U.S.A Army models Matchbox or Dinky?

I am familiar with the Dinky toy version of this.  I remember them sold separately in the 1950s, but they could have been also sold as a set.  I had the tank, a British Centurion, which I think sold for about $2 to $3.  I do not remember the price of transporter truck and trailer.  I believe my model was 1/43 scale.  I do not know if Dinky ever sold these in a smaller scale.  If you can retake the photos with a ruler next to models showing inches or centimeters, I can tell you approximate scale.

The Dinky is much larger than the Matchbox Major. 

The Dinky is a nominal 1/43 but may be closer to 1/50 scale.  It's very nice and in my collection.  Be careful of reproduction boxes...

The Matchbox Major is smaller scale - may be slightly larger than the 1/64 Matchbox cars - it comes with the tank.

Looking at the two pictures, are both tank transporter truck and trailers, the same size?  One looks more detailed than the other.

https://www.maronline.org.uk/the-dinky-mighty-antar/

@ed-davis See above - the Dinky is much larger than the Matchbox.

Hello Karl, I was sure you were going to jump in. I took the photo of the Dinky exactly on the models Auto Review website. Do you know an average reasonnable of the price of both models and with no boxes does that loose value? How much you would be ready to pay for the Dinky or the Matchbox whatever the scale?

This Dinky Toys Thorneycroft Antar tank transporter, British, designed to carry the Centurion Tank just sold yesterday on EPAY for $53 US plus shipping. That is quite a bit lower than I expected. I've seen them go as high as $200 at Toy Shows in 2019 before covid.

 The Lesney/Matchbox Major Pack #3 with tank, boxed should sell for about $100 US plus shipping although a near mint without box is currently listed for $40. It is smaller as Karl says but is similar in accuracy to the larger Dinky version.

If you can find one, the Matchbox Gift Set G-5 Military Vehicles, is the way to go. Approx. 1/64 scale compared to the Dinky Toys 1/50.

I have both of these. Yes, the Dinky was available in a set with the Centurion tank or separately as 660. I seem to recall Dinky's military models were around 1:60, not 1:50. And the Matchbox is much smaller than 1:64, probably closer to HO scale (1:87). Remember that the Thorneycroft Antar was a big beast - also used for hauling oversize loads. Dinky also issued a civilian version version loaded with a ship's propeller (986), and another hauling a big transformer (908).

As World War II opened in Europe, Americans became aware, once again, of the possibilities of involvement.  From the late 1930's until war-time materials shortages of early 1942 stopped production, several American firms made war toys for the dime store trade.  Most sold in the 10 cents range, moving up and down from that figure.  Barclay and Manoil, both known for producing dime store cars and trucks, switched to war toys almost exclusively.   Here are a few examples from my collection.

Don't even try to figure scale on these, as they roam all over the place.  Some were painted with blue uniforms to designate them as French, but most used some shade of brown.  These were not left from my childhood, but I remember my older brother had a lot of them and some were still in my toybox several years later.  These I acquired several years later.  They show up rather often on major toy auction sites.

Posted by: @michel-lemieux

Hello Karl... How much you would be ready to pay for the Dinky or the Matchbox whatever the scale?

David did a good range on recent prices in eBay.  They sound about right.  If you don't want a box or need 100% Mint, the the prices will be more reasonable.  I would get the bigger Dinky plus the Centurion tank to go with it (since you are used to the larger scale)...

Dinky made a lot of great military vehicles back then - English and French!

Thanks everyone for your interesting responses and your photos.

@karl  According to my research,  the 6 wheeled machine is a circa 1954 APC armored personal carrier,  the four wheeled one is a circa 1942 Daimler armored car.   Earlier photoed tank transporter is a Thornycroft Antar tank transporter with Centurion tank.

According to the Matchbox 1965 catalogue the tank transporter and tank is 1:125th scale and was number 3 in their Major Packs series. Price 4/11. This was also available in the G5 Gift Set pictured in David's post with the following:

12 Land-Rover 1:68th 49 Half track 1:60th but more like 1:80th 54 Saracen APC - same vehicle as the Dinky Toys in Karl's post 1:86th 61 Ferret scout car 1:67th 64 Recovery lorry 1:98th 67 Saladin 1:75th. In 1964 the G5 Gift Set was 17/6. Scales as identified in this catalogue.