DINKY TOYS – A CELEBRATION
By Andrew Roberts |
22nd December, 2020
Was it really 45 years ago that this writer avidly scanned the Dinky brochure for possible birthday and Christmas presents? From 1934 until 1979 the company based at Binns Road in Liverpool produced models that set the benchmark for British die-cast. This newsreel captures the factory in 1967 as it produces one of my favourite Dinky toys – the Fiat 2300 Estate “Pathé Newsreel Camera Car”:
Meccano Ltd. introduced their range of “Hornby Modelled Miniatures” as companions to their O Gauge railways. By April 1934 the die-cast models were known as “Meccano Dinky Toys”, and the suffix was dropped in the following year.
To tell the complete story of the brand would require several thousand words so we will commence our narrative in 1958. This was the year when the firm introduced plastic windows to rival those Corgi upstarts who created such a stir in 1956. And so:
1958 - The Austin A105 Westminster was the first Dinky with glazing as well as virtually marking the beginning of the Dinky/Corgi wars.
1959 – Dinky introduces suspension, followed in 1960 by “Fingertip Steering”.
1960 – Reflecting the badge-engineering policy of the British Motor Corporation, Dinky unveils their Morris Mini Traveller and its Austin “Seven” Countryman stablemate.
1963 – The Holden Special Sedan may not have been a familiar sight in the UK, but it was the first Dinky with jewelled headlamps.
1964 – Mercedes-Benz 600. Corgi’s Chrysler Ghia L6.4 of 1963 pioneered the British “opening everything” die-cast, so naturally Dinky responded with the 600 – the perfect toy for the budding international tycoon.
1965 – Rolls-Royce Phantom V. A truly magnificent counterpart to the Mercedes-Benz and undoubtedly one of the company’s “Top Ten” die-casts.
1966 – Volvo P1800S. Or a clear case of Dinky one-upmanship. Corgi already produced a version of Volvo’s grand tourer, but the car from Binns Lane offered opening doors, boot and bonnet.
1966 - FAB1. While Corgi’s Aston Martin 007 DB5 was a must-have toy for 25th December 1965, Dinky’s first “character” car made a massive impact on the Christmas market for 1966. This was also the first of the company’s “Century 21” tributes, with features that included rockets fired from behind the radiator grille, harpoon launchers in the boot and an opening canopy. Plus, of course, Lady Penelope and Parker.
1967 – Thunderbird 2 (including Thunderbird 4). It is impossible to look at this Dinky masterpiece without hearing the voice of Peter Dyneley.
1967 – The Prisoner Mini Moke. This was emphatically not a programme aimed at children, yet Dinky created an excellent replica of The Village taxis. Be seeing you...
1968 – Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle. The Dinky toy that was poised to defeat Captain Black.
1968 – Ford Escort Mk I. In amongst the Century 21 television replicas and the exotica, this is a prime example of another Dinky strong-point – replicating everyday family cars.
1971 – Range Rover. One of best of the 1970s Dinky line-up with opening everything, jewelled headlamps and an accurate representation of those distinctive lines.
1971 – Ed Straker’s Car. Few ten-year-old sci-fi fans would not wish to imagine themselves as the bold Commander of UFO? Here was a model that a) looked dynamic and b) was fitted with a “keyless clockwork motor”.
1975 - Space 1999 Eagle Transporter (‘From the successful TV series!’)
1978 – The New Avengers gift set featuring Steed’s Jaguar XJ12-C “Broadspeed” and Purdy’s Triumph TR7.
And this is merely a fraction of the many die-cast cars, lorries, buses, fire engines and ambulances that impact on generations of future classic enthusiasts. Meanwhile, I am hoping for a Dinky Lamborghini Marzal or that Pathé Newsreel Fiat in Christmas 2016...
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