39a and 894 Tracteur Unic et semi-remorque porte-voitures Boilot [Unic Boilot Car Transporter] (1957-68)

Hi Gianni.Here under the informations I found in the Meccano Magazine n

A new photo, made of the French Unic-Boilot car transporter. Once more this image underlines the huge character of the blue striped Dinky Supertoys box (this box numbered 894 and without its number in oval on the top of the lid) and the remarkable scale difference of the tractor (1/55) and its semi-trailer (ca. 1/43). Kind regards, Jan

Jan---Very nice photo of this remarkable transporter. Of all the Dinky transporters, this remains my favorite, especially when trying to load a bunch of friendly Dinky automobiles. This is the only one will relatively open sides, where one can carefully guide in the cars, without risking them contacting the inside of the transporter. To me, the worst one is the later model transporter with trailer......the sides almost enclose the cars, making it a scary proposition to safely load it. Best regards, Terry

The tracteur Unic saharien is made of three sub assemblies made on different assembly lines : the truck, the roof rack and spare wheels and the trailer. This may be the reason why the tyres are different on each of this sub assemblies.

Jacques, I found it in my image files!

I thought it might be fun to post some of the original French Dinky catalog images of this model.It first appears in the 1957 catalog,
on the back page.As is true with most of the French catalogs,
the images are not photographs,
but colorized representations.In this first viewing,
the illustration is different
from
all of those following,
and not in the colors used on the model.As you can see,
it is a light blue overall,
with dark blue
or black front wings on the tractor unit.If you look closely,
many other details are not correct.....the side mounted fuel tank is plain,
there appears to be signal lamps on the front of the wings,
and the crank handle is on the left side.There is also minute differences in the side of the hood
or bonnet....the detail lines.It is likely that Meccano was rushing to get something in the catalog of this new,
and most impressive vehicle,
and did not have a real version to work with...possibly just initial renderings.I also show pages
from
succeeding catalogs showing the evolution of the images used.All in all,
a most interesting
and impressive model.It is quite large
and complicated
and one wonders if Meccano made much profit on these ! Terry [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / French Dinky catalog 1957 cover.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / French Dinky catalog 1957 Unic carrier.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / French Dinky Catalog 1958 Unic carrier.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / French Dinky Catalog 1960 Unic carrier.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / FrenchDinkycatalog1957cover.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / FrenchDinkycatalog1957Uniccarrier.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / FrenchDinkyCatalog1958Uniccarrier.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / forum - images / FrenchDinkyCatalog1960Uniccarrier.jpg [/img]

There is only one picture of the Boilot Petolat, the tractor is a Renault and the trailer il loaded with 5 Simca Arondes with the Eiffel tower in the background. It is not necessary to use powerfull tractor as the load carried in only about 6 tons. There is one variation were the early models used a rivet to attach the connecting spring. Later, the rivet was cast with the body. Boilot Petolat made many things mainly railway and tramcar material but I can not find any thing about the trailers. The tractor is a Lautaret ZU 101 (1956)

Jan, This is the only photo that I have found of this car transporter. The photo has been in the Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia since the begining 15 years ago.The picture has been taken after a Simca Aronde had driven for 100 000 km. without stoping and at the average speed of over 100 km/h. Refueling, change of driver etc. was done by mean of a U shaped trailer into which the record car could be driven.This is the meaning of the sign '100 000 100' on the car transporter.

Thank you, Jacques. By the way, re-reading in Redempt/Touillez, Utiitaires Dinky Toys & Dinky Supertoys, they appear to state that the tractor is a short chassis ZU 120 T Izoard of 1956. What's the difference? Kind regards, Jan

Hello Jan, The difference between what and what ?

Hello Jacques, I meant if there is a difference between Lautaret ZU 101 and ZU 120 T Izoard, which one then is the Dinky Unic tractor actually based on, which one is the correct prototype? Or are these differences of no importance to the looks of the Dinky tractor? Kind regards, Jan

Hi Jan, As stated in the January 1958 French Meccano Magazine (see below), the Dinky is based on the Lautaret.There were nine different names of mountain passes : Lautaret, Galibier, Izoar, Somport, Puymorens, Tourmalet, Bussang, Donon and Saverne. All have the same cab but different power. The highest the pass is the more power the truck has. Anyway all this is not important as for once Meccano has given us the answer. The Lautaret is the most powerfull.[img]/images/sites/default/files/u184/1958-1-page30.jpg[/img[img]/images/sites/default/files/u184/1958-1-4deCouverture.jpg[/img