda Koor Sabra
Israeli diecast line of unique American cars in 1:43 scale.
Gamda Koor Sabra was an Israeli diecast toy line produced by the partnership of Gamda and Koor, specializing in 1:43 scale cars. Notable for offering unique tooling of American automobiles not made by other European model makers, the line was marketed internationally under the name Sabra Super Cars and later by Cragstan as Detroit Seniors.
- Parent company
- Habonim
- Location
- Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi, Northern Israel
- Years of production
- 1969–1972 (some possibly earlier)
- Scale
- 1:43
- Number of models
- 24 (numbered 8100–8123)
- Export partner
- Koor (owned by Histradrut)
- American marketer
- Cragstan
Lore & Background
The company began in 1962 recasting old British D.C.M.T. dies of tractors, trucks and military vehicles. Early Gamda vehicles were produced in transport and military series, including a popular wheeled tank and a sought-after Egged bus. In about 1966, Gamda partnered with Koor, owned by the Histradrut trade union, forming Gamda Koor Export to introduce a new line of American automobiles aimed at foreign markets, taking advantage of lowered export taxes. These were called Sabra Super Cars, manufactured mostly between 1969 and 1972.
The Sabra line included 24 models numbered 8100–8123, such as a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, 1966 Charger, 1965 Chrysler Imperial convertible, 1966 Buick Riviera, 1965 Corvette Coupe, 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle station wagon, 1966 Olds Toronado, 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, 1967 Pontiac GTO, 1968 Pontiac Firebird, 1967 Chevy pickup and tow truck, 1965 Ford Mustang, Ford GT, 1967 Ford Torino, 1966 Chevrolet Impala coupe, 1967 Camaro, 1967 Ford Thunderbird, Volkswagen Beetle and a Jeep Willys. Models often appeared in stock, police, or taxi liveries. Unique to an Israeli product, models bore United Nations markings, Israeli Army and Israeli Defense Force markings, the Star of David and Hebrew lettering. The Chevelle wagon was offered in UN, IDF, Israeli Army, Hadassah Medical ambulance, postal, Red Cross ambulance and fire chief versions. The Impala appeared in police and taxi guises. The Charger could have UN globe and wreath seals, while the Eldorado and Riviera were available as Israeli Ministerial cars with menorah shields.
Packaging for early Sabra cars was a clear plastic box with a red 'garage door' and a yellow plastic base incorporating a petrol pump. International market editions had a white, red, and yellow card reading 'Sabra Super Car' with a collector coin and detail slip in twelve languages. Later cars used a darker blue card with a cut-out puzzle. Cragstan marketed these as 'Detroit Seniors' using a similar box with a red, white, and blue color scheme. Cragstan cars sold for $1.49 in the US and lacked Israeli police, army and post symbols.
Reader's Guide
The Sabra collection stands out because Gamda Koor produced several cars at 1:43 scale that no other manufacturer had tried to replicate, including the Charger, Barracuda, Corvair, Impala, Cadillac and Riviera. These were not second-hand tooling from any other European manufacturer. The uniqueness of the tooling and the Israeli presentation make the Sabra line distinct in the world of miniature diecasts. Though execution could have been better—body lines were sometimes uneven, bumpers often did not match up well with metal bodies, and wheels were simple—the overall character and raison d'être of these cars was lost on a famed Christie's auction house book whose authors simply called them '...on the whole, not good' with no contextual comments. The Chrysler Imperial convertible, though superficially similar to Corgi Toys no. 246, is quite distinct: the Gamda is larger (about 1:40), has metal surrounding the windshield, and only the trunk opens. The Olds Toronado may be similar to the Tekno version but is probably not Tekno tooling. The Impala was made in two-door and four-door versions, the latter with an added pillar and etched doors. The Sabra line remains fascinating for its unique subject matter and nationalistic Israeli identity.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Gamda' means 'midget' or 'dwarf' in Hebrew.
- The Sabra name was also given to an Israeli real car brand from the mid-1960s.
- Cragstan marketed Sabra Super Cars as 'Detroit Seniors' for the American market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gamda Koor Sabra?
It is an Israeli diecast toy line of 1:43 scale American cars produced between roughly 1969 and 1972. The range was a joint venture between Gamda and Koor (a Histradrut-owned company), with Koor handling the international export side of the business.
What made Gamda Koor Sabra stand out among European model-car lines?
The line featured unique tooling of American automobiles that other European manufacturers simply didn't offer. That meant European and overseas collectors could finally get 1:43 scale versions of certain US cars that were otherwise unobtainable outside North America.
How many models did the Gamda Koor Sabra range include?
The full catalogue numbered 24 distinct models, sequentially coded from 8100 through 8123. Every piece in the set was cast at 1:43 scale.
Under what names was Gamda Koor Sabra sold outside Israel?
Internationally the line was marketed as Sabra Super Cars. It was subsequently picked up by Cragstan, which rebranded the range as Detroit Seniors for its own distribution channels.
Where was Gamda Koor Sabra manufactured, and who was the parent company?
Production took place at Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi in northern Israel, under the umbrella of the parent company Habonim. The active production window is generally dated to 1969–1972, though a small number of pieces may have been cast slightly earlier.
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