My web site : www.sthubert92.com

Sorry Hubert, it is a very nice car and good detail but I for one do not like that blue roof. It just looks out of place and very garish. I think a black or a white roof would have looked better. I really don't like blue and red together much.

this decoration with colors are used by original Dinky toys for Simca Simca Taxi.

Jim--
I was just going to mention that he was copying the same color scheme as used on the French Dinky Simca 9 Aronde Taxi, # 24U. I have one of these and my comment would be that the blue color on my roof is quite a bit darker than his picture shows. It could be the lighting or maybe his blue is quite a bit brighter, but I agree it looks a bit "garish" in the photo! I will try and post a good picture of mine tomorrow.........

It looks better in that Black with Cream roof that is shown above.


I have a Simca Ariane taxi that is done in Black body with Red roof. That also looks much better.



I know it is a different car than what this tread is about but here it is for color comparison.

Yes, my version :














my version Ford Vedette 1949 










models Taxi Simca/Ford


 


My web site: www.sthubert92.com

Is there an explanation as to why the meter is on the right on most of these cars? The Ariane I have has the meter on the left. Is it because it is French and therefore left hand drive? Meter in front of the driver?

Now for downunder they should be Green and Yellow, back body with silver roof for the Silver Tops, or all yellow with green writing for Geelong Cabs. Just ring and they will be there.

In spite of the color, that is still a classic taxi set that he has. Maybe French taxis were actually made in those various colors???

if you want to hail a taxi there should be an easy way of recognising them in a crowded busy Paris roundabout.

as for the meter slotted on either side of the fender... isn't that where the antennae usually fits?

Gee Aussies don't trust them on the outside they have them on the dash inside of the cab for safe keeping.

Here is Canada the meter is on the inside too. I remember Yellow Cabs (all Yellow with white writing) and Black Top Cabs, Yellow body with black top. There are so many down there now and most are the Prius Hybred car. Not many large cabs around anymore.

Jim and others....thought you might like to see all three of the French Dinky taxis together, all in original condition and paint colors. The first one was the Simca Aronde, #24U, and it was produced 1956-1959. It utilized the revised casting of the Simca Aronde (the Elysee model) which replaced the older one from 1953. The main difference being the front grill and the rear tail lights. The next Taxi was the Ford Vedette, #24F, also from 1956-1959, followed by the Simca Ariane listed as 1959 only.

Simca Aronde Taxi #24UT


Ford Vedette Taxi #24FT


Simca Ariane Taxi #24ZT


Three French Dinky Taxis


This front view shows the different grill(the Elysee) on the taxi version


This rear view shows the different tail lights on the taxi version

Those cars look great Terry, and in fine shape too.  Thanks for the pictures and the explanation.


I also note that 2 have meters on one side and one has it on the opposite side. That has not been explained yet. If they are French cars, would not the meter be on the left of the car, in front of the Driver? Does anyone know if the real cars meters were actuatted and controled from inside the car or from the outside. I still don't know why the meters were on the outside at all.

Oh Oh ! there is a lot to say there.


The 24 UT Simca Aronde taxi was not the first taxi issued by Meccano France.



In 1939, Meccano issued the ref. 24 L Peugeot 402 taxi in Black and yellow, blue and yellow and brown and cream. The meter is that piece of tin plate on the right hand side. It was re-issued from 1945 until 1949 without the black / yellow variation.



In 1956 a pilot lot was made based on the 24 U Simca 9 Aronde 1951 model. Dont expect to get this one, only half a dozen original models are known.



The production model was issued in March 1956 used the casting of the up dated Aronde now called Simca Aronde 1300 after its engine capacity. The die for both models is the same, only the piece for the front has been changed. Note that the door handles are back to front on both models. The meter is still on the right or near side.
I can not remember seen any taxis in these colours in Paris.



When one has all the parts in stock for an new model, why not make it ? This happened in 1956 when the 24x Ford Vedette 1954 was turned into a 24xt / 539 taxi using the meter and roof panel from the Taxi Aronde. The only modification was to reinforce the roof when the roof panel is. This model was the last one to be packed in tradeboxes of six.



The Simca Versailles is a re-styled Ford Vedette. Simca has bought the French Ford s.a.f. company and it's Poissy factory. This is why this model still with the Ford V8 engine is now called Simca.
In 1959 Meccano made a hand full of taxis with red body and black roof. The base plate was stamped SIMCA VERSAILLES.
The meter was now on the driver's side.
Simca put it's own straight four 1300 cc engine in this car and called it Ariane. As it was very economical for it's size, many taxi companies bought the Ariane and Meccano replaced the baseplate before issuing the model as ref. 24zt / 542 in inverted colours of black with red roof. The new base plate was stamped (not engraved as many say) 24zt - Ariane and the meter is on the of side.

The next taxi was issued in 1967 for the German market only but quite a few like mine found their way back to France. This was the Opel Rekord Taxi ref. 546. All black and missing the recognition sign of the German taxis of that time, a long lines of black and white squares below the windows. There is no meter any more.
The yellow box is printed in German.
You can get this one for a few quids as it has been copied by Atlas in February 2010.



Last but not least is the ref. 1400 Peugeot 404 taxi issued in 1968. This is the only Dinky with an opening sunshine roof which was a standard fitting on most Peugeot 403 and 404. Still no meter.
This model carries the logo of the G7 company which was the largest in Paris before and for a while after the war.




Well, what about the meter ? Where should it be ? near or of side ?

Here is the answer. The meter (left picture) was always on the left hand side, the drivers side because it was a clockwork device, it had to be wound up and the red flag sometine marked "LIBRE" lowered to show that the taxi was engaged. There was an other device (right picture) which could be placed on the right hand side but also inside the car as long as it could be read from outside. This was a time indicator. The picture shows the date of december seven and the cab can not run after 7.24 pm.
When the meters became electric and now electronic, they were fitted inside the vehicle often in the radio compartment.

RVREVO. You will be lucky if you can hail a taxi in Paris. There are very few and expansive, they do not want any more. They are against competition.

All the photos in this article are in original paint work and are copyright to the DINKY TOYS Encyclopaedia.