30sm and 625 Austin Covered Wagon (1952-55)

The no. 30sm / 625 Austin Covered Military Wagon, for USA export only 1951-1953. Made with the regular black / silver trim Austin grill, but also with an all military green grill. The small plain tinplate base plate in front. Incidentally also with the embossed number 30s. A big, usually post-1951 towing hook in the rear. Do examples occur with the previous smaller towing hook as well? The new catalogue number 625 on the Dinky Toys dimensions list of 27 April 1955 (!). Are other contemporary written or printed references to this new number known?Remaining question: what combinations of the features described above (grill, embossed number, hook) are known, and in what chronological sequence could they possibly be put?Comments, solutions, assumptions appreciated!Kind regards, Jan Werner

Jan----Many years after your original post, I finally saw this, and can only offer a small addition; I happen to have one with the 30s stamped on the baseplate, but still has the black and silver grill, and the large tow hook. Not at all sure of the vintage of this one, as I bought it new from H. Hudson Dobson in 1958-1959, and it likely had sat in a trade box there for some time. Even as a youngster I wondered why this one had the black and silver grill, yet its brother, the Bedford Heavy Army Truck, almost always has its painted military green......go figure!!Best regards, Terry

That is a long time ago indeed! Nevertheless, Terry, your addition is much appreciated. Kind regards, Jan