Dinky Toys

Thunderbirds Dinky Toys (die-cast) were produced by Meccano Ltd in England from 1966 to 1975. The factory was at Binns Road, Liverpool, England. Arguably, Dinky Toys were the most notable die-cast vehicles ever produced.

Lady Penelope's FAB 1

The Rolls Royce was released in 1966, production lasted eight years, and by 1974 had been produced with several minor changes. Unlike the Thunderbird 2 model released the following year, Dinky kept to the original "Lady Penelope pink" and the only variation to the colour was that some can be found in a deeper "pink".

1st Version No. 100

• Release date: 1966
• Colour "Lady Penelope pink"
• Roof type: Two pink stripes
• Wheel type: Flat spun wheels
• Tyres: Ridged version
• Interior: Gold
• Inscribed: "Meccano"
• Packaging: Box type

Pink stripes and gold interior

1st Type

2nd Version No. 100

• Release date: 1967
• Colour "Lady Penelope pink"
• Roof type: Two pink stripes
• Wheel type: Star wheels
• Tyres: Ordinary version
• Interior: Gold
• Inscribed: "Meccano"
• Packaging: Box type

Star wheels

3rd Version No. 100

• Release date: 1968
• Colour "Lady Penelope pink"
• Roof type: No stripes
• Wheel type: Small cast
• Tyres: Ridged version
• Interior: Gold
• Inscribed: "Meccano"
• Packaging: Box type

Type 3

No stripes

4th Version No. 100

• Release date: 1970
• Colour "Lady Penelope pink"
• Roof type: No stripes
• Wheel type: Big cast
• Tyres: Ordinary version
• Interior: Brown
• Inscribed: "Meccano"
• Packaging: Bubble type

Big cast wheels

Bubble type package from 1970

Brown interior

5th Version No: 100

• Release date: Unknown, possibly 1966
• Colour "Deep pink"
• Roof type: No stripes
• Wheel type: Flat spun
• Tyres: Ordinary version
• Interior: Gold
• Inscribed: "Meccano"
• Packaging: Box type

A view of the interior (1976)

Thunderbird 2

Dinky's Thunderbird 2 was released in 1967, and due to its great popularity, was produced in several different versions until production was stopped in 1975.

It is often thought that the Thunderbird 2 model was produced in many colours other than green because children tended to avoid green things, i.e. vegetables!

1st Version No. 101

• Release date: 1967
• Colour Original Thunderbird 2 "green"
• Body: Solid metal
• Legs: Thin yellow
• Inscribed: "Century 21 Toys"
• Packaging: No "Gerry Anderson" on box
• Notes: 5 rivets in base (not screws)

On legs

Version 1 rivets

Version 1 display stand

Version 1 box (No "Gerry Anderson")

2nd Version No. 101

• Release date: 1967
• Colour Metallic green
• Body: Solid metal
• Legs: Thin yellow
• Inscribed: "Century 21 Toys"
• Packaging: "Gerry Anderson" on box
• Notes: 4 screws and one rivet in base

Version 1(b) with screws

Version 1 (b) display stand

Version 1 (b) box

3rd Version No. 101

• Release date: 1973
• Colour Metallic green
• Body: Solid metal
• Legs: Thin yellow
• Inscribed: No "Century 21 Toys"
• Packaging: Bubble package
• Notes: 4 screws and one rivet in base

Base (b1)

Base (b1) blank

Base(b) with "Century 21"

4th Version No. 106

• Release date: 1974
• Colour Metallic blue
• Body: Solid metal
• Legs: Thick red
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Bubble package
• Notes: 4 cross head screws and 3 rivets in base

Version 2(a) base

Version 2 (a) packaging

Version 2 (a)

5th Version No. 106

• Release date: 1975
• Colour Metallic blue
• Body: Solid metal
• Legs: Thick yellow
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Bubble package
• Notes: 4 cross head screws and 3 rivets in base

Verson 2 (c)

6th Version No. 106

• Release date: 1975
• Colour Metallic blue
• Body: Black plastic underside
• Legs: Thick yellow
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Bubble package
• Notes: 4 cross head screws and 3 rivets in base

Black underside, yellow legs

7th Version No. 106

• Release date: 1975
• Colour Metallic blue
• Body: Black plastic underside
• Legs: Thick red
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Bubble package
• Notes: 4 cross head screws and 3 rivets in base

8th Version No: 106

• Release date: 1975
• Colour Metallic blue
• Body: White plastic underside
• Legs: Thick Red
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Window package
• Notes: 4 cross head screws and 3 rivets in base

Pre-Production Version (a)

• Release date: Unknown
• Colour Yellow plastic
• Body: Black plastic underside
• Legs: Thick yellow
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Unknown
• Notes: 4 rivets in base

Pre-Production Version (b)

• Release date: Unknown
• Colour Yellow plastic
• Body: Black plastic underside
• Legs: Thick red
• Inscribed: "Dinky Toys"
• Packaging: Unknown
• Notes: 4 rivets in base

See also

For Dinky Toys used as props during filming, see Die-Cast Toy Vehicles.