This is undoubtedly one of my fave vintage toys and advertising collectibles of all time. š
Introducing you to the Esso tiger, produced in Japan by Louis Marx and Co in collaboration with Esso in 1966.
The Esso tiger was a big cat that appeared in the famous āPut a Tiger in Your Tankā Esso 1960s ad campaign, and that featured photos of tiger tales emerging from gas tanks. Even actual station pumps were jollily wrapped in tiger stripes, and faux tails decorated with pink ribbons adorned the tank caps.
With a tinplate head and trotters and a furry body, this wonderful tiger is a fairly big boy at over 20cm in length. He still has his Louis Marx logo on his back.
This toy in full working order normally sells for upward of Ā£200 but unfortunately the winding / walking mechanism doesnāt work on this model any more, so weāve reflected that in our price of Ā£75. More of a divine, stripey memory for your mantelpiece than a working plaything. But I definitely wouldnāt trust small people with a toy of value like this anyway!