'Happy Days' was first telecast in the USA on January 15 1974, and its final episode was first aired on July 12 1984. The total number of episodes was 255. It was created by: Garry Marshall and produced by Paramount Pictures. 'Happy Days' was a nostalgic look at American suburban family life in the 1950s. Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and Potsie Weber were teenage boys in Milwaukee. The producers decided to add a greasy-haired motorcycle tough, Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) to give the show a bit of an edge. This helped to make the show a hit with viewers. Instead of the fairly hackneyed Richie-Potsie relationship, the show came to centre on the relationship between the 'cool' dropout Fonz, and the 'straight' kids represented by Richie Cunningham. Henry Winkler made the character of Fonzie three-dimensional, vulnerable as well as hip.

The model car kit is of the MPC brand and was made by Fundimensions Division of General Mills Fun Group Inc, Mount Clemens, Michigan, USA. in 1976.

The toy model kit came from a collection of over 3000 toys accumulated by Barry Woodley between 1980 and 2002. Woodley began collecting seriously at the age of 17. He was consistent in his approach, collecting only toy vehicles and robots licensed from television, film and other media such as comic books, that were in mint condition and in their original packaging. Woodley collected for his own pleasure and did not open the toys or play with them. The toy model kit was sold with the rest of the Woodley collection by Goodman's auctioneers in 2002.

Toy model kit, 'Fonz Dream Rod' with packaging, licensed from the television show 'Happy Days', plastic / card / paper, made by Model Product Corp, USA, 1976

Consists of a cardboard box with colour illustrations 'Happy Days' character 'The Fonz' and a custom Pontiac GTO on the lid and sides. The text 'Ayyyy... it's the Fonz Dream Rod' is printed on the lid and sides of the packaging. Printed colour photographs of the model car are on the sides of the box. The box contains unassembled plastic components for making a 1:25 scale car. The model kit comes complete with a Fonz figure and paper instructions.

Made: MPC; Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.A; 1976

Made: General Mills Fun Group Inc.; Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.A; 1976


Owned: Barry Woodley; ; 1980 - 2002

see parts

2003/111/20

1976

95 mm

237 mm

165 mm