Jan--Wonderful photo essay on all of the various ambulances that Dinky modeled over the years.....very well done as usual with your superb efforts. I really like the early ambulance in the grey version...I think that color combination just looks sharp!
Terry

You might be interested to see this Daimler, which has windows and red plastic hubs. White paintwork and the last (?) picture box.

Here we have four 263 Pontiac Bonneville Superior Ambulances, two white and two off-white. Interiors pale green, white, red and yellow. The right hand pale green/off-white has a split indented side stripe and a gloss base ( first issue I think) , while the others have a solid side stripe and matt bases. I believe there is also one with a vivid turquoise interior.........

Lovely!
Nice one Jan, love the grey early issue too, I've got cream with open and closed windows, but no grey version (YET!).
CW.

Jan, Beautiful pictures. I am also looking for the versions you have of the ambulance. My variation is that mine has blackened windows. Love to own the grey version. I also have the French ambulance.

Dirk Bloem
154

Meccano s.a. did not make as many ambulances as Meccano Ltd. but the first and only pre-war one is original as it is an aicraft ambulance.

61d Potez sanitaire 1938 / 1940 wing span 75mm.

It is only in March 1959 that the next ambulance has been issued. It is based on the 1000kg Renault van with opening rear door. Unfortunately the two doors were in a single piece and were very unrealistic as was the shape of the c'ab's front. This 4 x 2 vehicle was widely in use in the French army at the time. Launched as 80f it has been renumbered 820 in 1959. First with ridged hubs and smooth tyres, the hubs were later changed to concave, even later with treaded tyres. This model has been made in Bobigny and has been discontinued in 1971.

At the end of 1971 the production of some of the Dinkys was transfered from Bobigny to Calais.

Many details are added to the die of the Ambulance Renault which now has a plastic base plate, plastic hubs and tyres and represents a 4 WD vehicle. It is numbered 807 and will last until 1974.

The last French Dinky ambulance is the ref. 556 Citro

Gentleman

Here are some pictures of some of my ambulances. Unfortunately I am an amateur photographer, so bear with me. But enjoy the pictures.

Dirk Bloem
Potchefstroom, South Africa
DTCA no 154

No 1. The 30f ambulace with the Blackened windows

No 2. The 80f military ambulance

Hi all,
Here's a few more.........

Chris Warr,

Jan

Thank you for the info on the windows. How did it come to be added, came to my mind! The reason behind the wondering was that I bought it off Vectis as an original with no touch-ups. Was it common practice to add the blackening or a once off. I read somewhere of the blackening of the windows and thought it to be original. But none the less, the model is a proud addition to my collection and I will keep it like that with the blackened windows. I would however try to get the grey and white versions as well without the blackened windows. Any takers for selling theirs??.

Thank you for the response, I learn avery time I read the mails.

Dirk Bloem
154

Dirk--I am no expert on those ambulances, but let me take a stab at why someone would black out the windows: I believe it was done to reasonably simulate the early versions that had the open back windows; by painting them black, it kind of looked like window openings.
I also much much prefer the open window look. I have several of the post war ambulances, but all without open windows. I have actually thought of having one of mine modified to look like that, by having someone carefully cut out the window area, etc. I was also going to have it re-painted the red and grey color, along with white tires....pretty much like the pre-war versions. That would be a code 3, but a handsome one I think. But my favorite restorer in N. America is no longer restoring Dinky's, so this little project is dead for a while.
Terry

I did not see this one in this topic :

;)