The Dinky Atlas Simca Cargo Tipper Truck . available in green & silver finish. Dinky Atlas in detail...

The Dinky Atlas Simca Cargo Glass Truck Marked MIROITIER (yellow) or SAINT-GOBAIN (grey). available in yellow, grey finish. Dinky Atlas in detail...

The Dinky Atlas Simca Cargo Van . available in yellow & green finish. Dinky Atlas in detail...

The Dinky Atlas Simca Cargo Van . available in yellow & white finish. Dinky Atlas in detail...

The Dinky Atlas Simca Cargo Van . available in yellow & orange finish. Dinky Atlas in detail...

The French Dinky Simca Cargo Despite the advertisement in the 1955 French Dinky catalogue that the Simca Cargo truck would be a new arrival during April, the model went on sale virtually unannounced. The Meccano Magazine briefly acknowledged its introduction in the June edition of the magazine and the model only featured on the colourful back page in July. This amazingly low-key launch seriously underplayed the significance of a model and series of trucks intended to replace the out-dated 25 series, which was suffering falling sales. The old Ford ‘Poissy’, upon which the 25 series was based was itself being replaced by the revolutionary new Ford Cargo, which was soon to be re-named the Simca Cargo, when Ford-SAF sold its business to Simca.

When French Dinky Introduced the Simca Cargo truck, 33A, the 133mm long model cost an estimated 550 old francs, about 11/-. The trucks Olive Green cab and chassis had a citron-orange box body with two opening doors at the rear. This version of the truck had a shim with a spare tyre, but did not have the towing hook that appeared on the later Bailly Simca Cargo, 33AN. The wheel hubs were ribbed and convex and had large, black, smooth tyres. The Simca Cargo model sold in individual yellow boxes, which were subsequently used for the Bailly Simca Cargo, 33AN. The 33A model’s life was relatively short-lived, being withdrawn in favour of the Bailly Simca Cargo, in 1956.

Early in the 1950s, Ford extended and modernised its range of trucks and the Ford 5 tonnes was born. Its revolutionary design introduced the concept of the cab over engine, e-cab, which lies behind the look of numerous modern vehicles. In July 1954, Simca took-over the Ford operation and re-branded the vehicle. The truck had a V8 gasoline engine, producing 15HP. However, the gearbox was not synchronised and required the driver to double de-clutch and fuel consumption was 32 litres per 100 km at 50 km/h. From 1959, the Simca Cargo, now built at UNIC plants had a 4.2 litre V8 engine and a synchronised gearbox. The French army purchased over 14,000 of these vehicles, many of which were the later 4x4 model.

Introduced in April 1955, replaced by the Bailly Simca Cargo, 33AN, and deleted in 1956.Cost 550Fr available in green & orange finish. French Dinky in detail...

The French Dinky Simca Cargo Glass Truck Marked MIROITIER (yellow) or SAINT-GOBAIN (grey). Renumbered 579. available in yellow & green, grey & green finish at 1:55 scale. French Dinky in detail...

The French Dinky Simca Cargo Mentioned in the November 1959 Meccano Magazine. Advertised in the June 1961 issue. Advertised in the September 1961 Meccano Magazine for 8/8. Also shown in the July 1962 issue for 8/6.Cost 8/6 available in grey & green finish. French Dinky in detail...