The epic of the “greens” of Saint Etienne

…of the epic of the “Greens” of Saint Etienne in the European Football Cup in 1976. All of France lived only for the exploits of the Stéphanois. I followed this aside from my passion for miniatures. It had brought my brother and my father closer. The latter had taken us to see this flamboyant Green team face the Stade de Reims on June 19, 1976. It is worth knowing that the Stade de Reims had been the first French club to shine in this European Cup in the mid-fifties. This match therefore had a special flavor. Our father spoke to us of the Stade de Reims with nostalgia, a flame in his eyes as he evoked Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa. The Stade de Reims, despite being two goals down, ended up winning 3-2. I remember that before going to the Auguste Delaume stadium, we had taken a tour of the Reims-Gueux circuit. My father had already been there but couldn’t remember what the event was. We then walked around the city center looking for toy stores. I remember the imposing Galeries Lafayette in Reims. At that time, the stores sold Solido series 10 toys, which I eagerly collected, hunting down the smallest variants, and Norev jet-cars, like the ones on offer this week.

These are very interesting models. They must be placed in their context and, above all, not attempted comparisons with previous productions. They correspond to the criteria and demand of their time. They were present everywhere. I was already wondering. When would they be collected? It was going to happen, that was certain, but when? It took longer than I had imagined, for a reason that escaped me at the time. They had been purchased in large numbers by the large wave of collectors who arrived in the mid-seventies.

They were convinced that these models would be the “Dinky Toys” of the future, they had bought them in quantity and had stored them, betting on the future. We never stored anything with my father. We just bought them and enjoyed them. It was also at this time that I discovered Léo Ferré, and his song “Avec le temps” which evokes the passing of time and nostalgia. I was already aware that one day, the lyrics of this song would catch up with me. On my way back from the Reims event, which took place at the beginning of March, I thought about this song again. I also made the connection with these few Jet Cars. And seeing the first rays of spring sunshine and the omnipresent green color in the countryside, I chose this color as a common thread to present the new products. It is the one that symbolizes hope.

Renault took advantage of Citroën’s economic difficulties to move closer to the C-I-J. It was in Briare that a large portion of Citroën’s sheet metal and plasticine toys were designed. Logically, Renault toys would reuse these two materials. This week we have a splendid Citroën Rosalie bobbin holder that encapsulates this story.

The toy is basic, but the make of the truck depicted is immediately identifiable thanks to the chevrons engraved on the grille. Later, in the same vein, the C-I-J applied decals with the Renault diamond on the doors of its Renault 5T trucks so that children could easily identify them. These plastiline vehicles are unique in the world. They were sold cheaply. They are designed in two parts and look great. The two parts are made of two distinct materials, which the Briare firm mastered with talent: a chassis made of folded and painted sheet metal and a plaster body stapled onto it. All the magic lies in the design of the loads. The child is thus transported into a professional world.

Let’s take the green Renault 5T cattle truck, offered this week. Could you imagine a more vibrant toy? I admire the stencil painting of all its components: the bodywork, the grille, the load. In the finishing workshop, the worker had a block of white paint in front of him… he had to bring it to life. This week we also have a Renault 5T dropside truck, which may seem simple compared to the other very vibrant variations, such as the coalman, the brewer, the lightning carrier, the garbage truck or the firefighter variations. It was only produced before the war. It is difficult to obtain. I appreciate its bright harmony of colors, orange and brown.

In the C-I-J range, the green color is omnipresent from the beginning to the end of production. This week we have some models that illustrate this point. Before producing the plastiline models described above, the Birare firm mastered the manufacture of tin toys equipped with a key winding mechanism. Those it delivered to the Javel quay were of superb quality. When after the war it launched into 1/43 scale zamac injected toys, it retained the use of this mechanism from its rich past. It needed experience to transpose this type of mechanism onto its first 1/43 scale zamac. Indeed, for reasons of economy of scale, the mechanism is common to several models and it is difficult to place it without altering the line of the miniature. Referred to in the catalogs as “mechanical”, this series of miniatures was quickly abandoned.

The Briare firm would offer the range of the first post-war Renaults, the Shell 5T tanker truck, the 4CV, the Frégate, and the Prairie, Savane, and Colorale series, all equipped with this key-operated wind-up mechanism. Management then realized that the fashion for these animated toys had passed. Customers no longer marveled at the mechanism that powered the car. The playful function of this type of toy was ultimately very limited, and the non-activated mechanism even hindered the car’s progress. This week, we have a beautiful green Colorale and a Savane equipped in this way. They are both very difficult to obtain.

If you prefer a classic version, we also have a Colorale without a mechanism and equipped with a pinched frame. Later, at the end of production, a modernized version, equipped with a riveted frame, will be created. The shade of green will be completely different.

This is also what we see on the two Renault 120hp tipper and tarpaulin semi-trailer trucks on sale this week. Both share the same color, green. As with the Colorale described above, the shade will also evolve over time. That of the two trucks offered for sale is very different from that found on the first examples. In the window, it is a success. It was during the mold modification and the reinforcement of the bumper that these color nuances appeared. These models with reinforced bumpers are then equipped with silver-colored plastic rims, which are very resistant over time, unlike those of red or yellow which sometimes deform.

A final example, showing the Briare firm’s attachment to the color green, is these two examples of the Chrysler Windsor. Such a model in a range intended for sale in rural areas may raise questions.

Perhaps this should be seen, as with the Volkswagen, also offered, as an attempt by C-I-J to expand, alongside the range dedicated to the company’s models, or as a desire to position itself in relation to Bobigny and to conquer sales in urban areas. We have an example from the beginning of production, which can be recognized by its dark shade. A special feature is that the sides have been highlighted in the color of the roof. The second example is also rare. The bodywork is painted in a beautiful pale green shade. I am surprised that enthusiasts have not shown more interest in these models, which are sold at reasonable prices. They deserve their esteem.

It borrows this elegant shade of green from pre-war Liverpool utility vehicles. I also appreciate the beautiful burgundy Armstrong Siddeley 36A. The shade suits this luxurious car. Prices for these beautiful models are now accessible. Take advantage. They are hard to come by.

Vincent Espinasse