Lovely model, so much nicer than the English TK I think.
What does GAK mean though?
Cheers
Chris Warr

Hi Chris, I do not know exactly what GAK means, but the Berliet factory used many of these three or four letter codes for their various lorry models. Any way, this was the code for the Forward Control version of 1959 with the cabin named 'Relaxe'. Jacques, Richard, do you know more details?

Although my interest in Dinky Toys deminishes quickly with the increase of plastic, I like the plastic, fabric-like cover very much, which was also used on the Will

Dear Jan and Chris,
Yes the three letters "GAK" are code letters used by Berliet :

G for "carrier"
A is the code letter for the chassis
K for "advanced cabin" (if this letter is the last one, in the trilogy)

Here under, I post again my Berliet with its first box.

And a GAK scale 1

Cheers

Richard

Berliet used the same sort of code than General Motors to describe their trucks.

Meccano made the following types of Berliet :

32 e GLB Fourgon premiers secours
34 a GLM Berliet benne de carri

And now I got the second box !

all together :

Until last october, I had the uncovered berliet.
but it was not worthy of my collection ! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Cheers

Richard

Richard
I am not that familiar with this model.....was it introduced around 1960? Nice that you have both now. Like Jan, I normally do not collect Dinky's past about 1959-1960, but that is certainly a nice truck and model.
Regards,
Terry

Hi Terry.
It seems that the GAK was introduced in 1961.
For my part, I can't chose so I catch what I can !
Specially the variants if I already have one model.
Friendly yours.
Richard

The GAK b

Yes Jacques.
Atlas pollutes the sweety "Dinky Toys world"
Richard

If I would have yielded to one Atlas model only, it were the red one, because that was the one promised by the catalogues and other publicity (but I won't).
Two more details of the 584, one showing the very simple, clever and effective method of suspension, the other showing the nice cab in some more detail.

Merry Christmas, Jan

Jan
Thanks for showing some nice details from this interesting model......it did have a nice looking cab, and the suspension looks effective. And a Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Regards,
Terry

This morning my postwoman brought me this one :

I already had one but without box and cover.

We call that : to increase the collection ;)

Friendly yours.

Richard

That looks really nice Richard, well done

Dave

That is a real nice acquisition Richard. I got mine exactly 50 years ago next month(!). I remember to have been disappointed a little bit, because the colour was quite different from the colour advertised in the catalogue etc. (like on the box).
Apparently Atlas felt that a lot of boys must have been disappointed then and produced the 'right' colour. Still, I cannot persuade myself to buy the Atlas ...

My box is the illustrated one. I presume that - like the early French military vehicles - the non-illustrated box, yours, is the first one.

Kind regards,

Jan

Jan

I think the reason for the red cab-chassis is to make the model "stand out" as the yellow cab-chassis colour would have blended with the yellow box. Just a thought, although had the selected colour yellow been used, the printer could have set the picture on a partial "cloud" background. On some English Dinky Toys/Supertoys, Meccano did state that "The model inside this box may be finished in colours that differ from the illustration". It is a pity that Meccano France did not do likewise thus saving you and all those other little fellows heaps of disappointment!

Kind regards

Bruce

Jan,

This is the very bad model of the red GAK made by Atlas.

The suspension principle, used for the Berliet GAK commercials, explained in Actualités Meccano of July 1961. 

This type of suspension has been deleted very soon because it did not meet the safety standards for toys. The springs could be removed easily and swallowed.

The Plateau brasseur which has been issued a bit later never had the suspension.

The design of the GAK breakdown truck did not allow for this type of suspension.