| Dinky Toys police vehicles
66 http://www.modelcollector.com | august 2019
PART 2
Policing the playroom
Michael Driver concludes
his investigation into
the police response
by Dinky Toys
I
n Part 1 I looked at how,
during the 1930s through
to the 1960s, Dinky Toys
brought some much needed
law and order to playroom
games. As the ‘Swinging 60s’
progressed, however, the way
Britain was policed was
rapidly evolving and Dinky
Toys was just as quick to
capture and incorporate the
changes being seen.
Police Patrol Range Rover
Joining the service in October
1971 was Dinky Toys No. 254
Police Range Rover, which
made its debut in an
advertisement in that month’s
Meccano Magazine. Based on
the existing casting for the
No. 192 Range Rover, with its
jewelled headlights, the police
version was finished i n wh ite
and had fluorescent orange
paper stripes applied to each
of its sides and its lower tail-
gate. Its roof box with ‘Police’
signage and blue light box
included an aerial. The
interior was moulded in light
blue plastic, with the front
seats having tipping backs.
This came in a yellow
illustrated card end flap box.
The model was later revised,
however; changes including
blue and orange fluorescent
stripes to the sides and tailgate,
silver cast headlights and
Speedwheels. The car also
lost the roof aerial. This version
was presented in blister
packs and then later, until
production ceased following
factory closure, in hanging
window boxes.
Ford Escort Police Car
Dinky Action Kit
Introduced in May 1971,
the Dinky Action Kits were
promoted in Meccano
Magazine ads as the “Die-cast
models you make yourself”.
Joining the range in October
that same year was the
No. 1004 Ford Escort Police Car.
This kit clearly proved popu-
lar, as it remained in
production until 1977.
Police Vehicles Gift Set
The No. 294 Police Vehicles
Gift Set, introduced in 1973,
as a replacement for the
Gift Set No. 297. The No. 250
Mini-Cooper Police Car was
retained, as was the No. 287
Police Accident Unit, but
the No. 255 Ford Zodiac was
The Dinky Toys No. 254 Police
Range Rover: the later model (left)
sits alongside the first issue with
aerial (right).
Dinky Toys No. 294 Police Vehicles Gift Set included
the Mini-Cooper and Police Accident Unit that had
featured in Gift Set No. 297; a Police Range Rover,
however, replaced the Ford Zodiac.
The Dinky Action Kit No. 1004 Ford
Escort Police Car, introduced in October 1971,
allowed enthusiasts to get hands on.
Image courtesy of Vectis Auctions.