Winross Models

Lore & Background

Winross trucks were known for their wide variety of logos and promotional ads on their sides. Early models were simple castings with no windows, interiors, or much decor; one of the simplest cabs was the curved roof White Trucks cab. The base of early models was cast with 'a TOY from Winross, USA'. Models were brittle and the metal broke easily. Wheels were diecast and tires were rubber. Trailers consisted of a diecast frame with flat soft metal pieces inserted into the sides after liveries were applied; dual rear trailer doors opened. Silk-screening was used for liveries; decals were never used.

Through the 1970s, Winross offered semi trucks invariably in 1:64 scale (about 9 inches long) as promotionals to a variety of companies. The 'American Highway Series' celebrated a few basic truck cab makes with a variety of liveries offered for retail sale. Some of the first special liveries were created for David Sinclair's Auto Miniatures in the early 1970s. Sinclair commissioned limited one-time offerings such as Epstein Department Stores, Dannon Yogurt, Campbell 66 Express with their 'Snortin' Norton' Camel, and Meadow Gold Milk. Winross supported the Winross Collectors' Club of America.

By 2010, models had become more sophisticated, with about 100 pieces and twelve different cabs available, including Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Ford, and the long-offered generic Winross cab-over. Cabs still did not have windows. At least 16 different trailer and truck types were manufactured, including package haulers, beverage haulers, dairy, oil, cryogenic, and propane tankers, a flatbed trailer, moving van trailer, drop pup, double pup, triple pups, and straight frame non-articulated trucks. Special models included a late 1950s Sunoco trailer and a Charles' Chips delivery van.

Reader's Guide

Winross almost single-handedly established the promotional model market for model trucks of 1/64 scale made exclusively in the United States. Cecil Gibson, a collector in England, recognized the importance of Winross in the market as early as 1970. Winross continued production of diecast metal models in the United States when most others had moved production to countries with lower labor costs. Later diecast producers such as Ertl, Road Champs, Racing Champions, Matchbox, and Hot Wheels followed in similar scales, copying Winross's lead, though those models were produced in China or Southeast Asia. The company abandoned all retail sales in 1978 to focus purely on corporate accounts, but formed a branch called 'Winross by Mail' and remained pleased by collector activities. The Winross Collectors Club, formed in 1988, is headquartered in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Winross merged with AMA screening in 2005 and expanded into printing ads on a variety of products beyond trucks.

Did You Know?

• Early Winross cabs had no windows, interiors, or much decor; the base was cast with 'a TOY from Winross, USA'.
• David Sinclair's Auto Miniatures commissioned limited-edition Winross liveries in the early 1970s, including Dannon Yogurt and Campbell 66 Express.