Here is the rarest Dinky Toy in my collection. It is the Dinky Toys Mini Van; a limited edition of 600 models done exclusively for Mason's Paints. It was apparently done to give as Christmas presents to Mason's employees...at least that is what I read. Very few exist today as most were of course played with. I hunted this one and one other down in the UK and bought them many years ago. Five or six years ago I sold one to a fellow in Chicago but I retained this one. It came in the maroon colored box displayed and with a cheeky little advertising pamphlet. I recall asking John Roberts years ago if he knew what it was worth. He asked around his Dinky Toy expert friends and they said around 850 pounds sterling. Not sure what it would be worth today. Cute little guy isn't he?
Very nice Jack. You are correct about rarity. They certainly don't turn up very often especially with the box and literature. I sold a loose one with one scratch on the roof for $200 several years ago at CTCS show in Toronto. It is a Mini collector's find of a lifetime.
Dan Toys made a replica including the red box so be careful if anyone looks for it now. The original has shown up in Diecast Collector (UK magazine) as well. For sale on ebay for well over US$1000 but I just checked and none sold for that recently. A fantastic Dinky. All of mine are common but I still like them!
My rarest Dinky might be No. 129 MG TF. This was a US-market only model (I think) without driver and using the colors of the competiion version (108) but without race numbers. Not as rare as Jack's Minivan, but not always seen with the box.
Jack, not sure about red, however I have one in "mint green" It has a hole in the seat for a driver figure which I must have removed (probably 60 years ago)
I note that Harvey's model also has a missing driver?
This post was modified 2 months ago by Stanton Lyman
Jack, not sure about red, however I have one in "mint green" It has a hole in the seat for a driver figure which I must have removed (probably 60 years ago)
I note that Harvey's model also has a missing driver?
Harvey's was made without a driver as I recall; it's a rare bird.
BTW...I'm pretty sure that you can buy painted "drivers" for these Dinkys via ebay; I'm positive they sell Matchbox drivers.
Here is another rare Dinky Toys MGTF, similar to Harv but with civilian driver and from the UK. Says 108 on base. Had this since childhood but unfortunately played with it.
This was posted on The Digest Zone last April. Harv posted a nice selection of Dinky MGTFs at that time. I’ll see if I can add it below.
After several tries, here is Harv's picture showing the Dinky Toys MGTFs.
