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en vente cette semaine: Tekno – Volvo car Flakhaven 850 – Icis – Lancia Appia 2 – Mercury – Lancia Flavia 31 Tekno – Commer car Max J.Madsen 850
i remember
…of the conversation I had with two Italian collectors late one afternoon at the Milan Novegro fair in June 2025.
One of them complained about the significant presence of “modern toys” on the tables. By “modern,” he meant toys that weren’t from his era. We realized we were from the same generation.
He was talking about “Pokemon” and “Super Mario” toys, but also Star Wars Lego toys… The first thought I had was that it’s not easy to realize that we’ve aged.
These toys are the ones we gave to our children, or even our grandchildren…
In the aisles of foreign events such as Sandown Park or Novegro, I now see young people who don’t come for Dinky Toys or Corgi Toys; they come to find “their toys.” Ultimately, this cycle is encouraging.
On the other hand, I also see young adults, in their 30s and 40s, picking up miniatures of these brands and showing interest in them.
This is a turning point. We’re seeing cycles. Toy lovers from the beginning of the century also saw the arrival of Dinky Toys enthusiasts fifty years ago, who were just kids in their eyes!
I thought about this again when I saw the sale of the fabulous collection of the great American dealer Tom Sage. This collection was dedicated to toy boats, cars, and trains from the early history of the toy industry. A dealer, like me, he had managed to keep the cream of the crop in his collection.
You have to understand that our small 1:43 scale cars are beginning to make history.
Take the splendid Dinky Toys set for sale this week. This set is part of a series of sets produced especially for the American market by Hudson Dobson.
modèle en vente cette semaine :Dinky Toys GB – coffret HUBSON DOBSON Private Automobiles 3
They are very rare.
In the first books dedicated to English Dinky Toys, these sets aren’t even listed.
Few people were aware of these products before the 1980s. But at that time, new collectors emerged, enthusiasts of the sets, who highlighted them and introduced them.
The pioneers of the collection, those of the 1960s, didn’t understand their appeal; they didn’t appreciate their rarity.
The one on offer is surely the most original: it consists of five miniatures, all produced after the war. Its originality lies in the fact that it contains two Series 36s, a Rover and a Bentley, a Series 30, a Vauxhall, and two Series 38s, a Frazer Nash, and a Lagonda.
Liverpool and the importer had to negotiate to ensure everyone had a margin.
I appreciate the quality of the cardboard and the color harmonies of the set. I’m happy to say it: prices have skyrocketed to completely unreasonable levels. The market dictates its laws. Now we’ve returned to reasonable prices, all the more reason to take advantage of it. In the window, this beautiful box set has a definite impact.
solido in italy
Let’s stay in Milan and the Novegro fair.
Solido has always been a popular company in Italy. It’s understandable. Italians love beauty, sports cars, and racing cars.
This is a good thing, because that’s Solido’s DNA. However, Jean de Vazeilles didn’t really choose these two car lines.
As he would explain much later, he took the niche left open by Dinky Toys, which already handled sensible sedans and utility vehicles.
Corgi Toys would confront Liverpool head-on, attacking them on their own turf: sedans and utility vehicles, with more appropriate products, innovations, and prices.
When Dinky Toys France ceased operations in 1972, Solido took over the market and began reproducing family cars with its Series 10.
But, in June 2025, it was the significant presence of Solido military models on several tables that really struck me.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Char Tank Russe PT 76 207
Solido lovers rarely extend their scope of investigation to this branch. It’s not easy to go from the Ferrari 512S to the Tiger 1 tank!
That doesn’t bother me. I appreciate the quality of this line. The famous articulated tracks were Jean de Vazeilles’ pride and joy. I even wonder if they weren’t his favorite technical innovation, the one he was most proud of. No manufacturer has come close.
They are functional, efficient, and virtually unbreakable. The Solido military line reflects what we’ve already seen with the “obligatory choices” of its 100 series. Solido has thus built it up in comparison to the Dinky Toys line, which focused on French army vehicles. Solido will therefore include original armored vehicles.
The first will be the American Patton tank, in the colors of the US Army, followed by the Russian PT76, like the one on sale this week.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Char SU 100 Armée Egyptienne 208
In the midst of the Cold War, it was a bold move. Added details, a rotating turret, an opening casemate, an articulated cannon, machine guns… I’ll stop the description there.
The comparison with the AMX 13t from Dinky Toys France is instructive. In an effort to offer models that stand out from the crowd, Solido drove the point home with a second Russian tank, the SU100. This week we have the Egyptian army version, in sand color.
Another good idea from Solido: to release “khaki” and “sand” versions to cushion the molds. Solido thus built a new customer base with its armored vehicles.
The success was significant, and worldwide. Forty years later, they are still available, in different, sometimes simplified, variants. Choose the early versions, with the illustrated boxes; it’s a real plus.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Char Destroyer M10 Alsace 232
We also have a superb first-type Destroyer tank with its beautiful “Alsace” livery from 1973.
For the record, Solido took a while before releasing tanks for the Second World War. It began with the Tiger I. It was a success. However, there must have been some apprehension about releasing a vehicle in 1968 that left only fond memories in France.
metallic red
Mebetoys is a Milanese company. The brand is fashionable, prices are high, and models are plentiful on the shelves of Novegro. Although prices have calmed down, they remain high.
This week we have three models that share a common color, metallic red, and their packaging consisting of a transparent plastic bubble and a cardboard base.
From the mid-1970s, the models were delivered sealed in this type of packaging, which was designed to be thrown away once opened.
modèle en vente cette semaine :Mebetoys – Fiat 500 Nuova A36
Initially, the Milanese company had planned an opening under the base, marked with dotted lines… which the child rarely respected, preferring to tear off the plastic bubble.
In the future, I think enthusiasts will appreciate this type of packaging and its rarity.
The one for the Fiat 500L on sale dates back to the early days of the introduction (1972-1973) of this type of packaging. It is recognizable by its red and white checkerboard pattern.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Mebetoys – Innocenti Mini Minor A28
The Innocenti Mini, on the other hand, is rarely produced in this color, which suits it well. Packaged in this way, these two models are near the end of their production run.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Mebetoys – Autobianchi A112 A28
The Autobianchi A112 has always been presented in this type of packaging.
It still features beautiful zamac wheels and added tires. The moderate prices of these models should encourage enthusiasts to take an interest in them. Don’t wait for them to become as fashionable as the early models!
My favorite of the week is that stunning Pirelli Fiat 500
Pirelli Fiat 500 et garage Fiat Collection AutoJaune
We mentioned a historical model above.
It is indeed one. The genesis of the Fiat 500 is interesting.
It was Mussolini, the fascist leader, who initiated its creation in 1930. He wanted Italians to have access to automobiles. To achieve this, he asked Fiat to develop an economical car.
Does this story ring a bell? Hitler, upon coming to power, took up the idea and asked Ferdinand Porsche to design an economical model accessible to all. This would become the aptly named Volkswagen.
In the meantime, the idea did indeed come from Italy. The design of the Fiat was a bit chaotic. Fiat management wasn’t very enthusiastic. A first prototype was produced in mid-1931. The test, with great fanfare, with Senator Agnelli as passenger and the engineer Lardone, head of the project, at the wheel, was cut short. After driving for a few kilometers, the car caught fire.
en vente cette semaine : Italy – Fiat 500 (Pirelli)
It’s unclear how the news was broken to the Duce, but the engineer was immediately fired.
Then the project was put on hold. However, Mussolini was truly committed to this car, and he relaunched Fiat’s management in 1932. In 1936, the car went into production. It was a resounding success, interrupted by the war.
Rivarossi ensemble de Fiat 500 Collection AutoJaune
There was a French version, the Simca 5, and even a German version subcontracted to NSU. Incidentally, the Germans also suffered setbacks with the Volkswagen, and its launch was also delayed.
The proposed advertising model is set at the car’s launch. It will serve to promote the smallest mass-produced car of its time. It’s truly a piece of history.
Jouet Richard Simca 5 Collection AutoJaune
Vincent Espinasse
also on sale this week
