The 1939 Studebaker Commander was a mainstream, stylish model with distinct yacht-like lines, designed by Raymond Loewy’s firm, and featured two and four-passenger coupe body styles with both standard and deluxe trim levels. It was part of the Commander line, a mid-range Studebaker model, and was known for its attractive design and well-appointed cabin with features like column shift and vent windows.
1939 Studebaker Commander advertising brochure.
1939 Studebaker Commander Business Coupé Model 9A.
Image: Antique Automobile Club of America
Some time ago I bought this pre-war Dinky 39F Studebaker State Commander Coupe with black smooth hubs, pre-war thin axles and a lacquered base plate. It’s in the harder to find yellow, the same color as the mock-up shown below it.
Dinky 39F Studebaker State Commander Coupe.
Dinky 39F Studebaker State Commander Coupe mock up.
Image: autojauneblog.fr
This yellow pre-war model with a lacquered base plate is very hard to find in any condition. For me it’s also a symbol of one of the last Dinky Toys production runs before the stoppage due to WW II. Series 39 is one of the most beautiful car series ever made. In this article I share some additional information and pictures about the Dinky 39F.
Although still in original condition, this model is well played with and has some paint loss. I really like the yellow color of the body whose paint is still shiny and am drawn to its lacquered base plate. Only the smooth hubs show slight traces of fatigue and I don’t see metal fatigue on the body that’s common to most pre-war Dinkys.
The smooth and shiny lacquered base plate is particularly beautiful and looks silver in color, but under some lighting conditions can appear gold or beige. I therefore find it difficult to accurately identify its color. The actual model is even nicer than it appears in the picture. All pre-war Series 39 base plates were lacquered, while the post-war issues were black. Further, all Series 39 base plates are loose and held in place by the axles, except for the Dinky 39C Lincoln Zephyr Coupe which has three pillars to which the base plate is riveted. I find the loose base plate variation very special, and as far as I can tell it’s only present in the Series 39 models.
Pre-war Dinky 39F with beautiful shiny lacquered base plate held in place by the axles.
On page 63 of Mike and Sue Richardson’s Dinky Toys & Modelled Miniatures, the authors describe the Series 39 models as:
The group of vehicles numbered 39 constitute a new concept in Dinky Toys. They had one piece diecast bodies with flowing lines and were accurate representations of specific vehicles with tinplate baseplates inscribed with the vehicles names. Though it was not the first time that Dinky had issued such accurate models, these are the first in the scale that came to be used for most of the toy cars for many years to come, and also the first to use this form of construction.
Pre-war Series 39 models
The Dinky 39F belongs to the Series 39 “Sedans and Coupes” group and was introduced in the June 1939 issue of Meccano Magazine with the announcement “Ready July” and later in the August issue with the announcement “Look out for these!” So it’s not entirely clear when this series was in fact available for sale. As WWII approached, Meccano Liverpool likely focused on producing military models. This lack of clarity of availability was also the case with the Series 38 Sports Cars, of which only three of the six advertised models were in fact released before or during the war.
Dinky Series 38 and Series 39 models introduced in the June 1939 issue of Meccano Magazine.
The 1939 U.K. Dinky Toys catalog was unique in that the page describing the Series 39 models included a technical description of the real cars. This wasn’t the case in the general 1939–1940 Meccano catalog. The Series 39 models also appeared during the war in the August 1940 Canada Dinky Toys catalog (with prices) and the July 1941 USA catalog (sans prices), and was one of the last Dinky car series to be produced before and during WWII.
Dinky series 39 in the Dinky Toys 1939 UK catalog with a technical description of each real car.
The Series 39 models were all large American cars and I think Meccano Liverpool focused especially on the American and Canadian markets with this series. Despite the sale stoppage that occurred on September 1943 due to the war effort, the Dinky 39D Buick Viceroy Saloon Car continued to be advertised in Meccano Magazine until September 1944, was either still available or acted simply as an advertising symbol for Dinky Toys products during the war.
Series 39 saloon cars in the Dinky Toys August 1940 Canada catalog with prices.
The pre-war Dinky 39F was available in a yellow trade box of six with box number A2291, and in Gift Set 39 “USA Saloon Cars from 1939–1941”.
Dinky 39F in yellow with yellow trade box of six.
Image: “Collection Gérard Dulin”
Pre-war Gift Set 39 USA Saloon Cars with Dinky 39F in yellow. Note the red USA export label on the lid of the box.
Image: Vectis Auctions
Post-war Series 39 models
As is well known, all six of the Series 39 models were reissued after WWII. The post-war Series 39 appeared for the first time in the Meccano Dinky Toys UK price list of November 1945, with only a total of 54 Dinky Toys available for sale at that time. The Series 39 was included in the Meccano Dinky Toys UK price list until October 1948, after which they were only issued as export models.
Meccano UK November 1945 price list showing the Dinky 39 Series.
Image: Stephen Hanson
Meccano Dinky Toys UK October 1948 price list showing the Series 39 for the last time in the UK
Export to the US market
The Dinky 39F, along with the complete range of Series 39 models, appeared for the last time in the 1950 Dinky Toys USA catalog. After that, models 39B to 39E remained only as US export models, of which the 39B, 39C and 39E were painted in a two tone color scheme and included in the Dinky Toys USA catalog until 1952. The 39A and 39F were imported into France by Meccano Paris.
The complete Series 39 without 2‑tone paint schemes appeared for the last time in the Dinky USA 1950 catalog.
The Dinky 39B, 39C and 39E models in the Dinky Toys 1952 USA catalog. The two-tone paint schemes are identifiable by the dark color of the fenders.
The Two-tone Dinky 39 BU, CU and EU (U = USA) exported to the US. Note the red USA export labels on the boxes.
Image: QDT
Import to the French market
Due to scarcity of French car models after WWII, the British 39A and 39F were imported by Meccano Bobigny in 1949 and appeared in the Dinky France 1949 catalog for only one year, an exceedingly short time!
Dinky Toys 1949 French catalog showing the 24O Coupé Studebaker and 24P Packard.
In France, the 39F Studebaker Commander Coupe was sold as 24O and the 39A Packard Super Eight Sedan as 24P in the 1949 Dinky Toys France catalog. They were fitted with a black French baseplate with the inscription “Fab en France par Meccano” and black metal wheels. The 24O later received rubber tires. Pictures of the scarce 24O and 24P with their French baseplates and their very nice original colors follow.
1949 French Dinky 24O Coupé Studebaker.
Image: Wallis & Wallis Auctions
Base plate of 1949 French Dinky 24O Coupé Studebaker.
Image: Wallis & Wallis Auctions
French Dinky 24P Packard.
Image: au jouet parisien
