824 Berliet 6x6 Gazelle GBC8 KT (1963-70)

This Gazelle DTF 824 is, in my opinion, a beautiful french Dinky. As I noticed the casting allowed for free up-and-down moving of the axles, I wanted to give this nice 'all-terrain' truck a more realistic function. I succeded at the rear to slip some springs under a plastic leaf and a spring at the front. Unfotrtunately I had to cut the front plate to do do it. But the result is perfect and gave long hours of wonderful play...

Was the Citroen milk truck 586 the only Dinky lorry with springs? Working springs on terrain vehicles would have been wonderful!

No, there is also the Berliet GAK series, which show the following, at least the ones I have... : - 584 GAK ( 'canvas' cover) : springs all around. - 585 GAK (Tipper ) : springs all around. - 588 GAK ( Beverages delivery ): No springs, but provision for them in chassis, although insufficient clearance on axles bearings for any meaningful suspension effect.. - 577 GAK (Cattle transport) : No springs, but provision for them in chassis, although insufficient clearance on axles bearings for any meaningful suspension effect. - 589 GAK ( Recovery ) : no springs, chassis from 434 DTGB Bedford.

This seems like an experiment on those trucks, something Dinky did not consider worthwhile on other heavy vehicles.

Looks to me more due to economic considerations, although, sometimes, good ideas are dropped for unknown obscure reasons....

Economics, what else? So do we collect the outcome of many bad or mediocre ideas or the coincidence of good choices?

Th suspension on the Citron Milk truck and the Berliet GAK was a good idea but it has been droped soon. I think that the reason for deleting the suspension was not economic but because of the toys safety standard. The spring could be removed easily and were considered as small parts that could be swallowed. Only the early issued GAK covered wagon and tipper had springs, the later ones did not.

Thanks for the insight.