Here Comes
Santa

"Antique Cast Iron Look. Wheels That Move." — 25 Years of Santa's Transportation

The Here Comes Santa series launched in 1979 as one of Hallmark's earliest collectible vehicle series — predating even the Kiddie Car Classics line by fifteen years. The premise is pure Hallmark wit: every year, Santa arrives in a different vehicle. Not always a sleigh. Not often a sleigh, in fact. The 1979 founding entry is a Motorcar — a vintage automobile with the antique cast iron aesthetic of a turn-of-the-century toy. In 1980, Santa's Express arrives as a train. In 1981, Rooftop Deliveries. In 1982, the Jolly Trolley. In 1983, Santa's Express again but a different version. In 1984, Santa's Deliveries. In 1985, Santa's Fire Engine. In 1986, Kringle's Kool Treats — Santa in an ice cream truck, one of the series' most beloved and unexpected entries.

The twelve entries here span two eras of the series: the consecutive founding run (#1–8, 1979–1986) and four entries from the later series (#18 Santa's 4×4 in 1996, #19 The Claus-Mobile in 1997, #20 Santa's Bumper Car in 1998, and #22 Sleigh X-2000 in 2000 — Santa going futuristic for the new millennium). By the time the full 25-entry series concluded in 2003, The Henry Ford notes that Santa had ridden "a fire truck, golf cart, rocket, snowplow, tractor, trolley, semitruck, and a Soap Box Derby car." Every vehicle has wheels that move. Every ornament is designed to reproduce the look of antique cast iron. Santa has always had excellent taste in transportation.

Tips for the Collection

• 01
  The 1979 Motorcar #1 is in The Henry Ford and is listed as rare by the museum's Senior Curator — give it the most prominent position. The founding entry of a 25-year series, with wheels that move, in the antique cast iron look that defined the series. The Henry Ford Curator's assessment: "Santa's Motorcar, 1979, is the first in the Here Comes Santa series" — among five noted rare Hallmark ornaments. At $9.00 in 1979, now a museum artifact. Display it prominently at the head of the vehicle parade.
• 02
  The "wheels that move" feature is the series' defining tactile detail — display where visitors can spin them. Every Here Comes Santa ornament was designed with moving wheels, reproducing the antique cast iron toy aesthetic of the early 20th century. Position entries on accessible outer branches where guests can reach the vehicles and spin the wheels. The Jolly Trolley's wheels, the Fire Engine's wheels, the 4×4's wheels — they all turn. This is what makes these ornaments feel like toys.
• 03
  The 1986 Kringle's Kool Treats ice cream truck is the founding run's most surprising entry. Santa delivering Christmas presents via ice cream truck is the single most unexpected vehicle choice in the series' founding years. It deserves a prominent position for its sheer unexpectedness — and for the question it raises: what flavor does Kringle serve?
• 04
  All 12 Here Comes Santa Hallmark ornaments available here — #1–8 (1979–1986) and #18, #19, #20, #22 (1996–2000) — are at Already Christmas. The rare 1979 Motorcar. The full founding run through the ice cream truck. The 4×4, the Claus-Mobile, the Bumper Car, the Sleigh X-2000. Twelve rides. Santa has excellent taste. All twelve here.