23c Mercedes-Benz Racing Car (1936-50)

Like most of the English Dinky Toys, the Mercedes W 25 has had several variations :On 8 02 1940 The words MERCEDES BENZ have been added to the drawing. Has the base plate been engraved and issued before the war or only in 1945 when the model was re-issued with riveted base plate instead of the four crimping points ? Is a picture of a 1940 issue available ?

Sorry Jacques, I only have 2 postwar versions; hopefully someone will come forward. Terry

Hi Jacques, I think there never was a version with clipped-in baseplate and MERCEDES BENZ engraved. When 23c was re-issued after the war, the length of the crank-case pressed into the baseplate was shortened to allow for the riveting in front, at the same time MERCEDES BENZ was added. The pre-war baseplate always remained the same, except for the 4 positioning points introduced later in 1936. This is my current knowledge. Still in Switzerland Walter

I have four Mercedes Benz / Large Open Racing Cars. Of two of them I have photos of the base plate quickly available: The earliest 1936 version. The latest post-war version, ca. 1950-1952. Kind regards, Jan

Thank you Walter (still in Schweiz) and Jan (still in the Netherlands) for your answers. I thought that the models with crimped base plate and marked MERCEDES BENZ hd not been made but I wanted some confirmation. Jacques.

Jacques and Jan, Pre war there is a second type baseplate. Were the first type is just pressed into the body, the second has four kind of rivets in the casting and when pressed holds the baseplate. In fact all the pre war racers, Auto Union, Mercedes and Speed of the Wind had these two types of baseplates. Problem with the first type is that the baseplate can easy fall out of the body. Now after many years a lot are fatigue and have lost the baseplates. The baseplates of the Mercedes benz pre war always were painted in the same colour as the body. Same with the baseplates of Speed of the Wind. Colours found pre war: blue, green, red, yellow and silver. Racenumbers from 1 to 8 I have seen. The models came in tradeboxes of six. John.

Here a picture of the second type baseplate. John.

Forgot that the Forum does not allow large high definition pictures. Sorry for this. Now with the correct seize. Second type pre war baseplate. John.

The two baseplates on the Mercedes Benz racing car. Note that the second type is rounded at the end. The body has altered to provide the baseplate bending inside. Still no name stamped. Top is first baseplate. John

Thanks for the previous additions, John! Hi all, some additions in text and images, relating to the Mercedes Benz / Large Open Racing Car. The Mercedes is presented in colour on the covers of (i.a.?) the 1939 Dinky Toys catalogue and the US 4 page leaflet of 1947/48. However, I wonder/doubt if the racing number

Sorry, John, but the pre-war Auto Union and the pre-war Speed of the Wind had only one type of baseplate, the one without the 4 positioning points. Only the Mercedes had these. After the war, all three had riveted baseplates. Regards Walter

Walter, Of course you are right, slip of the pen! Here the two type baseplates of the Speed of the Wind. John.