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dinkycollect's picture
dinkycollect
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DTCA MemberFrance

-140a and 106 Austin A90 Atlantic (1951-58)

Chris,

You can get cheap ones made in China but the quality is as cheap as the model.
 

janwerner's picture
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From the notes in my documentation I can give some ‘firsts’, ‘only’s’ and ‘specials’ about this model, as the 1950s Dinky range is concerned:
• In spite of all shortages on the metal market, this model was issued in the very difficult and disappointing year 1951, no less than two years after the completion of its design drawings!
• The diecast windscreen frame is very unusual, instead of the comprehensive moulded clear polystyrene windscreens like the ones on the 131 Cadillac and the 132 Packard (but in many respects analogous to the French Simca 8 cabriolet no. 24s/534 which was introduced one year later, in 1952).
• Possibly this is the Dinky showing a maximum of colour variations during its production period, at least twelve. A colour scheme and table of variations is given by José F. Heraud in Model Collector 12/5 (May 1998) p. 18, and of course the Christie’s auction catalogue of the Remy-Meeus collection (24 September 2001, pp. 61-62) shows and describes a stunning number of variations.
• Until the 1960s the only and earliest Dinky which was designed with recessed instead of the usual protruding detailing lines of doors etc.
• The period Dinky with the most extensive silver detailing.
• The first truly post war British Dinky convertible.
• The diecast dash board detailing, even showing a radio, is unprecedented.
• A regular 1950s Dinky open car, but without the later so familiar driver (compare the regular sports cars of the 1950’s, the Cadillac, the Packard). Of course the American market oriented MG Midget Sports, no. 129 was also without a driver.
• The only regular British Dinky Toy in the 1950s which featured smooth white tyres (on the black one, far more were used on French Dinkies of that period).
• One of the few 3-digit + 1 letter numbered Dinky Toy cars.
• The American market orientation of this model (and its real world prototype) was also expressed by the later number 106, which was an extension of the 100-105 range, the earlier 38-series sports cars, but now, in the early fifties, only available on the American market (Dinky Toys & Modelled Miniatures, p. 223). By the way, these later 38-series sports cars (with their coloured hubs) were also available in The Netherlands, at least until 1952 but possibly later.

Kind regards, Jan  

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Richard
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DTCA MemberFrance

Thank you Jan for this very interesting article.

Here under my contribution.

Friendly yours

Richard

janwerner's picture
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Nice variety, Richard, as we are used to see from you!

In the mean time I dug up the colour scheme from my archives, as published by Jose Heraud in the Model Collector article, as referred to in the data above (courtesy Jose Heraud and Model Collector).

 

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Richard
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Thanks Jan.

Here under three colour variations.

Unfortunately, there are not mine !

On the top : hard blue with navy blue inside (!!?)

Under : hard blue with "chocolate" inside

Below : red with "bordeaux" inside and wheels

Please don't use it anywhere else but only for the DTCA.

kind regards.

Richard

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To add to this Thread, here is my pride and joy that I bought many, many years ago for the princely sum of AUD$85. The difference with the blue can be seen with the usual light blue beside the mid-blue example.

Incidentally, the original price was $100 but I persuaded the seller that $85 was a far better price - and surprisingly, he agreed! I have often had the crazy notion of selling it for some time now, but each time I remove it from the cabinet, it looks at me with those sorrowful headlights, all three of them, and I end up returning the Austin to the display case. Nowadays I no longer try to remove it from the cabinet!!

Bruce  (#150)

7 December 2015

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Recently, I acquired 2 different Austin Atlantic's without a box:

1. Light blue, red glossy interior, red ridged hubs and short front axle support.

2. Light blue (slightly lighter shade), matte red interior, cream ridged hubs and long front axle support.

I add pictures of them and dug out all details of this model as far as I could find.

My 2 Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - left 140a with long front axle support - right 106 with short front axle support.

My 2 Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - above red gloss interior - under red matt interior - under slightly lighter light blue shade.

My Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - light blue - gloss red interior - red ridged hubs - black mottled baseplate without model number - short front axle support.

My Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - light blue - matt red interior - cream ridged hubs - black mottled baseplate without model number - long front axle support.

Because it’s a very attractive and interesting model I've been looking for details about this model in TMT and DTCA. It also referred to the articles in Model Collector March 1997 and May 1998 by Jose Heraud. In the May 1998 there is a table with 13 colour variations and the colour variations are also shown in drawings. Very valuable and educational information. I add this drawing and have numbered the colour variations.

Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic scheme colour variations Jose Heraud.

The table of variations in model collector of May 1998 also gives an overview of the baseplate variations and model numbering of this model. This distinguishes between a baseplate with "small letters" and "large letters". I've watched all of Austin Atlantic's photos on Ebay and elsewhere, but I could not find any difference in baseplate lettering, but sometimes you'll easily see differences over the head. I only found black mottled baseplates, all with the same ("small") lettering and no model numbers on the base.

Because I could not find a clearly conformation about my findings in the comments of TMT and DTCA I sent an email to the writer of those articles, Jose Heraud, with which I had already been corresponding about catalogues en had met him at the meeting in Jan Werner’s home, this summer. Note that Jose is no longer a member of DTCA and cannot respond to the forum, but he reads the comments.

For a correct understanding I reproduce here literally his first reply on my email:

“Of course, the latest information needs to be updated and I appreciate that you will try to do it in the DTCA Forum.

First of all, there are No Numbers ever shown in the base plate in any of the models; I had wrong information.

Secondly, the letters embossed in the base plates are all the same as shown in any model.

Thirdly, the way to identify if a model had the number 140a or 106, even if it did not appear in the model as such can be found either in two facts: The earlier models from 1951-1953, had an extended cast support under the body that held the front axles; whereas the later models from 1954-1958 had these supports shortened. You can see them clearly in the undersides of your new models.

The reason being that Meccano saved money by reducing this unnecessary extension. If you ask Jacques Dujardin, he will say that it was probably an easier casting process shortening this support.

Another possible source could be John Beugels, who has the plans of the AA and can let you know exactly when and why this casting changed as they would be written in the drawings.

Since the publishing of the extant colors and sketches I drew, I have found some other color variations that have been authenticated. The first is that all the colors may have a matte or glossy finish interior; the exterior was always glossy.

In the Remy-Meeus collection sold in2002 by Christie's, there was a medium blue exterior, with cream hubs and maroon interior sold. In the QDT website, there has been a very light blue body variation(sky blue)shown with red interior and wheels.

I was not sure of the existence of the dark blue with red interior and hubs but it appeared recently on eBay from a British dealer.

The ones that I have not seen are the bright red with cream interior and wheels; the light blue with cream interior and wheels and the light blue with dark blue interior and wheels. Actually, I don't remember how I devised these three last variations. I figured that if there was cream interior and wheels with the pink body color, there could be a variation with the light blue body model.

The same with the dark red and cream. But the dark blue hubs...probably a figment of my imagination! (None of the models had ever dark blue hubs...)

Finally, QDT has sold a 'rare' variation of a black body color with red interior and hubs with Black tires...(factory made?) Although these could have been replaced by cutting them and after placing and gluing them in place.

All the early models came in dealer boxes of six; the later ones in individual boxes.”

In the meantime of our correspondence I sent Jose pictures of 2 similarly coloured Austin Atlantics, but with different front axle support: 1) Light blue, red matte interior with red hubs and long front axle support and 2) Light blue, gloss red interior and red hubs with short front axle support.

Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - Ebay Fr arnaud-002 - light blue/ matt red - long front axle support. 

Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - Ebay Fr arnaud-002 - light blue/ matt red - long front axle support. 

Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - Ebay Fr arnaud-002 - light blue/ matt red - long front axle support.

My Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - light blue - red gloss interior - red ridged hubs - black mottled baseplate without model number - short front axle support. Note: photo from the seller under other light.

My Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - light blue - gloss red interior - red ridged hubs - short front axle support.

My Dinky Toys Austin Atlantic - light blue - gloss red interior - red ridged hubs - black mottled baseplate without model number- short front axle support.

His reaction to this was as follows:

 “Yes, Jan, there is an overlap of the long and short front axle supports in the same models, including the rare color variations. I do think that these were produced  early  to promote the toy in markets abroad, especially the American one. There is a red body variation which has both types of supports. I conclude this was done by 1953.

The common blue color also may have started then, just before the number changed in 1954. Some of the toys sold by QDT include boxes with numbers--the only way to know the change--but they not necessarily imply that these belong to the toys shown, although they do good research on them.

If you want to place photos of the QDT models on the DTCA website, I think they will not complain, but I would ask them first, just in case.”

In the meantime after I had already post this contribution I found these rare colour combinations of the first series 140a Austin Atlantics in the book Collection Gérard Dulin edition 2005. The same variations as Richard found in comment # 5 here earlier in this topic.

Dinky Toys 140a Austin Atlantic rare colour variations in book Collection Gérard Dulin with variation 8, 9 and 10 of the colour scheme.

When you have read this comments you can make the following main conclusions about the appearance of the Austin Atlantic of what we are knowing now:

1. always glossy exterior finish

2. all the colors may have a matte or glossy interior finish

3. early models has a long front axle support (140a) – later models has a short front axle support (106) with an overlap in the same models (a drawing can date the change)

4. same lettering embossed in all baseplates

5. no model numbers in all baseplates

6. all steering wheels are die-cast with four spokes, typically coloured cream.

7. The early models came in dealer boxes of six; the later ones in individual boxes

8. The colour variations 1, 5 and 11 of the colour scheme are not yet been seen.

I hope all this will help us to determine this lovely model. Please add pictures of unknown variations.

Note: It's a pity that there were 5 topics/threads made of one and the same model number.

Jan Oldenhuis, 7-11-2017

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

I yet add some pictures of the real one Austin A90 Atlantic.

Jan Oldenhuis 11-11-2017

 

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Thanks, Jan, for your efforts to increase and improve the information about this fine model.

So I can remove the now irrelevant 'example without number embossed in the base plate' remarks from the descriptions of the two models in my catalogue! Kind regards, Jan