The Dinky Racing Car Introduced in 1933, this model, which is also known as ‘the small racing car’, holds Dinky toys production record for a period of 22 years. Issued in 1933 as a lead model, the car’s original reference number, ‘23’, had the suffix ‘a’ added in 1935. In 1934, the lead model, 23a/1, did not have a driver and the manifold was set for a four-cylinder engine and a fishtail exhaust pipe. Dinky modified the die and during December 1934, the driver’s head was added along with a manifold to reflect the car’s six-cylinder engine. On each side of this version race numbers were on raised bosses. Later, the number bosses disappear and the bonnet shape was modified. There were two styles of decoration and several colours were applied: red, blue, white and silver. Advertised in the November and December 1934 editions of the Meccano Magazine, these early versions had small white tyres and cost 6d. From late 1934 onwards, the model also appeared in French Dinky catalogues, with the same reference number 23a. In 1936, the cost of the model fell from 3.50 old francs to 2.00fr.

In 1937, Dinky replaced the lead with Zamak. The new model, 23a/2, 90mm long was issued with a range of race numbers, from 1-6. In 1939, the model was withdrawn and replaced by 23a/3, which was renumbered 220, before its final deletion in 1956. After the Second World War, the model failed to appear in any further French catalogues.

The real-life origins of this model appear to be unknown, although the model’s styling sets it in the era of racing at the Brooklands circuit. Indeed, the model bares a close resemblance to the 2.4 litre Napier Railton in which John Cobb set a circuit record of 143.44mph in 1935. However the ‘History of British Dinky Toys 1934-1964’ by Cecil Gibson on p.13 states: ‘In shape it is very reminiscent of the record-breaking M.G. EX-127 used by Eyston in 1933. This was a blown 4-cylinder 750 cc with no external exhaust I think (which would fit in with my first variant). The later six-exhaust versions I take to represent an M.G. Magnette which had a very similar body originally to its 4-cylinder predecessor.

Introduced in 1933, deleted in 1956. Sold in the USA for 20 cents.Cost 6d available in silver & red, red & silver, blue & silver finish. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky Alfa Romeo Racing Car In August 1953, the Meccano Magazine announced, as newly introduced, the Alfa-Rameo, 23f, racing car, noting that the actual vehicle had achieved considerable success in road and track events. Finished in red, Italy’s international racing colour, the model had a driver built into the casting. The driver had a white painted overall and helmet. Sturdy axles and ribbed wheel hubs, with 20mm black or grey round treaded tyres ensured that the model had good running. The model details the cars long exhaust pipes on the of-side, which are painted silver. On the rear cowling, the model carries the race number,’8’. Initially, the model cost 3/1, which was reduced to 3/- after only a few months. In 1954, the model was renumbered, 232, and ultimately, deleted in 1964.

Based on the Alfa-Romeo 159, the F1 car won the World Driver’s Championship (1950), driven by Nino Farina. In 1951, Juan Manuel Fangio won driving the Alfretti 159, with its powerful 420 bhp engine. Such power was achieved at the cost high fuel consumption, with the car consuming 125-175 litres per 100 km. Facing stiff competition from Ferrari, a former employee of Alfa-Romeo, the company withdrew from racing after the Italian government refused to fund further developments of the car. Their withdrawal was almost inevitable, because the company had a small budget and relied on pre-war technology, notably its use of 9 engine blocks.Cost 3/1 available in red finish. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky Cooper-Bristol Racing Car Announced as new for March 1953 in the Meccano Magazine, the Cooper-Bristol Racing Car, 23G, provided a detailed model of a Formula 2 racing car, which was showing great promise on the track. Costing 2/9, the model was also the subject of a special, extended article in the April edition. The Cooper-Bristol racing car, with its driver in a white helmet and overall driver, was 3 1/2 inches long. Finished in an Ivy Green, which was described at the time as the British racing colour, twin, silver, exhaust pipes were shown in the casting on one side of the body. The race number ‘6’ was on each side of the rear cowl. The model was introduced in March 1953 and renumbered, 233, in 1954. The Cooper-Bristol racing car was deleted in 1964.

The model was based on the successful, Cooper-Bristol CB3/52, Designed by the company for the 2-litre Formula 2 Series, CB3/52 was one of two driven as a works backed entry in races in Europe during 1952-53. The Cooper used a Bristol 2-litre engine, which produced 175 bhp. During 1952, the car raced in the Swiss; Italian; Belgian; and British Grand Prix. The car also took part in the last Marne Grand Prix, one of Europe’s fastest road races. The car had a number of notable drivers, including Stirling Moss, Ken Wharton, John Cooper, Mike Hawthorn and Juan Manuel Fangio.Cost 2/9 available in green finish at 1:38 scale. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky Ferrari Racing Car In April 1953, the Meccano Magazine announced the launch of Dinky Toys’ Ferrari, 23H. The 4 inch (102mm) long model had a driver, with white painted overall and helmet, integral to the casting and was finished in blue and yellow, the national racing colours of Argentina. Like other models in the series, the Ferrari had sturdy axle mountings, ribbed wheel hubs and grey, 20mm tyres, with rounded treads. The race number ‘5’ on either side of the rear cowling. The model cost 3/-, although by August 1953, the price had fallen to 2/11. In 1954, Dinky renumbered the model, 234, and the model remained in production until 1964, when it was replaced by the Ferrari, ‘shark-nose’, model 242.Cost 3/- available in blue & yellow finish at 1:38 scale. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky H.W.M. Racing Car In May 1953, the Meccano Magazine advertised the introduction of the HWM racing car, 23j. A follow-up article in June explained the HWM name, an abbreviation of the designers and constructor, Hersham and Walton Motors (HWM). Costing 2/11, the 3 7/8th inch long had a driver built into the model's casting. The driver had a white overall and helmet. Like all the models in this series, the HWM had good running, due to its sturdy axles, ribbed wheel hubs and large 20mm, grey round treaded tyres. The car carried the race number, '7', in yellow on either side of the rear cowling. In 1954, the HWM, 23j, was renumbered 235 and withdrawn in 1964.

Based at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, the actual car was designed by Hersham and Walton Motor's co-owner, John Heath and driven by business partner, George Abecassis, who achieved remarkable success in sports car and F2 races. HWM raced between 1946 and 1948, the first British team to achieve international success after the Second World War. Running on a shoestring budget, throughout the seven year life of the team, they built less than two dozen cars and still managed to race in over twenty events across Europe. The team was fortunate to have the famous race mechanics, Alfonso Koveleski and Alf Framise but, the cars, with their Alta engines, soon became outclassed and, following the death of John Heath, the HWM works team stopped racing.

Today, HWM is owned by Mike Harding, an ex-Aston Martin man and his company is the longest established Aston Martin retailer. The company trades under the names of HWM Aston Martin and HWM Alfa-Romeo.Cost 2/11 available in Light Green finish at 1:38 scale. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky Talbot-Lago Racing Car In September 1953 edition of the Meccano Magazine Dinky Toys announced the introduction of the Talbot-Lago, 23k, which was launch simultaneously in France, where it was French Dinky’s first new model to be advertised in the Meccano Magazine after the Second World War. The Talbot-Lago racing car, 23k.

Costing 2/6 and noted for its fine detail, the 104mm long model, at a scale of 1:38, was in the blue of the French national racing colour. The French version had a vital significance, because it replicated France’s first post-war racing car. However, the smaller French model, 23K, had a length of just 93mm, reflecting its 1:43 scale. The British version carried water-based transfers with the race numbers 1-6; with age, the French spirit-based transfers now leave a yellow film between the numbers. The models had blue, concave wheel hubs and grey 20mm or occasionally black tyres on the British version; black, 11.190mm tyres were on the French model. The 20mm front tyres did not extend beyond the front of the model as they did on the French model, 23H. The British driver adopts a more upright driving position than the lower driving position in the French model. The exhaust, bonnet louvres and bonnet badge are different, with the French version more closely reflecting the actual Talbot bonnet badge.

Dinky and French dinky modelled 23k and 23H, on the Talbot-Lago T26C, single-seat racing car, which had a box chassis, un-supercharged 4.5 litres straight six engine and a 4-speed, Wilson pre-selector gearbox. The chassis and gearbox were derived from Talbot’s 1930s racing cars. The T26C made its racing debut in the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing second. Driven by Louis Chiron, further achievements followed, including the 1949 Belgium Grand Prix and in a two-seat version, they won the 1950, Le Mans 24 hour race. Louis Rosier and Jean-Louis Rosier drove the car.

Renumbered 205 and 230.Cost 2/6 available in blue finish at 1:38 scale. Dinky in detail...

The Dinky Maserati Racing Car In June, 1953, the Maserati, 23N, became the fifth in the series of new racing cars introduced during that year. The 3 ¾ inch long model cost 2/8 and was finished in the racing colours of Switzerland. The red painted bodywork has a white flash running down the bonnet to the grille. The model possesses the robust axle mountings typical of the series, ribbed wheel hubs and grey or black 20mm round treaded tyres. The car carries a race number, ‘9’, on either side of the rear cowl. By the late autumn of 1953, the price of the model fell to 2/6 in line with other models in the series. In 1954, the Maserati was renumbered, 231 and as such it remained in production until 1964, when it was deleted.

From 1947-1956, Maserati built racing cars in Italy. The Dinky Toys model was based on their 4CLT/48 racing car, which had a 1.5 litre supercharged engine and the ‘T’ standing for tubular chassis. The engine produced 260bhp. Designed by Ernesto Maserati, developed by Giocchino Colombo and constructed by Medaro Fantuzzi, the car built on some of the early work done by the Maserati brothers, who developed the car’s 4-cylinder in line engine. The car was nicknamed the “sanremo” from the name of its first race in 1948. British driver, Reg Parnell, and Italian, Villoresi won five races during that season. In 1949, the team were joined by Juan Manuel Fangio and Baron Toulo de Graffenried, who won the British Grand Prix. In 1950, at Monaco, Louis Chiron drove to third place. The Maserati had several notable successes with the car, including a 1st and 3rd place in the Monaco Grand Prix (1956), although not with the Dinky model but with the 2.5 litre 250F model. Later versions of the car were dogged by engine failures.

Maserati stopped building racing cars in 1956 for the official works team which stopped racing at the end of the 1967 season, but they continued to build cars for "privateers". .

Dinky Toys use of the Swiss national racing colours for the Maserati model, 23N, came from the successes of ‘The Scuderi Enrico Platé’ (The Enrico Platé stable), a Swiss-based team, who raced Maserati cars during the early 1950s. During this period, the team had three main drivers: Prince Bira of Thailand, Harry Schell and Baron Toulo de Graffenried. The Platé team recognised the shortcomings of the Maserati and their modified cars had a good measure of success racing in F2. In 1953, the team experienced financial difficulties and during 1954, Enrico Platé died in a racing accident in Buenos Aires.Cost 2/8 available in Red finish at 1:38 scale. Dinky in detail...