David----Very nice acquisition for your collection......it appears to be in wonderful condition, and complete with all the extras. Since my main Dinky interest ends about 1960 (I am an old guy!), I am not that familiar with these later issues, so thanks for showing us your nice example.
Best regards, Terry

David

I endorse Terry's comments, and would like to add that I know only too well what it is like to receive a new acquisition better than expected as I too received a similar model in August 2009 with it coming from Vectis Auctions in the UK. I normally do not collect this era, as like Terry, I tend to add to the collection I had as a youngster between 1948 and 1963. On unpacking the 283, although the lot description mentioned the existence of an instruction leaflet, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that in addition to the leaflet it also came with unused decals, and the road sign decals. But unlike your model, it did not have the internal packing piece!

I was the only bidder and the auction started at £40 and with no interest, the auctioneer dropped it to £35 and having pity on the little blighter I hit the Bid button! So I was delighted with my purchase!  On its arrival I had to buy the metallic red version, and this one arrived for an even better price but have not got around to photographing that one as yet!  It does seem the main interest, at least with those who write into this website is pre-war and then post-war until the advent of opening features.  (The 283 was not the only win I had with that auction, but also a very nice boxed 930 Bedford Pallet Jetka Van.)

I am attaching some pictures of my red example.  The price on the box has"5.00" which I take it to be $5.00.  This may be a price in the USA, although the catalogue I have for the US market has the price at $5.50.

Very nice seeing you contributing to this website and hope we read more from you!

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20160612/939/1507

So much still to be discussed here about Dinky models of this era!

Many older collectors will only think of a different no. 283, so this refreshment is welcome.

Thanks, David, for your useful contribution. Kind regards, Jan 

David

It is possible that the photograph in the June 1971 Meccano Magazine was that of the metallic red version which apparently was issued at the same time as the red non-metallic version.  I was always under the impression that the metallic version came out later, but it is quite possible both colour reds were used at the same time as the box has the notation "Colour of model may differ from illustration", with a similar wording also appearing on the back page advertisement in the June 1971 MM. The artist may have also used the metallic version for his catalogue artwork.

Below are some photographs of my metallic version mentioned in my last Post that I have just located.  It is interesting that the manufacturer AEC was not included on the box or any of the sales material but it was mentioned in the MM article as well as being engraved in the base plate!  This is not the only Dinky Toys model where the manufacturer' name is not mentioned. It is also interesting that the title of the bus is SINGLE DECKER BUS on the box but the base plate refers to it as a SINGLE DECK BUS! Even the MM article cannot decide which to use, as the headline for the story of the 283 mentions SINGLE-DECK BUS (with a hyphen) and yet the story itself refers to the model being a SINGLE-DECKER BUS!

It is difficult to date when your 283 went on sale, as on its release its retail price was £1.19. which remained thus at least until February 1972, but by April 1972, the retail price had dropped to £1.17. By May 1974, the price had increased to £1.49 and by February 1975 it was again on the way up at £1.99, So it is possible, based on the trend at the time from its launch until April 1972, it is possible your model continued that trend from April 1972 until April 1974 when the price may have dropped to £1.15.  Unfortunately, my metallic red version has no retail price written on it.

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20160612/940/2330

In my collection I have this one under a plastic box.

I never tried to open it ! would not like to break the glass !

Cheers

Going off-topic perhaps, but directly linked to this model and others, I have a question regarding the numberplates applied to Dinkies of the period bearing the letters "INJ". These would not have been legal UK marks, so do they have any significance within Meccano, the initials of a Director, perhaps?

There is also a "Dinky Kit" version of this model.  I seem to think that the packaging for this model showed a green bus (rural or country service?) .  Too bad the factory did not issue the green bus instead of the (less prototypical) metallic red version.  But, that was characteristic of the diecasts made in the 1970s!

Hi, I know virtually nothing of this later Dinky era, but I found the pictures of these below, as auctioned by SAS Auctions in 2014, confirming your assumption that the packaging shows a green bus:

I recently added the unrealistic metallic red version of this bus to my collection, joining the regular red versions with blue and yellow interiors. The addition came in a lot that also included a "Green Line" version. Presumably built up from the kit version, this had been excellently painted, including a finish on the white baseplate that was indistinguishable from the originals finished at Binns Road.

The Green Line version was to have been issued by the factory as no. 292, per a 1977 catalog, but never appeared. In the Dinky Toys Encyclopedia, it's stated that one turned up on sale in a toy shop in Wales. Perhaps Jacques will see this and comment further? It seems very odd that if that one was genuine, no other samples have ever turned up.

I could have believed that the one I obtained was original, so well done is it. But the "tell" is that the headlights have been silvered with the tip of a brush, instead of via a mask as the factory would have done.

                                                                                                        kit

                                                                                              292 - production model

Johnny

The Single deck bus from the kit has a very different green from the production one, they can not be mistaken. The 292 is owned first hand by a very reputable DTCA member. You may have the second original model.