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 In 1954, the HWM, 23j, was renumbered 235 and withdrawn in 1964.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...