Rinky dink panther

[familybucket43]

Got this recently in not bad condition..

[starni999]

Hi mate, Always wondered why these were not Dinky branded, copyright issues maybe? Or sub contracted manufacture?
Looks to be in pretty good condition, those blisters go yellow with time, but yours looks nice and clear. One of the last new Dinky's before closure in '79, and good to see.
Some unboxed ones were sent out in '80 after closure too.
Chris Warr.

[motorman]

Very interesting as i had one of these years ago (long gone). Quite rare i would suggest to find one in its blister pack, Nice find and thanks for the memory.

[dinkycollect]

This model is peculiar. There are two models of the Pink Panther. The first one issued from 1972 to 1977 had a huge gyro wheel in the middlewhich Meccano called Dynamo power. It was branded DINKY without TOYS and was listed with the reference 354. It was made of plastic although a pre-production model was probably diecast in zamac, an other one is known in yellow plastic. Plastic was choosen for the production models because the diecast model did not go far enough when launched and powered by the gyro wheel. This model was packed in an end flaps box.

The second model as shown on the picture above did not have the gyro wheel and was packed in a blister printed with the reference number 354 but without any reference to either Meccano or Dinky. The base plate is molded with MECCANO made in England.

The actual Panthermobile has been build in 1969 on an Oldsmobile Tornado chassis. It is 7 meters long and 1.8 meter wide. The seven liter V8 Oldsmobile engine mounted right behind the driver drives the front wheels. the body is sheet metal. It has been auctioned in 2011and since it has been completely restaured in Los Angeles.