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Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week, from tomorrow, Monday, June 1st, 2026, until Thursday, June 4th, 2026, on our website. AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: C.I.J. – Renault 120cv transports exceptionnels Bourgey Montreuil 3-75 – Dinky Toys France – Peugeot J7 fourgon Allo Fret 570- Dinky Toys France – Simca 1500 C.I.J. – Saviem JL20 tracteur semi remorque plateau surbaissée avec bobines de câbles 4-75
I remember...
…of a delightful encounter at a toy fair in Chicago.
This event, dedicated to toys in the broadest sense, was undoubtedly the largest in the world in terms of the number of exhibitors.
In its heyday, when I arrived late Sunday afternoon and spent two days wandering the aisles, I couldn’t claim to have seen all the exhibitors: when the weather was nice, the fair extended outdoors. There was a feeling of boundlessness…and then the internet and eBay arrived…and, faster than anyone could have imagined, the fair declined.
Last fall, I received this surprising confidence from a collector living in Chicago, whom I regularly ran into in…Gothenburg. He, who lived locally, no longer even bothered to travel to Elgin, whereas 25 years earlier he wouldn’t hesitate to cross the Atlantic twice a year to go to Sweden…
Thirty years ago, when I arrived at Chicago airport and took the bus to pick up a rental car, it was common to see collectors from all over the United States heading to the hotels reserved for participants.
The event actually started three days earlier at a Holiday Inn booked by the show’s organizer. The rooms were transformed into pop-up shops. So many memories…
I met a dealer who collected M&S memorabilia. Why not?
Among the hundreds of colorful items related to this chocolate confectionery company were two large, flat display cases filled with 1/43 scale models. This was indeed one of the hallmarks of the event: the eclectic nature of the merchandise on offer. The dealer knew his products well. He gave me information about the model cars he had for sale. I realized he must have collected them. Seeing that I was listening attentively and taking notes to remember the information later, he understood that I was a potential buyer. And I was!
We made a great deal.
I remember it was at his place that I discovered that Willys Jeep from Excel Products, made in New Jersey. He also sold me a pickup truck from the same manufacturer.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Excel products – Willys Jeep US army
Charming and high-quality models that had only achieved local acclaim.
Often, distribution didn’t keep up…or the manufacturer had spent the entire budget on the first mold and couldn’t produce a second.
I appreciated the fact that Excel Products had managed to give its product a distinct identity.
They resembled Tootsietoys models, but in hand, the way the curves were treated revealed that they weren’t Tootsietoys. Another positive point, and not the least important: this product is relatively rare yet inexpensive. Many enthusiasts aren’t familiar with them, and yet they deserve attention.
In a display case, they form an original set. What a pleasure it is to find another model from the same manufacturer and gradually build a collection: that’s what collecting is all about. There’s an element of adventure that takes us away from the everyday.
I can make the same comment about the other Willys for sale. It’s a Milbo. You don’t know it? Me neither, until I found two! I kept one of course.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Milbo – Willys Jeep camouflé
I appreciate one small detail: the two little windscreens in front of the seats (or rather, what look like seats!).
It’s an English-made toy from the immediate post-war period, produced with whatever materials were available. You have to consider its history to understand its appeal.
Let’s stay in England. The market was dominated by three companies: Matchbox, Dinky Toys, and Corgi Toys. I’ve often thought how difficult it must have been for the others.
Morestone enjoyed some success, thanks to original and high-quality products. The Scammel sweeper we programmed is an excellent example.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Morestone – Scammel camion balayeuse city cleansing dept mécanique
It’s a playful model with its broom. Two versions exist, one with a key-wound mechanism and the other without.
The shapes are faithful to the original, and at the time, the companies described above had all bypassed this type of product due to its demanding manufacturing process.
The Taylor and Barrett Leyland Lion bus is splendid. Its rounded shape makes it look like it came straight out of a comic strip. Its original silhouette and design betray its British origins. I appreciate its separate grille and the construction of the hinged doors in the center of the vehicle.
Finding one in this condition is difficult. It’s a pre-World War II toy, die-cast in lead, so its preservation is virtually guaranteed. A real bonus.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Taylor and Barret – Leyland Lion car de voyage
Finally, we have another exceptional British product: a Bucyrus shovel from Moko.
The name might not ring a bell? Moko is simply the predecessor of Matchbox.
This was just before Great Britain entered the Korean War in early 1950. Lesney produced a range called Moko.
These were high-quality toys of considerable size, ranging from 1/50 scale for the imposing tracked shovel, to 1/32 scale for the milk truck, and up to 1/24 scale for the Massey Harris tractor.
At the time of its entry into the war, the British government decided to ration the zamac used in the toy industry and allocated a certain quantity of zamac ingots to each manufacturer.
Mr. Odell, one of the partners, had a stroke of genius: he realized that with this quantity of available raw material, they could produce more by reducing the scale to 1/75…
This superb Bucyrus, produced only briefly, is rare, especially with its original box. The toy is fully functional. What a marvel this cable shovel is! The color harmony is superb, and it’s the only thing you’ll notice in a display case.
Later, the tooling was sold to Budgie, who produced it for a while, after carefully engraving their brand name under the chassis.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Moko – Ruston Bucyrus 10.RB excavatrice sur chenille
very clever
This week, we have some beautiful and rare examples of Dinky Toys Liverpool.
There have always been trends.
As a long-time collector, I’ve seen quite a few come and go, along with the excesses that come with them.
We’re all more or less susceptible to these fads, but that shouldn’t stop us from thinking and analyzing.
Saying this, I’m thinking of the soaring prices affecting the Nicky Toys brand.
I often smile when I see this because, while there are some rare variations, it would take a very clever person to explain the result of any given auction, except that it’s the result of a battle between two enthusiasts who refuse to give up.
While Dinky Toys “made in India” are rare, this isn’t the case for Nicky Toys, their descendants, which were produced until the 1980s. I think people are conflating the two and confusing them.
I thought about this fad when I saw the splendid Leyland Octopus with sideboards in its rare blue and yellow livery. Thirty years ago, these trucks were all the rage, and the prices reflected that. The fad has passed. It’s possible that the very high prices deterred collectors at the time. When a product becomes unaffordable, people naturally turn away from it. Prices have come down considerably since then, which is great, but the rarity remains.
That’s the difference with the models described above.
Finding the Leyland Octopus with sideboards in this condition is difficult. This model is fragile, and the slightest flaw is immediately noticeable. Go for it, grab it; you’re unlikely to see another one like it, unlike the Nicky Toys!
modèle en vente cette semaine: Dinky Toys GB du Sud – Leyland Octopus ridelles 934
The same applies to the Triumph Herald, produced for the car manufacturer for distribution in its dealerships.
This model was a promotional order placed with Dinky Toys, who produced several color variations corresponding to those in the catalog.
The idea is excellent, and these colorful Heralds look superb in our display cases. The version offered is very elegant.
modèle en vente cette semaine :Dinky Toys GB – Triumph Herald 189
Elegant is also the perfect adjective for the AEC luxury coach.
I appreciate its late, luminous color combination.
This model can be compared to the two-tone models produced in the late 1950s. The same boldness is evident in the choice of colors. Note the lemon yellow rims and the cream-colored side panels.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – AEC luxury coach 281
One last example of the welcome drop in prices.
Thirty years ago, on a table at the Windsor Stock Exchange, even the smallest pre-war Dinky Toy would draw a small crowd. Its sale was guaranteed. This week we have a superb red Austin taxi with smooth rims and white tires, free of metal fatigue, and at a price everyone can afford.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Austin taxi londonien 36G
in their contexts
The end of Mercury’s story was difficult. In the late 1960s, the arrival of needle axles and one-piece wheels was a hurdle the Turin-based company faced with difficulty, like most miniature manufacturers who started their business just after the war.
It seems that younger companies like Politoys or Mebetoys navigated this transition more easily.
It must have been a challenge for management in Turin to try and find the right, or at least the least bad, solution.
Mercury therefore chose to produce numerous “decorated” versions using its existing molds: racing, rally, fire engine, police, and ambulance.
Having a soft spot for racing cars, I immersed myself a long time ago in researching all these variations. And I must say, it’s a bottomless pit! You have to set limits quickly.
Upon arrival, all these models encapsulate an era, one in which amateurs, with a modest sedan, could compete in regional rallies or local slaloms. A celebration of the automobile, in a way. We are a far cry from that now.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Mercury – Fiat 128 rallye 314
I appreciate these colorful variations that remind us of a distant, but also dangerous, past, for tragedies did occur.
The presence of the case and the model name is important.
It’s worth noting that there were several series spanning from the early seventies to the eighties.
I can’t wait to display them in a showcase.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Mercury – Fiat 128 coupé rallye 316
This week we have two Fiat 128 “racing” models: a sedan and a coupe.
If you prefer the classic version of the 128, we have that too.
We can thank Mercury for producing all these Fiat models that are so dear to us.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Mercury – Fiat 128 berline 22
My favorite of these three AMRs.
My favorites are these three AMR models: the Daimler Double Six and the two Jaguar XK150s.
AMR was my first “serious reference” in the world of model car collecting.
Long before Dinky Toys and Tekno. Its creation in 1975 coincided with the beginning of our collecting adventure. This company left its mark on that generation.
In 1976, you had to break the bank to find a used “22” because all 1,200 examples had already been sold. It must be said that the quality of manufacture, the exclusivity, and the beautiful box had made a lasting impression. The number 22, the racing number of the Porsche Carrera RSR Martini at the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans, was on everyone’s lips among collectors: there were those who owned one and those who were searching for one.
Even today, I sometimes talk about it with people who lived through that era. The Daimler Double Six came a little later.
modèle en vente cette semaine : AMR – Daimler Double six
After producing a Ferrari BB and a Jaguar XJ12 (like Solido, incidentally), AMR released a very limited series (300 pieces) based on the latter, available from the magazine Minis Automobile.
Needless to say, these models sold out very quickly.
It’s a rare piece. The two superb Jaguar XK150s arrived more than ten years later.
modèle en vente cette semaine : AMR – Jaguar XK150
The assembly of these models is superb.
Looking at them, you can see how far AMR has come. It’s one of this craftsman’s defining characteristics to constantly push the boundaries. He had a strong character, didn’t really accept criticism, and divided the world of model cars.
But whether we like it or not, he left his mark on an era. He sometimes made mistakes, and at times he tended to interpret the shapes of certain cars in the manner of a sculptor. He explained this himself.
I’ve kept a great many of his models on sheets, which I will be sure to exhibit soon.
modèle en vente cette semaine : AMR – Jaguar XK150 coupé
also on sale this week
