Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Diecast Collector

BRITISH CLASSICS FROM MATRIX DUE to arrive at retailers in July, Matrix has confirmed a run of three fabulous British classic cars, all at 1/43 scale – 1975-1981 Jaguar XJ-S, 1967-1968 Triumph TR5 p.i. and 1963-1967 Riley Elf MkII. All will be limited editions, as is the norm with Matrix releases. Just before we went to press, Mike Coupe, of Spa Croft Models (www.spacroftmodels.co.uk), advised that he had heard that Matrix has announced two more colours in addition to the models pictured here – white on the Triumph TR5 and green on the Jaguar XJ-S. For more information and to pre-order, contact your preferred Matrix Scale Models retailer. Jaguar XJ-S 1975-1981 - red REF: MX41001-201 SCALE: 1/43 PRICE: £TBA DUE: July Triumph TR5 p.i. 1967-1968 - blue REF: MX41902-042 SCALE: 1/43…

MATCHBOX is crowning its 70th anniversary celebrations and the King’s Coronation with a new Gold State Coach model. Marking King Charles III’s Coronation, the legendary toy manufacturer is recreating the historic Gold State Coach model that enabled the creation of the Matchbox brand 70 years ago. It’s an ideal way to commemorate, treasure and remember this moment in history. Strictly made to order, the model of the Gold State Coach has been re-engineered at 1/64 scale. Seventy years ago, London-based diecasting business Lesney sold over one million examples of its 11.8cm Coronation Coach, produced to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. The sales success enabled Lesney to fund the launch of the newly conceived Matchbox brand. “The original State Coach is a pivotal piece of Matchbox heritage, and crucial…

SCHUCO has announced the release, towards the end of this year, of a series of all four generations of Ford’s mighty Supervan. These diecast releases will make for a seriously impressive display at 1/18 scale. The original Supervan (1971) was conceived for promotional purposes for the Transit Mk1 towards the end of its production run. Built on a Ford GT40 chassis, with the low-slung racer’s 400bhp V8 mid-mounted, it featured a Transit van bodyshell on top, and it was claimed it could reach 150mph. Supervan 2 (1984) was fitted with a fibreglass bodyshell depicting the basic shape of the Ford Transit Mk2. This time the chassis was another Le Mans car – the 1982 Group C Ford C100 complete with the same Cosworth DFL competition engine raced at Le Mans in…

THIS CLASSIC SWEDE BY WHITEBOX TAKES US RIGHT BACK TO THE EARLY SEVENTIES 1/24 scale WHITEBOX 1970 Saab 96 V4 - black PRICE: £30.99 REF NO: WHI 124051 www.ayrey.co.uk SAAB’S 96 was introduced in 1960 as a replacement for its then four-year-old 93. With styling clearly reminiscent of Sixten Sason’s beautifully-penned lines on its predecessor, the 96, again styled by Sason, at first glance appeared to be an evolution, but it was so much more than that. The 96 features aerodynamic two-door bodywork and four passenger seats. Initially fitted with a two-stroke, three-cylinder engine, a more powerful four-strokeV4 came along later. Compared with its predecessor, the 96 featured greater and more easily accessible storage space, and a larger rear window. The front end was lengthened for 1965 models onwards, in…

Output of new models at Oxford Diecast seems to be approaching pre-pandemic levels, as the recent announcement of the next batch of upcoming releases is an absolute joy to behold. With 12 examples of new tooling shown here, the future definitely looks to be getting brighter over in Wales. Despite there only being one new release planned in 1/43 scale for the foreseeable future it’s a real beauty, in the shape of the Land Rover Discovery 1 Marseille (right), which is due to reach the shops to go on sale in June, along with its 1/76 scale counterpart (see below, left). So read on and get your notepad at the ready to write down your wishlist. Austin A40 MkII – Fern Green/Snowberry White REF: 76AA008 SCALE: 1/76 PRICE: £7.45 Land…

I ’ve been playing around with restoring old diecasts since my early teens. When I started a huge partwork project build from Ixo Collections (see opposite page for the latest update), it gave me this idea for this section to bring you tips as I focus on some other projects along the way too. VINTAGE CORGI RESTORATIONS Following on from the CorgiToys Gift Set No 11 E.R.F. Dropside Platform Lorry and Trailer with Cement and Plank Loads restored in the January issue, I’ve now refurbished a similar pairing for display together. Corgi Toys No 452 Commer Dropside Lorry and No 100 Dropside Trailer have both been languishing in my ‘to do’ box for sometime, along with two more Corgi Cargoes loads – No 1486 Marston Bricks and No 1487 Milk…

There has always been a fascination by manufacturers and teams to run cars in special liveries for the Le Mans 24 Hours. There have been plenty over the decades since the famous Andy Warhol BMW M1 ‘art car’ that ran in the 1976 edition. In 2019, the Team Project 1 entry ditched its usual WEC-season black and yellow livery and sported a most fabulous all-over wrap. Designed by American artist Richard Phillips, the #56 entry featured a multi-coloured design that encompassed some of Phillips’ earlier art works. The new look was unveiled ahead of the pre-event Test Day, held two weeks before the race itself. The car’s livery was created in co-operation with Porsche Digital using the‘Second Skin’ wrapping technique that was soon to be made available to Porsche customers…

When DinkyToys launched its amazing No 370 Dragster Set, in 1969, I was instantly captivated and it went straight onto my wishlist. I can’t remember exactly when I got it (it was probably a Christmas or birthday present, as most of my Dinkys and Corgis were), but I do remember plenty of dragstrip action on the floor at 154 Radnor Avenue in Welling, Kent. Manufactured from 1969 to 1975, the dragster can be found in a few colour schemes. Justifying the “Set” part of the moniker, it came with a spring-loaded starter unit – this also came in different colours over the years. Described by Chris Jelley in the Dinky Toy News section of the October 1969 Meccano Magazine as “one of the best toys ever to have been made by…

The majority of post war cars of the 1950s were re-introduced pre-war versions and most were saloons. But, of course, there were coupes and sports cars often based on the makers own saloons. All these cars were easily identified by their radiators or body styles, unlike today when it is sometimes difficult to identify the particular car. The toy manufacturers produced many toy cars just as saloons, sports cars or coupes without giving the car makers name. However, DinkyToys did start naming some models, including the 38 series of sports cars. One such car was the Alvis SportsTourer (No 38d), introduced in June 1940. The advert is in an outline box which states“NEWTHIS MONTH!”, and also shows the No 38a Fraser-Nash BMW Sports Car plus the No 38b Sunbeam-Talbot Sports.…

DATE: 29th April 2023 TITLE: Tri-Ang Spot-On No 265 Tonibell Ice Cream Van SOLD FOR: £437.00 BIDS: 11 This Tri-ang Tonibell ice cream van is in as new condition, never having been removed from its box. It has an opening side window, ice cream salesman, fully-detailed interior, and a plated bumper and grille. In its original box which is in very good condition, but has a paper small scuff to the bottom left front corner and the cellophane has a slight crease and is a little discoloured. The original price of 7/11 is written in pencil on the box front. DATE: 21st April 2023 TITLE: Dinky Toy Lincoln Zephyr No 39C SOLD FOR: £430.00 BIDS: 29 From the seller’s late grandfather’s collection of Dinky Toys purchased from the UK, South…

The connection between aircraft and the vehicles associated with them is a theme that has long been exploited by diecast manufacturers. Classic examples such as Dinky’s pre-war Air Mail Car, the Matchbox BEA coach and Budgie’s impressive aircraft refuelling tanker immediately come to mind. The theme was just as popular in France, where the link between aircraft and buses has been a particularly rich source of inspiration with many models appearing in the blue and white colours of Air France. Three of the rarer obsolete ones are pictured here, and next month’s page will look at a selection of more affordable issues. Joustra was a famous French toy brand, the name being formed by combining the opening letters of the words‘jouet’ (‘toy’) and ‘Strasbourg’, where they were made from the…

FOLLOWING on from the huge success of the Escort RS2000 commissioned from Corgi, Tony Buller’s next The Professionals model will be Bodie’s Ford Capri 3.0S in a limited run of just 1,037 models (to tie in with Bodie’s “37” call sign). Using Corgi’s recent new tooling of the Ford Capri Mk3, Tony wanted to more accurately replicate the very wheels on the car used for the show, so has covered the tooling cost for these, and we think you’ll agree that they look absolutely stunning and have definitely been worth the investment. To find out more, and to pre-order this magnificent model, drop Tony an email at professionalmania@hotmail.com.…

1/43 scale MOTOR CITY 1956 Dodge Sierra D-500 Station Wagon  PRICE: US$129.00 marvamin@aol.com SERIOUS collectors of handbuilt 1/43 scale models of American cars will know the original Motor City USA range as being the top-of-the-tree in terms of both quality and price. The original range ceased production some years ago when the proprietor retired, and a planned revival in different hands, again in years past, came to naught. Here, however, we have a brave new attempt, by American enthusiast Greg Gunn, an expert builder of, and dealer in, handbuilt models. The project has taken several years to come to full fruition, but the results have most definitely been well worth the wait. Cast in resin and made in China, as so many such models are nowadays, the new model is of…

Solido’s coverage of the Peugeot 205, with 1/18 diecasts in street and rally guise, is already extensive, but this latest limited edition version is certainly one of the most desirable. In GTi form, the 205 has a place in automotive production history as one of the foremost and most popular hot hatchbacks of the eighties. Solido’s standard catalogue currently still includes the charismatic 1988 1.9 GTi in red, first released in 2019 (S1801702), which was joined in 2021 by the equally popular image of it in white (S1801710). As ‘must have’ models, these are now joined by the ultimate version with the lioness showing her claws. PEUGEOT 205 ‘GRIFFE’ - 1992 (S1801712) With an undercurrent theme this month of metallic turquoise paintwork, comes this limited edition model of the limited…

For nearly six decades now the RAF’s Red Arrows have entertained and amazed millions of people around the world with their breathtaking formation aerobatic skills. Familiarly known as The Reds, during those nearly 60 years the team has risen to the pinnacle of excellence and has gained universal acclaim. Formally called the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows have performed almost 5,000 times across the globe. The Red Arrows are fortunate to have both a wonderful history and the support and interest of millions of fans. HISTORY It was in 1964 when the RAF amalgamated its display teams into one premier unit, which became the Red Arrows. The name was taken from the Black Arrows Hunter team and the colour scheme as a tribute to the Jet Provosts…

The Majorette company dates back to 1961, when it was founded in Lyon, France. Initially the company was called Rail-Route, as it produced mainly diecast and plastic miniature trains and rolling stock, but gradually motor vehicles appeared in the line and it was renamed Majorette in 1967. Majorette was very much the French equivalent of Matchbox, as it produced good quality miniature vehicles that were solidly made and featured plenty of play value. Majorette also produced long vehicles and large-scale models, similar to Matchbox’sTwo Pack / 900 and King Size ranges. In the 1990s, Majorette was acquired by the Ideal Loisirs group, and production was moved from France toThailand. Then, in 2010, the company was sold again, this time to the German toy company Simba-Dickie. Majorette was re-purposed as a…

As we have seen in previous instalments, there were diecast tie-ins with every Jurassic Park film. However, very few of these were faithful to vehicles seen in the movies, with none of the original trilogy having accurate diecast replicas of the machines seen on screen. It wasn’t until the second round of films, beginning with Jurassic World in 2015, that there were some accurate diecast models that resembled those in the movie, made by Jada – as seen in the May 2020 issue. The situation seemed to change in 2018, when a number of very accurate models based on vehicles seen in all five Jurassic Park films were released, possibly due to stricter rules from the licensor. Matchbox produced a very wide range of model vehicles that were extremely authentic…

I do consider myself a collector of model cars, but I only tend to go for those that I particularly like or bring back specific memories. I’ve so far resisted the temptation to seek out every different version or colour and am currently quite satisfied to only have one example of each. So here we go with the five that I would want to be with me if I ever got stranded… OXFORD DIECAST 1/76 NO 76LRL006 LAND ROVER ½ TON LIGHTWEIGHT - FRED DIBNAH Fred Dibnah was quite a character and I still remember the programmes on TV where he would be at the top of a church spire or factory chimney holding onto the ladder with one hand while talking about the engineering or people who built it.…

ABOUT YOU… 1. Why do you collect? □ For pleasure □ For investment □ Both 2. How long have you been collecting? □ Less than 2 years □ 3-5 years □ 5-10 years □ Over 10 years 3. Would you consider your collecting knowledge to be: □ Beginner □ Intermediate □ Expert 4. Which genre do you collect: □ Classic cars □ Modern cars □ Classic haulage/commercial vehicles □ Modern haulage/commercial vehicles □ Construction □ Motorbikes □ Emergency vehicles □ Sports/racing cars □ Civil Aviation □ Military Aviation □ Farming □ TV & Film □ Toy figures/miniatures □ Railways □ LEGO □ Comics □ Tinplate 5. Which scale do you collect? 6. Which manufacturers do you collect? 7. Are you a member of any collecting clubs? □ Yes □ No…

EMAIL YOUR LETTERS AND QUESTIONS TO rick.wilson@warnersgroup.co.uk OR WRITE TO US The Editor, Diecast Collector, Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. MISSING (LAST) WORDS READING Last Word (page 78) in the June issue, I can’t help but wonder if there are some lines missing at the end, as Brian Gower’s usual style of tale-telling would wrap things up more than this. Or is my old age getting the better of me? John Holmes, email ED Well spotted, John! Don’t worry, it was an error on our part, and I’m not quite sure quite how this got missed off. But you’re right, it doesn’t make sense without the ending. Profuse apologies for the error. Here we go then… "Someone shot him, Mr Crivelli. Dumped him in some…

August 2023 Issue 310 The story of Lone Star’s appealing Roadmaster cars and the exciting discovery that they were produced in New Zealand. Please note: These planned editorial contents may be subject to change where necessary. PLUS… ■ American muscle cars■ Hallmark Road Rovers■ Models with lights■ Bugatti Tipo 32 centenary■ First time winners at the Canadian Grand Prix■ Matchbox Matchmates■ Out & About: Mulhouse Museum■ Collecting by numbers – Superfast #37■ Auction results■ All the latest news■ Extensive selection of new model releases, reviewed by our team of experts August issue on sale 4th July or download the digital edition 7 DAYS EARLIER on 27th June at www.pocketmags.com/diecast-collector…

THE next model in the Corgi Model Club collection, which should have begun to arrive with early subscribers by the time that you read this, is No 492 Volkswagen European Police Car. Featuring an opening bonnet and rear engine cover, just like the original Corgi Toys release, this is another great replica. Both opening features reveal some nice detail. Also as per the original, the model features ‘True Scale’ steering, which is operated by turning the beacon on the roof of the car. Opting for the more common green and white version, with “POLIZEI” markings on either door, the model replicates the original’s tan interior and its two occupants. As ever, this latest model will be delivered to those who are up to date (i.e. those who last received No…

1/18 scale SOLIDO Porsche 935 K3 Le Mans 1980 #71  PRICE: £65.99 REF NO: S1807203 www.solido.com PORSCHE’S 935 had already had a really successful few years when, in 1979, it won the biggest endurance racing prize of them all - the Le Mans 24 Hours. But it wasn't with a factory effort, the victorious machine was a development of the 935 undertaken by a specialist company, based in Köln, and run by two brothers - Erwin and Manfred Kremer. Kremer Racing’s 935 K3 was an attempt to mimic the revised aerodynamics on the factory 935/78s, known affectionately as "Moby Dick", with their long 'whale tail' bodywork. The K3 was a development of the Kremer brothers' earlier K1 and K2 versions of the 935. Although the rear bodywork wasn't as dramatic as…

Following Corgi’s recent trend of announcing new models three times a year, the May to August catalogue was unveiled at the end of April. With the cover of the new catalogue impressively dominated by the second version of Corgi’s excellent new Ford Raptor tooling, in SouthWales Police livery, the tone is instantly set for plenty of high-impact announcements. Along with all the more expected unveilings, such as the marvellous pair of new 1/48 scale aircraft shown 'flying' overhead, above, a bit of a (very pleasant) surprise was the revealing of the series of Wallace & Gromit Austin A35 vans in various bright and fun liveries, all with suitably cheesy number plates to match the subject matter - one quite literally! Steve McQueen'sTriumphTR6Trophy from The Great Escape is an eagerly-awaited, large-scale…

When the McLaren F1 GTR won first time out at Le Mans, in 1995, Porsche customers that took part in endurance racing series realised the 993 series 911 GT2 Evo they were driving would no longer be enough to fight the British supercar. The GT1 regulations, based on street supercars, meant a racer had to start from a standard production vehicle. The 993 series 911, with its rear engine and steel frame was light-years behind the carbon fibre, mid-engined McLaren F1. Since the BPR Global GT series had begun, in 1994, selling 911 GT2 Evos for customers to race had been good business for Porsche’s racing department. However, at the end of the following season, gentleman drivers were asking for more, so Porsche engineering at Weissach got to work. It…

As a long-time Vanguards collector, its current fixation on Ford product to the near exclusion of other ranges is frustrating. On the one hand, it offers the justification that these are consistently best-sellers to a brand-loyal and enthusiastic following, the models themselves are regularly offered in enticing liveries and carefully selected variations, and on a personal level it has provided many opportunities over the years to fill pages of this magazine with articles. On the other, I’d love to see a more adventurous and balanced perspective across the wider landscape, spreading the choice offered to collectors and recapturing some of the early Vanguards ambition. That said, there are still untapped niches within the Ford legacy, and Vanguards has found another with its new Escort RS2000 Mk2 to unleash a flurry…

If, like me, you’re a collector of motor racing replicas, there’s a good chance that you have a few of the cars driven by the great Jim Clark. Hailing from The Borders to the south of Scotland, the pretty town of Duns, which neighbours his hometown of Chirnside, is where you can find a stunning little museum crammed with cars, trophies and memorabilia – and, of course, scale models. Born in 1936, Jim Clark had just turned 32 when he was fatally injured in a crash at Hockenheim, in Germany, in April 1968. By that time he had won 2 Formula 1 driver’s championship titles (25 race wins and 33 pole positions from just 72 Grand Prix starts), won the 1965 Indianapolis 500 and competed at the Le Mans 24…

No. 36 Number 36 during the Lesney-era Superfast range comprises a Regular Wheels carryover (Opel Diplomat) a fantasy hot rod Jaguar, a generic racing car and a refuse wagon, complete with working feature. OPEL DIPLOMAT Catalogue: 1970 Box Styles: F, G Gaining Superfast wheels for 1970, this fabulous regular wheels original also kept its lovely metallic gold paint job. As was seemingly the way, though, many regular wheels classics were only going to be around for a short time before the new kids on the block barged their way into the catalogue as Lesney strove to hit back at the competition from Hot Wheels with its outlandish creations. HOT ROD DRAGUAR Catalogue: 1971-75 Box Styles: G And you couldn't get much more outlandish than this creation. This model was clearly…

GOT A STORY? Contact rick.wilson@warnersgroup.co.uk SOUTH AFRICAN DINKY DELIGHTS AT VECTIS AUCTIONS JUST as we closed for press with the June issue, Vectis Auctions held a specialist diecast model sale on the 12th of April, which featured four private owner collections, starting with Part 1 of The Brixham Collection, which includes Dinky, French Dinky and Corgi models, followed by The Cornwall Collection - further Dinky plus Military, aircraft and Corgi models. The County Durham Collection included several South African Dinkys, export issues and rare hard to find colour variations, plus Tri-ang Spot-on, Tekno and Milton/Maxwell Toys (India). The New York Collection featured further Dinky road and racing cars, and aircraft, plus Corgi, Britains, Politoy, Mercury Liners, Tri-ang Minic ships and Tekno Jet-Plane series. Further items in the sale include Corgi…

The writer, Kingsley Amis, died in the year that I married, so you could say that his work was done. You could also say that we saw each other off, although his 'off' was a bit earlier than he might have liked while my 'off' was quite late, as marriage was not something I considered either sustainable or necessary. Amis changed me. Generally described as a 'comic' novelist, I believe his great gift was for exploring life’s complications and tragedies with a light touch that, if anything, heightened the reader’s appreciation of what often drives us to drink. Yes, he was funny but his use of the English language was never less than perfect and what he expressed was serious. A self-confessed cad ("A complete s***" were his words), his…