swapped out for the No. 254
Police Range Rover. The new
set came packaged in an
illustrated card end flap
box similar to that of its
predecessor and featured a
card insert stand to hold the
models in position. This set
remained in service until 1977.
Bell Police Helicopter
In 1974 the Dinky Toys police
force took to the air with the
No. 732 Bell Police Helicopter,
as mentioned in the January
Meccano Magazine quarterly
for that year. It was modelled
to 1:60 scale and feature a
spinning main rotor and rear
rotors in black plastic. The
lower part of the lattice work
boom was crafted from
white tinplate, with ‘Police’
stickers adorning either side.
The top section of the boom
was fashioned from orange
plastic, as were the skis.
A pilot was also include in
the blue cockpit with its
clear canopy. To assist with
emergencies when it landed,
two warning signs and two
cones were included. The
model was presented in a
blister pack prior to its deletion
in 1980, although it remained
on sale for some time after the
factory closure. I have never
encountered this model in the
later hanging window boxes
introduced in 1977.Ford Capri Police Car
This is an interesting addition
as it’s modelled to 1:25, The
first of these large models,
the No. 2162 Ford Capri, was
discussed in the January 1974
(quarterly issue) Meccano
Magazine. The No. 2253
Ford Capri Police Car was
then announced in the next
quarterly issue, April 1974,
of Meccano Magazine.
The Police version was fin-ished in white and had fluo-
rescent stripes applied to the
sides, while the doors featured
a round crest for the ‘Lancashire
Constabulary’. There was an
opening bonnet which lifted to
reveal a detailed chrome plated
engine. The opening doors had
plastic chromed door handles
and there were chromed plastic
windscreen wipers. A red
‘Accident’ warning sign featured
on the boot. The fully detailed
light blue plastic interior
included front seats with
folding backs. Remaining in
production until 1976, this
model was sold in a blister pack.Police Accident Unit
[2nd Version]
This second Police Accident
Unit version was a replacement
for the original No. 287 model
and was based on the revised
Dinky Toys casting of the Ford
Transit Van under the new
number of 272. ‘Police Accident
Unit’ script and fluorescent
labels were applied to each side.
This version was updated with
a lift-up rear door, which when
elevated gave access to the twopolice signs and the cones.
There was no slide opening
driver’s door or police driver but
the model did retain the near
side opening door and the roof
radar gun. Omitted, however,
was the plastic roof aerial. The
model was first shown in the
Dinky Toys catalogue of 1975
and was sold in a blister pack.
It possibly also appeared in
hanging boxes before deletion
from the range in 1978.Police Mini Clubman
The No. 178 Mini Clubman had
been In the Dinky Toys range
since 1975 and in the April 1977
(quarterly) issue of Meccano
Magazine it was shown as a new
model in a police livery as the
No. 255 Police Mini Clubman.
The model was finished as a
‘Panda’ car in pale blue, with
white doors, ’Police’ labels and
a ‘Police’ roof box. It had a black
plastic interior and was, initially
fitted with Speedwheels, which
had silver centres — later issues
would be fitted with all-black
wheels. The model came in a
hanging window box and was
around until 1980.august 2019 | http://www.modelcollector.com 67The No. 2253 Ford Capri Police Car,
which Dinky Toys modelled to the
larger scale of 1:25.Dinky Toys No. 732 Bell Police
Helicopter, complete with accessories.Introduced into the range in 1975, Dinky Toys No. 272 Police Accident Unit
was a new casting incorporating an opening lift-up rear door.Two different examples of Dinky Toys No. 255 Police Mini Clubman. both featuring
with Speedwheels but note how the later one is fitted with plain black wheels.