General Information

The following information has been collected from original newspapers, catalogs, and magazines, some of which are freely available for reference below. The rest can be found in the site’s gallery. No aggregate catalogs (BrickLink, Brickset, etc.) were used.

I've combined these sets into one entry as they share the same information.

Instructions: Back of Box(See Below)

Advertised Part Count(s):

360 - 23 pieces

361 - 24 pieces

362 - 33 pieces

363 - 38 pieces

First Year Confirmed Available: 1971(USA)

While the first appearance I can find is 1971, an April appearance at a discount is incredibly suspect. Most if not all Samsonite sets released in time for Christmas, because of course that's when you'd release a toy. This 1971 date may be subject to change, but it should also be noted the 360-363 are absent from the 1970 dealer catalog.

Most Likely Retirement Date: 1971(USA)

These sets are far too common to have only been produced for one year, but they also would not have continued production beyond the loss of the LEGO license. Hence my hesitation for a 1971 release.

Last Year Seen Available: 1973

The Muskegon Chronicle, August 2nd, 1973

Aliases: Mini Model Car Makers, Lego Car Set Kit, Lego Mini Wheels, Lego Mini-Wheel Model Maker, Lego Mini Vehicle Sets

Retail Price(s): 79c-93c(USA)

Various bundle deals also took place, i.e. "Collect All Four Only...$2.99"

Discounted Example(s): 77c(1971)

Rarity Score(Index): 3/7 (even sealed examples are not hard to find nor are expensive)

Known Box/Packing Variants

There are currently no known variants.

Box/Overview

The 360-363 Model Maker Kits were offered as some of the smallest Model Maker kits in North America since the 1964 blister packs. They're direct rereleases of the 600-603 international Legoland versions of the same set, as well as Samsonite's own 1970 348 Mini-Wheel Car and Truck Set, which contained all four offered vehicles.

As mentioned above, however, it is odd that Samsonite released the 348 bundle set in 1970, but the individual cars in early 1971(at least as far as current evidence shows). We have precedence for kits like these, the 310 contained the 331 Dump Truck, 332 Tow Truck, and 333 Delivery Truck. All released in 1968 at the same time.

That aside, however, there is not much to these kits.

360 - Ambulance Kit:

361 - Tow Truck

362 - Delivery Van

363 - Antique Car

Contents

Each kit contains exactly the number of pieces to construct each model. Some prints like grilles may not match the box, red brick grilles can be black, silver, or white. White brick grilles can be red, silver, or white.

Also the back of the 363 Antique Car shows yellow wheels, that's just a printing error. It never came with yellow wheels.