Calling Out the Minister!

Hi Woodsy

In a recent post, you mentioned a toy car called the Minister, which had appeared in an auction.

 It seems the car is based on a first-generation Pontiac Chieftain, from around 1953/54 (thanks to Rob Craig for identifying the real car).

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/10/yes-minister.html#comment-form

The toy was available both as the Minister Delux sedan, and as the Minister Open Deluxe convertible, in several different colours. Yes, the spelling does vary on the boxes – Delux for the sedan, and Deluxe for the convertible.

It appears that this is a fairly modern toy, but done in a vintage style – some of the boxes actually have on the side 'Warning: This is a collector item. It is not a toy. Should not be sold or given to children'.

In the bottom left hand corner of the box are the words 'Made in India', with the name of the manufacturer in the bottom right hand corner Amar Toy, Delhi. Some also have a small black and gold sticker on the underside of the car saying Made in India.

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The convertible box even has the Indian flag flying above one of the buildings in the background. I do not know if this is a reproduction of a real vintage toy, or a completely new design.

Now we come to the worrying part. There are a lot of sales listings for this toy car on-line, and some are perfectly fine.

But some have the words Made in India on the box top either covered up with tape, inked over, or there is 'damage' to the box in that exact spot. The name Amar Toy is also covered with a sticker in many cases.

This makes me suspicious that some people are trying to pass off a modern toy or collector model, as a vintage item.

 Of course, some sellers may have themselves bought these cars in good faith, and now be selling them on, and repeating what they think is the history of the toy.

I would advise caution if you are interested in one of these cars. The box shown in your auction photo has not been altered in any way.

I still do not know where the Minister name comes from, but Hindustan Motors of India made the Morris Oxford Series III as the Ambassador; the Deluxe was based on a Chevrolet Deluxe; and there was also a Contessa model based on the Vauxhall Victor FE. Perhaps the Minster name was just following on from these cars ?

Eight photographs from Worthpoint and Ebay, showing the original boxes, and what appear to be modified versions.

Paul Adams from New Zealand