The French Dinky Berliet Tank Transporter In October 1959, in the last of the glossy versions of the French Meccano magazine, French Dinky announced the introduction of the Berliet TTBU-15 Porte-char (890), a 6x6 tank transporter. The 315mm overall length of the vehicle included the 125mm of the Berliet TBU 15 tractor unit and the 170mm of the ‘Swan-neck’ low loader, with a further 20mm when the rear loading ramps are lowered. The tractor unit itself has plastic windows and is a variant of the military trucks 80D/818 and 826. The tractors six 20mm wheels are mounted on 9mm concave hubs by black treaded tyres, with two spares located in the casting, behind the truck’s cab. The ‘Swan-neck’ trailer hooks onto the tractor unit and is secured by a spring loaded, swivel attachment. At the rear of the low-loader, twin axles carry four 19mm wheels, with smooth, black tyres on 7mm convex hubs. The spare wheel is mounted on a concave hub, between the ‘Swan’s neck’, where the low-loader is attached to the tractor. When the ramps come down, they allow for the loading of the French Dinky AMX char (tank). The casting for both the tractor and the low-loader contains a great deal of fine detail, including equipment. Painted in the matt, drab bronze green of the French Army, the vehicle carries the French tricolour on the front bumper and one of the tailgate ramps. The model came in a box which had no picture, but with the blue and white stripes typical of Dinky Supertoys. The model cost 14.50 new francs, about 16/-. The dimensions of the box were 32.4 cm x 8.9 cm x 6cm and it weighed 635grams. The model was withdrawn in 1970.

Between 1894 and 1932 Rochet-Schneider built automobiles in Lyon, France. In the early 1950’s, the French Army sought tenders for a new era of military trucks. Rochet-Schneider built a prototype 6x6, known as the T6. This vehicle required considerable modification to meet necessary standards and as a result, the manufacture was awarded to another company. Berliet, the other producer, built vehicles at nearby, Vénissieux and took-over Rochet-Schneider in 1951. The production version of the truck had a 15 litre, 6 cylinder engine and the vehicle became known as the Berliet TBU; the basis for French Dinky’s tractor unit for models 80D/818, 826 and 890. Berliet sub-contracted the production of the ‘Swan-neck’ low-loader to a firm called Codor.

Subsequently, Citroën bought Berliet but Michelin, the owners of Citroën, sold Berliet, which had been merged with Saviem. Renault bought the new company to create Renault Vehicles Industriels (RVI), which is now in partnership with Volvo trucks.

The Berliet Porte-char was introduced in 1959 and withdrawn in 1970. Cost 14.50 new available in olive drab finish. French Dinky in detail...