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

There is another subtle difference between the crimped axel ends and the domed axel ends and that is the drivers colour.It seems that the domed axel ends have the driver and cockpit the same as the body, silver, whereas the crimped axels have the driver and cockpit the same colour as the flash, any different please comment.David

David, You are correct, this applies omly to the models with ridged hubs.

Have photographed the four post war versions of casting together, the two crimped axel versions of casting, the casting with two webs singular and finally the two versions of casting with the domed axels. David

Think I have managed it but only one photograph at a time, so here is the next the four post war versions. David

two rmaing photos

Thank you David. Nice to see all these inside variants together! Kind regards, Jan

Hi David T and everybody,Thank you for these interesting pictures. Could you please provide a better one for this variation without the string on the front axle and give the accurate thickness of the middle web ? There may be a variation with a thicker web but this remains to be proved. There also seem to be two different shapes for this web, a straight one and a curved one. The above been the thin curved oneand this one the thick straight one.Thank you for your help.Jacques

For some reason, the picture does not show in my previous mail. I probably forgot to upload it

Well I never, I thoughtI I had looked at these in detail. Had not noticed what you have pointed out, yes there are two different shaped central webs, curved and straight as you have pointed out. I have three examples of the twin webed version and each carry the the curved central web. I have ten examples of the single central web and all are straight. Another note, all of the rear webs are curved and not straight. Have also noticed another slight difference, The single web has a hollow windscreen whereas the twin webed models have a solid windscreen. I do however have one model with a single web and the solid windscreen. Regarding the thickness of the web they look the same but have not mesured accuratlley they are tappered and the curved ones are deeper they rise at the edges to almost the level of the side body, with the tappering continuing perhaps little thinner at the top edge. All my models with rear web have the solid windscreen. Will try and get better photographs, I wonder were that fits into the dates. Will also remove the string. David.

Have accumulated more examples of this racing car trying to establish what the variants are and in doing this have come accross 2 examples of a distinct variant and am not sure what to make of them. For a start they are both made of lead, and both painted on the underside and are of the the red painted scheme but not numbered. They are both examples of the two webbed versions but also do have another distinctive mark and that is the letter 'W' on the underside behind the middle web and in front of the driver. Have included some photographs To me they look period but are they? They look original but are they some sort of reproduction? every other aspect of the casting seems to be identical to the norm. Perhaps as I hope they are examples of a special production line at the end of the two webed version. To produce them it would only be an added engraving to the mould making it possible. Has anybody seen what I have described?

Dear David, The question is : are these Dinky Toys or counterfeits ? A photo of the left hand side of each model would have been interesting.Lead castings do not match with ridged hubs and domed thick axles. Photo by courtesy of Walter Herter There is an other MG model with a W the 35b Racer, it is also painted inside and thought to be in lead. Walter may be able to tell us more about these very peculiar models. An other unexplained Dinky Toys mystery.

I realise that lead does not normally exist with the ridged hubs and the doomed thick axels. The twin webed version of the racing car is c1951-52. Is the 35b Racer likely to be that period as well? David