An excellent show of these wonderful models is now on display at the Silk Mill Musem in Derby.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Dinky%20Silk%20Museum/FD-US-Series-39.jpg

Dinky's 39 series of US cars.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Dinky%20Silk%20Museum/DT-garage-pumps.jpg

A garage just taking delivery of more Castrol products.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Dinky%20Silk%20Museum/FD-Alfa-Romeo-1.jpg

Dinky Toys, France Alfa Romeos

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Dinky%20Silk%20Museum/FD-Ford-MB.jpg

More French production this time Ford's and MB.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/Jane58/Cars/Dinky%20Silk%20Museum/FD-Italian.jpg

Italian machinery made in France.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers Chris

Wow, thanks for the show!
I now have a reason to become more familiar with Dinky - some amazing cars to look for.
That Mercedes Coach and coupe are fun to go with the old Lesney versions.

Daves

Lesney used a lot of artistic license to improve the looks of the Merc minibus;)

Those French Dinkys in particular are wonderfully designed,cast and painted - equal to Politoys at their best - children of the late 1960s and early 1970s surely did have some wonderful, if expensive toys available when it was gift buying time - soaking up pocket money was Lesney´s speciality

and also Meccano's speciality! :thumbsup:

Lesney used a lot of artistic license to improve the looks of the Merc minibus;)
I wondered why it looked different.

I wondered why it looked different.
But you were right first time - it is the same real vehicle used for both toys!

But you were right first time - it is the same real vehicle used for both toys!

The simple answer here SMS88 is no!

Dinky Toys, France minibus is based on a van chassis just like a Transit mini bus.

Lesney's Matchbox MB version is actually based on a small coach bus.

Hope this helps!

Cheers Chris

Lesney used a lot of artistic license to improve the looks of the Merc minibus;)

Those French Dinkys in particular are wonderfully designed,cast and painted - equal to Politoys at their best - children of the late 1960s and early 1970s surely did have some wonderful, if expensive toys available when it was gift buying time - soaking up pocket money was Lesney´s speciality

Hi SMS88

There were lots of other manufacturers operating in this period that produced 'state of the art' toys. This is just a few others: Mebetoys, Solido, Tekno, Edil, Diapet and let us not forget Corgi and English Dinky!

You are right here about Lesney they were IMHO the greatest . Most of my pocket money went on their stuff! Dinky's and Corgi were obtained on birthdays and at Christmas!

Cheers Chris

Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing!

Yuh, and show us more, Chris - I know this is just the tip of the iceberg!

The simple answer here SMS88 is no!

Dinky Toys, France minibus is based on a van chassis just like a Transit mini bus.

Lesney's Matchbox MB version is actually based on a small coach bus.

Hope this helps!

Cheers Chris

The Lesney certainly appears to have the same front scuttle and as a ten seater minibus plus driver would have the same capacity as the Dinky I would guess looking at your picks with my Matchbox in hand

Hi SMS88

There were lots of other manufacturers operating in this period that produced 'state of the art' toys. This is just a few others: Mebetoys, Solido, Tekno, Edil, Diapet and let us not forget Corgi and English Dinky!

You are right here about Lesney they were IMHO the greatest . Most of my pocket money went on their stuff! Dinky's and Corgi were obtained on birthdays and at Christmas!

Cheers Chris

Same story here - my pocket money started off at 1 lesney every 4 weeks (sixpence in 1968) and by the time I was twelve went upto £1 which was 2.5 Lesneys at 39p each.........
I have never seen any Edil models, I have a few Diapet & Mebetoys along with more to plenty of Teknos, and english Dinkys. But only Solido (and Corgi in 1969-1970 only) has made models of such curves and clean part fits that I have seen to equal the high general standard set by Politoys and French Dinky.But all of these brands are charming even if they are sometimes less than perfect.......

Great show! Even a lot of french dinkies! Politoys, Solido & Dinky France: My 60s Favourites. [Corgi > they ´played´ with the scales, 1:50-1:40, nice toys, but i prefer the companies above] dinocoso