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Diecast Model Cars - A
History
by Colin Lloyd Platinum
Quality Author
There is quite a long
history of craftsmen building detailed miniature replicas of transport
vehicles and machinery, but it wasn't until 1934 that diecast model cars
and lorries arrived on the market in any great numbers.
At that time the model cars and trucks weren't regarded as collectable
items in their own right - they were produced to lend added realism to
model railways.
Since the early 1920s Frank Hornby had been making increasingly complex
train sets. One of the sets, Meccano Set No 21, was embellished with six
diecast models, consisting of a motor truck, a sports coupe, a delivery
van, a sports car, a farm tractor, and an Army tank. These were the
first Dinky models, issued under the "Meccano Modelled Miniatures"
label, as Set No. 22.
These early diecast cars were fairly crude by modern standards, being
cast from an alloy with high lead content which didn't lend itself to a
high degree of detail. Also they didn't attempt to depict genuine
vehicles, although the sports car bore a resemblance to the S.S.1, a
popular make of the period and a precursor of the Jaguar.
In terms of scale, they were not very well suited to the train sets
which they were intended to adorn.
It soom became apparent, however, that there was a healthy market for
such models, and it wasn't long before individual diecast replicas based
on real cars and trucks were produced and sold separately. Dinky Set 30
was based on the Rolls Royce, Set 36A on the Armstrong Siddely, 36B a
Bentley, and 36F was a Salmon sports car.
With the passage of time the quality of detail and reproduction greatly
improved. The Dinky sets had diecast alloy bodies and tinplate radiators
and rubber tyres. The later models also came with drivers and
passengers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just
before the Second World War some superb military models were produced,
including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.
Few models from that era have survived in acceptable condition, and
examples in good condition are extremely collectable - pre-war Dinkies
can fetch prices up to $1000 in auction.
In the 1950s, new production techniques heralded a new era in the
history of diecast model cars. Lesney, famous for their splendid
Coronation Coach, and Corgi, ("the ones with the windows"), entered the
market to provide competition to Dinky.
This new generation of diecast vehicles, with finer detail, better
running gear, and better color finish, leads up to the present day,
where millions of precision diecast replica models are produced, at
quite affordable prices for the collector.
For beautiful, precision-built die-cast motor car replicas, visit
diecast model cars
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