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Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week, from tomorrow, Monday, April 13, 2026, until Thursday, April 16, 2026, on our website. AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: Tootsietoys – Federal fourgon tôlé Market – Dinky Toys GB – Camion type 1 maraicher 25F – C.I.J. – Renault 5T brasseur Tootsietoys – Federal fourgon tôlé Laundry
I remember...
One Sunday, at the Saint-Ouen flea market, the Biron market.
Those familiar with the area know that this market is located in the center of Rue des Rosiers in Saint-Ouen. What a poetic street name, when I think about it.
It seems a long time ago that there must have been vegetable gardens and flowers here. This market is dedicated to “antiquarians,” the very same ones who often display a diploma or a sign on their front door indicating their status as court-appointed experts.
Another distinctive feature of this market is that all the stalls are delimited by a glass front; you have to go through a door to enter.
As you’ve probably guessed, this market is reserved for works of art and the wealthiest buyers. No secondhand dealers here.
If you’re looking for more ordinary things, you should go to the Vernaison market, located just a stone’s throw away, where Mr. Scherpereel used to work.
The further you get from the Biron market, the less refined the presentation of the merchandise becomes. The Jules Vales market, the furthest away, where the generous Daniel Tuffery and the eccentric André Diego held court, is the least prestigious, but certainly the most convivial. Good humor and pastis go hand in hand there. Sometimes, the merchandise would leave Jules Vales early in the morning to go to Vernaison and end up at Biron by late morning. Each time, of course, the price changed according to the intermediaries.
My parents also loved antique furniture. So they frequented the Biron market, on tiptoe.
One Sunday, in the stall of Mr. Reboul, an antique arms dealer, in the window overlooking the central aisle, we were drawn to an impressive collection of Dinky Toys advertising vehicles: the complete series of Guy, Trojan, Bedford, and Austin advertising vehicles, but also the Citroën 1200Kgs, including the famous Baroclem.
We were still confined to collecting racing cars. Admittedly, we had already made a small detour with tanker trucks. Sixty years later, I still can’t quite explain the reason for this diversion. Is there even a reason to be found?
I think we were captivated by the color combinations. Having a beautiful set right away motivated my father, and I remember that we first went back to see Mr. Sherpereel, where we were regular customers, to, rather naively, ask for his advice. He told us that Mr. Reboul had assembled this collection at his home.
After sleeping on it and being reassured about its provenance, my father decided to buy the lot the very next day.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys France – Citroën 1200Kgs Baroclem 562 HC
This anecdote struck me because all the models were brand new in their boxes… except for the Baroclem!
We waited 25 years to find the box! Of course, I thought of it when I saw the exceptional example for sale this week: the model, the packaging, and the battery box are all perfect.
This model is rare in this condition. It’s not the rarest of the Dinky Toys France models. Yet, like the GMC Pinder in the 80s, it’s a cornerstone of any Dinky Toys France collection. And rightly so.
Few people have the cardboard box. Twenty-five years ago, I had confirmation of what Jean-Michel Roulet had stated in his first book in 1978. The model was finished at Desormeaux in Montreuil. At that time, the late sixties, this craftsman had already moved from Rue de Meaux, the very street that runs right by my shop.
One of my customers worked at this company for a summer while he was a student. He had applied the decals and added extra silvering to the van. He had kept one copy…without the box!
It’s the kind of seemingly insignificant story that enriches a collector’s life. Little things that, in the end, give our objects a history. And therefore, a life.
Finally, one last anecdote, a personal one. My father was so taken with this model that when the opportunity arose, he bought a second one, boxed. He felt it was a good trade-off. And rightly so. The second model ultimately remained in the display case, and when I decided to introduce my children to the hobby, they sold the second Baroclem.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys France – Citroën DS présidentielle 1435
To a lesser extent, the splendid presidential Citroën DS was also a highlight of the Dinky Toys collection in the 1990s.
What a magnificent object! Mr. Badaroux and one of his colleagues went to the Élysée Palace garage to take measurements and photos of the car. It’s more of a model than a toy. The efforts made by Dinky Toys’ management were not rewarded. It didn’t achieve the expected success upon its release. Its very high price hampered its distribution.
Perhaps we should look further. This presidential DS was linked to General de Gaulle. I believe, however, that he didn’t use this final version reproduced by Dinky Toys. When the miniature was released, the General had just passed away. He had resigned from his position as President of the Republic in 1969. A number of potential customers shunned the miniature because of its connection to its illustrious occupant.
In the 1970s, General de Gaulle was a divisive figure. It will take time for the miniature to be appreciated for its true worth. This is truly exceptional Dinky Toys; the design team outdid themselves, right down to the interior lighting and felt lining… I would even venture to say that this is Dinky Toys’ swan song.
a very nice sampling
This week, a very nice selection of advertising vans from Tekno is scheduled, including a splendid Volkswagen van in…Tekno colors!
It’s interesting to note that many toy manufacturers have produced vans in their own colors.
Here is a short, non-exhaustive list of vehicles I know: Minialuxe/Citroën 1200Kgs, Solido/Renault 4L, Corgi Toys/Bedford 12cwt, Chad Valley/Guy van, Norev/Estafette, Gama/Volkswagen T2, Dinky Toys/Bedford 12cwt, Solido/Junior series van.
The first question that comes to mind is: Did Tekno own this type of vehicle and, if so, did they have this color combination, red and yellow?
modèle en vente cette semaine: Tekno – Volkswagen Kombi Tekno 405
I doubt it, because ten years earlier, Tekno had already released a smaller van, reference number 413 (approximately 1/45 scale, without windows), also in its signature colors, in a red and cream combination.
It’s reasonable to assume that this combination was the correct one, especially since most of the advertisements published by Tekno using this first mold (413) actually existed.
I have numerous documents proving this.
During this period, the mid-1950s, there was a meticulous approach to manufacturing these early vans, and versions made from surplus, hybrid parts were rare.
Ten years later, this meticulousness had disappeared. There were, of course, the versions listed in the catalog.
But the surplus painted parts were assembled without any apparent logic to their design. For example, the surplus Volkswagen vans produced for Leeuwen Zegel margarine received Tekno advertising. If this topic interests you, I recommend reading the blog related to this subject (reheated dishes).
I’ve gathered 10 different color combinations for this model in Tekno colors, and I know of some I don’t have!
The one shown is bright and harmonious. It’s a beautiful and rare piece. The one with the Jolly Cola advertisement, also included, is splendid.
I particularly appreciate one detail: the black band that runs around the body and highlights the V-shaped front. The Jolly Cola lettering is a real success.
This van is rare in this condition.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Volkswagen Kombi Jolly Cola 405
I can’t help but think of my father, for whom this model, along with the Renault 1000Kgs from C-I-J, were the two most beautiful advertising vans ever made in miniature.
We also have Ford Taunus vans, including one painted in the colors of Café Christgau. (See the blog “La cantate du café”)
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford Taunus Transit Christgau 415
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford Taunus 1000 Snevit 419
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford Taunus 1000 N.L Dehn419
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Volvo car Deutsche Bundespost 850
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania R76 KS ville de Copenhague 851
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 110 semi remorque citerne Esso 481
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 75 benne de chantier 862
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 76 semi citerne Koppartrans 447
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 75 tracteur semi remorque surbaissé porte enginAkerman 861
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Scania 75 tracteur semi remorque fardier 449
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford D800 ridelles 915
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Ford D800 fardier
by heart
The years go by. My interest in English Dinky Toys produced from the immediate post-war period up to the 1960s remains as strong as ever.
All the models made during this time are superb. Having worked with them professionally all my life could have dulled this passion.
I still find myself looking at them and admiring them. Seeing the large number of new arrivals on the website, I think collectors are very lucky, because fifty years ago they were difficult to find.
A few remarks concerning some of the models planned.
First, the “40B” Triumph Razor Edge in gray.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Triumph 1800 40B
I like to call these models by their numbers. I tell myself that the day I no longer know their numbers by heart, I’ll have to ask myself some questions and it will be time to stop.
This color, a light shade, is hard to find in this condition. It’s an early model, equipped with pillars to support the rear axle. Later, the support system was modified and the pillars disappeared.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Timpo Toys – personnage Elisabeth II reine d’Angleterre à cheval
We also have three dark blue miniatures that deserve your attention: the “40A” Riley, the “38A” Frazer Nash, and the “38F” Jaguar SS100.
These last two, known as wartime models, are rare. These colors were quickly discontinued. They are also superb.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Jaguar SS100 38F
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Frazer Nash torpédo 38A
My favorite is the Solido reference 120.
This Chausson bus ended up in the 100 series, dedicated to miniature automobile reproductions, somewhat by chance, as Solido didn’t know where to put it. (See the blog dedicated to Solido Chausson buses.) The “200” series, dedicated to commercial vehicles, might have been a more inspired choice.
This Chausson has a unique history.
It was commissioned by Citram, the Bordeaux public transport authority.
Citram contributed financially to the tooling in exchange for the molds. An agreement was signed with Solido, who then had the right to use them. To expand its catalog, Solido included it in its “100” series.
Chausson bus enthusiasts will surely understand the reason for my choice. Its rare color, borrowed from the Berliet TBO tipper truck and also the Willeme Horizon, is the reason for my selection.
This trolleybus must have crossed production lines with these two trucks, and it ended up on the paint line at that time.
Note that there is also a blue version and a yellow version. The burgundy one is the standard version that collectors generally own.
It’s a very beautiful piece, and few collectors have all four.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Chausson AP52 trolleybus 120
also on sale this week
