24y and 540 Studebaker 'Commander' (1955-1960)

Here are pictures of the Champion and Commander. S is referred to as the Champion 6 hardtop. Commander has the V8 logo. To confound matters I would say the Buick has 1950 side trim as found on the Roadmaster Riviera hardtop and sedan, with the lights and grille of the 1951/52 model. Of course in the US for example a model year is released late in the year before, which is why JFK was transported in a 1964 Cadillac Hearse in November 1963.

Portholes on the Buick as 51/52 on, on the wing rather than the bonnet side.

Hi Terry Do you mean that because of this logo the Dinky is a Champion and not a Commander ?

It seems Champs and Commanders could be pillarless or pillared. Presumably you could also upspec your Champ with a V8 but whether you would want to have a 6 cylinder Commander who knows, but it seems that engine and spec options were always quite wide in the US provided you wanted 6 or 8 cylinders! When the 55 came in, two tone was introduced on the body, not just a contrasting roof, presumably why Dinky painted the flanks on the 24y/540 second Type. Its like Johnny Cashs Cadillac..........

Is it just the French Americans with these vagaries, or any other notable Dinkys? Ive always thought the 131 Cadillac Eldorado looked very long and thin (artistic licence maybe?) and the 132 Packard too low and wide.

Regarding your last remark I have dug up a photographic scale correction which I made a long time ago! Kind regards, Jan

The Packard at 1:48 is correct in the 122 short wheelbase. Width, track, ground clearance about right. But 4mm too short overall, and 4mm too low. The Caddy is right in length and wheelbase but 5mm too narrow (it was actually wider as you show than the Packard) and similarly 4mm too low (so the drivers lose theirs wigs!) The Packard looked low and sleek in drawings (like the side view of the Dinky model) but was rather stately and upright and a poor seller.