The Opel Rekord 58, a model of simple design; a screwed-on frame; no interior layout and no suspension; added grille and bumpers. 

One’s curiosity is held by the glass windows which are held to the roof by squashing a crown of zinc alloy injected into the body.  This fastening method is identical to the one which helps hold the chassis to the body frame in Dinky toys, for example.  Tekno used this technique in the same period of time in its Volvo and Scania Vabis trucks.  It is also an excellent reference point for authenticating a model.  This model came  in numerous color variations.  Its wrapping

is characteristic: a transparent plastic shield, a Tekno innovation which did not last.  It was a good idea, tempting the buyer with a model seen through the transparent layer.  In reality, this did not work: the cover distorted one’s vision and the intended effect did not happen.  It is amusing to observe at a swap meet how the bargain hunters searching for this model have trouble locating it when it is set on a table inside its packaging.  This is the reason why the Dutch importer created a cardboard wrapper box for it instead! 

This one bears lively colors, with technical captions in Flemish.  It is in the Tekno style of the time but with a personal touch: the cutout car designs remind one of a publicity sleeve, which was much in demand among car manufacturers, but this was not the case with our model.  Aside from the box packaging, these Opel toys received a specific color scheme for its intended Dutch market (blue and ochre as known today). There was a real effort to relaunch this model by creating the cardboard box for this very popular car in nordic countries. I also I learned from my frequent travels to the Netherlands that the same importer used special colors for the Mercedes 220 SE, a gray-blue and a surprisingly bright orange without creating any special box wrapping.

Isabelle and Vincent Espinasse. Autojaune.fr

Tags: Vehicles