24q Ford Vedette 49 (1950-1954)

My new ford vedette has the base plate with small lettering and without inverted commas. I did not have this type yet. The tool was 'tired' because some letters are almost invisible ! Richard

A beauty in the nicest colour.

I just recently received a new Ford Vedette for my collection, and it was in light metallic blue shade. This shade of metallic blue seems somewhat lighter than the darker version, and also appears to have a more pronounced 'metallic flake' in the paint. Not sure if this is a correct observation, but I seem to see more of the darker metallic blue. In any event, I now need to find a very nice dark metallic blue version, along with the light tan. For a very early 1950's model, I find this a very well done and executed model, along with its contemporaries...the Citroen 11BL and the Peugeot 203. Best regards, Terry

Richard-- That early Ford Vedette was always a favorite of mine, and when I was about 13, a good friend and fellow collector, who had just moved from Illinois to California, had the Vedette is that same, lighter shade of metallic blue with the red hubs. I always thought it was striking looking and wondered why they did not make more models using that color. They are fairly rare, but the French factory made several other models with that metallic blue, including the Chrysler New Yorker convertible. I only have one 24Q Vedette and it is one that I bought through the U.S. distributor, H.Hudson Dobson, around 1959. It appears to be a later model as it has the larger lettering on the base. I think it is also interesting to note that this model did not feature some of the fine detail painting that later French models enjoyed, such as having the taillights painted, and the rear license area. An unusual feature of this model was the rear axle clip.......shared only with the English made fiirst version of the Standard Vanguard and the French Autocar Isobloc bus. Regards, Terry

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Hi Terry. I forgot that I already opened a Ford topic in 2012. So, to complete it, and as my collection of this Ford has increased since that date, I post some new photos. 1) the complete team with the variations in light blue and sand colours. 2) the hard to find dark blue Kind regards Richard

Richard Thanks for showing all of yours together and also your prized dark blue version.....those are not common at all. I have always really liked this early 24Q Ford Vedette, and the French factory did a remarkable job with the diecasting of it....a superb model! Best regards, Terry

Here are my 3 Ford Vedettes 1949. The dark blue one has white tyres and the large lettering matte base plate. The light blue one has the small lettering shiny base plate and the green one has the large lettering shiny base plate. 3x Dinky Toys 24Q Ford Vedette 1949 3x Ford Vedette 1949. Top light blue - middle dark blue - under green I added a photo of a Ford Vedette 1949 with Dutch license plate. He was in maintenance with my older brother who worked in the garage of my father. On the right is a Ford Fordor USA 1947 of my father with a Dutch provincial license plate. The letter A was for the province of Groningen, where I come from. It was around 1951 when the provincial license plates were replaced by national number plates. During the changeover there were 2 types of license plates. Left Ford Vedette 1949 - right USA Ford Forder 1947 Ford Vedette Mk 1 Autosalon 1949 Ford Vedette autosalon. In Amsterdam was a Ford Factory were round 1949 3000 Ford Vedettes were assembled. Good for employment in Amsterdam. Ford factory Amsterdam 1949. 3rd left Ford Vedette 1949. Pillar Ford Amsterdam 1949 with 2 Ford Vedettes 1949. Dutch Advertisement Ford Vedette 1949 assembled in Amsterdam. Dutch advertisement Ford Vedette 1949. Jan Oldenhuis, 16-1-2018.

Very complete documents Jan and very nice photos of this superb Ford. Unfortunately, your dark blue model is a repainted item. The dark blue Ford had always a small lettering baseplate and the tyres were always black, stamped 'M' Anyway, it seems that the colour is very closed of the original and it's nice to have the three variations. Kind regards Richard

Oops, I did not expect that, but Richard, thank you for your clarification. Let that be clear. This kind of information must simply be able to said. So I have bad luck with 2 purchases. This is the second model within a week, of which I have learned that they are not original. I could have known it of the Rover 75 with its strange rivets. That is my own stupid fault, but I did not expect this of the blue Ford Vedette. I have 2 books from JM Roulet, a Dutch and a French one, but I did not read this well. Both purchases are unfortunately too long ago to be able to complain via Paypal so I have to accept this. I hope on better purchases. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis, 16-1-2018

Jan- As always, thanks for all the great photos and information on this early Vedette. I first saw the Dinky model around 1958, when a good friend and young collector had a metallic blue one, and I instantly developed a liking for it. For the early 1950s era, the French factory did a great job with that casting....very accurate and very nice lines and features. Best regards, Terry

JanWell said! Unfortunately, buying Dinky Toys via the internet means you cannot personally hold or inspect the model, so one has to rely on the photos and the reputation of the seller....which isnt always well known. For me, I really want several, very good closeup photos, in good light. And I tend to focus on 2 main issues, that really standout as far as re-finishing: (1). The rivets, to be sure they have not been replaced, and (2). The silver detailing....to me, this is a dead giveaway and pretty easy to spot. Almost all of the factory silver was applied via spraying and using a mask. Thus, no brushstrokes and a very even and smooth application. Plus, the silver paint that Meccano used was not super bright.....most of the silver paint I see today is more chrome like.....too bright to be authentic. Coverage of the silver is also an issue. Many times, restorers overpaint the bumper areas, applying paint to areas Dinky did not. And of course, look carefully at super detailing.....door handles, etc., that have been painted. We all have to be very careful and diligent! Best regards, Terry

Jan, incidents like this happen to everyone. I believe (hope?) my collection is now 100% free of such unvoluntary fakes. It is not always deliberately done by the seller and beware of 'too good to be true' models, especially in relation to the price asked or bid. It is not easy to get rid of mistakes like this. I sold all unwanted, accidental repaints/restorations in the course of the years. But if you bought such an item too expensive, you will have to accept the financial loss when selling it - telling the new buyer honestly that the model is not (fully) authentic. Kind regards, Jan