172 Studebaker Land Cruiser (1954-59)

This is a Dinky I bought about 3 years ago. It has a curious plastic disk on the left rear wheel. It looks as if someone wanted to beautify the toy with a sidewall. But why on just one wheel? The plastic disk is somehow attached (glued?) to the tire and is a perfect colour match for the hub. I'm sure it is not a Dinky item but what is it? Any help would be gratefully received.

Hello Dennis, I do not think this is a serious trial. If it were to be tested to be fitted with white tyres, a simple grasp into this little box would have been enough.As a bonus some curious images regarding the Studebaker Land Cruiser: The advertisement of the version you showed above, in the Dutch 'Na Vijven' periodical, an issue of 1956. Import, publicity and distribution of Dinky Toys in The Netherlands was done for many years by the old firm of Hausemann & Htte in Amsterdam. And this picture, which quite well represents the present weather conditions in Western Europe, as shown in Meccano Magazine of February 1955, 55 years ago by now. And this final picture, reproducing the scene above in real metal and artificial snow. One of the many photos which David Busfield took (and one of the many that we did not choose in the end) for the creation of the Dinky Toys 2010 calendar. Kind regards, Jan Werner

Five years later now, a follow-up on the posts above. I managed to add a nice green Studebaker as a mate for my blue one. I like these 'primitive' single colour versions much better than the later duo-tones, so I'm very glad I have both of them now. A little essay then on the no. 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser: The no. 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser was introduced in Meccano Magazine of April 1954, together with the iconic big no. 651 Centurion Tank. It was advertised as being available in two colour variants, mid-blue and light green. The advertisement itself, however, was still in black and white. In 1955 the first MM introductions are seen in colour, starting in March (no. 133 Cunningham C-5R Road Racer) and using the back of the cover, which was printed in colour since 1923 already. The blue one is more familiar with tan hubs, which were later replaced by cream ones. A nice presentation is the centre-fold of the January 1955 issue of Meccano Magazine, recapitulating the issues of 1954, the new playroom army, the first jet liner DH Comet, the first small commercials and the first two cars which always had the new three digit number, including of course the Studebaker Land Cruiser. Of this couple the Jaguar was the last one to have been initially delivered in trade boxes of half a dozen, the Studebaker, however, was the first in its kind that was always packed in its individual yellow illustrated box. In the early catalogues it was always the one finished in green that was pictured. The blue one was illustrated on the box only. Two-tone versions (maroon top-cream sides and tan top-cream sides) replaced the monotone Studebakers in the course of 1956, as seen on the inside front cover of the September issue of MM of that year. In fact it was shown in duo-tone in some catalogues in mid-1955 already, as this Swiss catalogue confirms. The initial high-line colour scheme here. The low-line finish of the later duo-tones, available in 1958, is seen in those later catalogues, the 1958 Dutch catalogue presented here. If present, treaded tyres occur on the final apprearance only. I have no duo-tone Studebaker, so other are invited to present their pictures in this thread. Very early versions have no catalogue number embossed in the base plates. Mine do show the number. Arguably only mono-tone versions can occur without the 172 number. For the blue model this goes for examples with tan hubs only. Together with the Ford Fordor, no. 139a, and the Hudson Commodore, nr. 139b, the Studebaker Land cruiser is the 1950s continuation of the American cars of the 39 series. In an American catalogue of 1954 (I do not have that one for confirmation) this model was referred to by the old subsequent number: 139c. According to the Great Book of Dinky Toys the drawing of job no. 13852 of 16 June 1953 shows the addition: sales no. was 139b. Most probably this should be: 139c. The Index to Dinky Toys Job Lists, memo 20112 sheet 4 (mind you, a very late document of 13 September 1961) still refers to the obsolete number 139c of 1953. No. 171/139b is strangely omitted (although of course all of them were gone by 1961). Besides these exceptions the number 139c seems to have been used in the design and development stage only and not in the subsequent marketing and sales period. Of course this odd number mix and confusion can be explained from the very transitional phase of the numbering system which was just executed one month before the Studebaker Land Cruisers introduction in April 1954. In fact, as no. 139c it was an incomprehensable late continuation of the 139a-139c / 170-172 group of which the Ford Fordor was issued in 1949 and the Hudson Commodore in 1950 already. For the time being this was the last American family car issued. The real Studebaker Land Cruiser is shown here, as posted on 27 February 2008 on the hubcaps.com blog, with the following comment: Look at this incredible picture we have of Julian Hynes 1952 Studebaker! Wow! What a great picture of a truly beautiful car; especially with the restored Studebaker Wheel Covers. Julian lets us know that this is a 1952 Studebaker Land Cruiser Commander V8, 3 speed with O/D transmission. 1952 was the centenary year of the Studebaker company and this model features a one year only steering wheel design. It has a believed true 65,000 miles from new and is in remarkable condition. The V8 was a rare option in the Land Cruiser model and helps this car keep up with modern traffic easily, even on the freeway. It will cruise easily at 65 to 70mph. Take a look at those STD51-53 wheel covers that we sent to him for his Studie! Arent they pristine? The Dinky must have been modelled on the basis of this kind of prototype, the known factory drawings are job no. 13850, Studebaker Landcruiser assl (assy), d.d. 13-11-1952 and job. no. 13852, Base for Studebaker (small) d.d. 10-10-1952, so, both dating from the last quarter of 1952. The side elevation above taken from the assy, as shown in DT&MM page 150. The real-world example shown above happens to have the similar blue colour as the Dinky Toy. The white tyres would also have been a nice fit on the Dinky Toy! The new range of similar American models (nos. 169 + 173-174 + 177-179 + 191-192) was to be issued as late as 1958-1959, with modern appearances like white tyres, fitted with windows and soon after their introduction with shiny metal hubs (in fact marking the end limit of my Dinky collecting era). The 1959 catalogues show them in full glory, after discontinuation of the early trio, which were still present in the 1958 catalogues. Studebaker was represented in this new group by as many as two models, the no. 169 Studebaker Golden Hawk and no. 179 Studebaker President. But lets not forget that Dinky France modelled in between one of the most famous designs by Raymond Loewy (he himself sitting in his creation, above), the Starliner, introduced by Meccano France in 1955 as Dinky Toys no. 24Y Studebaker Commander Coup. Kind regards, Jan

Whilst Jan and I were working on the calendar five or so years ago we made an attempt to reproduce the iconic 1954 Dinky Toys image which appeared in the Meccano Magazine. I am happy that we got pretty close to the real thing. Dave

I just received the blue one today ! I have the two tons since a long time and ,as you know, I like very much the variants. There are 80% of chance that I will find a difference between 2 models. And I am very happy to show you my lucky find; First, my models : Second, the base plates with thinner or thicker letters ! The front of the ceiling with and without a big trace of injectors ; Sorry the photo is a little bit fuzzy. A third Studebaker is on the way ! will see if we can learn something else :woohoo: :woohoo: Cheers Richard

That's a great addition Richard! I did not know of the variation in embossing, which is really different. Apparently the thin 'DINKY TOYS' is the older one. Both of mine are of the later type (fat 'DINKY TOYS' and relatively thin 'STUDEBAKER although in monocolour, which is underlined by the fact that your blue Studebaker has the beige hubs, whereas mine has the later cream ones. Kind regards, Jan

And 'ENGLAND' is not located at the same place ! look at the position of the 'A' under the 'U' of studebaker on my blue model ! I am waiting for a two tons model, brown & cream. Perhaps new things to learn ! Kind regards Richard

Two better ceilings views : Cheers Richard

All together, with the third one in two tones 'beige & fawn' The base plate is the same for both two-tones Cheers

The base plate of my new Studebaker is the same as my blue one but the ceiling has an injector trace at the front. (Not the blue !!??) Kind regards Richard

And here is the ceiling. Kind regards Richard

All together ! Nice weekend to all of you Richard