TOP TEN DINKY TOY CARS
26 November 2021
At Lancaster Insurance we’re hoping every classic enthusiast gets all they wish for under the tree this Christmas, but if you can’t squeeze a Ferrari 250 GTO next to the boxes of mince pies, why not try these for an extra special stocking filler?
Our ten ‘Dinky’ Christmas presents for past generations of motoring enthusiasts. Which would you choose?
No.153 Aston Martin DB6
Sensibly Dinky elected not to directly compete with the Goldfinger/Thunderball Aston Martin but instead produced an equally desirable model. The wire wheels are an especially nice touch.
No.157 BMW 2000 Tilux
Any die cast model ‘Neue Klasse’ was clearly a present of quality, but with the BMW 2000, Dinky threw down the gauntlet to their Corgi rivals, i.e. it was equipped with flashing indicators. A Christmas morning of battery draining fun awaited…
No.352 UFO - Ed Straker’s Car
While Corgi specialised in Bond Cars, Dinky’s forte was vehicles from the world of Gerry Anderson. Some older readers may recall begging their parents to rent a colour television so they could appreciate the full majesty of UFO. However, Ed Straker’s car was a cheaper alternative, and you could always borrow a kitchen mop to replicate Ed Bishop’s ‘distinctive’ hairstyle:
No.2253 Ford Capri Police Car
A very collectable member of Dinky’s 1/25 scale model Capri range, the others were a standard GXL in metallic blue and a ‘Rally Car’. Each was one of the most desirable Christmas presents of the seventies. Indeed, finding one of these Ford replicas under the tree was on a par with The Morecambe and Wise Show in terms of seasonal surprises.
No.128 Mercedes Benz 600
As with many long-running Dinky products, the 600 went through several incarnations, but here we are focusing on the early version. It remains a prime example of how, in its heyday, the firm could produce replicas of the everyday and the virtually unattainable with equal verve.
No.176 NSU Ro80
The perfect complement to the BMW, not just as a German car of the highest quality but also because it boasted working headlamps. The batteries would almost certainly be drained by Boxing Day, but better a diecast NSU than watching Hughie Green on ITV.
No.192 Range Rover
One of Dinky’s finest products, capturing the Range Rover’s lines and with multi-opening panels and, of course, jewelled headlamps. Some enthusiasts preferred the civilian version in bronze, others opted for the police, fire chief’s car’ or ambulance variants, but each was a model car of distinction.
No.152 Rolls Royce Phantom V
Who could ask for more: an opening boot, bonnet and doors, wing mirrors, and a chauffeur with two passengers? Not to mention the fact that the Dinky Phantom was considerably more attainable than its full-size counterpart.
No.156 Saab 96
An excellent interpretation of one of the few foreign cars you were likely to encounter on British roads during the late sixties.
And finally.
No.281 Fiat 2300 Familare Pathe News Camera Car
Or this writer’s dream Dinky Christmas present. Here’s why…