885 Saviem porte fer [Saviem pipe transporter (with metal stanchions)] (1966-71)

My first post since joining last year and I am enjoying the club very much. Perhaps this is something other members on here have seen but I haven't. I acquired this 885 Saviem pipe truck about 12 years ago and never really noticed until a few years ago that the stanchions are metal, not plastic. Every example I have seen on Vectis, QDT, eBay, JK Models and Live Auctioneers have the plastic stanchions. At first I thought they might have been reproductions, but these are not the cottage industry, very fragile, low pressure white metal castings. They are high pressure, very strong parts--most likely made of steel. I can pick up this heavy model with my fingertips by just one of the stanchions. They are fitted at the base, just as the plastic versions are by being spread apart to mount them.I am thinking maybe the first runs of this model featured the metal stanchions, but due to the unsafe, unforgiving points and sharp features they were deleted? Cost must have come into play as well. The metal stanchions are on the 885 on the right and plastic version is on the left. Any comments would be most welcome about its origins.

Hello, This model with plastic stanchions is new to me and I can not find a description which states either plastic or metal stanchions. I will launch an investigation on this variation and will let you know the results later. This could be September or before. In the meantime, could you please post a large photo of all the underside and of the front ? This could help.

Thank you Jacques. Here is a underside and front picture.

Mark, I am afraid that I have no explanation for this one.There is a possibility that the production was launched with metal stanchions and when the first models were assembled it was found too difficult to fit these stanchions and that plastic ones were made. So, only a handfull of models with metal stancions have been assembled. Yours could be one of these very rare early models but this is only a theory and there is no evidence to prove it.Note that it is not possible to insert any tool to crimp the three sets of rear stanchions, these would have had to be forced in.Jacques

Thank you Jacques for your input, I have the same thoughts and opnion as well. I would go so far as to say its definitley a factory piece. Perhaps a good subject for a small future article in the Journal.