Supposedly one of the biggest selling die-cast toys of the 1960s, along with the Corgi Batmobile and James Bond Aston Martin, the Dinky SPV was a mainstay of my childhood play times particularly when I was in 'Anderson' mode. Although susceptible to paint loss like all of the toys made in this style the overall construction is sturdy and solid and as with the entire line from Dinky replicates almost exactly what kids were seeing on-screen. Dinky were known for applying the most bizarre livery to their toys but pretty much nailed the Meddings-designed SPV on the nose. !
Joe Fowlman who was a leading toy designer incorporated many ingenious gadgets into this toy largely without the use of obvious and ugly buttons. Clever suspension tricked off the front launching missile and the 'shark fin' on top was depressed to open the door and allow the drop down seat to lower a tiny Scarlet to the ground exactly as he would have done on telly. Again I am fortunate to own an un-played with version of this toy and this is how a kid would have received one in 1968. A favourite of mine as a kid and as a middle-aged kid too!
Jim Lewis.
oh gosh.... you have just sent me back to my childhood too. seeing this again after all the years... had totlally forgotten about it ! How wonderful....Thanks. Sean
ReplyDeleteI used to love my SPV.Unfortunately some kid broke the door mechanism when I took it to school.The thing is I can never remember actually throwing these things away!!
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