Off-road vehicles - Univers Autojaune

Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week from tomorrow Monday November 25, 2024 until Thursday November 28 on our site

AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION

Mebetoys - Fiat 1500 urbani civetta A15- Mebetoys - Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Carabinieri A8 - Spot On - Austin Prime mover 106A:1 - Dinky Toys France - Berliet Gak brasseur kronenbourg 588K

model on sale this week: Mebetoys – Fiat 1500 urbani civetta A15- Mebetoys – Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Carabinieri A8 – Spot On – Austin Prime mover 106A:1 – Dinky Toys France – Berliet Gak brasseur kronenbourg 588K

i remember...

I remember… a period when I only had eyes for Solido military vehicles. Without any logic, this period preceded the one where I only looked at racing cars and trucks. I did not organize battlefields, my intentions were rather pacifist. I lined up the models, I paraded them, without worrying about their nationality, and without any chronological rigor. I had only a very vague knowledge of the history of these armored vehicles. By analyzing my memories, I note that Solido was once again a pioneer by daring to reproduce German and Russian tanks from the Second World War. It was the first to break the taboo.

However, the Oulins firm did not exploit this historical vein in the catalogs, as it did with its Golden Age series dedicated to models representative of the history of the automobile. The memory of the war was still present. The wounds were only just beginning to heal. The German tanks Tiger and Jagpanther were my favorites. I was seduced by their sand color, their camouflage and their appearance. I also found the red star applied to the BTR40 very elegant and aesthetic. My childhood innocence allowed me to see these objects only as toys. Later I learned all the symbolism of these objects and I looked at them differently.

My favorite truck was the Renault 4×4 tarpaulin torpedo that I did not hesitate to place in my parade among my favorite tanks.

Solido - Renault 4x4 torpédo bâché civile 203

model on sale this week: Solido – Renault 4×4 torpédo bâché civile 203

One of Solido’s masterpieces. It is the efficiency of the treatment of the suspensions that first catches the eye. The finely engraved and articulated windshield, the two tarpaulins, and the small fire extinguisher are details that you have to know how to stop. At the time, I was not aware of the civilian versions. It must be said that Solido very quickly withdrew them from circulation, because the toy was so successful in the military version that the civilian versions did not make sense. Solido had to inject gray tarpaulins for these versions. For the sake of rationality, Solido gave up manufacturing several colors of tarpaulin to keep only the military version.

Note that the last versions painted gray will be equipped with khaki tarpaulin, because Solido had exhausted its stock of gray tarpaulins.

This week we have this rare version finished in light gray and equipped with gray tarpaulins. This is one of the most beautiful off-road models ever produced in miniature. This theme will be the common thread of the week.

english LAND ROVER

Toy manufacturers quickly understood the interest of young customers for all-terrain models. The stories and comics published in the children’s press magnified the spirit of adventure associated with this type of vehicle. From the Arctic Circle to equatorial Africa, from the desert to tropical forests, one vehicle is forever associated with these extreme landscapes: the Land Rover.

A diverted vocation because, as its name indicates, “land”, it was designed for agricultural use.

The English Ministry of Agriculture had also asked Dinky Toys to provide it with a series made in a particular shade, khaki.

Collection Personnelle AutoJaune Land Rover Dinky Toys GB série spéciale pour l’état Britanique – extrait du blog AUTOJAUNE ( A LIRE ICI)

This miniature was distributed at regional fairs to promote the vehicle. (See the Land Rover promotional blog). It belongs to the “27” series from Dinky Toys dedicated to the agricultural world. The presence at the right rear corner of a power take-off used to drive a belt connected to a thresher confirms its vocation. Its primary use was diverted and, quickly, it was the “all-terrain machine” side that prevailed among users.

Collection personnelle : Collection personnelle AutoJaune – extrait AutoJaune Blog – Variantes de de Land Rover tardives (LIRE ICI LE BLOG)

Arriving in 1956 on the toy market, Corgi Toys quickly understood the interest of having such a model in its catalog. In 1957, a superb Land Rover appeared there. More than ten million copies will be produced and declined from this pick-up version. This week we have two models located at the end of the production line, equipped with Whizzwheels wheels. The first still has the beautiful illustrated display box. The expressive design places the car in the Sahara near an oil well: enough to awaken the imagination of the young owner. It stands out with its orange tarpaulin and not khaki. This accessory of this color had been created to dress the Land Rover which tows a flat trailer on which rests a small plane. We can imagine that the surplus was positioned on this ephemeral and rare version which deserves your attention.

model on sale this week: Corgi Toys – Land Rover 109 pick up 438

The second is the final variation before the change of scale operated by Corgi Toys. In addition to its certain rarity (who thought of acquiring this type of model at the time?) its interest is historical. The original color, never seen before, and its final box are elements to take into consideration. It closes the history of the Corgi Toys Land Rover at 1/43.

model on sale this week: Corgi Toys – Land Rover 109 Pick up Bâché 438

In the mid-seventies, Corgi Toys reoriented its range and chose to change the reproduction scale. It opted for 1/36. This can be seen as a desire to stand out from the competition by offering a quality range (we appreciate the treatment of the wheels) dedicated to a younger clientele. Corgi Toys had indeed analyzed that the average age of its buyers was increasing. We have already mentioned this phenomenon in these lines. In this new range, the timeless Land Rover of course had its place. It is a 109 long glass chassis that is chosen. This week, we have the “Game Park” version that inaugurates the series. I appreciate the wink of the Swansea firm to its past. It was the “lions of Longleat” box set made in 1968 that inspired the decision-makers in 1976 to create this “Game Park” version. The camouflage finish, with its zebras made with a stencil, is very successful. It contributed to the success of the model. It was Solido who was the first to use this type of finish on its sand-coloured DKW Auto Union in 1966, before applying it to its Tiger and then Jagpanther tank. Corgi Toys took inspiration from it for its Land Rover Daktari and then Lions of Longleat.

model on sale this week: Corgi Toys – Land Rover 109LWB tôlé Game Park Safari GS31

french land rover

It is known that toy manufacturers spied on each other and analyzed the production of their competitors. Mr. Badaroux, from the Dinky Toys design office, praised the Solido models and their design to me more than once. The many variations made in Swansea on the Land Rovers and their commercial success finally convinced the management of Norev to produce a Land Rover. It was already 1968 when the first Norev Land Rover (the pick-up version) appeared. This is a constant at Norev. The management often took a long time to finalize a project. This can be seen in professional documents. The same is true for certain racing cars that were, or were not, produced, the management having taken too much time to decide. The Land Rover can be placed in this category. Fortunately, it was a success, as is often the case with Norev. The miniature is far superior to the Corgi Toys. The winch located in front of the front grille and the logo on the right rear corner of the body are small details that place it in the pantheon of Land Rover reproductions. Norev will go much further than Corgi Toys, and will offer several bodies (pick up, glass) and even two chassis wheelbases (short and long).

This week we have the one that inaugurated the series, the pick-up version. The contrasting colored bench seats are a plus. The short chassis gives this version a certain elegance.

model on sale this week: Norev – Land Rover 109 pick safari 153

The second one is a clever variation of this pick-up, in a tow truck version.

model on sale this week: Norev – Land Rover 109 dépanneuse 154

The light blue color is an asset. Norev will then offer it in a box called “blue zone”. It then tows a trailer with a car (several possibilities Simca 1000 Bertone, Citroën 2cv). The title of the box is clear. The tow truck takes the badly parked car to the pound. French toy manufacturers were not lacking in imagination. We think of the model proposed by C-I-J, (Renault prairie zone bleue) of earlier manufacture which must have inspired Norev. We wonder if toy manufacturers had a moralizing objective in designing these boxes which show the child the unfortunate consequences resulting from non-compliance with the rules of parking and therefore of life in society. Would a manufacturer of miniatures dare in 2024 to offer a flatbed truck from the police headquarters or a car equipped with a mobile radar?

Collection personnelle AutoJaune ; Norev coffret Zone bleu Collection personnelle AUTOJAUNE

my favorite of the week is the Mercedes Unimog from Corgi Toys

My favorite is this Mercedes Unimog from Corgi Toys. For people of my generation, “off-road vehicle” rhymes with Land Rover but also with Mercedes Unimog. This off-road truck was designed for professional use. It refers to steep paths, places that are difficult to access. It was used in large numbers by foresters, firefighters, the military, teams responsible for maintaining electrical networks… Corgi Toys has delivered a superb reproduction.

model on sale this week: Corgi Toys – Mercedes Unimog benne 409

As proof, Mercedes will distribute copies of this reproduction in its dealerships in a special box (see photo). The Stuttgart firm had previously called on Cursor to provide it with a reproduction of the first version of the Unimog. (See photo). These orders demonstrate Mercedes’ concern to promote this extraordinary model. The suspensions and oversized tires with their large studs are extras that make the Corgi Toys an extraordinary toy.

Corgi Toys Mercedes Unimog en boite promotionnel Collection personelle AUTOJAUNE

collection personnelle : Corgi Toys Mercedes Unimog en boite promotionnel Collection AUTOJAUNE

Dinky Toys Mercedes Unimog prototype bois Collection personnelle AUTOJAUNE

collection personnelle : Dinky Toys Mercedes Unimog prototype bois Collection AUTOJAUNE

Cursor Mercedes Unimog promotionnel Collection personnelle AUTOJAUNE

collection personnelle : Cursor Mercedes Unimog promotionnel Collection AUTOJAUNE

The child imagines that with such a machine he will be able to overcome all the difficulties of the terrain. The version proposed this week is rare. It is the very first. In the desire to reduce the cost of production, Corgi Toys will quickly remove the suspension, the added rubber tires and the added mirrors… this first type dump version is therefore difficult to obtain. We can also appreciate the beautiful illustrated box and the color combination of the model which will be different in the second version.

Vincent Espinasse

also coming this week

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