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Discover a selection of models that will be on sale this week from tomorrow Monday October 27, 2025 until Thursday October 30 on our website AUTOJAUNE COLLECTION
en vente cette semaine: Taylor and Barret – Vélos triporteur vendeur de glaces – Corgi Toys – Toyota 2000 GT James Bond 336 – Corgi Toys – Auto Black Beauty 268 -Charbens – attelage hippomobile type farm wagon
I remember...
…at the Geneva Stock Exchange in the 1980s, a young Swedish antique dealer from Stockholm shared a table with other Scandinavian enthusiasts. He ran a shop dedicated to objects from the 1950s.
Toys from that era actually took up little space in his shop. But he had a connection to the toy world. He explained to me that he drove around Stockholm in a Renault 4CV and that he was personally looking for various reproductions of this car.
I remember buying a Vilmer and a Tekno from him, which he had a duplicate of. I imagine that with such a machine, he must have had some success on the streets of Stockholm.
A Danish friend, however, explained to me that he could only drive his 1949 Volkswagen Split Window for a few months a year, as the salted roads during the long winter months were problematic for the preservation of the sheet metal.
I thought of this when I saw the two Renault 4CVs from Tekno for sale this week. Surely one of the most faithful reproductions of this car.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Renault 4cv 811 Turquoise
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Renault 4cv 811 Gris
I wouldn’t say the same thing about the Volvo Amazon sedan, also on the program this week. It’s superb. Faithful, not really.
The design office has beautifully captured the car’s lines. I find this reproduction more beautiful than the original! I remember being disappointed when I saw it driving around the streets of Copenhagen in the 1980s. I definitely preferred the Tekno’s flowing, rounded lines.
When Tekno reproduces the two-door version, it will correct certain details, including its exaggerated width. While the lines of the second version of the car are much more faithful, the toy has lost some of its charm and magic. This is one of the mysteries of collecting miniatures. The visual aspect of the toy, the emotion and pleasure it conveys, take precedence, for me, over the accuracy of the reproduction.
The example on offer is splendid in every way.
The Volvo Amazon has done a lot to enhance Tekno’s image in the collector world. It symbolizes a certain manufacturing quality. Here, it features chrome bumpers and grilles. The wheels match the body color and are a real plus.
Finally, its two-tone finish is harmonious. It’s understandable why the Danish brand is so popular in Italy!
modèle en vente cette semaine : Tekno – Volvo Amazon 810
a certain charm
Was Mr. De Vazeilles aware of the two models being offered this week? They are both inspired by models in his catalog.
They are manufactured in Hong Kong and are reproduced on a larger scale (approximately 1:35). If he was aware of them, did he smile or was he angry? Perhaps he was proud of this form of recognition.
The record-breaking Abarth and the Alpine FIII are two very interesting examples of this type of product intended for sale in discount stores.
There was no risk of direct competition. They could be included in a collection dedicated to Solido.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Hong-Kong – Abarth auto de records 311
modèle en vente cette semaine : Lucky toys – Alpine Renault Formule 3 193
It’s unclear whether Mathchox management, when they discovered the Lucky set containing two Scammel vehicles “borrowed” from their catalog, took it with the same detachment.
The copies are of high quality, visually identical. The scale of reproduction is the same. This set is superb. It is rare. The various accessories accompanying the two vehicles are also appreciated.
Matchbox sold its products at fairly low prices. Moreover, a strong network of representatives had managed to place them in stores whose activities were sometimes far removed from toy sales. I remember the two tobacconists in Romans where Matchbox vehicles were plentiful. These copies were therefore in direct competition.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Lucky toys – coffret Construction site 6684
Corgi Toys management must have smiled when they saw the Zee set also on the program.
While the Land Rover and trailer are exact copies of those from Corgi Toys, Zee didn’t see fit to reproduce the tarpaulin. Also included is a truck whose body silhouette is reminiscent of the Dodge Kew Fargo. Zee created a futuristic-looking cab to avoid the wrath of British executives. This set is rare.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Hong-Kong – coffret My lil’ farm Lorry and Jeep 608
Finally, to stay in the field of Asian copies, the solo motorcycle inspired by the one produced by Dinky Toys has a certain charm. It was distributed in various boxes. In a display case dedicated to Dinky Toys, it has its place.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Hong-Kong – Moto police militaire
around the world in a week
This week’s program takes us around the world.
One of the joys of collecting miniatures is traveling while staying at home, in front of its display cases.
Let’s start by crossing the North Atlantic to the USA, with this beautiful Ford truck in UPS livery from DMC. I knew the American collector who created this series dedicated to American advertising vans. He also collected advertising Tekno vehicles and had exchanged them with my father. We are in the spirit of model-making pioneers. I appreciate this concept. We must put ourselves in the historical context of the mid-1970s, when a demand for advertising industrial vehicles arose. Like Minitrucks in France, DMC is a pioneer, and its products have what I would describe as a historic place in our collections.
Modèle en vente cette semaine :DMC – Ford fourgon tôlé UPS 105
Let’s go further south, to Argentina. After the contract in the mid-sixties for a few 100 series models, Solido signed a second contract with Buby in the 1980s, for the assembly and painting, this time in Argentina, of a range of 10 series cars. (Voir le blog « L’ami portugais »)
The Lancia Beta is finished in a pleasing color. The presence of the specific gearbox is a plus.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido Buby – Lancia Beta 52
Let’s cross the Atlantic again in the other direction to South Africa.
This is where this range of miniatures was designed, manufactured in the spirit of those produced by Brooklyn Models under the name Milestone Miniatures.
The country of manufacture brings us closer to that of Dinky Toys in the mid-1960s…it seems that this company is of English origin and that it attempted to relocate to South Africa. The model, a Chrysler Valiant, is very interesting.
Its original design is already a reason to acquire it.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Milestone Miniatures – Chrysler Valiant 1960 MM1
Let’s head back to India.
This week we have several examples of the second wave of manufacturing outsourcing to India, following the one to Hong Kong. Dinky Toys was the first to sign a contract.
(Voir le blog « mes premières leçons).
Binns Road quickly changed the name of these models to Nicky Toys, in order to avoid confusion among buyers.
This week we have two nice 2.4L Jaguars fitted with “presentable” wheels and decorated in reasonable colors.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Nicky Toys – Jaguar 2,4L
modèle en vente cette semaine : Nicky Toys – Jaguar 2,4L
We also have a Chevrolet Impala Fire Chief, loosely based on the Corgi Toys model.
I don’t know the legal terms of this production. Was there a commercial agreement between the two entities, Corgi Toys and Maxwell, or is it a copy? I’d say it was a tool rental. The box is definitely important.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Maxwell – Chevrolet Impala fire service 309
Let’s head back to Europe, heading for Great Britain.
We’ve completed a world tour. This week we have three models from River Series.
This English manufacturer produced six different cars. They are all difficult to obtain. They date from 1953. At that time, it was difficult to compete with the giant Dinky Toys in its local market.
These models were therefore distributed in unreputable toy stores and only enjoyed limited success.
modèle en vente cette semaine: River serie – Standard Vanguard break
modèle en vente cette semaine: River serie – Daimler Conquest
modèle en vente cette semaine: River serie – Ford Prefect
This series of six models is of fine quality and deserves the attention of enthusiasts.
But the story doesn’t end there.
In 1958, the directors of River Series, Jordan & Lewden, signed a contract…in New Zealand with the Lincoln company. The latter also had a contract with Micro Models, the Australian manufacturer.
It should be noted that in New Zealand, severe import restrictions had been put in place. Lincoln, which was both an importer and a manufacturer, found a way around this by renting molds from these two manufacturers and manufacturing them locally. The story continues…the two directors pulled off one last feat. They sold all their molds to Gamda in Israel, where they enjoyed a third life and a certain success.
Lincoln Nouvelle Zélande Buick Roadmaster et Ford Prefect Collection AutoJaune
Lincoln Nouvelle Zélande Buick Roadmaster et Ford Prefect collection Auto Jaune
My favorite is this Opel Caravan from Vilmer.
For two reasons.
The first is because it’s an original model, a station wagon, attractive in its two-tone finish, and rarely comes to market.
While Vilmer enjoyed some success with his truck line, the four cars he produced are difficult to obtain.
The Renault 4CV is the most common, the Mercedes 220 the rarest. The Opel Caravan and the Volvo PV 444 are in the middle of the rarity scale.
modèle en vente cette semaine : Vilmer – Opel Caravan 586
The second is more personal: this model reminds me of my travels in Scandinavia, spanning over 30 years.
I sold the model on offer this week 25 years ago…it’s back in the shop. We can see how much time has passed. It’s still as difficult to obtain as ever, and yet its price has dropped considerably.
Vilmer ensemble de couleurs de l’Opel Caravan Collection AutoJaune
Vilmer Mercedes 220 Collection AutoJaune
Vincent Espinasse
also on sale this week
