Nevertheless, there is a lonely inexplicable exception of 1951 then ...




Kind regards, Jan

I remember awhile back when one of you pointed out that the Austin Atlantic had the recessed seams.....in all my years of collecting Dinky's I had never really noticed that. When you look at the recessed vs raised seams, the recessed certainly is more realistic and just looks better to me. But the Austin was the only English one at that time, correct? Other cars of that era still had the raised seams, while many of the French models had the recessed ones. I just checked my Buick Roadmaster, and it is recessed..........it sure would be interesting to be able to go back and hear some of the discussion of that time about these things and how the decisions were made. From what I have heard and read, cost seems to have been the overriding deciding point on most everything.

Well, it was only a toy after all. Not made nor sold as a collector item for sure.

Well, we're going a bit off topic now, sorry for that, but there are considerably more exceptional special features about this model:

• In spite of all shortages on the metal market, this model was issued in the
very difficult and disappointing year 1951, no less than two years after the
completion of its design drawings!
• The diecast windscreen frame is very
unusual, instead of the comprehensive moulded clear polystyrene windscreens like
the ones on the 131 Cadillac and the 132 Packard (but in many respects analogous
to the French Simca 8 cabriolet no. 24s/534 which was introduced one year later,
in 1952).
• Possibly this is a Dinky car showing a maximum of colour
variations during its production period, at least twelve. A colour scheme and
table of variations is given by José F. Heraud in Model Collector 12/5 (May
1998) p. 18, and of course the Christie’s auction catalogue of the Remy-Meeus
collection (24 September 2001, pp. 61-62) shows and describes a stunning number
of variations.
• Until the 1960s the only and earliest Dinky which was
designed with recessed instead of the usual protruding detailing lines of doors
etc.
• The period Dinky with the most extensive silver detailing.
• The
first truly post war British Dinky convertible.
• The diecast dash board
detailing, even showing a radio, is unprecedented.
• A regular 1950s Dinky
open car, but without the later so familiar driver (compare the regular sports
cars of the 1950’s, the Cadillac, the Packard). Of course the American market
oriented MG Midget Sports, no. 129 was also without a driver.
• The only
regular British Dinky Toy in the 1950s which featured smooth white tyres (on the
black one, far more were used on French Dinkies of that period).
• One of
the few 3-digit + 1 letter numbered Dinky Toy cars.
• The American market
orientation of this model (and its real world prototype) was also expressed by
the later number 106, which was an extension of the 100-105 range, the earlier
38-series sports cars, but now, in the early fifties, only available on the
American market (Dinky Toys & Modelled Miniatures, p. 223). By the way,
these later 38-series sports cars (with their coloured hubs) were also available
in The Netherlands, at least until 1952 but possibly later.



These are of course notes I quickly copied from my own Dinky documentation. Perhaps an Austin Atlantic thread should be started (if it does not exist yet)

Kind regards, Jan

The problem with Jan is that he can not write a poor article. His posts are always perfect, well documented, complete and with excellent photos. There is nothing to add to his fabulous posts.

All the best Jan.

Jacques.

Jan--I also thank you for the wonderful post on the Austin Atlantic and for you pointing out so many unusual aspects of that model....in many ways it was groundbreaking, and the similarity to the French Simca 8 is interesting and something I had noticed years ago. As you mentioned, that dashboard and the windscreen is amazing for the period. There is always much to learn about Dinky's!

I have just seen an unofficial listing on another forum, a list of 16 of the remaining 18  proposed models to be released. Which include apart from the next three models which are known, The Ford Taunus in Polizei livery, Renault Estafette Glazier, Simca Versailes and so on. Te other models on the list if requested. Can there be some truth with listing?

Yes of course there can be some truth but it is
pot luck.

My information is that the following will be issued but I only know about a few
models. 

552 Chevrolet Corvair.
23 d Auto Union.
559 Taunus 17 M.
39 Packard or Studebaker after issue 53
541 Petit car Mercedes around issue 59
539 Citroën ID 19 station wagon.
24 x Ford Vedette 1954.

There could be an other issue of the Panhard artic in a different livery
S.N.C.F. ?

The collection could include more than 60 models.

Atlas is studying the possibility to do an other collection of small trucks (25
series) with some Supertoys as extras on specific orders.

It will be very interesting to see if the possible future plans do come alive, with a series of trucks would be very nice too. Also with the possible further extention to the present range, Does this mean they are proving a lot more popular than first expected? I did wonder the other day, would they really come to a sudden halt once they finished the sixty models as I think it could produce a bit of an  anti-climax.

Also I do agree, Apart from the next three models, of which the moulds have already been made, It would be imposible to build a strict lineup of when and what the future models will be. For instace the recent Dodge Royal was brought forward by several models dueto a time limitation of a licence agreement .

Has there been any news on the progress of the future British range of models and also what models it might include? 

All the models are now known by Atlas as it takes a full year between de decision to make a model and its delivery to the customer but the list has not been published.

The Corvair and the Volvo are already in stock in France and I will keep you informed of any news which can come by.

If anybody is interested I have the following models for sale :

24 cp Citroën DS 19 with windows. 28.00 €.

24 e Renault Dauphine. 28.00 €.

24 n Citroën 11 BL. 28.00 €.

24 q Ford Vedette 1949. 28.00 €.

24 s Simca 8 sport in blue limited series of 50 models 250.00 €.

24 v Buick Roadmaster. 28.00 €.

40 Road signs. 10.00 €.

49 d Petrol pumps station "ESSO". 20.00 €.

506 Aston Martin DB3. 28.00 €.

526 Mercedes 190 SL. 28.00 €.

532 Lincoln Premiere. 28.00 €.

534 BMW 1500. 28.00 €.

540 Opel Kadett. 28.00 €.

548 Fiat 1800 Familiale. 28.00 €.

555 Ford Thunderbird in black limited series of 50 models 250.00 €.

558 Citroën 2 cv. 28.00 €.

P&P is extra and applies for the first model ordered. The following models are sent for free.

All models are mint, some have never been opened and are sealed in transparent film.

All enquiries by private message or email.

This past week brought several new models from China. The first three are only colour variations of models issued previously.




The fourth model is also a coulour variation but the original Dinky Toys model was a code 2. Meccano provided these vans painted in deep blue to the customer who had them decorated by an other firm in Paris.
The colour choosen by Atlas is completely wrong and several details have not been painted in silver as on the original.
The main flaw is that there should be a slot into the body half way up the side sliding door so that the door stays upright when slid and can not be removed.
After issuing about fifty models, Atlas can not issue it's models with the level of quality that collectors expect when buying models sold as collectors items. These models are still toys with a 1950's quality standard.



The last special issue for this x'mas is a set of 120 plastic tyres including the famous French "M" tyres but Meccano's supplier "Le Joint Français" never made these tyres out of plastic, they were all rubber.




About two minutes before I finishd to place all the pictures for these models into the Dinky Toys encyclopaedia, the delivery van came in with the 177 Opel Kapitan.

The next model to be issued in France should be the already known Volvo.

I have just recieved my first delivery the other day (the DS) and because of all the reports here of occasional flaws and quality control issues, it recieved a thorough check. Thankfully I couldn't find any problems, but I have to say I get the feeling we're sometimes participants in a nailbiting lottery. I'ts really incredible that Atlas can't seem to get their act together after so many releases.

Next up for me will be the 2CV... already crossing my fingers that there'll be no flaws on that one.

I bought the DS off ebay from someone in Australia and total cost was $30 landed at the post office. I am happy with it and no flaws that I can see. Just seems funny it came from down under instead of across the pond

Jim--
What are those plastic tires like, since the original were rubber? Are the other repro tires out there currently also plastic?? Just wondering which is better to replace old originals with once they are gone....

dinkyfan

It all depends on what you collect.

If you collect "mint boxed" you must look for rubber tyres. If you restore then you can use plastic tyres because any way your model is not original any more and after all they look quite good on a restored or code 3 model.