There is quite a long history of craftsmen building detailed miniature models of transport vehicles and machinery, but it wasn’t until 1934 that die cast model cars and trucks arrived on the market in any great numbers.

At that time the replica cars and trucks were not regarded as collectible items in their own right – they were produced to lend added realism to model trainsets.

Ever since the early 1920s Frank Hornby had made increasingly complicated model railways. One of these sets, Meccano Set No 21, came with six die cast models, consisting of a motor truck, a sports coupe, a delivery van, a sports car, a farm tractor, and an Army tank. These were the very first Dinky models, issued under the “Meccano Modelled Miniatures” label, as Set No. 22.

These early die cast models were fairly simplistic by modern standards, as they were cast from an alloy with high lead content which didn’t lend itself to a high degree of detail. What is more they didn’t try to depict genuine cars, although the sports car looked a bit like the SS1, a popular make at that time and a forerunner of the Jaguar.

In terms of size, they weren’t well suited to the railway sets which they were intended to complement.

It soon became clear, however, that there was a healthy market for models like this, and it wasn’t long before individual die cast models based on real cars and lorries were produced and sold on their own. Dinky Set 30 was based on the Rolls Royce, Set 36A on the Armstrong Siddely, 36B a Bentley, and 36F was a Salmon sports car.

With the passing of time the quality of reproduction and detail greatly improved. The Dinky sets came with diecast alloy bodies and tin-plate radiators and rubber tires. The later models also sported passengers and drivers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just prior to World War II some superb military models were produced, including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.

Few models from that period have survived in acceptable condition, and items in good condition are extremely collectable – pre war Dinky models can command prices up to $1000 at auction.

In the nineteen fifties, new production techniques introduced a new era in the history of diecast replica cars. Lesney, famous for their splendid Coronation Coach, and Corgi, (“the ones with the windows”), joined the market to compete with Dinky.

This new generation of die cast vehicles, with better detail, finer running gear, and better color finish, leads up to the present day, where millions of precision die cast replica models are produced, at quite reasonable prices for collectors. For example, just take a look at this beautiful model of the original 1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Or this chevy diecast 1946 suburban ambulance. The die cast model car industry has come a long way since the nineteen thirties.

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