24o / 39f Citroen SM

So the appearance of this model now really begins to answer that age-old question, 'If they still made Dinky Toys, would you still buy them?'Since they have been available for a number of years, I think it could be certainly confirmed that there is a demand for copies of the same Dinky Toys that were made in the past - but this is not quite the answer to the original question.Consider that the Citroen SM was manufactured 1970-1975, which is getting on for 50 years ago. So let's say this would be equivalent to Meccano in 1970 manufacturing a model of a 1920s vehicle. Of course Dinky and Corgi both attempted ranges of old bangers and they were always a flop. I don't recall kids in the 1970s considered Yesteryears particularly desirable either. What we wanted were toys of current road models. Today that would be Citroen C4, Renault Megane, Mercedes A-C-E Class, Ford Focus. Okay, maybe bad examples. But there are attractive cars of today that could be modelled, like Tesla... and there are always lots of concept cars around. Just as important (more important) the aesthetic has to be right. This Citroen SM looks alright at first sight but a Dinky Toy would have a screw on the base plate so you could dismantle it and put it back together. Look, the Pilen has a screw - it should be just like that. The wheels are alright; tyres maybe too thin. See they are thicker tyres on the pilen. And shouldn't the doors open? And maybe the bonnet or boot? And there ought to be folding seats. You know... like on the Pilen model.The Pilen Citroen is more Dinky than the Atlas Citroen. I would rather play with Pilen, thank you.

So, after some snooping around on ebay, I was able to find evidence to argue that this purported Dinky Citroen sm is a copy of a Universal Hobbies model. Delete the wipers and wing mirrors, don't bother with the chrome exhausts , slap on some dish hubs and Bob's yer uncle. If the upper casting looks suspiciously similar, the baseplate is the smoking gun. Universal Hobbies was a Chinese manufacturer hired by Atlas Editions (DeAgostini) to produce models for a magazine partwork called Passion Citreon (sm was probably issue 79) between 2004 - 2008. I can't find any suggestion that Atlas have ever offered this model as an official Dinky Toys copy - and I would guess that what we have here is a purely oriental initiative and there seems to be only one ebay outlet for it. This Jolly Roger also has some Dinky Peugeot's in various colours.

Al -- It appears to me that the Citroen SM was an 'official' Atlas initiative, at least judging by all the information carried on its box, which I show a picture of below. My guess would be that a range of 'what if' models was being considered, but got scrapped at the last minute, leading to this one model being dumped onto the Chinese market. Regarding the involvement of the latter-day Norev in all this, I would be interested to know who is really the prime mover in deciding what Dinky Toys are copied. It would also be good to know more information about the computerized scanning process that allows them to create new tooling so easily. Clearly, Norev has done the tooling and most of the production. it's notable that many of the castings have appeared first under Norev's 'CIJ' brand, then as Dan Toys offerings, and only later as Mattel-licensed 'Dinky Toys.' Laughably, some people consider the Dan Toys editions as 'pirate' models and the Dinky-branded ones as somehow 'official.' Of course, the Dinky/Mattel 'certificates of authenticity' are not worth the paper they are printed on!

How it actually works - how it's possible to issue certificates of authenticity for products which are copies by definiton ... that is some crazy contradiction. Hello Johnny, I've done a comparison of some Dan vs Atlas castings and they do seem to be different. I'm going to say that I don't think Dan and the whole Norev/CIJ/Atlas/DeAgostini aparatus have any commercial involvement. I know Dan have been copy casters for a long time - longer than the rest of them. I haven't seen anything from Atlas promoting these Citroen SM ('Citroe SM'(sic)) models. As far I'm aware, they just popped up on ebay earlier this year. Now the indicia on the box could be just as faked as the Dinky logo on the base plate and, actually, your image is only adding more weight to that conclusion. Do you see the serial number they use? 2 083 056 It turns out this is not a meaningless reference. On the aquitaine33.com site there is a Dinky Atlas model list which includes all these serial numbers. This particular number should refer to a 24o Studebaker Coupe in metallic green.** Just to add. I would suppose the 'lure' of crafting an exclusive 'Dinky' model for the oriental ebay store is going to be the 20 price tag.This seller has an abundance of other exclusives too.

I respect your thoughts but must say that of the copies I own in both 'Dan Toys' and 'Dinky' versions, the models seem to be identical apart from the trademarks, which makes sense. And, worthy of note, most of the Dan Toys models are marked on their boxes as being 'imported by Norev.' So there's no question that Norev is involved with both. (I will admit to a bias toward the Dan Toys, if copies are to be made at all. At least they do not claim to be Dinky Toys, and they do not use a trademark licensed by Mattel -- ironically the company whose 'Hot Wheels' did so much commercial damage to Meccano Ltd. back in the day. Plus, they sell their models in a straightforward manner instead of playing subscription games.)

I had another look at some Panhard artics by Dan and you're right, Johnny, the boxes do indeed say imported by Norev. Not only that but the baseplates have CIJ logos struck on them! How's that for mixed up? So for some of their inventory, Dan are (or were) sourcing stock from Norev. That might not be their only supplier because the Dan guy vans are different for sure to the Atlas varieties ( they have type 2 cabs for a start, different ejector pin patterns and casting mods).The Dan brand are just as nicely finished as the other importers and they do have a lot of nice code 3s in their catalogue.

Al, I'm sure you're right about the multiple suppliers for Dan Toys. I'd guess Norev has done at least 80 percent of their models, but as you point out, the Guy vans are different -- and I note that on their boxes, they say 'imported by Elantek.' It turns out that Elantek (also known as Lanxys) is a contract manufacturer of diecast models. Another Dan Toys I'd guess is from Elantek -- I am too indolent to hunt for the box to mine -- is the Citroen Presidentelle (one of the most readily available on eBay, as you might have noticed). This is the only one I've encountered that really misses the mark; compared to the real thing, it's a bit too small, and less than totally convincing. Dinky/Atlas/Mattel has issued a Presidentelle too (ironically being sold by Dan Toys itself for the same 60 euro price as their own; I haven't seen it elsewhere) and it would be interesting to see who made that one.

Elantek are showing an Esso Leyland Octopus tanker in their Alibaba showcase, so maybe those are on the way for Dan. I notice Dan are now selling some Bedford cab models and a couple of the Antar configs. The Dan Presidentielle box does credit Elantek. They were also the Dan source for the Car Carriers and Guy Vans. I haven't seen the Atlas rendition of the Presidentielle - it would be interesting to see a comparison.