DINKY-TOYS GB #40E STANDARD VANGUARD : Not two but four variants !

This round shaped car appeared soon after the war, and was a common sight on the United Kingdoms roads during the 50s, even if as for numerous other British cars this model was virtually unknown on the other side of the Channel. The model produced by DINKY was a typical example of the simplification of the assembly in order to reduce the production costs (it was already a topic for over fifty years !). One speaks often of the "both versions" : open rear arches and closed rear arches. I have found four different versions of this model.

As stated in M&S Richardson's book, the horizontal rib (over the rear lights) that appeared on the rear boot of the models progressively through the years is due to wear of the dies rather than from a deliberate casting change.

1st version : open rear wings, rear axle secured by a clip

At the beginning, the car was issued with open rear wings. The rear axle was secured to the baseplate by a clip, a fixing method used also on the french #24Q FORD VEDETTE 1949. The wording on the baseplate has small letters, and the baseplate is rigidified by relief ribs : one rib along each side of the baseplate, under the doors and running to the front, and two ribs forming a V under the rear axle, the relief of these being on the inner side of the car, the other being to the outer side.

The three versions of the baseplate : small lettering with ribs and clip, small lettering with ribs without clip, big lettering whithout ribs and no clip

The baseplate of the #24Q FORD VEDETTE 1949 : undeniable parentage, up to the ribs...

2nd version : open rear wings, rear axle passing through eyed tabs of the baseplate

In this second version, which has also open rear wings, the baseplate has two pierced tabs holding the rear axle. The wordings are also of the small letter type, the ribs are unchanged, as is the little semi-circular hole behind the rear axle, although now of no use without the clip.

3rd version : closed rear wings, smooth inner side of the roof

Here can be clearly seen how the simplification is made to reduce production cost. Closing the rear wings means no need to secure the rear wheels on the axle, the hubs being secured on it by the shell itself, unlike the french #24T CITROEN 2CV where hubs have always been secured on the rear axle, except on the very first versions. The baseplate has been widely changed : the ribs have disappeared, the lettering is changed and enlarged. One must notice that the little semi-circular hole which was used to secure the clip of the first version is remaining. I am always hunting for transition models between the 2nd and 3rd versions, i.e. closed rear wings with small lettering or open wings with big lettering. To be continued... Maybe someone could help ?

4th version : closed rear wings, inside of the roof with VANGUARD wording

This version is the same as the above one as viewed from the outside, and differs only from it by the VANGUARD wording added to the inside of the roof. Unlike the prewar models (CHRYSLER AIRFLOW or PEUGEOT 402 for exemple) the fact that DINKY TOYS has not been engraved shows that it was not intended to produce these models without baseplate (after all, where could the axles have been fixed to ?). It's for sure a new standard set to avoid mixing of the parts. For this precise model, one can ask with any other model the shells could have been mixed.

Inside of the roof smooth (left) and with lettering (right)

Known color schemes

Type	Caisse	Jantes	Remarques
1	Tan	Tan
1	Tan	Red
2	Tan	Tan
3	Tan	Tan
3	Mid blue	Tan
3	Mid blue	Cream
3	Dark blue	Tan
3	Maroon	Maroon	Rare
4	Cream	Cream

This table lists the color schemes present in my own collection at the date of publishing of this post, and the usually known (I have alas no maroon one yet !). I will complete it with my further founds in the future. The both shades of blue quoted in the table are the same as those of  the #14A BEV ELECTRIC TRUCK.

Post initially published : jun 18th, 2017

Version française ici.