23a and 220 Racing Car (3rd casting) (1946-56)

On the lists there must be a title on top of each column. What's the title of this second last column?

Hello Walter, you will have to click on the image in order to see the whole picture! The header says 'Job List no.'. Kind regards, Jan

Got it. Sorry. Walter

A little
set
of new photos below,
showing the early post - war (post -1946) red / silver
and blue / silver examples,
with black ridged hubs (
and with central reinforcing ribs,
' hollow ' window inside
and crimped axle ends
)
and the later post - war (post -1952) silver / red examples,
one with silver hubs,
the other very common one with red hubs (
both with central rib deleted
and tiny reinforcing ribs in the tail section added,
domed axle ends
).Kind regards Jan [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3132.JPG [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3134.JPG [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3136.JPG [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3137.JPG [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3138.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / dte23aIMG_3131.JPG [/img]

This is what I have concerning Cpt. Eyston and the M.G. The EX 127, the 'Magic Midget' (Dinky Toys ref. 23), was completed late in 1931 to replace the destroyed EX 120 and designed with the express purpose of smashing every Class H record (750 c.c.). In its illustrious career this car set numerous records, was the first of its class to surpass 120 m.p.h. (193 Km/h) and was later sold to Bobby Kohlrausch, a noted German driver who continued to break records on the Continent, where its design was of great interest to German pre-war engineers. EX 127 finished it's career in the Mercedes R & D department. The next car for Captain Eyston was the legendary EX 135 (Dinky Toys ref. 23a), based on the K3 chassis with both racing and record-breaking bodies and built to assault the Class G (1100 cc.) records. The original streamlined body was painted in cream and chocolate stripes, winning for the car the nickname 'Humbug', as in 1934 it re-wrote the record books for its class. The next year, with the corporate ban on works-sponsored competition, Eyston sold the car. Two years later, Kimber and Goldie Gardner, a well-known racing figure, decided to re-acquire the Humbug, add a Reid Railton designed completely enclosed body (Dinky Toys ref. 23p[/url]) and attempt to break both Class G and F records. They were completely successful in both attempts, with the car becoming the first 1100 c.c. car to exceed 200 m.p.h. (322 Km/h). Following World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Gardner had EX 135 again rebuilt with a 750 c.c. six cylinder Magnette engine modified so that the number of operating cylinders could be quickly changed. For Records in Class H in 1946 the car ran on all six cylinders. In 1947, it ran on four cylinders for a Class I (500 c.c.) record of 118.1 m.p.h. After Nuffield management discontinued with factory assistance in 1935, Gardner removed the 'MG' name, fitted the car with a Jaguar 2 litre engine and took the Class E record. Another change in management at Nuffield, and the fact that the Italians had taken the Class I record from England, lured Gardner back. Abingdon modified the engine capacity and in 1949 Gardner recaptured the 500 c.c. record on just three cylinders at a speed of 154.8 m.p.h.. In 1950 all but two cylinders were blocked off and the records fell to the fabulous MG in Class J (500 cc.) at 121.09 m.p.h.. It was suggested that if there was a class for single cylinder engines Gardner would have attempted that as well! The next year, sporting a TD engine, EX 135 ran on the Utah salt flats to take more records in Class F. In 1952, both Gardner and his 18 year old flyer retired. In its career, wearing an assortment of bodies and engines, the venerable EX 135 broke the world record ten times in eight different classes, a tribute to the builders and the driver. EX 135 is now preserved at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon U.K.

All post-war versions but one below, I presume. The immediately post-war smooth hubs version wanting.

Just double- checked the models I have with both central and rear transverse ribs, each have domed axels with silver wheels, any different please comment. David

Jan W I do not think that there is a version with smooth hubs and domed axels as there are several versions with ridged hubs and crimped axles. This is until one is found. Many pre-war models have domed axels at one end and crimped at the other. This may create a confusion. David T Your listing seems to be correct, so far a complete list of all the variations has not been published. I am missing a large picture of the underside with both transverse webs. can you please provide one either here or by email. Kind regards

Good morning once again. Have been enjoying reading all the contributed information each of you have provided and very interesting. When looking at my 23 & 23a racing cars trying to place them in chronological order have stumbled across a few questions in the post war period that I would like answered if possible or my assuptions and findings confirmed or corrected.. There seems to be three recognised casting changes, but there are four different mould changes in the post war period alone. They are;- No transverse casting webs, same as the prewar castings I think, only found with crimped axels, think 46-47ish Central casting transverse web added, again, think only crimped axels, think 48-51ish With Central transvers Web but now with a rear transverse Web, think only domed axel ends, think 52-54ish Without the central transvers web but the rear web kept, domed axels and red wheels think 54-56 Also noted in some previous comments is that they were not produced between 49-52 what is the evidence of this? Have looked at the price lists that were published and can see the omissions of certain models, is this the considered evidence? When is considerd date that the change from crimped axels to domed axels occured? Also wheel colour on this model, am I correct in thinking that domed axels only have the red and silver wheel colours and red only, from 54-56. That concludes that all black wheels have the crimped axels.does that make the dropping of the black wheels the same date as the introduction of the domed axels. Sorry for all this but been studying the 23 series and trying to understand the chronological order of life of the 23 series.. The post war colour schemes, the all red and all blue bodies with silver flashes seem to be limited to the crimped axel period and only found with black wheels, where as the silver bodied through out the post war period. Could you please confirm my understanding or correct me if I am wrong. David

Agree there is definately no smooth hubs with domed axels, if they exist they will almost certainly have crimped at both ends axels. Thus far have not seen any with smooth axels. Were they issued Christmas 1945 when I think most of the smooth wheels were issued. Following that initial period think then the ridged wheels were only used, as suspect the stock of smooth wheels were used during the first Christmas period or the prewar moulds used with improved metal. I am not sure of the date the new mould for the ridged wheels was first introduced, I suppose somebody may have the original drawings. Have four examples with both webs, will provid photograph when worked out how to transfer images. David

The drawing for the Supertoys hub is known but I have not yet seen the drawing for the ridged hubs.

Probably a misunderstanding Jacques, I just mean a version with smooth hubs. Of course this, together with crimped axle ends, is the only possible combination - talking about post-war examples. Kind regards, Jan