23e and 221 'Speed of the Wind' Racing Car (1936-56)

Hi John, just saw your comments and pictures on your lead 23e Speed of the Wind. I have the same in my collection, same color scheme, same weight, same ingredients of an early 50s issue: ridged hubs, rounded axle ends, baseplate without the two little 'angel wings' behind the rear axle, round DINKY SUPERTOYS tyres. But the funny thing is; on my model the baseplate has been mounted the wrong way, meaning the differential is under the front axle! Most likely a mishap, since the rivets are no doubt original. How about your model? Regards Walter

Hello Walter, I checked the baseplate of the lead Speed of the Wind at my friends collection as it is not mine. On that model the differential is under the rear axle as it should be. So your model is for sure a factory error and thus not common! Nice find. John.

Hi Terry, here is another 23e Speed of the Wind with black driver, this time with the post-war ridged hubs and black herringbone tyres. Regards Walter

Hey Jacques, are you back? Walter

Hello Jacques, you managed, welcome! if I can help you, please let me know. Kind regards, Jan

Hi Jacques, so glad your back. Here are two pictures of my front wheel drive 23e Speed of the Wind. Happy? Best regards Walter

Hello Jacques, Nice to see you here again. We have missed you too long. Your comment on Dinky matters will be very appreciated. regards John.

Hello all, I am back again but not in very good condition.I have started to look at the questions on the forum and can make some cmmentts on some of them. If the speed of the wind was cast in lead there is no reason why the other cars of the 23 series were not. Has somebody the drawings ?I would welcome a large copy of the front wheel drive speed of the wind and it's base plate.

Dear Jacques, Happy to see that you are back in business! Hope you'll get better soon! Ragnar (Sorry if off topic!)

Jacques---I also wanted to take the opportunity to welcome you back.....hope to see more of your contributions again! Best regards, Terry

Browsing in the special 'Collection Grard Dulin, 1000 pices dexception' issue of Collectoys, by Philippe Salmon, I came across another leaden Speed of the Wind in the same red/silver colour scheme on page 110. So, John and Walter, your examples are no 'incidents' anymore, but they do apparently belong to a certain (small?) batch of leaden Speed of the Winds. Although this book is a very nice and reliable reference work, this very Speed of the Wind is believed to date of the period 1936-1938, which cannot be correct in the light of evidence already mentioned by John and also by the mere fact that the specific combination of hubs, axles and axle ends cannot be dated earlier than 1952. Kind regards, Jan P.S.: Sorry not to have seen Jacques since his recent comment here, 29 March!

Thanks, Jan, for your comment. Further evidence regarding the production date of the leaden 23e Speed of the Wind can be found on the factory drawing (see publications/documents), where march 1952 is indicated as the date for the use of alternative material (lead alloy). Regards Walter