In 1910, Hubert Kienberger founded HUKI, Kienberger & Co., Nürnberg, Germany. They mainly produced Penny Toys and animals on wheels. Before WWII, they used the brand name KiCo, which was later altered into HUKI. In 1943 the Company was destroyed by a fire and only in 1951 production was restarted. Huki seized to exist in the second half of the seventies. Huki always produced tintoys and did not change to plastic cars like many other manufacturers. This caused their downfall. They had developed new toymodels until the late sixties; in their last decade ( or less) they only produced from their old molds....
Very nice tinplate lithograph body representing a streamlined looking Volkswagen especially from the side view. Details include windows with people’s faces, taillights, headlights, engine louvers and fender skirts. Tin plate chassis, rubber wheels with or without friction motor. Minor variations of the lithograph design. License registration number HK-4003 on front bumper and rear deck lid. Although it has the US Zone marking, it is made from 1951 on. The front quarter panel air vents give it away!
HK-4001 Version: Solid red colored lithographed body with a 3 section sunroof. VW logo on the front hood and GERMANY on the rear deck lid. License plate has a red colored HK-4001 lettering. It was sold in a box with a colorful picture of a garage, race car and VW Sedan. Inside the box was a GELY tin garage that needed assembly and the HUKI HK-4001. Seldom Found.
HK-4005 Version: This HUKI HK-4005 Split Window VW is very similar to the HUKI HK-4005 Convertible with the exception there is no sun roof. The roof is a solid red color like the body and there is a split window versus an oval window on the Convertible. Rear deck lid marked MADE IN WESTERN GERMANY. Seldom Found.
