Not often now that I buy off eBay as the shipping costs have gone through the roof from Britain and most of Europe. As it was these two cars cost me about the same for shipping but they came from New York, from a fellow member too.
#38a Fraser-Nash BMW, missing steering wheel and wind screen. I have both but have to take it apart.



Next model is the 139a/170 Ford Fordor Sedan. Original Red color too with dark red or Maroon hubs.



If I restore this one, as it is pretty baddly chipped up and lots of paint missing off the roof, I don't think I will do the base plate. It looks really nice as is.
All in all not a bad score for $18.74 each delivered.

The #38a is certainly not one you see very often, so a really nice find. The Fordor is one of those wonderful castings with an exceptionally deep grille, really adds so much to the overall impression and I'm still amazed by the precision it must have required to make them so perfect. Shame about the chipping on that one, especially since large parts are in virtually perfect condition, but I agree that the roof and the left side probably makes a repaint the best way to go.

Jim--
2 nice Dinky's that you managed to acquire, and as Tee said, the Frazer--Nash is not seen that often, so nice score on the two!. I have the Ford in one of the later 2-tone versions, but I think I prefer the look of the car in one color....let us see the end result if you do restore it.

Thanks for the comments guys. It has taken me a while to find these and at the right price. As you both have said, not the easiest or most plentiful of Dinky Toys.


The Ford will probably be redone, maybe as the US version Army Staff car as I don't have that one either. We shall see. The Fraser-Nas will be restored as I have to take it apart to do the screen and steering wheel anyway. Will post when they are done.

Jim, if you don't want to repaint the BMW-Fazer Nash, don't take it apart! There's a way to get the screen in without dismantling the model, I did it with my blue SS Jaguar. It's real easy, you just use strips of stickytape. I gotta run now, but I'll post how to do it later if anyone wants to know.

I would like to see that. The screen has to go in from the bottom as the inside is wider than the outside. Not sure how you would get that to go in the slot or how you would get it to go from underneath. Plus I have the steering wheel to replace as well.

Actually, that one will probably go in from above if you give it a little squeeze - I fitted one to my Lagonda which I put in from above, then you just need to use a tool of some sort to fish round under the dashboard and get the little peg in the chassis slot. 


With the Jaguar, the problem is that it has aero screens with a diecast divider, so it can't go in from above. My steering wheel needed replacing too, so I first got rid of that by filing off the knob in the centre of the peg holding the broken piece of steering wheel in place. Once that was done, and the broken bit of wheel and its peg out of the way, I cut two long thin strips of sellotape, doubled them over so they stuck to themselves all the way along except at the end, where I attached them to each of the 2 aero screens - I hope that makes sense - essentially, it made it look like each aero-screen had a huge long antenna of tape sticking off the top. 


Then I bent the 2 long bits of tape round so they were curved and fed them under the dashboard and into the 2 holes for the screens, grabbed hold of them from above the bonnet and pulled. Because the screen is made of flexi-material, it was able to bend round and be pulled into place from underneath. Then I just used some tool or other to get the peg into the chassis and carefully removed the tape. Then I fixed it a new steering wheel, and it was done. The same procedure should work for a car without the divider, but as above, I'm sure this will go in from the top.

With some effort the screen did go in from the top. I then used a dental tool and my fingers to get the screen to line up with the slot in the base plate. Now all I have to do is attach a steering wheel to the stub.


Thanks for you help on this.

You're welcome! Just don't ask me how to change the rear tyres without taking it apart!

Baskingshark, done it a bunch of times. Before doing the removal, check the amount of play required to see how much of the rear axle is visible by pulling down on one of the rear wheels. You may be surprised to see about 1/2 the axle diameter visible, so all that is then required is to get the other half of the axle diameter clear of the casting. A small thin flat screwdriver, between the base-plate and the casting, ahead and near the rear the wheel-well. Enough lift to the base-plate to to allow one end of the rear axle to angle slightly. Push the wheel furthest from the screw driver up into the body and the other end will be positioned to slide out. Then with a fine pair of needle nose pliers, grasp the axle closest to the screwdriver side and pull the axle out. Be careful to hold the car upright to catch the wheel furthest from the screwdriver, otherwise that wheel may fall inside and behind the base-plate and create additional fishing job. Catch the second wheel as you remove the axle. Change tires and reverse order. The closest tire goes on first... The base plate does not need much lift to do this. dinkyboy

I have used this method before on American Saloons as their base plates are much larger and easlier to do what you describe. Thanks Erwin.

Some nice scores Jim. Really like that Ford must get one someday for myself and it seems that you have a not so common colour.

Yes and specially as the wheels are maroon and not red. I am still not sure if it will get restored or not.

Well Jim my advice leave as is if its a rare variant then no matter what the condition its still rare.

That is my way of thinking too. I will keep an eye out on eBay for more as I would like to have a full set of all the variations. I should take a drive down to Midway (15minutes south) and take a picture or two. There is a 1949 1:1 Ford, just like this Dinky sitting on a trailer in a yard down there. Not in bad condition either.