ROCO was founded in 1960 by Mr. and Mrs. Roessler after Mr. Roessler recognized that plastic injection moulding (which was quite a new development then) made it possible to manufacture models with greater detail compared to the metal models that were produced at the time. Initially ROCO made Minitank models only, but entered the model railroading market a few years later with HO and O-scale models. Models in N-scale models followed in 1965.
In 2002 the Company, which was privately held, was sold and extensive investments and modernization measures turned ROCO into one of the most modern manufacturing plants in the model railway industry. Unfortunately, the investments also led to high indebtedness which ultimately resulted in a bankruptcy in the early summer of 2005. In July 2005 the ROCO assets and trade name were bought by Modelleisenbahn GmbH, this new Company will continue production of the ROCO models.
ROCO produced a 1/87 scale VW Pickup Bus model. They used WIKING molds to produce these models and produced them in conjunction with the German firm Manurba. The VW Busses were either unmarked or marked with the KORONA or LINDE surrogate coffee products in the 1960s.
A three piece plastic VW Pickup Bus with solid windows similar to the WIKING VW Bus. It is marked with Korona on the roof, The cab and body section has windows, door seams, the front VW emblem, side air louvers and a front bumper. There is a plastic insert canvas top with one side rolled up that attached to the pickup bed. The chassis has some details with ribbing and bottom engine & transmission. Ivory colored plastic wheels with metal axles attach to the chassis. The chassis is glued to the body and is marked with 15 in a circle.
