Jouef

Lore & Background

Jouef's first offering was a toy-like tinplate 'Trans Saharan Express - Algiers to Tombouctou'. In the early 1950s, the company abandoned lithographed tinplate for trains in favor of plastic injection moulding. Notable train offerings included the French BB9200, which hauled the famous 'Le capitole' express and featured a detailed overhead diamond-shaped pantograph. During the 1960s, Jouef marketed a limited range of British outline model railways under the brand name 'Playcraft'. Today, as part of Hornby, a main offering has been the French TGV high-speed express.

Around 1960, Jouef produced a series of plastic 1:87 scale cars, trucks, and buses, mainly French vehicles such as the Peugeot 203 and 403, Simca Chambord, Citroen DS 19, and several Renaults. These were basic one-piece mouldings with simple plastic wheels. Jouef began producing electric slot cars in 1963 at their Champagnole factory, with the system called 'Record 64' in France. Between 1964 and 1968, these sets were marketed in England by Mettoy/Playcraft and made under license in Germany as Egger Silberpfeil. Jouef slot cars were also manufactured in Spain during the 1960s. Early releases included the E Type Jag, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, BRM F1, Ferrari F1, Lotus F1, Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 904, and Ford GT40. Jouef ceased producing their own slot cars in 1980; thereafter, Artin sold a budget range under the Jouef brand until the mid-1990s.

In 1979, Jouef opened a factory in Limerick, Ireland, but the venture closed in 1981. In 2001, Jouef was subsumed by the Italian Lima. After Lima shut down in January 2004, the Jouef brand was acquired a few months later by Hornby Railways. During the 1990s, Jouef also made die-cast cars in 1:18, 1:24, and 1:43 scales under the name 'JouefEvolution', with the 1:43 series called 'Legende'. These models included a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera, Ferrari 330 P4, Ford GT, 1965 Mustang, MGB, Triumph TR3, and a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle. Most of these castings were later acquired by Universal Hobbies and marketed as the Eagle's Race line.

Reader's Guide

Jouef holds significance as a French manufacturer that evolved from toy-like tinplate trains to detailed plastic models, reflecting broader industry shifts. Its early adoption of plastic injection moulding in the 1950s aligned with trends among many manufacturers. The company's slot car production from 1963 to 1980 created a collectible legacy, with some rarer liveries commanding higher prices among collectors. Jouef's expansion into Ireland in 1979 and subsequent closure in 1981 illustrates the risks of international ventures. The brand's survival through acquisition by Lima in 2001 and then by Hornby in 2004 demonstrates its enduring recognition. The 1990s die-cast car line, JouefEvolution, produced models with precise proportions and detailed engine features, later reissued by Universal Hobbies as the Eagle's Race line. Jouef's slot cars and accessories from the French factories between 1963 and 1980 have become collectible, and the brand remains part of Hornby's portfolio, continuing to offer French TGV models.

Did You Know?

• Jouef's first train offering was a tinplate 'Trans Saharan Express - Algiers to Tombouctou'.
• Jouef slot cars were marketed in England by Mettoy/Playcraft between 1964 and 1968.
• A 'Formulae Bleue' car was illustrated in the 1964 French catalogue but never released.