40b and 151 Triumph 1800 Saloon (1948-60)

For many years, the only one that I had in my collection was a light blue one, purchased over 50 years ago. Then some time ago, I decided to find an early version, with the rear wheel supports, in grey. Then a few weeks ago, I came across a nice dark blue one to add it. And just last week, I saw a nearly mint fawn version, and it arrived today. I don't normally collect so many color variations....I have enough trouble just trying to get one very nice model of each Dinky, but I do love this Triumph. Terry

Very nice team Terry.I also like very much this car.
And I am fond of the colours variations.Will show you mine in a next message.Richard

Here they are ! Less mint than yours but with an another colour variation: Body
and wheels are blue [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / Triumph_1.jpg [/img] Richard

Hi all ! 40b is one of my favourite Dinky ' s of all time,
a wondeful model.Here are mine,
I ' m looking for Light Blue / Fawn Hubs
and Fawn / Blue Hubs,
not easy to find though ! [img] http: / / i276.photobucket.com / albums / kk15 / starni999 / DSCF3125_zps19978fdb.jpg [/img] Chris Warr.

Not very well represented in my collection, this wonderful Dinky model. Two variations shown here in fair condition (by the way, the grey one, like Terry's, is an early one of 1948, still having the solid rear axle supports, so characteristic for the 39 series, but discontinued soon after). In fact it's here about the two nice colour versions of the real one, photos taken during the Norfolk vintage car show in September 2004, when staying with David Cooke. They are real beauties! Kind regards, Jan

Jan-Always nice to see photos of the existing cars. Even as a youngster, this was one of my favorite Dinky models....I just loved its styling. And the knife edge look still looks stunning today. Dinky made a very nice model of it, with several colors available. Best regards, Terry

Hi all, Ramsay (10th edition) mentions a base plate with large script for the late issues of this model. I can not find a picture of such a baseplate. Has one of the gentlemen on this forum ever seen such a base plate and can he provide a large picture of it ?Thanks and regards. Jacques

The first yellow box for the Triumph is this one with double numbering. There is no reference number on the pictorial side. This box has the reference number on a RED oval. This other box is rare, the reference number is on a small BLACK oval. The question is : which of the second and third box above is the earliest of the two ? As often the photos are by courtesy of Vectis Auctions.

Former DTCA member, good friend, and fellow Dinky Toys collector Jose Heraud has just completed the purchase of a quite rare black Triumph 1800 saloon. Since these are seldom seen and should be of great interest, I offered to post some photos of his along with some of his thoughts: 'The real Triumph four-door 1800 Saloon was introduced after WWII in 1946 and produced until 1949. It was a new design with 'razor edges' and large enough to fit 6 passengers in front and back. Meccano did a well-proportioned model in 1948 and it appeared for the first time in the July 1948 issue of Meccano Magazine, in an all-grey color scheme. The comments by the Toyman followed in the August 1948 issue. Interersting to note, that the rear axle is supported by two pillars on the back sides, cast to the body. The wheels are cast ridged and painted matt black. The baseplate has small lettering and no number. A few months later, Meccano's production department proposed a new color scheme in glossy black finish, with silver wheels, an experiment that preceded the all-aluminum wheels later to come in 1959. It was approved by management, with the proviso that the wheels should be painted black instead of silver (see the photo below for an image of this approved black color sample). The attached label reads: 'Colour scheme approved for the Triumph 40B '1800' Saloon, A. issue 2, wheels to be black. The date on this label was 20/9/48; which meant that this color scheme would follow the first issue---an all grey scheme---that appeared 2 months earlier. It must not have been very popular, as it was never shown in any color catalog and probably discontinued shortly, when an all-blue color scheme and a tan with green hubs followed. Thus, this black color scheme----which looks superb on the Dinky car----is quite scarce. As for the black color sample shown, it was bought by the French author and collector, Jean-Michel Roulet from a Meccano employee in Liverpool, for his collection. Later he sold it to Jean-Vital Remy, another noted French collector, who placed it afterward for auction at Sotheby's that used it as its Dinky Auction catalog cover in early 2000. I was very lucky to find recently on eBay UK, a sample of this rare model in very good condition for an affordable price. The glossy black color suits it fine to the Dinky Triumph 1800 Saloon and is more realistic than the other colors made by Meccano. I am very pleased to have it in my collection. Jose F. Heraud (ex DTCA member No. 129) December 2, 2021