Dinky Toys "40" Series Cars.

[starni999]

Hi all,
I thought I'd start with the 40 Series as they are mostly pretty easy to find, most are not too expensive, and any serious Dinky collection needs at least one of each of these great little models. Also, there are lots of variations.
Indeed there are so many variations that I won't even try to list all the colour shades, as new ones show up all the time. Blues and greens in particular have dozens of distinctly different shades across the range.
What I can do is show each model in it's own post in the thread, show each colour I have individually, and list the missing colours that I know to be out there. I'll also show / list any major casting / baseplate variations, but like colour shades small casting changes will be left out as it will simply swamp the thread.

A quick word on rare colours, there are probably more rare colours on the 40's than any other Postwar Dinky series. Many are the result of spraying issues at Meccano, and could be viewed as errors. Some of the most unique are instances of castings being mixed up, / held over in painting resulting in a very common colour on one casting being sprayed onto only one or two examples of another. Likewise hub colours can be found randomly spread across the range, resulting in some very rare combinations.
Once the models went into individual boxes, actually showing what they were supposed to look like, and with colour spots stuck on to show which colour was inside, things got a bit more disciplined on the production line, and the rare combinations tend to be early / trade box issues.

Like the 25 Series you could spend your whole life collecting just this series, and still never get them all.

Some basic info on the whole series.

First model was introduced in 1947, last to be deleted was in 1959 / 60.

There are eight models in the series:
40a Riley Pathfinder.
40b Triumph 1800. ( 40c Jowett Javelin was never made, though the drawing exists.)
40d Austin A40 Devon.
40e Standard Vanguard.
40f Hillman Minx.
40g Morris Oxford.
40h Austin FX3 Taxi.
40j Austin A40 Somerset.

In 1954 Dinky went from the old Series / Issue numbering system, to a purely numerical system. Each of the 40's were renumbered.
In 1953 / 54 individual boxes were introduced to the series for the first time. Prior to that they were sold in trade boxes of six, with (usually) a mix of 2 or 3 colours in a trade box.

That's about all on the intro,
40a Then..............

Chris Warr.

PS...I'll add more models as replies as we go, I really hope we can get some pictures of other members 40's here too.

[starni999]

40a Riley Pathfinder.

Introduced 1947. Deleted 1955.
Numbered 40a until 1954 then re-numbered 158 1954 /5.
Only one major variation, baseplate was changed from small letters, to large letters in 1953 / early 1954.
Early models tend to be in duller shades, with black or body colour hubs.

Mid Grey / Black Hubs.


Light Grey / Light Grey Hubs.


Light Green / Light Green Hubs.


Cream / Light Green Hubs.


Dark Blue / Black Hubs.


Small Letter Baseplate.


Large Letter Baseplate.


Due to the Riley being deleted shortly after re-numbering in 1954, the large letter baseplate, introduced in 1953, only ever said 40a, despite later issues of the model being in a "158" numbered box. In fact, the small letter baseplate had no number stamped, so all 158 models say 40a, and all but the last issue 40a's say nothing at all!



Other issues not shown...

Dark Green / Black Hubs.
Mid Blue / Black Hubs.
Light Green / Red Hubs.

Cheers for now.
CW.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Big thank's from me Chris for coming forward and doing this. I see the 40 series as the cross-over point for Dinky as they left their origins and moved into some really good designs of models in the larger 1/45 to 1/50 ish scales and for me with my collection of Silver Wraith models (number 150), being the link to the 40 series as the design and method of manufacture is so very much 40 series in concept.

Am I right in thinking the headlamps on the Riley are separate castings.

Ghosthunter.

[starni999]

Cheers Mate!
Yes the 40a and 40b followed on from the 38 Series with separate headlamps. Not so bad on the 40a, but quite easily damaged on the 40b.
Speaking of which I have seen refs to a 40a variation without the cast in number plate below the bumper. I've not held one so I'll withhold judgement, all I'll say is these are very delicate, and can be easily broken off even an otherwise mint model.
CW.

[starni999]

40b Triumph 1800.

Introduced 1948.
Deleted 1960.
Renumbered 151 in 1954.
First individual boxes show 40b / 151,later just 151.
Main variation to rear axle support, early type has pillars visible through rear side windows, later type does not.
Base plate always had small letters.

Light Blue / Light Blue Hubs.


Light Blue / Fawn Hubs.


Dark Blue / Fawn Hubs.


Mid Fawn / Green Hubs.


Light Grey / Light Grey Hubs.


Black / Black Hubs.


Rear axle support with pillars.



Rear axle support without pillars.



Others not shown.

Mid Fawn / Blue Hubs.

Light Blue / Red Hubs.

Cheers
CW.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I was not aware of models without axle supports (or pillars as you call them), and wonder what the reason is for this. Were the castings being set up ready for motorized versions as Corgi did with a few of their early models, if this is the case the axle supports would not be need as the axle would be housed with the motor unit in traditional clockwork style, any thoughts on this!

Ghosthunter.

[motorman]

Chris I can't thank you enough for taking on this momentous task. I am very impressed with this thread so far and this could and up being an extremely valuable reference area for anyone interested in Dinky models. Brilliant mate

[starni999]

40d Austin A40 Devon.

Introduced 1949.
Deleted1959.
40d to 1954, renumbered 152 in 1954.
Small letter baseplate to 53 / 54, large letter baseplate to 59.
Two tone colour schemes intro in 1956.
Trade boxes to 1953 / 54 then individual dual then single number boxes.

There are more colour variations on this one than any others in the series.

Mid Fawn / Sage Green Hubs.


Mid Green / Fawn Hubs.


Sage Green / Sage Green Hubs.


Dark Blue / Light Blue Hubs.


Light Blue / Light Blue Hubs.
This is a good example of a common colour on another model, 40b, being rare on another 40d, in the same series.


Red / Maroon Hubs.


Maroon / Maroon Hubs.


Small Letter Baseplate.


Large Letter baseplate.


Two Tone Issues:

Yellow / Blue.


Pink / Green.


There were two distinct types of spray mask in use, one where the rear lights are in the upper body colour, and one where they are in the lower body colour.



Both masks were used on both colours, so there are four of these to get.

Others not shown.

Yellow & Blue / Rear lights blue.
Pink & Green / Rear lights Pink.
Light Green / Light Green Hubs. (Dist. lighter than Sage Green shown, but still slightly matt)
Light Green / Maroon Hubs.
Dark Green / Cream Hubs.
Maroon / Red Hubs.

That's all for today!
Cheers
CW.

[starni999]

I was not aware of models without axle supports (or pillars as you call them), and wonder what the reason is for this. Were the castings being set up ready for motorized versions as Corgi did with a few of their early models, if this is the case the axle supports would not be need as the axle would be housed with the motor unit in traditional clockwork style, any thoughts on this!

Ghosthunter.

Hi Mate,
The axle pillars are a hold over from the 39 Series, the 40a has them too. I think they were simply deleted when it was realised that the baseplate itself was strong enough to support the rear axle, and didn't need the pillars.
Having said which I do know someone who supposedly has a 40 Series Standard Vanguard fitted with a Triang Minic clockwork motor. Triang and Meccano were still rivals when the Vanguard was made, so probably a shed job not a trial. I've never seen it, but it came from the same bloke who sold him the Racehorse Transporter with Triang Minic wheels I now do have. Complicated.
CW.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

A Dinky Toy with Tri-Ang motor sounds plausible and despite being rivals, they had to source a motor from somewhere and I am sure Tri-Ang would have no problem in selling such items to other companies.

Ghosthunter.