Mini-Dinky

Here is another in the Mini-Dinky Series, the #18 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL.

It is strange: I was an avid collector of Matchbox models at what seems to be this period '67 to '70, buying one per week and 1/43 approx' Dinky Toys, but I never came across these in the U.K..

@charles-rockett

Hi Charles,

They showed up in Canada. I bought most of mine at a now defunct superstore called Zellers.

I assume that other countries also received them The Dr.Edward Force Dinky Toys book shows them. Sometime soon, I'll add a list here of all known models. Quite a few initially planned were never made but I think about 33 were.

Below is the #10 Ford Corsair which was the first in the series.

I'm guessing much would come down to established distribution networks, so very possibly these were on the market but the particular stores I'd shop in - or even area I was in - did not stock these.  They must have been available in the U.K..  I shall keep an eye out should you post your list.

Posted by: @charles-rockett

I'm guessing much would come down to established distribution networks, so very possibly these were on the market but the particular stores I'd shop in - or even area I was in - did not stock these.  They must have been available in the U.K..  I shall keep an eye out should you post your list.

Hi Charles

Mini-Dinky were never officially distributed in the UK and never appeared or were listed in UK catalogues. 

However, after the Tri-ang Empire, which included Meccano, went bust in 1971 some stocks found their way into smaller enterprises like newsagents. I bought a Corvette Sting Ray in a local newsagents and they had a pile of them. They didn't last long. BTW around the corner a hardware store had a few Spot-Ons for sale in 1973.

@david-green

Hi David you have an impressive collection of Mini-Dinky's.

@chris-sweetman

Thanks Chris. I have attached below a list that is as complete as I can find. I never found any of the Universal Products of Hong Kong for sale. The #60 and 61 were also sold by Efsi (Best Box)  of the Netherlands, who likely made the castings.

@charles-rockett

Hi Charles,

Here is the list that I promised.

@david-green Hi David, thanks for this. I do not intend collecting these, but I find it very interesting as I have vivid memories of mine, my brother's and friends' model cars from exactly this time, and your notices recall and fill-in a lot of detail.

Something that strikes me is that I believe all those cars on your list (though I'm unable to speak of the formula I, Fiat estate, nor utility trucks) were also produced by Dinky in their 1/34 scale.  Or maybe I have this wrong?

@david-green Out of interest, did you buy yours at the time, or have you been collecting them since?  And if the latter, have you found them difficult to source  where you are?

@charles-rockett

I bought them at the time. Had them on display for a while. More recently, I kept for display the Jaguar and put the rest in storage boxes.

Up to this year with no Toy Shows, I was seeing them quite regularly for sale. Asking price for mint boxed in Canada in 2019 was usually $40 plus Canadian Dollars. Played with unboxed, usually under $10. The garage is likely worth as much as the vehicle.

@david-green I can see that.  Looking at the garages I imagine they were a favourite toy for many boys and would have come in for some heavy treatment. Plus as I recall, plastics back then were far more brittle and prone to cracking than ours, today. All very interesting stuff.

12 Corvette Sting Ray

While looking through I drawer, I came across this very scarce Mini-Dinky that was played with by my son as a child. Fairly rough but I won't be restoring it. Still very collectible even in this condition.

@david-green Great photos and write-up!!!   I am editing an article on these for MAR Online - Stay tuned!