Hi Peter, of course this is an extremely interesting topic. I have a Ph.D. thesis by Axel Matthiesen of Hamburg, entitled ‘Vom Kasten auf Rädern zur rollenden Skulptur: die Revolutionierung des Automobildesigns in den 30er Jahren’. Or: From box on wheels to mobile sculpture: the revolution of car design in the 1930s (Hamburg 1990). This study exactly covers the streamline revolution in car design. Interesting for those who read German! Here is a vision of Raymond Loewy about the then future streamline development in car design:

The nice thing about Dinky Toys (and other models of the period too, of course) is that they mirror the real world and started exactly in this revolutionary age with their models. Many had the proud adjective ‘streamlined’, as we know:
Streamlined Tourer, Streamlined Saloon, Streamlined Diesel Articulated Train, Streamlined Train Set, Streamlined Racing Car, Streamlined Fire Engine, Streamlined Petrol Tanker, Super Streamlined Saloon etc.
Indeed all kinds of vehicles showed this revolution: aircraft (probably the most functional and exemplary adoption of the principle), locomotives, road vehicles and ships. But of course there was a long period in which both categories existed besides each other, both in the real world as in Dinky world. Compare the Normandie and the Queen Mary, the latter one being completed even later than the first one.
An inexhaustible subject!

Kind regards, Jan Werner

The late fellow Dinky enthusiast Peter Golden started this interesting thread almost four years ago. Time to pick it up again in my opinion.
Peter showed the real-world prototypes exhibited. I can show some Dinky's in the streamlined range, but just a few. Others may add and complete.

Regards, Jan

A most interesting subject Jan, and thanks for reviving it. There is certainly a lot of material to work with as so much was developed during the mid to late 1930's, and you are quite right in that Dinky was right on top of things and quick to issue models representative of the various vehicles. Nice photos too of the various Dinky efforts.....they are all somewhat iconic now and make splendid models indeed.

Terry

The Airflow was also issued in France but with Dunlop tyres.

The Peugeot 402 was also a streamlined model fitted with either smooth hubs and Dunlop tyres or solid diecast wheels. The early issued were without a baseplate, this was added later.
Note the fine detail of the Peugeot Lion on the rear Wheel cover.

Another great example of streamlining: no. 23d Auto Union Racing Car (1936-1950).