Find Of a Lifetime- 431 Guy Warrior Red and Green

[lionel-honda]

Hi all!

It has been so long since I have posted here & sorry for that. I do still check in occasionally though. Same old story- busy with work and family. I am still actively collecting Dinky Toys and Lesney ( and all sorts of old toys) and have found some amazing things over the past few years right here in my local community.

Last summer, a gentleman contacted me to say he had some old Dinky Toys that he had collected as a teenager in the 1960's. I was hesitant to make the trip as he was unable to provide photographs via e-mail and he said there were too many to make a list of. It ended up that he lived less than 2km from my house, so I jumped in the car and went over. Glad I did....I walked into his basement and spread out on the furniture were 153 mint boxed Dinky's, all from the 1960's. I took a few of them out of the boxes for inspection & he informed me he had to go to an appointment in a half-hour, so we quickly made a deal & loaded them all up into my car. There's plenty more to the story, but I'm trying to keep it brief. However, I can assure you all that this was truly the find of a lifetime- the type of find that we all dream of!

When I got the collection home and started inspecting all of the models, I realized that the owner had added painted details and embellishments to many of the models. For the most part, the details were minor- trim pieces and bumpers painted silver, tail lights painted red, etc. Since the models were all in new condition otherwise, it didn't really bother me. There was a boxed model of the 431 Guy Warrior which I was excited to open since I didn't currently have one in my collection. To my amazement, it was the very rare red and green model! This find of a lifetime had just gotten even better...

Scott

[lionel-honda]

Thought I would share a small selection of the other toys that came in this lot.

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[Idris]

Not at all what I collect but, even with my extremely limited knowledge, I can see that there are some lovely items there. Not only that, but period toys, boxed, and in that condition, always look absolutely wonderful when shown together.

[johnboy]

What a great story and some lovely models, finding a haul like that is exciting. Will you try and remove the detailing some time in the future or will you leave them as they are?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

A great collection to have all in one go!

So many delectible items there such as the Rambler Cross Country (estate car), with (hopefully original) white tyres, the BBC vehicles, the Antar Low Loader still with its propeller load, that stunning Bristol Britannia aircraft and the 'DINKY TOYS cdelivery truck among others!

Not knowing (and we don't need to know), what you paid for the 'Lot', I would be very surprised if you did not get your money back plus profit!

Ghosthunter.

[Idris]

...the Antar Low Loader still with its propeller load...

Can you imagine the fun you would have had as a kid, playing with that?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Imagine being the key word here because on introduction of number 986 Mighty Antar in 1959, it was just under 12/- (12 old Shillings) while the cars in the range were around 2/-, 3/- and 4/- each!!

I was only 1 year old in 1959 so would not have been blessed with one of those models anyway...

Ghosthunter.

[lionel-honda]

Hi All,

John, if there is a safe way to remove some of silver trim, I would like to give it a try....does anyone have any thoughts on what type of product or process to use? It appears to be a fairly robust paint that was used as none comes off when you rub it.

Ghostly, as I said, it is a long story...I have been back to his house several times since as he cleans out. I have also purchased some very rare Japanese tin toys, Meccano sets, and a Lesney collection from him. One reason why I say it is every collectors dream is that (believe it or not) he wanted to give the collection to me, free of charge! He is a very wealthy man who is downsizing now that he has lost his wife. He told me that he has been storing his collection since he was a teenager and it deserves to be in the hands of someone that will care for and display it. Of course, I couldn’t accept that and I did give him a significant amount of money. I funded the purchase by selling some of the duplicates from my Dinky collection on EBay in one lot- some of you may have seen that on EBay several months ago. I have also sold one of the Japanese toys so far, and plan on selling the other one eventually. I do not plan on selling any of the Dinky Toys from this collection, they will stay with me. Also, yes, the tires are all original on these toys.

Thanks for the comments all!

Scott

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hi Scott.

A weak solution of nail varnish remover has been used successfuly by some of the members here (including myself), to romove a previous owners extra detail painting. It is always wise to try this on 'Beater' models first so you can get familiar with the process.

Your apporach to the collection is to be congratulated and very pleasing to here, but I suspected this to be the case anyway with such a great collection and you seem to be doing the right thig regards selling off a few items that are probably not within your own collecting interests.

I however would like to see the tinplates that you have left as they are my thing!! but don't worry if you can not get pictures of them, it will not be the end of the world, I will survive

Ghosthunter.

[lionel-honda]

Ghosty, thanks for the idea regarding the silver trim removal. I certainly won't try it on the red/green Guy Warrior first!

I had both versions of the Bandai- made for Sears - Moon mobile rocket launcher and the one shown below. The one below has been sold on eBay & I still have the Rocket launcher. They are both in spectacular condition & both work well. I have since repaired the broken wheel.

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