Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week from tomorrow Monday FEBRUARY 24, 2025 until Thursday FEBRUARY 27 on our site AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: Mebetoys – Maserati Mistral 3,5 Frua A10 – Mebetoys – Lancia Fulvia Coupé A11- Spot On – Austin A60 Cambridge 184- Spot On – Land Rover 109L vitré 161
I remember...
…how the acquisition of the series of six Guy van advertising trucks from Dinky Toys was a turning point in our collection. It was in 1979 and it was later that I understood it. Our collection began in 1975 with the shooting star from C-I-J. Racing and record cars were our first theme, because of our interest in motorsport at the time. Solido, Crescent toys and Dinky Toys made up the majority of our purchases. Then there was a first extension with the acquisition of miniatures related to the world of automobiles: tanker trucks, tow trucks, car transporters, including the Commer truck from Ecurie Ecosse.
This is how we discovered trucks from Tekno and Dinky Toys Great Britain mainly. In these ranges, there were many models bearing oil company advertisements.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Leyland Octopus camion citerne Shell BP 944
The Leyland Octopus Shell BP tanker from Dinky Toys and the Saviem SM 300 Esso from Solido, offered this week, are good examples of the models that we had started to acquire in addition to racing cars.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Saviem SM300 citerne Esso 319
The world of advertising vans was not so far away, and we started with those carrying an advertisement related to these same oil companies. Through training, we quickly tried to put together a series… And when my father saw one Sunday afternoon the complete series of six Guy trucks in the window of Mr. Reboul, an antique dealer at the Biron flea market in Saint-Ouen, he fell under its spell. However, we were unable to put a value on these objects, even though the asking price was substantial. We continued our apprenticeship. Charles Prieur, whom we met every Sunday at Daniel Tufféry’s, was secretive by nature and he only revealed part of the information we were expecting. We talked about it again much later, when we became friends.
However, my father found enough information to make his decision. He always had a voluntary approach and the idea of having the six models at once seemed like a real plus to him. We paid a high price for them. Mr. Reboul had bought them some time before from Gilles Scherpereel, with whom he had built up a collection dedicated to advertising models.
The quality was there, they were new in box, a decisive criterion for my father.
We had set off on an extraordinary adventure. In 2025, I still have these six trucks. I was even lucky enough to recover a prototype that had belonged to Jean-Michel Roulet, the “Lotus delta shoes”.
Dinky Toys Guy Otter fourgon Lotus Delta shoes (prototype) Collection personelle AutoJaune
This week we have the “Golden Shred” which is one of the prettiest ads in the series. It is not the easiest to find, far from it. The model is rather at the end of production. In the window, this truck attracts attention because of its harmony of colors, red and its golden yellow rims. The advert takes us back to the world of childhood with the “Golly” effigy of the Robertson brand, manufacturer of this very popular orange marmalade across the Channel.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Guy Otter fourgonGolden Shred 919
Renault's beginnings in motorsport
In the mid-seventies, motorsport is. After an exciting decade, the first oil crisis of 1973 has repercussions on this activity.
In 1977, the entry into the Formula 1 world championship of a generalist automobile manufacturer, Renault, will shake things up. The development of the turbo engine requires technical and financial resources that only a major manufacturer could have. The fragile balance that allowed the large and small Formula 1 teams to coexist is broken forever.
The best teams will be approached by generalist manufacturers who will provide them with turbo engines and assistance. Until then, the use by a large majority of Formula 1 teams of the same engine, the Ford Cosworth, allowed teams with limited resources to keep in the running, without them being ridiculous in terms of performance.
We will see the same phenomenon in endurance racing, also the appearance of the turbo engine and increasingly substantial budgets to compete. Amateurs or semi-amateurs will gradually be excluded from the party.
At Le Mans, in 1978, I witnessed the coronation of the Renault Alpine A442B (be careful to place the name Alpine in the background, Renault being now at the helm).
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Alpine Renault A442 Le Mans 1978 87
This was the third attempt at the V6 turbo. Solido had to reproduce the car. It will be a great success. We have it on the program this week, as well as the private Porsche 934 VSD that will compete in the 24 hours that same year, a perfect illustration of the previous comments.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Porsche 934 VSD Le Mans 1978 68
A team of amateurs could still participate in the event. I think it was Alain Wibratte who made the Renault model as a freelancer. This talented model maker became known to the general public thanks to Jean-Marc Teissedre’s articles in the magazine Auto Hebdo.
In 1978-1979, when these miniatures were released, Solido was coming out of a difficult period. There was some uncertainty after the departure of the De Vazeilles family. Industrial miniature manufacturers were looking for their way. Dinky Toys was no longer there. Solido refocused for a while on passenger cars, successfully creating three distinct ranges, with different levels of finish.
This week we have a BMW 2002 turbo which is a great success and a good choice.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – BMW 2002 turbo 28
The Citroën GS, also in the program, still belongs to the 100 series. It is a true masterpiece: treatment of the grille, doors with their pillars, rear lights, general line. But the field of competition cars, which nevertheless made the heyday of the brand, is affected: the 1977 catalog includes models with a botched design.
On existing bases, Solido is content to decline variants. The many errors made on these models are unacceptable.
We wonder about the approach of reproducing the only Ferrari Daytona, which has a very particular front spoiler, without realizing it, when it would have been possible to choose other versions corresponding to the mold. (Read the Mission accomplished blog HERE)
Same remarks for the Ford Escort rally Gr.2, the Ferrari 512M Piper, the Alpine Renault A442 of 1975 of this catalog. Fortunately, the new management read the harsh criticisms of the specialist press and listened to the wise advice of the people at BAM (Boutique Auto Moto).
They directed Solido towards the model maker Alain Wibratte who, occasionally, would help with the production of prototypes, as for this Renault A442B. The BAM team would put Solido in touch with the Italian company Cartograph, considered at the time as “the leader” in the production of decoration boards. Until then, Cartograph had mainly worked for artisans in the world of “high-end” kits.
I remember the surprise I had when I saw this name on the decoration boards of the new Solido racing cars. We are at the beginning of an upheaval in the world of racing car collecting. Until now, enthusiasts were most often satisfied with one variant of each model. It was the manufacturer Champion who was the first to think of declining its models in six decorations, all existing (Lola T70, Porsche 917K, Ferrari 512) in order to amortize the tooling by multiplying the versions at low cost.
This idea will be taken up a few years later by BAM, which will use the Solido bases as a support for its variations. It is understandable that the managers of the Parisian boutique wanted to base themselves on quality reproductions.
The Alpine A442B will be entitled to its decal sheet ordered from Cartograph and sold by BAM, so that the enthusiast can decline the four models at the start of the 1978 edition, including the one in Calberson colors. This very active shop will repeat the operation many times (Fiat 131, Porsche 934, Porsche 935, BMW M1, Ferrari 365GTB4 Daytona) not hesitating to order limited series from Solido, painted in the specific colors of the chosen versions.
Jean-Marc Teissedre’s avowed goal was to democratize car modeling. He knew well that assembling kits is not within everyone’s reach, financially and technically. This is the beginning of a new type of collection: people start to multiply the different decorations on the same model: the Lancia Stratos or the Fiat 131 for some, the BMW M1 or the Porsche 934 for others.
These models are easy to assemble and the decals are of very good quality. These creations are within everyone’s reach. I remember that at the beginning, fans of racing car variations were considered originals by the “oldies” who did not understand the point of having 20 Lancia Stratos. Today, the practice is common, just look at a manufacturer like Spark, which offers several dozen versions of a successful model (Porsche 935, 956, …). The Solido on sale this week are there to remind me of this very rich period.
modèle en vente cette semaine :Solido – Citroën GS berline 193
immediate affinities
Looking through the photos of the programmed models, I notice that some attract me more than others. I had an immediate affinity with certain models, right from the beginning of my collection. I can mention the Solido convertible series. It must be admitted that it leaves few people indifferent, especially the Peugeot 403 convertible.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Peugeot 403 cabriolet 108
This week the one dressed in gray is sumptuous. Is it the most successful color of the series? Surely. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta also has its charm and Solido has treated it perfectly. The general line is exactly rendered. I appreciate the treatment of the grille. The nuance of the proposed model is very interesting.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Alfa Romeo Giulietta cabriolet 109
Sometimes it’s a simple detail that catches the collector’s eye. Take the case of the Peugeot 404 commercial station wagon from Dinky Toys with its white tires. Apart from the rarity of the model thus adorned, I find the whole harmonious.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys France – Peugeot 404 commerciale 525
The same observation applies to the Ami 6 saloon, also from Dinky Toys. It is its shade, much less frequent, a deep blue that attracts me. This shade gives the model presence.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys France – Citroën Ami 6 557
Let’s stay in Bobigny and at Citroën with the 2CV Azam. I appreciate the subtle detail of the rims highlighted in gray. It’s a detail, but it dresses up the miniature.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Auto coupé 22B
If we must talk about affinity, I did not have one immediately with the Politoys plastic series. But time has done its job. Other elements of appreciation have appeared. As a professional, I realized that these miniatures rarely come back on the market. Few people considered them when they came out and they are rarely present in vintage collections. So I decided to keep them and collect them because of this rarity. It is certainly not their value that convinced me, because 40 years ago they did not have any. And here is precisely the other element that motivated me: collecting models that do not interest others allows you to get them cheaper! This week, this Alfa Romeo dauphine with its box is waiting for you. On this model, I even decided to decline the colors. Gray is not common.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Politoys – Alfa Romeo Dauphine 30
My favorite is the three SRs (Simon Rivollet).
My favorite is the three SR (Simon Rivollet). With these models you enter the history of miniatures made in France. I had selected as my first choice for my imaginary museum the taxi that is on sale this evening.
en vente cette semaine: SR – Unic taxi Yellow Cab
I invite you to reread this series of blogs. I had listed the 10 most significant French-made models in history. Those that would serve to explain to the general public the evolution of miniature cars over nearly a century. The SRs are sold at low prices. This is one more reason to appreciate these models that take us into the little history of miniature cars.
modèle en vente cette semaine : SR – L.G.O.C Type B bus deux étages General
modèle en vente cette semaine : SR – De Dion bus à plate forme Compagnie Generale des Omnibus
Vincent Espinasse
also on sale this week
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