23 December 2024
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The Dinky Toys Volvo 1800s was introduced in February 1966 with the model number 116, which excited toy collectors, and comes in a red or metallic dark red.
The Meccano Magazine that month has an inside back page advert dedicated to toy collectors of a white car and a Chris Jelly report which states that “The Dinky Toy version, too is a top-quality sports car in the die-cast modelling world, and has many fascinating features.
In fact it incorporates almost all Dinky Toys’ special features yet invented. For example, it ‘sports’ an opening bonnet, covering a detailed plated engine, an opening boot and opening doors, plus Prestomatic steering, 4-wheel suspension, wire wheels and plated radiator and bumpers. Also fitted are jewelled headlamps, number plates, windows, seats and steering wheel. The backs of the seats tip forward to allow access to the rear. Finished in all-over white with red interior’.
The model is illustrated in the 1966 Dinky Toys Catalogue, and it is in white, so presumably, the article reference and this were to the pre-production model. The released red version has a white plastic interior, and the metallic red one has a light blue interior. Both models had wire wheels and came in rigid plastic boxes with the card insert identifying the model. Unfortunately for toy collectors, it was deleted in 1971.
However, in 1971 they excited toy collectors by re-issuing the model as a Dinky Kit number 1002.It came in an illustrated folded card with plastic packs and contained yellow paint before it was deleted in 1975.
Suggested article: Volvo FH16 750 Globetrotter XXL in Collins Earthworks’ livery
The real Volvo 1800 arrived in the 1960’s and toy collectors would state that it was more a GT car than a sports car. It had a top speed of over 100 mph and featured a four-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed overdrive gearbox for the four-cylinder engine. The original steel bodies came from Pressed Steel in Scotland with these being then sent to Jensen in West Bromwich. Other parts came from Sweden to complete the cars. It was not a good arrangement and from 1964 the cars were manufactured in Volvo’s Lundby Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden and were then designated as 1800s with the ‘s’ for Sweden. A later design in 1972 incorporated a hatchback as an estate and the model’s ceased production in 1973.
The car was made famous in the TV series ‘The Saint’ and was driven by Roger Moore. In the series this car was white so perhaps the white Dinky Toys version described earlier in the review was inspired by this car as someone had seen the series.
The Dinky Toys Collectors’ Association - The later Dinky Toys cars with the added features have now become more collectable and appear at times in the DTCA Journal with pictures
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