35 Series Small Cars

This little series of small motor cars seems to be largely overlooked by many while we are busy collecting other more glamorous models, such as the 30, 36, 38, or 39 series, or even the 23 series of racing cars. These are among the smallest Dinkys, averaging only slightly more than an inch long. The first three were introduced in 1936, and were 35a Saloon Car; 35b Racer; and 35c MG Sports Car, and these could be purchased separately or as Set #35 Small Motor Cars. The final car, 35d Austin 7 Car, was introduced in 1938, and was never included in the boxed set. its companion was the military version, 152c, which differed only in the color. All of the pre-war issues came with white molded tires, which are actually smaller than those used on the various motorcycles, and the MG Sports Car and the Austin 7 pre-war versions also had some added silver detailing, such as the steering wheel and the representation of the folding windscreen and spare tire straps. Very early versions of the Racer did not have a driver and were available in a variety of finishes. The Austin 7 pre-war models had a wire windscreen that was dropped after the war, as well as a hole in the seat (for the optional driver in the 152c version). All of these were discontinued in 1941, and then re-issued in 1945, with black tires and the other changes mentioned above. The Saloon car and the MG Sports Car were made until 1952, and the Austin 7 was stopped in 1948. The Racer continued to be made until 1957, making it one of the longest lived Dinky models. My 1953 U.S. catalog does still mention all four of them, but the price list does not show the Austin 7.TerryThis shows all four of the 35 series; from left, the MG Sports Car, the Austin 7, the Saloon Car, and the Racer s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...035%20series%20small ] The Saloon Car 35a s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...%20small%20cars/009- ] The Midget Racer 35b s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...%20small%20cars/015- ] The MG Sports Car 35c s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...%20small%20cars/012- ] The Austin 7 (this is the only pre-war example that I have...notice the wire windscreen and silver detailing on the steering wheel, and the white tires s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...%20small%20cars/006- ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/media/Dinky ] This shows the hole in the seat for the drive in the military 152c version s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...%20small%20cars/005- ] This is from the June 1936 Meccano magazine (only three models available then) s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...20Toys%2035%20series ] This is from the September 1938 Meccano Magazine. Notice the reference to the 35d Austin 7 s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...035%20series%20small ]

Thanks for the nice account, Terry. A rather isolated series this is, constructed in a different way, on dublo (c. 1:77) scale only, and rather crudely cast for that scale. Like the later Dublo Dinky Toys it is a rather 'difficult' series: too few items to be really collectable in their own right, and hardly matching other Dinky Toys, except for the buses and coaches, which share the same scale as demontrated in the list detail below ('description' in header without 'r'). Indeed the pre-war items have some more charm and attractiveness because of their mostly white tyres and duo tone colour schemes. Kind regards, Jan

Jan--you are right in that it was a very small, and isolated little series, without much in common with the rest of the line. And the castings are quite crude, especially when compared even with the same era 30 and 36 series. Some of the colors are nice, I particularly like the MG Sports Car in Red...saw some photos of the other colors in GBofDT. I was just glad to be able to find the pre-war Austin 7 still with it's wire windscreen. In all my years of collecting, there are very few of those listed on eBay in the U.S., although I am sure they are all somewhat easier to find on the Continent. Terry

Yes Terry, that Austin 7 with wire screen is more difficult to find. A similar vehicle is of course the military version: With a replica driver which I should replace by an authentic one some time. Regards, Jan

I always really liked these, but the blue saloon is still the only one I have. Scale wise they do sit perfectly with the bus, I didn't notice that before. Chris Warr.

[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_9898.jpg [/img] My 35b / 200 Racer / Midget Racer.[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_9897.jpg [/img] A real dwarf compared with the giant stylish art deco racer my wife surprised me with today !

Jan --Quite a contrast in size between those two racers! Those little Dinky's are cute, but so tiny...it is a wonder that any of them lasted...they seem so vulnerable and fragile. Was that gift from your wife to celebrate a birthday or anything we should cheer about? Terry

Nice surprise ! CW

No,
nothing special to celebrate.My wife just noticed my enthusiasm for the smooth,
swift design of this model when passing a curiosity shop window in our dwelling - place.It is really heavy,
entirely made of a very nice shiny quality metal.Next day the surprise parcel was waiting for me when coming home !

My todays question is related to the 35b racer. I found a red model with brown driver and black wheels and after I put it on the scale it showed 25 grams, substantially more then ordinary 35b, which total around 15 grams. I guess its made from lead. Turning it around, I noticed that all the correct markings: MECCANO at the back, Made in England in the centre and DINKY TOYS up front are there, but ahead of DINKY TOYS there is a capital W, which I can not find on any other 35b. Can anybody help? Did Dinky Toys made the 35b racer in lead too and when? And what is the meaning of this W? Thanks and best regards from Thailand Walter

Hi Walter, This seems to be an interesting find but it would be interesting to have a picture of the inside of the model. All the best. Jacques.

Walter, This seems to be something new in the Dinky Toys world. I can understand that the model is cast in lead or is it magnetic ? But the W ? Is this model pre-war ? has there been several dies because the W could not have been deleted ? I hope that somebody else can bring more info on this enigmatic model. What is going to come up next ? Jacques.