Offered in 1976 by TYCO was this set of five F-units under the banner
of DELUXE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES. The deluxe nature of these locos is the "TYCO MU-2"
powered truck. This is essentially the same as what was standard issue for this model prior to the introduction of the
Power Torque drive of the early '70s. By this period, TYCO F-9A units were arriving from Hong Kong and Austria.
This group, correctly labeled as F-7A models is advertised as being produced in the U.S. The shells appear to be the
same as the Mantua-TYCO F-units of the '60s and the early example TYCO F-9s of the first half of the '70s. The models
were sold for $16 retail. From the single example viewed in its box, they were not given and specialty packaging to
designate that they were deluxe offerings. The Great Northern example shown below is seen in its standard looking box
from the mid-'70s period. The ad announcing the group refers to them as a special run and says they are back by popular
demand.
Mantua would return to offering HO-scale model trains within a year
of this 1976 group of deluxe diesels from TYCO. Though not confirmed, this set of F-7s may be the impetus for the re-introduction
by the Tyler family of the Mantua line of products.
Much thanks and appreciation go to Carl Martinez for sharing a copy of the ad seen below,
which provided the information for this section of the TYCO Resource.
