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Discover a selection of models that will go on sale on our website this week, from tomorrow, Monday, September 21, through Thursday, September 24, 2026. AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: AMR – Ferrari F40 0068- AMR – Ferrari 40 ans ferrari 1947-1987 020 – Mebetoys – Innocenti Mini Minor 8578 – Mebetoys – Fiat 128 Coupé 8565
I remember...
…of my meeting with Dr. Force at the shop in the late 1980s.
Through his numerous publications—which enabled many collectors to deepen their knowledge and broaden the scope of their research—he left a lasting mark on the 1980s.
The presentation style used in his books taught me the importance of logic and rigor in cataloging. His works on Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, and Matchbox are well-crafted and practical.
They are lightweight and easy for enthusiasts to carry around. Their success was driven by features such as their elongated format, the color section with captioned photos all taken from the same angle, and comprehensive lists detailing model variations. They have been reprinted many times.
Collectors find them immediately intuitive to use. Their affordable price point helped win over enthusiasts worldwide.
I have frequently recommended this series of books as an excellent starting point. I also admire the way Dr. Force built his own superb collection.
While Mr. Nakajima was my first role model as a collector, his method of displaying models was somewhat more haphazard. I appreciate Dr. Force’s meticulous approach to presentation, listing, and the quality of the items featured.
As he worked for the US Air Force, he spent long periods stationed at airbases across Europe.
His second series of books focuses on miniature car production within specific countries; titles such as *Made in Italy*, *Made in Germany*, and *Made in France* were released as part of this collection.
This series is even better than the three books dedicated to specific manufacturers.
I appreciate the originality of the author’s approach. Manufacturers are listed alphabetically, and the author covers the entire production history—from the very beginning right up to models released just months before publication. The first book mentioned, *Made in Italy*, is exceptional for the models it features.
To this day, I remain amazed by the rarity of some of the items shown. It is clear that the author spent time in Italy; one could not gather all these pieces by chance.
The *Made in France* volume is less comprehensive. I concluded that he did not have the same opportunities to acquire items in our country as he did for the other two aforementioned books. France had a great many toy car manufacturers.
And it was upon seeing the week’s schedule—and the many “Made in France” models on the agenda—that I was reminded of Dr. Force.
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Unic Izoard transport de liquide 60 hectos 130
JRD is one of the most renowned French toy companies.
For international collectors, these products evoke a specific image of 1950s France.
JRD models possess a unique charm.
I have often sensed this appeal of the Montreuil-based brand, whether in foreign publications or during encounters at swap meets around the world.
This is due to the originality of their output.
The 6,000-liter Unic liquid tanker up for sale this week is a perfect example. No other manufacturer managed to recycle and adapt so many shared components from their range to create such distinct final models.
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Unic Lautaret fourgon tôlé Hafa 126
If you look at the Unic Lautaret Hafa van—also the 60-hectoliter version—you will notice that, in addition to the cab, they share the same chassis.
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Berliet TLR semi fourgonKronenbourg 120
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Citroën T55 bâché militaire avec tonne à eau 115
The Kronenbourg Berliet TLR semi-trailer van—also on this week’s lineup—shares its box body with the Unic Hafa; however, on the Berliet, the addition of a rear axle has converted the van body into a trailer.
I appreciate the ingenuity of these assemblies.
One final example is the military-style canvas-topped Citroën T55 towing a water tanker—also scheduled for release. This tanker is simply a re-use of one of the tanks mounted on the bed of the aforementioned Unic 60-hectoliter truck.
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Berliet TLR semi remorque citerne avitailleur Total 121
modèle en vente cette semaine : JRD – Unic Izoard citerne Antar 122
Exceptional value for money
Let’s stay in France with Norev.
Enthusiasts of the Villeurbanne-based firm lack a book that truly does justice to the company’s significance.
Norev innovated and revolutionized the die-cast car market by offering products with exceptional value for money.
I am always amazed when I see the number of parts that make up the brand’s first model, the Simca Aronde.
The model’s design and its many components are reminiscent of a plastic model kit’s assembly instructions. Yet, despite the very low retail price, the item came fully assembled, featuring gleaming chrome and—very soon after launch—even a flexible antenna. Furthermore, the miniature was presented in its own high-quality cardboard box, at a time when Dinky Toys were still sold only in packs of six.
Issues with long-term durability—affecting the wheels primarily, but sometimes bodywork components as well—hindered the brand’s reputation among some collectors.
Nevertheless, the brand enjoyed exceptional commercial success, with sales figures that would have made Meccano’s executives green with envy.
While Norev models were initially sold in variety stores and smaller toy shops, over the years they found their way into toy stores across the entire country—in both rural areas and cities.
On a personal note, the two main toy stores in Compiègne did not stock Dinky Toys. Between 1965 and 1971, the Bobigny-based firm’s products were sold only at a baby-care shop—nestled among strollers and prams—and at the “little variety store” alongside the Norevs.
I remember the large, wheeled wooden Norev display unit that stood in the middle of the shop, and above all, the array’s vibrant colors. The red and yellow boxes were an instant eye-catcher.
The wooden unit was stocked full of them. I wanted to reassemble this set, but I had underestimated the size of the piece of furniture… which I eventually had to resell because I couldn’t display it properly.
This week, we have a beautiful set that can be dated to the early 1970s.
modèle en vente cette semaine: Norev – Mercedes C111 172
modèle en vente cette semaine: Norev – Renault R6 162
I have a soft spot for the caramel-colored R6, the green Mercedes C111, and—like everyone else—the Renault 8 Gordini.
Looking at the scheduled releases, the eclectic nature of the model selection is evident.
Norev was firmly established in the mass-market car segment but wasn’t afraid to occasionally venture off the beaten path, as demonstrated by two prototypes: the Mercedes C111 and the Citroën Camargue.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Renault R8 Gordini 14
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Bertone GS Camargue 182
The brand’s only real drawback was a lack of inspiration—and, frankly, the mediocre quality of its race car reproductions.
Neither the design department nor management seemed interested in that segment of the market.
The Fiat X1/9 Abarth featured this week looks rather flimsy compared to the real thing; Norev simply adapted the Matra’s airbox for the rear deck, whereas the original had a striking appearance. Nevertheless, this plastic-molded Fiat is a rare find.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Fiat X1:9Abarth 215
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Opel GT1900 177
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Simca 1100 151
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Ferrari 246 GTS 186
modèle en vente cette semaine : Norev – Peugeot 204 berline 5
in the shadow of Norev
France was home to a significant number of plastic miniature manufacturers, primarily located in the Ain and Jura regions.
Minialuxe was a major firm in this area, though it remained in the shadow of Norev.
Thanks to an active sales strategy—first with Verpiot and later with Punch—Minialuxe models enjoyed wide distribution.
I remember seeing them in Monoprix and Prisunic stores, as well as in general variety shops and occasionally even in high-end toy stores.
Minialuxe was an unusual company, characterized by sporadic production periods that spanned nearly thirty years.
It experienced its share of ups and downs; active phases alternated with periods where the firm seemed to have vanished due to a lack of distributors.
I discovered this while leafing through industry yearbooks—publications aimed at toy professionals, from retailers to suppliers of raw materials and packaging. These books are a goldmine for collectors, often containing documents and advertisements that shed light on the history of our favorite manufacturers.
They can even help identify the maker of a specific toy.
This week, we are featuring a few Minialuxe models from the same era as the Norev ones described earlier.
What I appreciate about Minialuxe is its consistency regarding certain themes, such as taxis, police cars, circus vehicles, and public works machinery. The Oyonnax-based firm remained true to these subjects, creating a common thread that gives a sense of unity to a display cabinet.
Minialuxe was the only manufacturer to produce a Gendarmerie version of the Matra Djet—a beautiful car that the French Gendarmerie did indeed use in limited numbers.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Minialuxe – Matra Djet gendarmerie
The Peugeot 504 police car, also part of the lineup, perfectly illustrates this point. It is arguably the best miniature reproduction of this French sedan. Finally, the Renault 16 radio taxi—also available for sale—is the distant successor to the Renault Frégate taxi produced by Minialuxe fifteen years earlier. Clearly, this taxi series proved popular with customers.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Minialuxe – Renault 16 radio taxi
modèle en vente cette semaine : Minialuxe – Peugeot 504 police pie
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The “panel van” body style is my favorite variant to collect, simply because it allows the toy manufacturer to create numerous advertising versions.
This takes me back to our early days as collectors, when my father and I set out to amass as many advertising variants as possible based on a single model.
Back in the mid-1970s, this was a novel way of collecting; it intrigued older collectors, who couldn’t grasp the point of displaying multiple copies of the same vehicle in a cabinet.
This Minialuxe “1200Kgs” model has a unique history. It originated with a small company called “Jouets Vallée.”
The tooling was soon sold to Minialuxe. I love stories like this; one can easily imagine the two companies being located close to one another. Perhaps one day we will learn the reason behind the sale. Minialuxe made a wise move acquiring the tooling, as the “1200Kgs” went on to have a very long production run, lasting right up until the company closed in the late 1970s.
At the time, the silver version likely appealed to many customers. It was the color most commonly seen on the real-life HY vans people encountered on the street—and, incidentally, it was the color originally produced by “Jouets Vallée.”
modèle en vente cette semaine : Minialuxe – Citroën 1200Kg fourgon
I have a soft spot for the two advertising versions.
Looking at photos of these two models, one realizes the importance of production costs; the use of one-piece plastic wheels is a telling clue.
We sometimes forget that a wheel fitted with a rubber—or even nylon—tire represents an added cost.
The plastic used is more fragile than that found on the earliest examples.
Familistère opted for a striking two-tone finish. This miniature was available exclusively through this chain of grocery stores, which served primarily rural areas and had a strong presence in the Picardy and Champagne-Ardenne regions.
The Delespaul 1200Kgs model is magnificent. It is one of the finest advertising models ever produced. The two companies, Minialuxe and Delespaul, collaborated for a very long time.
Some Minialuxe models were produced with Delespaul branding.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Minialuxe – Citroën 1200Kg Familistère
modèle en vente cette semaine : AMR – Mercedes SL Portugal Presentation 1989
These items were sent in exchange for coupons cut from chocolate bars and other confections produced by this brand based in the Nord department. The HY model was the prize piece. If you are interested, I invite you to read the blog “Je vous ai apporté des bonbons.”
Also on sale this week
