Micro Machines

Micro Machines: The Original Scale Miniatures, better known as Micro Machines, was a line of toys developed by Galoob (currently integrated into Hasbro) during the 1980s and 1990s. The brand specialized in miniature car models, smaller in scale than other brands in the sector such as Hot Wheels or Matchbox.

Production of Micro Machines began in the mid-1980s, from an original idea by Clem Heeden, a Wisconsin toy creator who worked for Galoob. His idea was to reproduce real car models on a small scale, but with a size significantly smaller than those of the competition. The estimated scale of each vehicle was 1:152, somewhat larger in dimension than the N scale. In addition to the cars, miniature reproductions of people and scenes were also manufactured.

Micro Machines was a bestseller in the following years, which led to the launch of new products and even a video game saga, licensed by the British studio Codemasters. Along with real car models, vehicles also began to be licensed. from television series, movies and special models. Miniature toys produced by Micro Machines were also released, such as those dedicated to Star Wars.

In 1998 the multinational Hasbro bought Galoob for $220 million, and maintained production of Micro Machines until the 2000s. With a decline in sales in recent years, Hasbro gradually stopped producing this toy, which was re-released only on special occasions. Nowadays it has become a collector's item.