Although somewhat forgotten today, the Peugeot 204 celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025. At the time, Peugeot adopted a single-model strategy. Although the 404, with its modern design and robustness, was a resounding success, Peugeot didn’t really offer a car accessible to the general public until the arrival of the Peugeot 204 in April 1965, which felt like a small revolution. The car wasn’t designed by Pininfarina and was front-wheel drive!
The 1965 Peugeot 204 Image: Rudolf Stricker
Dinky Toys partnered with Peugeot, which led to an immediate reduction in production of this new model. The first models were presented in a blue box and were white in color. This version, now very rare, wasn’t selected by Atlas, which offers a replica of the standard model.
As usual, Dinky Toys offers a magnificent reproduction of the original car that showcases its beautiful lines and numerous details. The engine hood opens and the headlights are fitted with plastic lenses, enhancing the model’s realism. In 1977, the mold was adjusted, and the rear bumper was now a single piece, in accordance with Peugeot’s restyling.
Atlas’s replica captures the characteristics of the original model and is quite successful overall. Unfortunately, the metallic red paint doesn’t cover the body evenly, making some of the details stand out excessively. The wheels are also a rather fanciful design. Finally, the chassis reveals the model’s Chinese origin, whereas the original was labeled Meccano.
The Norev model adheres to current standards, meaning it’s packed with details, some a bit crude like the windshield wipers, but it has no opening parts. The front grille is reproduced with great finesse, and the interior, already well-detailed in Dinky Toys models, is here reproduced down to the smallest detail. Strangely, the taillights aren’t made of translucent red plastic but are painted.
Individual pictures of the Atlas and Norev models follow.
The pictures below include a portion of the roofs.
Finally, a comparison of the roofs and underbody are shown.
Note
This is an updated version of the author’s original article “Petite Revolution” published in May 2015.
Sometimes a model arrives on the workbench and you instantly know: this one’s going to be a challenge. That was exactly the case with the Dinky 33C/570 Simca Miroitier Cargo.
The little truck looked pretty miserable when it came in. The flatbed was detached, the spare wheel missing, the tires crumbled, and worst of all, the glass rack was badly damaged. Broken, bent out of shape, and the advertising sign completely missing. And yet, the truck hadn’t lost its charm. That’s what made it so appealing. Not a flawless restoration, but a true rescue mission.
Here’s what I did:
The glass rack was straightened, aligned, and firmly soldered back together.
A new advertising board was made, neatly fitted into its slots and given a fresh coat of paint.
The iconic lettering “Miroitier / Saint-Gobain” was designed in a vector program and applied to the board.
Two plastic glass panes were added, complete with “Fragile” stickers, because let’s face it — a glass truck without glass just doesn’t make sense.
Finally, new tires were fitted and the flatbed with spare wheel was reattached to the chassis.
The result: a Simca Miroitier Cargo that proudly shows its history, while standing tall on its wheels once again. Not a pristine showroom piece, but a living fragment of toy history. And that leads us to the question: what’s the real story behind the Simca Cargo and its connection to Dinky Toys?
Dinky 33 Simca Cargo
The Dinky 33 Simca Cargo is one of the most recognizable French Dinky Toys from the 1950s. The model was based on the real Simca Cargo, a light truck produced in France between 1955 and 1956. Dinky Toys France released several versions, including a flatbed, a tanker, and a fire engine.
The Special Saint-Gobain Version
The most popular version is the Simca Cargo “Miroitier Saint-Gobain” (No. 33). This glass transport truck appeared in the mid-1950s and featured a metal rack on the bed for miniature glass panes, complete with the “Saint-Gobain” lettering, referring to the famous French glass manufacturer. This detail made the toy more than just a truck – it became a miniature piece of French industrial history.
The Original: the Real Simca Cargo
The toy was modeled after the Ford Simca Unic Cargo, designed in 1948 and first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1949. Over the years, the truck was marketed under different names.
Ford Cargo (1950–1955)
Simca Cargo (1955–1956)
Unic Cargo civil (1956–1960)
The real truck was powered by a strong 100 hp V8 engine and was later offered in diesel and 4x4 military versions, notably used by the French Army in Algeria. Production shifted several times, from Poissy to the Unic factory in Puteaux, with engines even supplied by the old Bugatti plant in Molsheim.
Between 1950 and 1966, thousands of these trucks — both civilian and military — were built, making the Simca Cargo an important symbol of France’s postwar automotive industry.
The abbreviation SIMCA stands for Société Industrielle de Mécanique et de Carrosserie Automobile, a French car factory founded in Nanterre in 1934 by Henri Pigozzi.
Meccano Ltd and Dinky Toys made a grand entrance prior to the start of WWII. In these early days, they combined their diecast toys along with a few tinplate items, such as the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) Hut shown below. Another charming touch was the use of artistic scenes in the boxes of sets, which were set up for a nice, easy display. Here’s the Dinky 43 RAC Patrol Set that was produced between 1935 and 1941.
Unfortunately, neither the tinplate items nor the artistic scenes survived the war, although in the 1960’s, some scenes were again included. Pre-war Dinkys certainly are antiquated toys, crude by later standards, but have undeniable charm in their form and expression, of hand labor from long ago, when things were much less automated. As an example, notice the figures. All those tiny details — buttons on blouses, badges and facial expressions — were all hand painted by women wielding tiny paint brushes. That ended up being too time consuming and expensive, and became another casualty of the war.
The box containing the Dinky 43 RAC Hut gift set.
So turn the clock back to about 1937 for this little gem that has survived intact almost 90 years!
Another pre-war Dinky Toys set from long ago also used diecast manufacture, hand painted details, and a charming illustrated display box. This is the Dinky 42 Police Set with Police Hut, Motorcycle Patrol, and Policemen that was produced between 1936 and 1941. When WWII intervened in 1941, many early Dinky Toys sets were discontinued forever, but the Police Motorcycle Patrol and the Police Hut or Box survived to be reissued after the war. However, this early charmer is still a joy to view and offers insight into what toy making was all about so long ago.
The picture below is of both the pre-war Police Box on the left, and a post-war version on the right. Notice that both have the red painted light on top. The only real difference I can see is that the color of the box is quite a bit darker in the pre-war one, but that could be attributed to a different batch of paint. Also notice that the pre-war model seems to be a bit taller, but it’s the same die, and started out the same height. The pre-war model is suffering from a bit of metal fatigue or zinc pest, and has grown in size. This happens to many Dinkys from pre-war days, and some actually fall apart due to too much corrosion.
I was born in 1970 and for the first five years of my life, my parents and I lived on the fourth floor of an apartment building in Fort Lee, New Jersey, a very urban suburban town. Our building was perched on a hill overlooking busy Interstate 95, and the George Washington Bridge was less than 1000 feet away. It was so close that the lights on the bridge would shine into my bedroom at night.
There was never a shortage of commercial vehicle traffic to stare at through the window or look at on walks with my parents, and as a young child I quickly became fascinated by commercial vehicles. Interstate 95, Interstate 80 and Cross Street where the apartment located was always filled with truck traffic going to and from New York City. But there was one truck apart from all others that caught my eye, and that was Mercedes-Benz. The big chrome three pointed star that adorned the grill left a lasting impression on me at a very early age.
The 917 Dinky LP 1920 Mercedes Benz truck and trailer was released in 1968 and is shown here with related Mercedes Benz factory material: A 1963 Mercedes Benz LP 1920 brochure, a smaller 1963 pamphlet with a sketch of the LP 1920 truck and a vintage Mercedes Benz North America license plate, all which complement the model superbly.
For a brief period, the US headquarters of Mercedes-Benz was located literally right down on the road from me on Linwood Avenue in Fort Lee, and since the mid-1960’s, Mercedes-Benz had been gradually entering the massive US truck market, especially in the lucrative NY/NJ area. I saw Mercedes-Benz trucks daily and I was so enamored by them that my Montessori school teacher Ms. Kathy had one drawn on my cubby box. Other kids wanted animals or superheroes drawn, but I wanted a truck. Naturally, I had to have my own toy trucks to match, and my parents obliged.
My first Mercedes-Benz trucks were the Matchbox Mercedes-Benz covered truck and an Efsi model, also Matchbox sized which were made in Holland. Both these toys were based on the real Mercedes-Benz LP 1920 models which were never imported into the USA by Mercedes-Benz.
The L in “LP” stands for “Lastwagen” which is German for “truck”, while the P stands for “Pullman cab” which relates to the advanced spacious cab over or forward control cab designs that these trucks utilized. Pullman harks back to the early American railway cars that were very spacious and luxurious. Mercedes-Benz often called their flagship 600 limousine Pullmans. So “LP” is “Truck Pullman” in English.
Beginning in the early 1960’s, Mercedes-Benz slowly began to enter the massive US truck market and this handsome first generation Mercedes-Benz LP shown above was well suited for the job of hauling beer for Lowenbrau. For the truck enthusiast at the time, seeing this truck would have been a very rare treat. It was photographed around 1961 while delivering Lowenbrau to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Note the optional decorative wheel covers and the chrome grill guard, a must for inner city delivery trucks to prevent front end damage. Tekno and Wiking modelled these early first generation LP trucks.
When I was about seven, while browsing through a group of Dinky Toys catalogs that were given to my mom and I from a local retailer, Five Corners Toy and Gift in Westwood, NJ, I discovered that Dinky Toys had made a model of a LP 1920 Mercedes-Benz truck and trailer. However, it wouldn’t be until 1981 that I would finally acquire one.
The 917
The Dinky 917 was introduced in 1968 and withdrawn in 1974. It was the second longest Dinky Toy commercial vehicle ever made after the earlier 983 car carrier and trailer. Modelled after the typical European rigid truck and trailer in 1/42 scale, it was based on the real Mercedes-Benz LP 1920 trucks that were unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Exhibition in late 1963. The LP model trucks boasted an extremely modern design with a very clean, simple look and uncluttered lines. Many have said the LP was the most modern truck design of the 1960’s and its look is still timeless more than sixty years later. The large cab, often referred to in German as “Kubische Kabine” (Cubic Cabin)was designed to maximize interior space and the tall windows afforded excellent visibility. There was an option for two bunks, and the expansive windshield required three windshield wipers.
This rare color Mercedes Benz factory photo dates back to 1963 and shows an early LP 1920. Note the clearly visible wooden slats on the double sided drop down cargo bed. Image: Mercedes Benz Trucks Classic archive
The naming was also new for 1963 and the leading one or two numbers designated the gross vehicle weight rating while the last two digits indicated the horsepower rounded off, or with a zero as needed. The LP 1920 would have translated into a 19 ton gross vehicle weight truck with a 200 horsepower diesel engine. They were built at the Manheim plant and were very good sellers until 1973 when they were replaced by the NG model.
The 1964 cutaway flyer from Mercedes-Benz shown above illustrates the mechanicals of the LP/LPS 1620/1920 Drivers cab. Despite being a cab over engine truck, the cab did not tilt for engine access on early models. Maintenance flaps were instead utilized. Close examination reveals many of the details that Meccano captured for the Dinky 917 including the three cab seats, with armrests on the passenger side seat.
The Dinky 917 was heavily laden with features which were all the rage at Meccano at the time, including a very unique one-off suspension system and it was a very expensive model to produce. It was first previewed in the February 1968 issue of Meccano Magazine. Writer Chris Jelley who reviewed the model wrote:
The truck itself is built up on an excellent reproduction of the Mercedes-Benz LP 1920 cab and chassis, to which a 6 inch long truck body has been fitted. The cab, however, is undoubtedly the star of the show, being the most sophisticated commercial cab ever produced by Meccano or indeed by anybody else to my knowledge.
Not only is it fitted with windows, seats and steering wheel, but it also has an opening roof ventilator and opening upholstered doors — the very first diecast on the market with this latter feature! The right hand passenger seat, incidentally, has proper armrests.
Other features include wing mirrors, big oval jeweled headlamps, and German style license plates. But the thing I personally found most interesting is the superb suspension system fitted to all the wheels, both of the truck and trailer. The fact that the suspension is included in such a large model is in itself, fairly unusual, but the Dinky system used has never appeared on a Dinky Toy. It consists of sprung “plungers” acting on each axle, the axles being mounted in slotted bearings to allow vertical movement. The result is excellent.
Both the truck and trailer bodies are identical, being large detailed castings equipped with opening tailgates and carrying detachable molded canopies, shaped to represent tarpaulins. The swiveling bogey wheels at the front of the trailer are attached to a special tow bar which slots into a recess in the back of the truck. The chassis is blue with the truck and trailers bodies in yellow, and the cab roof and tarpaulins are white. All in all, a very pleasing sight.
Meccano issued this rare large format catalog shown above in late 1967 to accompany the February 1968 issue of British Toys, a trade publication for the British toy industry. This catalog is a sight to behold with many colorful illustrations of the wonderful new for 1968 Dinky toys, including the 917.
Meccano packed the 917 trucks in all card boxes with a simple colorful illustration of the truck on the exterior and a very attractive illustrated inner stand with an illustration of a German Autobahn. This insert in the all card box was a nice holdover from an earlier era when Meccano spent heavily on all carded box design even when they already had later changed to blister boxes.
Instructions on hooking and unhooking the trailer were printed on the rear of the insert. The card box evolved from having the old Dinky logo, to one with the new Dinky logo and a Meccano logo, and finally to one that had both the new Dinky logo and the Airfix logo.
Shown above is my trio of Dinky 917’s showing typical variants when it comes to roof vent, cab roof colors and wheel designs. Early trucks had detailed plastic chrome wheels while later versions were fitted with 12 lug cast wheels. The blue tilt version is the rarest of the non-promotional 917 models and the blue tailgate version is scarce compared to the usual white.
Underside view of the Dinky 917 chassis sans trailer which enables a view of the very unique one-off spring operated suspension system on both axles. The trailer featured the same as well.
The card box evolved from having the old Dinky logo (bottom box), to the new one with the Meccano logo and finally to one that had both the new Dinky logo and the Airfix logo.
The back of the Dinky 917 had printed instructions for hooking and unhooking the trailer drawbar.
The early issues featured detailed chromed plastic rims that mimicked the actual trucks wheels. While the wheels were a very accurate representation of the actual trucks, the chrome plating was designed to sell toys, giving them a flashy look to attract a child’s attention while the real trucks were painted steel. Around 1973 the new 12 lug truck type wheels would replace the chrome versions and the license plates were deleted as a cost saving measure.
Early versions featured a blue cab with a white roof, all yellow bodies and white molded color plastic tilts textured like real canvas, with white plastic tailgates. Later variants would see a blue roof with a white or blue roof vent and white or blue tailgates, and the rarest color combination would be the all blue cab with blue tilts. I’ve never seen any noticeable casting variants on the 917, just the color variants as described. Some collectors and sellers have noted there is a cream tilt version but this looks more like the aging of the white plastic, changing color over time. I say this as I have cleaned and polished the white tilts on a few of my trucks to bring back some of the original white, and the cream shading turns lighter.
The Dinky 917 from my childhood shown here is the blue tilt version, and not knowing its scarcity as a kid, it was almost resold soon after. In 1981, while perusing Model Railroader magazine, I noticed a classified ad from a Canadian seller advertising mint boxed Dinky toys. With my mom’s help I wrote to get a sales list and when it arrived, it included a mint boxed 917 for sale. I had always wanted the 917 but since it was withdrawn in 1974, I missed it since I was too young. My mom kindly purchased it for me with an international money order from the US Post Office, my first international toy purchase!
I was disappointed when it arrived, because it looked nothing like the white tilt version in the older Dinky catalogs I had. Instead, it had blue tilts which weren’t present in any any catalog. I kept my disappointment to myself and it would take me years to finally realize it was actually the rarest variant of the normal non promotional 917 models!
This LP 1920 ad appeared in the October 1965 issue of Truck and Bus Transportation, an Australian publication. Gottleib Daimler built the world’s first truck in 1891, which is shown next to the then state-of-the-art LP 1920.
In 1968, the Inchman comic strip appeared in Meccano Magazine for the first time. In this issue, the 917 was featured and Inchman foils hi jackers. The same illustration with the policeman would be used for a few years in other Meccano printed material.
The Brussels based Dutch Meccano importer, P. Fremineur and Zoon utilized this attractive advertisement to promote the new for 1968 Dinky models which included the Dinky 917. “Steeds meer natuur-getrow” translates in English to “increasingly true to life”.
The dealer poster and catalog illustration for the Dinky 917 was updated in 1972 with the new Dinky logo. 1972 would be the last time this image was used in a catalog , because by 1973 all models would be photographed and not drawn.
A pair of LP trucks and trailers at work in the 1970s. Image: Mercedes-Benz Trucks Classic
Photographed in the 1970’s, the pair of LP truck and trailers shown above were hard at work in what was then West Germany. Note the TIR plates, which comes from the French term “Transports Internationaux Routiers” which allows for easy transportation of goods across international borders without the need for customs clearance at each border crossing.
There were two promotional versions of the Dinky 917. The rarest and most attractive is the German issued Münsterland version made for the German transport company around 1973. It was painted in Kelly green, and its white tilts made for a very eye catching promotional. Supposedly a few hundred were made. I have been a lifelong fan of the 917 and this version was unknown to me until about twenty five years ago. As soon as I saw it, it went onto my “want” list, but they are very elusive and usually only turn up for sale at European auctions. They are also quite expensive so I doubted I’d ever find one.
In January 2025, I found mine on eBay Germany and while the seller was very friendly, he couldn’t end the auction early to change the listing for shipping to USA shipping since it already had bids. I reached out to my fellow collector contact in Germany, Hubert Moller who sold me the Dinky Coles German promotional cranes some years back and he graciously won it for me for a fair price. It’s a lovely very near mint example and after a thorough detail cleaning, the Kelly green finish shows its lovely sheen. Finding the Münsterland truck was one thing, but the other fascinating parts of my acquisition are the unique Münsterland sticker on the insert and an incredible provenance. The insert wasn’t visible in the pictures that accompanied the auction, so the sticker was a big surprise. I had seen this sticker only once on some previously sold examples; however, it was never clear enough to read so I translated mine:
It was a pleasure for us to be able to serve you quite often last year with our MUNSTERLAND TRUCK (or also with a smaller vehicle).
Of course, we would be very happy if, in the coming year, the MUNSTERLAND TRUCK could deliver our quality products to you even more frequently than before. With these words, our sincerest thanks, and our best wishes for 1974, we would like to present you with this small “Remember Me” gift, the “Mini-Munsterland ‑Truck”.
Munsterlandische Margarine-Werke. J. Julf
I have often reached out to the seller of toys I purchase and asked if they can share any background or history, especially if they are rare or outstanding examples, and the answer I received certainly didn’t disappoint.
The seller’s name was Mathias and he was from Luneburg, Germany. He was more than happy to share that he was given the Münsterland truck as a gift from his uncle around 1978. His uncle was Director of the Export Division at Deutsches Milchkontor GmbH (Hamburg), the head organization of the German co-op dairy industry. He thinks his uncle received the Münsterland truck from a business partner and then gave it as a gift when he visited.
Being born in 1967 he enjoyed playing with it (ever so gently judging by its appearance) and eventually it was put away, box and all. It had been lying in a moving box in his basement for decades and he found it when cleaning out the basement. He thought it would be a shame to just put it back in the moving box, so he decided to sell it to someone who would be happy to have it.
The Münsterland promotional shown above was made for the German Münsterland transport company around 1973. It’s an attractive model and very rare. If you’re a 917 collector like me, it’s the Holy Grail of 917 models. This version is even scarcer with the unique sticker on the right side of the insert. The Henry Johnson promotional was issued around 1974 for the UK/French conglomerate Henry Johnson and didn’t include a trailer. Note the white cab seats.
The other promotional model was the Henry Johnson version made for the over 200 year old UK/French transport company around 1975. Supposedly less than 500 were made. The Henry Johnson version is painted dark green and was unique because it lacked a trailer and was just the 917 truck by itself. This model was packaged in a plain white card box, while the Münsterland truck came in the usual 917 Dinky box as did the regular issues. My sans box example came from the estate of a UK accountant. His daughter who sold it on eBay UK found it in the loft along with some other toys carefully stored away when he passed in 2024. She told me her father may have done some bookkeeping work for an employee of Henry Johnson.
I’ve seen some Münsterland and Henry Johnson trucks over the years without decals so it’s possible these were leftovers in the build runs. This was common for Dinky promotional models and they were sold to the general public.
This 1973/74 German market Meccano dealer poster featured heavyweight models, including the early illustration of the 917. “Die Giganten der Landstrabe “translates to “The Giants of the Country Road”.
Christies sold this color trial 917 some years back. It would have made an attractive model in all yellow with the black chassis. Despite the poor photo quality, it’s worth showing. Image: Dinky Toys Encyclopedia
The 917 was a heavy model and required sturdy inner packaging. It consisted of three pieces of foam and a block of Styrofoam. The pair of narrow pieces rests on the tilts while the block is wedged between the truck and trailer. The greenish foam pieces were on my blue tilt 917 that I acquired as a child.
The 940
In 1977, Meccano dusted off and updated the casting for the 917 Mercedes-Benz truck sans trailer. These were difficult times at Meccano and funds allocated for new models were minimal, so this was a very good effort at recycling and economizing an old model to keep development costs low. The engineers had become good at this and kids like me back then were still able to get new Dinky Toys despite the writing on the wall that the end was nearing at Meccano.
The opening doors, opening roof vent, super detailed interior, unique suspension, door mirrors, cast wheels, silver grill details and jeweled headlights were all deleted. Despite these changes simplifying the model, Meccano still produced a handsome new old truck model, the 940.
Despite the 940 Mercedes-Benz truck being an economized version of the 917 sans trailer when it was released in 1977, it was still an attractive model with a white over red paint scheme. The 940 only came in hanging boxes and its wheels were initially red and later available in white.
The Dinky 940 came with a white cab with a red chassis, grey plastic tilt, functioning plastic tailgate and the typical of the era plastic disc type wheels that were on many of the big Dinky trucks at this time. There were no casting variants and the only differences were red or white wheels. It would be interesting to know if Dinky Toy dealers missed the 917, thus causing the 940 version to be introduced.
The 940 as it first appeared in the 1977 Dinky catalog.
The 917 was a good seller despite being one of Dinky’s more expensive models and it enjoyed a six year production run. The 940 was available right until the end of Dinky Toys in 1979. My red wheel version came from FAO Schwarz in Paramus, NJ in 1980 and the white wheel version was bought on eBay in 2024.
The 1978 Meccano trade catalog had an attractive motorway scene cover with the 940, and Meccano building kits that mimicked tall buildings.
Around 1977, “Fisons the Garden People”, a UK based garden supply company commissioned Meccano to make a small run of the 940 promotionals. Two small boxes of Fisons rich dark were included. Like the 917 promotionals, this model is also quite rare.
This head on view of both models shows the economizing differences between the 940 and 917. Note the poorly painted headlights on the 940.
Described as a protoype, Vectis sold this never issued 940 Landlink Europa truck in 2007 for GBP 580. It was certainly a colorful model and the canvas tilt appears to have been painted. Image: Vectis Auctions
Shown above is my collection of 917s. From left to right: the blue tilt version came from a Canadian seller in 1981, the first issue chrome wheel version came from Unique Collections in 1990, the blue roof vent/tailgate version was bought at a Lloyd Ralston Auction in 2025, the Münsterland promotional model was bought on eBay Germany in 2025 and the Henry Johnson promo was bought on eBay UK in 2024.
There was one fairly well known scarce promotional. and that is the Fisons version. Fisons was a UK based garden supply company and one of their products was rich dark peat. The promotional model was the standard red and white with grey tilt 940 model. It had decals that read “Fisons the Gardening People” on the tilt and came with two little boxes of Fisons rich dark peat.
There were some other promotionals based on the 940 and according to Jaques Dujardin’s Dinky Toys Encyclopedia they could be Code 3 models, as little is known about them. They are the Scandinavian Air Service and Warner and Swasey models. There was also a Landlink truck that was sold at Vectis auction in 2007.
On the collectability front, both the 917 and 940 are still easy to find on eBay and in auction houses. I follow sales of these models often and the 917 has actually become more popular and expensive than it was more than ten years ago, which is a positive as many collectors sadly shun this final era of big scale Dinky toys. Promotional versions of the 917 remain quite scarce and are very expensive, especially the Münsterland truck. The 940 Fisons promotional is also an expensive model and hard to find. Regular issue 940 models are very inexpensive, almost always under USD 85.
As nice as these trucks are, due to their large size scale and numerous operating features, most Dinky collectors shun them, as they do many — if not all — late 1960s and 1970s Dinky toys. This is lamentable as Meccano deserves credit since they were the only one of the Big 3 (Corgi, Dinky Matchbox) UK toymakers at the time to offer a large scale version of the LP 1920 trucks.
This article was a special one for me that details my favorite truck as a child. It features the Dinky 917 that was purchased for me by my mom when I was eleven. Some of the sales literature and related items shown here came directly from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart over 35 years ago, through a contact I made. My uncle, who was a salesman at Prestige Motors in Paramus, NJ, a large Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover dealer, got me a summer job at Prestige in the service department in 1989 during my college years. When the Mercedes Benz factory reps and engineers visited the dealer, I would often wash and fuel their company vehicles. I asked one of the engineers, a German fellow about older Mercedes-Benz truck sales literature and he put me in touch with his factory contact in Germany. To my surprise a heavy package filled with obsolete material arrived a month later. The Mercedes-Benz factory reps were often Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts themselves and were very proud of their work, so he was more than happy to assist a young fan.
Writing an article like this is never a one person endeavor. Special thanks go to Kathrin at Mercedes-Benz Trucks Classic whose motto is “We Love Trucks”. Thanks also to Jonathan Angel, Ravi Bhavnani, Jacques Dujardin and his Dinky Toy Encyclopedia, Vic Mumby and Mark Redman.
The early 1950s were a busy time for Meccano Limited, with both their English and French Dinky Toys factories busy introducing desperately needed new models. Both companies came out with several models of typical American cars during this period, one of which is the subject of this article, the Dinky 24V/538 Buick Roadmaster sedan which was introduced by the French Dinky Toys company in 1954.
This lovely model is based on the 1952 Buick Roadmaster, which seems a bit odd since the Dinky model wasn’t released until 1954. Unfortunately, there’s no written history to peruse and determine why a later model wasn’t chosen or why the Dinky model wasn’t released earlier.
The 1952 Buick was largely a continuation of the 1951 model with some exterior changes, as well as an improved Fireball 8 cylinder engine, with more power. The new V‑8 wouldn’t appear until 1953. Buick had always been an upscale car, and the Roadmaster represented the best that Buick had to offer. Quoting from the sales brochure:
Here is the most lordly, most spacious of Buick’s six-passenger sedans. Regal in size and distinguished bearing, this four-door traveler is magnificently powered, masterful of ride and superbly light to handle.
During 1952, about 32,000 Roadmasters were produced, and they sold for the then princely sum of USD 3,200 each.
Many of the other American cars produced by Dinky Toys during this era were decent enough models, but some of them weren’t very accurate representations of the originals. In particular, the English produced Cadillac Eldorado and Packard Convertible were both relatively poor models and not very true to scale. The Cadillac was too narrow and the Packard was too wide, and this was obvious to me even as a young boy.
However, the Buick Roadmaster appears to be nearly a masterpiece of diecasting for 1954. It’s a very accurate rendition of the real car, with all the proportions being very close to the full size vehicle. This is impressive, especially because the model’s dies were produced without the help of modern computer imaging techniques. The level of detail in the model is equally impressive, especially the famous Buick teeth front grill, a design that was used for several years. It’s quite intricate and has been modelled almost perfectly, along with the front bumper and over riders. Each side of the car also has the famous Buick “sweepspear” running the length of the model from front to back, along with the iconic Buick port holes. And to cap things off, the rear deck or trunk includes a nicely represented emblem and handle.
With such a wonderful diecast model to work with, the French Meccano factory was then challenged to finish it with a paint job to do it justice — and they did. When it was introduced in 1954, it was available in two color schemes: light blue with a dark blue roof, and butter yellow with a dark green roof.
Later, a light blue model with cream roof was added to the range, and finally in the last two years of production, black on salmon and metallic blue on ivory models were introduced.
But perhaps the nicest finishing touch was the superb application of silver trim on the model’s details. Painting the very slim sweepspear on the side had to be difficult, as well as carefully masking the front grill area. Even the tiny trunk handle has been very carefully detailed in silver, and I’m sure the rear red tail lights were hand painted.
There were few changes during the Dinky Buick Roadmaster’s six year run. The very first models came with plain Zamac wheels, which appear to be of a dull grey color, but this was changed to the familiar shiny wheels that normally graced French Dinky models. The early models also featured a smooth interior roof, which later became checkered. The early boxes featured the model with a shadow beneath it and the word “Miniatures” printed on the side. Later boxed omitted this.
The number 538 was assigned to the model in 1959, the last year of its production. All in all, the Buick Roadmaster was a lovely mid-century model and to me, at least, was one of the best that Dinky produced in that era.
One of the most iconic British vehicles is undoubtedly the world-famous London Routemaster bus. This was produced by Meccano Liverpool in 1964 as model 289 and was made until the factory closed down in 1979. In this article, I’ll describe this beautiful model and its box, and will detail the evolution of the Dinky Toys London Double Deck Bus with its open platform from 1934 to 1979.
Preserved 1960 AEC Routemaster Bus RM 254 with quarter-drop ventilation windows. Image: Mike McDermott
The AEC Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is the 1960’s version of London’s world-famous red double-decker bus, which remained in regular service until the end of 2005 and continued to operate on some routes since then. Between 1956 and 1968, 2,876 of these buses were built for the then umbrella transport company London Transport as a unitized bus for service on the London city bus network, in two versions: the RM and the longer RML. These vehicles were built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and the coach builder Park Royal Vehicles.
The bus is essentially based on the RT double-decker model, 6,956 of which were built by AEC between 1938 and 1954 in collaboration with London Transport.
A Routemaster differs from more modern double-decker buses in its open rear, which allows passengers to easily board and alight. A conductor is also present, so that the driver who sits in a separate cabin without access to the passenger compartment doesn’t need to check tickets. The Routemaster (RM) was the last type of British bus to feature this traditional layout, but its predecessor, the AEC Regent III (RT), with a similar layout, was built in even larger quantities.
Development of this type of bus began in 1947. The Routemaster was introduced on February 8, 1956. Series production began in 1958 and ran until 1969. The Routemaster, of which 2,876 were built, was in service until the end of 2005.
Evolution of the double deck buses with open platform produced by Meccano Liverpool
From the beginning of Dinky Toys production in 1934, open platform double-decker buses were part of the Meccano Liverpool model range until the factory closed in 1979. The first pre-war Double Deck Bus was advertised in the September 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine as No. 29 Motor Bus and illustrated in color in the Hornby Book of Trains 1934–5 and Meccano Book 1934–5.
The Double Decker Bus, advertised with Dunlop Tyres, appeared in the April 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine as No. 29C until 1941. It was reissued post-war without advertising. In 1954, the 29C was renumbered 290, and was listed in the catalog again with Dunlop advertising until 1963.
In the 1964 catalog, the Routemaster London Bus appeared as model number 289. This remained in production until the Meccano Liverpool factory shuttered its doors in 1979. The evolution of these buses as they appeared in Meccano publications is shown below.
Dinky Toys 29 Motor Bus advertised in the September 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Dinky Toys 29C Double Decker Bus “Dunlop Tyres” advertised in the April 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Dinky 29C Double Deck Bus in the Meccano price list of November 1945.
Dinky 29C Double Deck Bus in in color in the 1952 catalog.
The Dinky 290 Double Deck Bus Dunlop as it appeared n the 1954 catalog.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus Tern Shirts in the 1964 catalog.
A restored 1960 AEC Routemaster bus RM 254 with quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows. Image: Wikimedia
Dinky Toys 289 Routemaster Bus 1964–1979
The first version of the Dinky Toys 289 Routemaster London Bus “Tern shirts”, introduced in the June 1964 issue of Meccano Magazine. Shown without quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows.
The left side of the Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus with quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows.
This is the first issue of the Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus “Tern Shirts” in the beautiful red London Transport livery. It is larger in scale than its predecessor, the Dinky 29C/290 Double Deck Bus and also weighs more. The 290 weighs 144 gm and the 289 weighs 240 gm. It could have been a Dinky Supertoys model, but the Dinky Supertoys name was no longer registered by the new owner Lines Bros.
It’s a beautiful model, very accurately reproduced with complete interior, such as seats, stairs to the upper deck and windows, and is equipped with a driver and conductress in London Transport uniform. It has beautiful advertising transfers, of which the one with the slogan “Read the Meccano Magazine monthly” on the back appeals to me the most. It also has nice spun hubs instead of the later Speedwheels.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus “Tern shirts” with driver and conductress in London Transport uniform, placed on an attractive picture box.
L: Front view of the Routemaster RM 254. (Image: Mike McDermott) R Front view of the Dinky 289 model of the Routemaster RM 254.
Rear entrance of the 1960 AEC Routemaster Bus RM 254, on which the Dinky 289 shown below is based.
Rear entrance of the Dinky 289 with conductress in London Transport Uniform on the open platform of the bus and and advertisement for Meccano Magazine on the rear.
Routemaster bus with open platform and stairs to upper deck, 6 windows on the upper deck with 3 ventilation bars and 4 windows on the lower deck with 2 ventilation bars. Image: Premier Carriage
Shown above is the 289 Routemaster Bus “Tern shirts” model with driver and conductress in London Transport uniform, with a picture box on which the vehicle’s details are beautifully reproduced. Note the delightful transfers of Tern Shirts and the route number with destination and “London Transport” in yellow lettering. The driver, conductress and stairs to the upper deck are also clearly visible on the model and its box. The model includes stairs to the upper deck, which is equipped with six windows and three ventilations bars. The lower deck has four windows and two ventilation bars.
Shown above is the nice early version picture box, on which the technical details of the bus are printed: “This deservedly popular London Bus is the result of many years of operating experience, and has been designed and developed jointly by London Transport, A.E.C Ltd., and Park Royal Vehicles Ltd. It is equipped with an A.E.C. 9636 cc engine with fully automatic transmission, actuated by a five-position gear selector lever and has the capacity of 64 seated passengers”.
This Routemaster Bus has been reproduced by Meccano very accurately and attractively in the nice shiny red color. The only differences are that the fog lamp isn’t painted silver and the fenders aren’t painted black, unlike the real Routemaster Bus and as depicted in the advertisement in Meccano Magazine.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus was issued in 3 main versions:
Tern Shirts (1964–1965)
Schweppes (1965–1969)
Esso Safety Grip Tyres (1969–1979)
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus Schweppes on its attractive picture box. Image: invaluable.com
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus Esso Safety Grip Tyres on its attractive picture box. Image: eBay
Meccano Liverpool also used advertising for Dinky Toys and Meccano products on the real Routemaster London bus. This photo is shown on page 3 of the 1974 Dinky Toys catalog No. 10, in which the Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus “Esso Safety Grip Tires” model appears on page 12.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus Esso shown in the 1979 Meccano trade catalog.
According to the 1979 Meccano trade catalog and order form, the Esso version was issued until 1979. Thus, the Dinky double deck bus models with open platform were continuously produced from 1934 to 1979 — a remarkable duration of 45 years — and continues to be a recognizable London icon.
Aside from the main issues, several promotional Routemaster buses have been produced, which are mentioned in Patrick Trench’s Dinky Toy Compendium:
Festival of London Stores in red (1968–1968)
Meccano/Dinky Toys in gold (1974–1974)
Madame Tussaud’s in red (1977–1980)
Silver Jubilee in silver (1977–1977)
Thollembeek 1929–1979 (Belgian) in gold (1979)
Much information about London Transport buses can be found in Roger Bailey’s book “The English Dinky Bus & Coach”. This book contains all the Dinky buses and a complete Meccano assembly drawing Job No. 50289 dated 12–3‑63 of the latest issue of the Routemaster Bus “Esso Safety Grip tires” without ventilation bars in windows, which were omitted in the latest issues of the model.
To supplement the limited number of French models available at the time, Meccano Paris imported the UK Dinky Toys 14C, 27A, 27C, 561, 562, and 571 into France between 1950 and 1951. Very little has been published about the release of these models.
The French Meccano Magazine wasn’t published again until October 1953, but thanks to Jean-Michel Roulet’s book Histoire des Dinky Toys Français 1933–1978, I know these models were released during 1950–1951. Because I own three of these models, namely 27AC, 14C and 571, I searched for information regarding their release in France, but that wasn’t easy. Fortunately, I came across some important French Meccano publications from the period 1950–1952, which provide more clarity and confirm that these models came to the French market during that time.
However, these publications also reveal that these models were only available in very limited quantities and were released only for a very short time. Consequently, they have become highly sought after collectors’ items and are difficult to find. In retrospect, unfortunately these six models imported from the UK did little to help Meccano Paris.
I think it’s interesting to review these publications to better understand the release of the imported UK models. It is known that these UK models were released by Meccano Paris in a French box, but there’s something special about these French boxes, which I’ll explain at the end of this article. I will first show the imported UK models with their French boxes in question.
The Six Imported UK Dinky Toys with Their French Boxes (1950–1951)
Dinky 27AC is the only one of the six imported models shown in the French 1950 catalog, with its luxury box identified as “nouveauté”. The other models don’t appear in any French catalog. The 1950 catalog announced that the Dinky 27AC would be available in June 1950.
French luxury red box 27AC with UK models 27A and 27C. Note the round red French control stamp on the lid of the box.
French 27AC with luxury French box in the 1950 French catalog with the mention “Available in June”.
It was released in a completely French red, plasticized cardboard box with a yellow French label bearing the French name ‘Tracteur “Massey-Harris” et remorque epandeur d’engrais’, as shown in the photo above. The inner cardboard packaging contains the original UK models 27A Massey-Harris tractor and 27C Massey-Harris Manure Spreader with a British baseplate. One flexible side wall can be bent outward to store the models in the cardboard inner packaging, which has holes cut out for the wheels.
The catalog doesn’t mention the British origin of these models. Because the 27A and 27C weren’t released as a combination in a box in the UK, Meccano Paris had to design a box for this pair. As a result, the French box is unique and has become a collector’s item.
The first issue luxury red French box 14C Chariot a Fourche containing a 1950 UK 14C.
According to Roulet, the 14C was issued in France in 1950 in a luxurious red, plasticized cardboard box with a yellow French label “Chariot A Fourche” like the 27 AC, and later in 1951 in an orange cardboard box with an orange and white label, similar to the British 14 C box, but with the French orange and white label “Chariot a Fourche”.
The second issue French box 14C Chariot a Fourche containing a 1951 UK 14C.
Both boxes contain inner packaging for storing the model. The original French boxes of the 27AC and the first issue of the 14C contain a round red French quality control stamp.
The French box of the 571 Grue Roulante containing a 1950 UK 571 and a French instruction leaflet.
Shown above is the French box for the 571 Dinky Supertoys Grue Roulante with a beautifully illustrated French label featuring a crane on the blue cardboard box. The box is complete with inner packaging and a French instruction leaflet.
Illegible British control stamp on the interior lid of the box.
The model on the box is the original UK model 571 Coles Mobile Crane with a UK baseplate. The box has an illegible British inspection stamp on the inside lid and was also issued in 1950.
I don’t own the French 561 and 562 imported by Meccano Paris. These imported UK models were also released in France by Meccano Paris with a French box in 1951, which are shown in the pictures below. All box labels state “c’est une fabrication MECCANO.”
The 1951 French box of the 561 Bulldozer containing a UK 561 and a French instruction leaflet. The green tracks are replacement tracks. Image: Ivoire France Auctions.
French box of the 562 Dumper Basculeur Automoteur containing a 1951 UK 562 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck. Image: Ivoire France Auctions.
Baseplate of the 1951 UK 562 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck. Image: Ivoire France Auctions.
The French Meccano Dinky Toys Publications
French Meccano Dinky Toys order form (April 1950).
The French Meccano Dinky Toys order form of April 1950 shown above listed the 27AC without a price and available in June, but the French Meccano Trade catalog of April 1950 (shown below) with an image of the 27AC mentions it as being available in July. The release date of the 27AC is therefore unclear.
French Meccano Trade Catalog, April 1950. Image: eBay France.
L: French Meccano Dinky Toys leaflet (Sep 1950) R: French Meccano Dinky Toys price list (2 Nov 1950)
The French Meccano Dinky Toys leaflet of September 1950 shown above lists the 14C, 27AC, and 571 being available for the first time, but without the mention of a price. The French Meccano Dinky Toys price list of 2 November 1950 lists all three imported models, the 14C Chariot a Fourche, the 27AC Tracteur agricole et remorque and the 571 Dinky Supertoy Grue Mobile with their prices. However, “temporarily exhausted” is noted alongside the 14C and 571. This indicates there was already a shortage of models 14C and 571 soon after their release in September 1950. The 27AC was apparently produced in larger quantities, as it’s not listed as being temporarily exhausted. No other models imported from the UK appear in the French order forms of 1951 and 1952.
The Meccano promotional trade catalog of March 1951 titled “Fiftieth Anniversary Sales Campaign” shown above lists the 14C, 27AC and 571 again with prices, but preceded by an asterisk with the explanation “Special items 14C, 27AC, and 571, marked with an asterisk, are available in limited quantities. We cannot guarantee restocking.” None of these three models are listed in the French catalogs or leaflets of 1951 and 1952.
I could find only one other Meccano publication mentioning the UK imported 561 Blaw-Knox Bulldozer and 562 Muir-Hill Dump Truck. Jacques Dujardin’s Dinky Toys Encyclopedia depicts a 1952 French Meccano Trade catalog in which the models 14C, 27AC, 561, 562, and 571 are no longer listed. But below the list of Dinky Toys. the following comment appears:
“The special import items 14C — 27AC — 561 — 562 — 571 that we were able to supply to you last year will probably not be available this year because we cannot obtain the necessary import licenses.”
In the promotional trade catalog of March 1951 shown above, models 561 and 562 aren’t listed, leading to the conclusion that they first were issued after March 1951 making them extremely scarce. Because no more import licenses could be obtained, no more new UK Dinky Toys models could be imported into France after 1951.
Conclusion
Based on the Meccano France publications, it can be concluded that all six imported UK models were released in France in 1951. Model 561 and 562 were first released after March 1951. Models 14C, 27AC, and 571 had already been released in France since September 1950. Only limited quantities could be imported and restocking of these items wasn’t guaranteed. The stock of the imported British models were quickly exhausted, making them very scarce.
The So-Called “French” Boxes
Brian Salter wrote an excellent article about these models in the June 2006 issue of Model Collector. He writes the following about the 14C, 561, 562 and 571:
“Despite the fact that they left Liverpool exactly as they would for the UK market, they were repackaged by the French in similar boxes but with locally produced labels. These were on sale for just one year.”
“All these four French labels were printed just a shade wider than their UK counterparts, and then neatly applied over the originals, so perhaps the local printing was a late decision. Whatever, these lasted just a single year as well, so are also not easy to find today.”
The French Dinky Toys box labels of the imported UK models with the French model name, along with the text “c’est une fabrication Meccano” suggests that the models and boxes were manufactured by Meccano Paris, as this text is stated on every original French box. But as shown, this isn’t the case with the models imported from the UK. The French label is the “French” aspect of these Dinky Toys models and boxes, as explained by Brian Salter in his article.
A comparison of the British and French boxes of the Dinky 562 Muir Hill Dumper Truck. Image: Jan Werner
A DTCA forum entry on the 562 contains an image comparing the British and French boxes of the 562. The label of the French box clearly shows it obscuring the British label beneath. This picture, along with the photo of the British inspection stamp on the French 571 box verifies Brian Salter’s statement (mentioned earlier in this article) that the French boxes are in fact original British boxes on which French labels have been applied, with the exception of boxes of the 27AC and the first issue 14C, which were produced entirely in France.
In 1938, Meccano Ltd. was reveling in its rapid rise in popularity and success of its new line called Dinky Toys, conceived in 1934. There were many series of models, both automotive and commercial, that were quickly introduced over a short period of time, all using the relatively limited die-casting techniques then available.
Sometime in 1938, a decision was made that would prove fateful: two new series of motorcars would be designed and produced for the burgeoning toy market, and they would be unlike anything that Meccano had previously produced. Thus was born the 38 Series of English Touring saloons, and the 39 Series of American sedans. This article will focus on the 38 Series.
The first mention of the 38 Series was in the June 1939 issue of Meccano Magazine, which optimistically declared them to be “ready in August”. But that was not to be. The impending war and uncertainty of what lay ahead was partly to blame. But Meccano was also developing the sister 39 Series, which had been started earlier and was further along.
For some reason, only these three of the intended six Series 38 models were released in June 1940:
38A Frazer-Nash BMW Sports
38B Sunbeam Talbot Sports
38C Alvis Tourer
These three models were only made for a short time, and all production was halted in 1941. These pre-war models are distinguished by their lacquered, silver colored baseplates, thin pre-war axles, and solid steering wheels. Meanwhile, the entirety of the companion 39 series was released.
Following the war, the three were reintroduced, along with the remainder of the Series 38 models, all in 1946. The 38C Lagonda Coupe came first, followed by the 38F Jaguar Sports Car and finally the 38E Armstrong-Siddeley Coupe. The release of the Armstrong-Siddeley raises questions, as model number 38E was first assigned to the Triumph Dolomite Sport Coupe.
All that remains of the Triumph Dolomite is a factory drawing, complete with later modifications that were completed as late as 1946. But for some unknown reason, this model was shelved and there is no evidence that a die or mold was ever completed, let alone a prototype casting made. Since it was a very late replacement, the Armstrong-Siddeley was the only post-war designed automobile to be modeled in this series.
Post-war Dinky Toys all had thicker axles, black baseplates, smooth, then ridged black wheels, and thick celluloid windscreens, often with silver detailing around the edge, replicating a windshield frame. These were made in a variety of colors, with the body being of one color and the seats or tonneau covers in another contrasting color. The series remained in the UK catalogs until 1950, when it was dropped.
However, the series was continued for the export markets for several more years, last appearing in the US 1954/1955 catalog. These later export versions differed slightly: the nice, thicker windscreens were replaced by thin flexible versions that didn’t work as well. Over time, they would tend to bend downward, resulting in an unrealistic look. However, one nice touch to the models was the use of colored wheels, instead of the plain black variety.
Most Dinky reference books give the 38 and 39 Series lots of credit for being innovative in the late 1930’s. Prior to their release, most models were composed of at least two castings, sometimes more, as die casting for a one piece body was difficult. The prior Dinky Toys 30 Series and 36 Series demonstrate the use of two separate castings: one for the body proper and another for the chassis and fenders.
These new castings now featured one piece diecast bodies with flowing lines and were accurate models of the real cars, not just representations with vague recognition. These were also among the first to utilize tinplate baseplates holding the axles in place, as well as having the actual name of the car stamped there. It should be noted that in 1954 Dinky briefly renumbered these models to the 100 Series.
Although not completely accurate models of the real cars they represented, they are very close approximations, recognizable, and rather attractive. Over the years, much has been made about the lack of proper door lines on this series, and that is true. Not only were the doors absent, but the sides of the louvered hoods also went missing. No one has ever been able to determine why this was the case, but it is consistent with each of the six models. An explanation I heard years ago from someone familiar with die casting techniques was that it had to do with releasing the molds after casting. Whatever the reason, the series remains most attractive, and is a must for serious Dinky Toys collectors. The models are a lovely example of a bygone era, for both cars and the model hobby.
The real motor cars they replicated
Here I’ll offer a brief description of the actual English touring cars that served as models and inspiration for the 38 Series.
Frazer-Nash BMW Sports Car This was modeled after the famous and very successful BMW 328 Sports Car, that was produced during 1936–1940. These revolutionary cars utilized a 2.0 liter 6 cylinder engine and were very successful in various competitions, including many after the war. Sometimes they were re-bodied by different coach builders. In all, 426 were made. The Frazer-Nash connection is interesting, and results from them being licensed as the sole importers and sales agents for Great Britain in 1934. This lasted until 1939, when war with Germany changed everything. 328’s that were sold in England were sent there, converted to right hand drive, and re-badged as Frazer-Nash BMW’s.
Sunbeam Talbot Sports This was modeled after the Sunbeam Talbot 3 liter Tourer made during 1938–1940. There were a total of 1266 chassis produced, but only 21 were built as a Sports Tourer. These were considered to be very nice cars and were quite desirable.
Lagonda Sports Coupe This model has always been a bit difficult to properly identify as to which real car it was designed from. Some think it represents the storied Lagonda V‑12 from around 1938, while others suggest it is closer to the Lagonda LG 6 or LG 45, made during 1936–1940. Upon closer inspection, with both the Dinky Toys model and several period photos, I’m convinced that it’s modeled after the LG 45. Which makes sense, as it featured a nice 6 cylinder engine and was far less expensive than the vaulted V‑12. In any event, the Lagonda was close to the epitome of automotive excellence then, and made a most handsome model; one of the nicest in my eyes.
Alvis Tourer This one is a little easier to identify after looking at several Alvis photos. The front fenders or “wings” as the English call them are quite distinctive, and it appears this was modeled after the Alvis 4.3 liter Short Chassis Vanden Plas Tourer. This was another very well regarded English touring car that performed well. It was produced during 1938–1939.
Armstrong-Siddeley Coupe Another model that was quite easy to identify, this one replicates the Armstrong-Siddeley Hurricane Coupe that was made during 1946–1953. Originally equipped with a 2.0 liter 6 cylinder engine, it was later enlarged to 2.3 liters. Some Dinky collectors regard this as the least attractive of the 38 series, with not much of an endearing style.
Jaguar Sports Car Another very recognizable car, this was modeled after the very iconic Jaguar SS100 Sports Car that was produced during 1936–1940. First built with a smaller 2.5 liter engine, and then equipped with the much more powerful 3.5 liter power plant in 1938, it was a formidable performer and was able to reach a speed of 100 mph, no small feat in 1938. It was a very popular rally and trial car and is very collectible today, commanding very high prices. The Dinky Toys model is a quite accurate representation and was very popular over the years.
My Dinky Toys 38 Series models
My 38 series collection are all later export versions, with colored wheels and the flimsy celluloid windscreens. These Dinky models received new 100 series numbers in 1954, when they were made for export only.
38A/100 Frazer-Nash BMW Sports
This is a nice attractive model, but not very accurate. It was finished in various shades of blue or grey, with seats in fawn and grey. Another variation appeared in grey with red seats and wheels.
38B/101 Sunbeam Talbot Sports
This is a very nice rendition of the actual car which was advertised as “one of the finest sports car on the road”. Dinky released this model in several different colors: blue, grey, red, brown, green, yellow and maroon. The tonneau cover was painted in matt grey, fawn, blue, green, or maroon. My particular model was purchased in downtown San Diego in 1958 at Marston’s Department store, and has remained remarkably mint all these years.
38C/102 Lagonda Sports Coupe
This is a beautiful although not entirely accurate model of a classic and very well known English touring car. The swooping lines and elegance of the fender mounter spares are just lovely. The model was finished in maroon, grey, or dark green, with seats in blue, green, grey, black or maroon.
38D/103 Alvis Sports Tourer
Described as “a model of a popular luxury car of the sports type”, this another of the 38 Series that was done particularly well and is quite accurate. It was offered in green, maroon, or blue, with seats and folded hood in grey, red, brown, blue, green, or black.
38E/104 Armstrong Siddeley Coupe
As mentioned earlier, this is the only car in the 38 Series that was modeled after a post war car, and many feel it is somewhat plain in comparison. But nonetheless it’s a nicely done model. It was available in cream, grey, green, or red body, with grey, green, maroon, or blue seats.
Here is another earlier version of the 38E Armstrong Siddeley Coupe, from around 1950. Notice that this earlier version shows the black wheels and thicker windscreen, with traces of silver paint to simulate a metal frame. As one can see, the earlier thicker celluloid windscreens are much more realistic. Shown below are the two versions in comparison.
38F/105 Jaguar Sports Car
Undoubtedly the most popular of the 38 Series, this is a very well done replica of the actual vehicle, capturing the rakish lines of this iconic sports car, complete with the twin aero windscreens. It was finished in blue, grey, red, and brown, with seats and tonneau in blue, grey, maroon, and black.
38E Triumph Dolomite
And finally, the 38 Series member that never was, the proposed 38E Triumph Dolomite which was considered for production but never materialized. Although a drawing of this model was commissioned in 1939, there is no evidence that a die was ever made or a model cast, and the reasons for abandoning it are not known.
Several model makers over the years have made likenesses of this car. Here is one that was issued by the Dinky Toys Collectors Association several years ago. It appears to blend well with the others, but this one has bumpers added, which the other members of the 38 Series lacked.
