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SMS88 wrote:

Viewfield wrote:I honestly think that the Dinky model of "Fab 1" along with "Parker" and "M'Lady" is one of the best. Kept this one back when I sold my collection. Not sure why, perhaps because it has an intact sliding roof!

Rod

Nice to see an example with the Spot On wheel hubs - I dont know if they survived the Northern Ireland factory fire or if DInky Liverpool just used the wheel cutting tool that survived the fire. Either way the late 1960s Dinkys using Spot On wheels are from a very interesting period where Dinky worked very hard to match Corgi´s ever improving specifications without using any of the better Spot On tools which instead were exported to New Zealand

This story is interesting Mick. I've heard about the Spot On models being made here. I must say that Spot On models of any sort turn up infrequently at best in this part of the World. That is only good for me in terms of removing temptation!

Cheers,
Gavin

'SPOT-ON' pioneered the use of spun alloy wheel rims on British commercially available models, along with 'Chrome' effect seperate grille and bumper components. One of the first Dinky Toy models to benefit from this after the purchase of the company by 'TRI-ANG' was #127, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III introduced in December 1964.

The wheel rims on the above version of "FAB I" are essentially the SPOT-ON design but with the added detail of a 'centre-spike' making it look more like the car seen in the TV episodes. The very first wheel design used by Dinky on this model was borrowed from their Ford Mustang, so were Chrome effect plated and they fitted the same soft rubber tyres as found on many Dinky models at the time including #158, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.

In 1973, the spun alloy wheel rims were replaced by diecast metal rims borrowed from their Lotus Europa, these being replaced in 1975 by wheels borrowed from their Range Rover and these stayed on the model until 1976 when the model was deleted from the range.

Altogether there are 5 wheel and tyre combinations used on the Dinky Toys "FAB I".

GHOSTHUNTER.

During the race to get a license for the mass produced toy for "FAB I", Corgi was so sure of getting the license (on the back of their 007 Aston Martin and the Batmobile, it was a foregone conclusion!), they built a working 'Protoype' (Two in fact, one showing the inner workings), for asessment and if you think it looks a little 'Stubby' against the Dinky version, it is because it was based on the proper Derek Meddings drawings, the Dinky was based on drawings taken from the 9 foot long 'Puppet' car.
I wonder how mad they were at Corgi when they found out the license had gone to Dinky and eventually the Dinky version sold over Two Million examples...

GHOSTHUNTER.

Here is the Matchbox 'Prototype', made for Lesney by George Turner, a freelance model maker who was once a member of staff at Lesney but left during the upheaval period of buy-outs etc. George has made 'Prototype' models of various vehicles for Corgi, Matchbox and Lledo.
GHOSTHUNTER.

When Corgi finally got to make "FAB I", this is their later 'Prototype' designed to show what the finished model may look like. Fortunately when the model was released during 2004, it looked much better than the 'Prototype', phew!
GHOSTHUNTER.

I can only say, thank heavens Dinky got the contract.
Thanks for showing these Kev.

nickjones wrote:I can only say, thank heavens Dinky got the contract.
Thanks for showing these Kev.

Couldn't agree more!!

Thanks for posting the photo with the two Corgi prototypes. I have never seen the painted one before, only the chassis is shown in the Great Book of Corgi. I have to agree, the Dinky was the better model, I would not have liked the FAB 1 with an ugly steering wheel on the top. On the FAB it would not be possible to disguise this as on the Safari or Polizei VW.

As far as I know, the steering front wheels on the Corgi "FAB I" would have been operated by pressing down on the wing-top monitors, just ahead of the front screen and the wheel certainly would have been hard to disguise, I suppose you could pretend it was a 'Drone' sent out by 'The Hood' and was hovering over "FAB I" before trying to destroy it...

Ghosty.

Hot Wheels had a very nice version of it some years back. Much more in the FAB 1 spirit than the Matchbox version.

Cheers,
Tito