The Conservative Ford D800 - Univers Autojaune

Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week from tomorrow Monday, April 28, 2025 until Thursday, May 1 on our website AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION

Norev - Saviem S5C citerne transport de lait - Mebetoys - Fiat 124 A16 - Mebetoys - Alfa Romeo 2600 A4 Norev Mercedes LP2223 Ridelles

en vente cette semaine: Norev – Saviem S5C citerne transport de lait – Mebetoys – Fiat 124 A16 – Mebetoys – Alfa Romeo 2600 A4 Norev Mercedes LP2223 Ridelles

I remember...

…that the two Ford D800s from Dinky Toys, offered for sale this week, had been on display at the toy store on Rue de la Corne de Cerf in Compiègne, a stone’s throw from my parents’ shoe store.

I can still see them among the other cars from Bobigny and Liverpool, but also the Norevs… I liked the modern aesthetic of this cab.

But at the time, in the late sixties, the garish metallic colors had put a damper on my buying habits. I had no affinity for these shades; I found them in poor taste.

I appreciated miniatures that had a connection to the real world. I think I could say that I simply had a “conservative” view of miniatures.

Image d’archive – Dinky Toys Liverpool – Ford D800

Like many collectors of my generation, I was unsettled by the arrival of “fast wheels,” fanciful colors, and what I would dare call extravagant versions from Matchbox and Corgi Toys (I’m thinking, for example, of dragsters).

As a child, I felt a kind of decadence. It would take me time to analyze, understand, and appreciate these miniatures. These products are representative of the post-1968 era.

Certain design offices of miniature manufacturers had decided to break the codes that had been in place for decades, which consisted of offering high-quality “beautiful toys” that pleased both the givers—the parents—and the children.

From now on, the children would have their say. Simplified miniatures equipped with fast wheels became the norm. A frantic race ensued between design offices to come up with the most extravagant miniature. Matchbox, in Europe, was the first to offer this type of product, closely followed by Corgi Toys. The latter two were themselves inspired by the American company Mattel with its Hot Wheels.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Ford D800 balayeuse 451

The two Ford trucks on the menu this week—the sweeper, available in metallic orange and beetle green, and the snowplow, in metallic dark blue, yellow, and orange—are representative of this period.

We can see that the later color variations were much more conservative. Had Liverpool gone too far? One can imagine that this series of Ford utility vehicles, the D800 and the Transit, didn’t find their audience in these metallic colors.

Let’s not forget that the very high prices of the time aimed them at a rather conservative segment of buyers, not really ready to acquire this type of product. The Matchox customer base was much broader. It’s safe to say that Liverpool made a marketing mistake. Who would have wanted to buy a Ford Transit or a Range Rover fire engine finished in metallic red? Time has taken its course, and I found myself listing variants of these Ford D800s and Ford Transits in my collection. Now it is the collector’s eye that dominates and with history, these models have taken on all their flavor.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Ford D800 camion chasse neige 439

The colors of the Ford D800 reproduced by Tekno at the same time suited me better. However, I preferred the treatment of the cabin of Dinky Toys which had synthesized the lines so well. We have two versions from the Danish firm for sale, including a long chassis equipped with drop sides.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford D800 ridelles 915

Throughout its history, Tekno has remained true to its guiding principle: offering quality toys with a maximum number of features. The D800 Tekno comes with a tilting cab equipped with opening glass doors and steering. The truck is fully disassembled.

At the time, the selling price was reflecting this. The end of the adventure was near for the Danish company.

This model will reappear at the Dutch buyer’s in sober, almost sad colors.

I appreciate the bright color harmony of the proposed red, yellow, and green model. The second version of the Ford D800 on the program epitomizes the history of the Danish company and its loyalty to the two major local breweries, Carlsberg and Tuborg.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford D800 brasseur Tuborgs 918

These two breweries mark the Tekno production, as evidenced by the models scheduled this week. First up is a Dodge, dating back to the beginning of Tekno’s history.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Dodge brasseur Tuborg 736

Let’s go back to the dawn of the 1950s and dare to compare it with the Dinky Toys 25 trucks, which we also have for sale. The Dodge is reproduced at a much larger scale, close to 1:45.

The 25 is superb, but it seems a little puny for a utility vehicle, especially next to the cars. The multi-part design (chassis, cab, bed, and grille) allowed the Danish manufacturer to dare to offer a variety of colors.

Tekno took the luxury of reproduction to the point of creating symbolic ornamentation specific to each of the two fleets.

For Carlsberg, a crown, and for Tuborg, a two-tone white and red canopy positioned on the roof. This tradition dates back to the company’s founding in 1875. It first appeared on horse-drawn carriages. I remember that during the summer in Copenhagen, I came across a horse-drawn carriage decorated like this several times on the streets, which delighted tourists.

Tekno, with its same perfectionist approach, even went so far as to create red sheet metal racks for the Tuborg brewery, and green ones for Carlsberg.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Camion type 3 ridelles bâché 25B

modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Camion type 3 maraicher 25F

Let’s jump forward. In the early sixties, Tekno used the cab and chassis of its superb Mercedes LP311 truck and created a van body from scratch with roller shutters. It also included the canopy over the roof. Always true to its guiding principles, when its Ford D800 was released, it found in this truck a superb platform for a stunningly effective brewing platform version. The canopy is, of course, present. It’s the system of nesting pallets on which the racks are attached that is astonishing. Tekno had created a Hyster forklift that could be adapted for children to use in loading operations. Everything is very refined and authentic. As a side note, at the same time, in 1970, the Carlsberg brewery bought Tuborg. A few years later, Tekno’s Dutch buyer released a Carlsberg version of its brewing platform!

modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Mercedes LP311 fourgon Tuborgs 913

We also have a sumptuous Scania tractor-trailer from the Netherlands in Lommerts livery. What a beautiful color combination. Tekno Denmark didn’t have time to offer this version. The Dutch did it brilliantly.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 76 porteur ridelles bâché Lommerts

solido at the top?

During these years of great upheaval, Solido, imperturbable, would be the guardian of traditions. The benchmark. The company would even continue to progress by adapting to demand. The Lamboghini Miura, like the one offered this week, was released in 1968. It seems to mark a peak. It is by far the most beautiful miniature reproduction of this Bertone body. It has everything.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Lamborghini Miura 161

Yet, when I look at the two splendid Citroën GS and the Citroën SM on offer this week, it seems to me that Solido has gone even further.

The company has adapted to the market by offering high-quality miniatures at competitive prices. The design office juggled within a budget allocated for each model. Solido thus limited the opening parts but retained the scale model feel. I think it was the right choice.

No one was offended by the lack of the opening engine hood of the SM or the GS. The Oulins-based company also abandoned the outdated steerable wheels. The design office focused on the details. Note the design of the GS’s front end: the bumpers, grille, and headlights are made separately. A truly remarkable piece of art. The same goes for the design of the rear end. And what about the finesse of the door frames? I would almost dare to add, all this on a “simple” popular sedan. The same can be said of the Citroën SM. The two models equipped with an electric ceiling light, also offered this week, are already a thing of the past.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Citroën SM 184

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Citroën GS 193

Yet, little time separates the Ford Mustang Rally and the Oldsmobile Toronado from the Citroëns described above. May 1968 came and went. Soon, Solido would also remove the Mustang’s ceiling light and rectify its mold. The yellow version offered is rare. It gave me a lot of trouble before I added it to my collection.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Ford Mustang rallye de Monte Carlo 147bis

I might also add that the Oldsmobile’s color is rare. This superb, high-cost car will be a victim of this period because, unlike the Mustang, Solido will not try to save it by simplifying it. It was necessary to move on. It arrived at the wrong time. We still have an impressive range of colors to line up in the window.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Oldsmobile Toronado 150

My favorite for the Norev on sale this week

modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Renault 16TX

It seems that Norev took a certain pleasure in offering bright, improbable colors, linking its products to the world of childhood where everything is still permitted.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Fiat 1500 berline 63

modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Mercedes 220SE avec direction 49

This is part of the magic of Norev models. For those who want more realism, we will also have a Mercedes 220 SE in its pearl gray livery or a Citroën DS21 Police.