152b and 671 Reconnaissance Car (1937-55)

Discusion transfered.We looked at this great model a short while ago, along with some other WWII era military pieces, but I recently came across a few more photos of the actual 1:1 vehicle. As others have posted before, it is a 1936 Morris Commercial 6x4 vehicle, and from reading some descriptions, not too many were produced. It was also somewhat underpowered and quite heavy. I believe it said the top speed was something like 35-40 mph. I can imagine that it was also geared quite low, given the weight and small power. While searching for information, I did see an ad for one in England, that was in the process of being restored. It was all apart, so the pictures I am including below are not that car.In looking at these, it is very apparent that Dinky did a wonderful job of replicating the actual vehicle. Even the storage boxes on the runningboards and rear area look the same, and there are two doors on the left side, and only one on the right, just as is the original. I am guessing that this was one of the few pre-war models that was quite accurately modeled by Dinky, instead of combining design elements from several vehicles. I would guess that the light and medium tanks are also quite accurate. The main omission is the missing headlights.I have included a few pics of my original condition Reconnaissance Car. This still one of my favorite dozen Dinky's ever made.....just a beautiful little model, very nicely done by Mecanno.Terry This view shows the interior of the vehicle with the canvas top off .....notice the table in the center...probably for looking at maps, etc... Another picture, this one with different disc wheels........this may be an earlier or civilian version...notice the spare is on the side instead of the rear.

Thanks Terry, nice pictures of this car. Apparently the casting was too complicated already for completing this model with a set of head lights ! Regards, Jan

I always loved all the Morris Commercial models, this one included, as strange as it may seem 1940 - 50's MCC Army lorries were still being sold out of service when I was young in the early '70's,and lots of local traders / garages had them. Mostly the bonneted 50's lorry in 4x4 that no one made a model of, but also the 688 type cab too. I was offered one for

Three different versions of the 152b Reconnaissance Car : On the left is the extremely rare post-war version with smooth hubs and white tyres. In the middle is the common version with ridged hubs. On the right is also very rare version in the brown paint, which I believe was only ever used on export versions to the States. More about the rare versions later. Dave

The post-war version with smooth hubs. This is listed in Ramsey's as being available from 1947 to 1949. I have a UK Dinky Price List from 1946 listing the 151a, 151b, 152a, 152b, 153a and 161b Military Vehicles, it has the Meccano reference 16/546/30. This was at the time that the Meccano Magazine was promising that Dinky Toys would soon become available and items were very scarce in the shops. Of the post-war variations of the Reconnaissance Car this is the only version I have seen with the gloss green baseplate. Dave.

Very nice set of reco car, are there any other variations ? You do not mention the shape variation of the front of the base plate. Jacques.

Hi Dave, very nice examples you have! I happen to have a similar one (post-war green base) in the collection, which also has the white tyres, albeit treaded, except for one which is smooth! I bought it in the USA a decade ago, perhaps that's a special 'USA only' finish? The one on the left is from my pre-war Light Tank Set (with axle repair). Kind regards, Jan

This is a very rare variation or rather the original version of the reconnaissance car. I have not seen it listed anywhere and this is the only picture that I have ever seen. Has any one got one of these rarities ?

I have 5 Reconnaissance Cars and none of them have the odd baseplate shown above on the left. I do not know why it was made that way, it serves no useful purpose. Dave

Here is the brown reconnaissance car, this is also a very rare variation. According to Keith Harvie the brown military version were only sold in 1947. I have only seen two or three of these in almost 30 years of collecting. Here is the baseplate of the brown version Here are the green and brown cars side by side for a comparison of the colours. Dave

David, Your brown US reconaissance car is very nice. There may be a useful purpose for the early baseplate. There was probably nothing to stop the baseplate from going into the body and the axle maintain the baseplate. Once more, it would be interesting to have pictures of the inside of the bodies to confirm my theory. The early limber's baseplate was also attached in the same way. Jacques.

I'm sorry Jacques I don't understand what you are saying here, if what you say is true all the 152b baseplates would have to have been made this way. I cannot see it making sense or, as you say has something happened to the die to force this one-off change? Dave