584 Berliet GAK camion baché [Berliet GAK Covered Lorry] (1961-1965)

This morning my postwoman brought me this one : I already had one but without box and cover. We call that : to increase the collection Friendly yours. Richard

That looks really nice Richard, well done Dave

That is a real nice acquisition Richard. I got mine exactly 50 years ago next month(!). I remember to have been disappointed a little bit, because the colour was quite different from the colour advertised in the catalogue etc. (like on the box). Apparently Atlas felt that a lot of boys must have been disappointed then and produced the 'right' colour. Still, I cannot persuade myself to buy the Atlas ... My box is the illustrated one. I presume that - like the early French military vehicles - the non-illustrated box, yours, is the first one. Kind regards, Jan

Jan I think the reason for the red cab-chassis is to make the model 'stand out' as the yellow cab-chassis colour would have blended with the yellow box. Just a thought, although had the selected colour yellow been used, the printer could have set the picture on a partial 'cloud' background. On some English Dinky Toys/Supertoys, Meccano did state that 'The model inside this box may be finished in colours that differ from the illustration'. It is a pity that Meccano France did not do likewise thus saving you and all those other little fellows heaps of disappointment! Kind regards Bruce

dinkycollect wrote: 'Jan I think the reason for the red cab-chassis is to make the model 'stand out' as the yellow cab-chassis colour would have blended with the yellow box. Just a thought, although had the selected colour yellow been used, the printer could have set the picture on a partial 'cloud' background. On some English Dinky Toys/Supertoys, Meccano did state that 'The model inside this box may be finished in colours that differ from the illustration'. It is a pity that Meccano France did not do likewise thus saving you and all those other little fellows heaps of disappointment! Kind regards Bruce' Thought I would re-post my post to show it came from moi!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Jan, This is the very bad model of the red GAK made by Atlas.

The suspension principle, used for the Berliet GAK commercials, explained in Actualits Meccano of July 1961.

This type of suspension has been deleted very soon because it did not meet the safety standards for toys. The springs could be removed easily and swallowed.The Plateau brasseur which has been issued a bit later never had the suspension. The design of the GAK breakdown truck did not allow for this type of suspension.