471 Austin A40 Devon Van 'Omnisport' (1954)

After a long discussion a couple of years ago, an other Omnisport van has come out.See www.facebook.com/modelcollectorI am not on facebook and do not want to be, is there a way to obtain this guy's email and what do you think about this model ?

Jacques---I remember reading and hearing about the first one some time ago, but nothing sense then. This one appears to be genuine, if you can believe the story that his two aunts worked at Binns Road, and evidently gave this to him as a gift. If they did work there, then they would likely have had access to such models. Makes you wonder just how many were made and how they were disposed of, and did other employees get a chance to acquire one? In any event, most interesting for sure!Terry

Terry, The previous discussion was started by Glen Butler on April 28, 2009. The two aunts may have been invented by a clever copyist. I would like to have this van in my hands before admiting that it is genuine. It may be but ......

Jacques--I agree....anything is possible when lots of value is involved! I guess someone who is very knowledgeable would need to carefully examine it to see if it appears to be original paint, etc. Terry

Hhm, looks better than the other one anyway, I was convinced that one was wrong, as the silver paint trim just didn't look right when compared to other real A40's. Two Aunts at Binns Rd? Sorry but that sort of story always makes me dubious. I would love it to be real, as there may be others, but without having it in the hand who knows? How does the factory drawing date tie up with the no number baseplate? Personally I've got one that is 100% fake, cost me

Following this up, I spoke with the auction house today and was informed that the Omnisport van (lot 100) was unsold. Now that the auction has passed & I am not interfering with any potential sale I think it

Hi all, I would love to see this van in the hand, as for me the most important question is did any actually get made by Dinky? I was pretty convinced that the last one sold was Jeffery Levitt's copy he had made for his Mint and Boxed business in the 80's. This one looks better, but doubts about authenticity, and the chips, kept the buyers away by the look of it. Personally I would rate it as at least on a par with a mint Corn Products tanker price wise, if it was real! Chris Warr.

Yes, ' Mint and Boxed ' were keen to create including the never released Guy Warrior Golden Shred, so many stories. Perhaps the Omnisport order was produced in the factory but Omnisport never paid,thus not taking delivery and maybe they were all put in the factory shop for staff purchase. Idle thinking, but maybe..or did Dinky only manufacture once payment had been received as per Mobilgas etc. Also, yes agree with the investor comment, prices are wild at the moment, are they all real collectors ?

Hi everybody. I read in the Journal issue n79, that a copy model of the Austin A40 omnisport will be available very soon. I already has one which was made for the 'Club Dinky France' about ten years ago. Is the DTCA model different ? Here under a photo of mine. Kind regards Richard