Specimen 0001 · Dinky Toys (1966–1979)
Dinky Toys No. 100 Lady Penelope’s FAB 1
Lady Penelope’s FAB 1, complete with figures of Parker and her ladyship — one of Dinky’s best-selling toys of the era.
About this item
The Collectors Club of Great Britain describes the model’s play features: a sliding domed canopy, a front radiator grille that opens to reveal a forward-firing missile, four rear “pursuit rockets”, jewelled headlights, and figures of Lady Penelope and Parker. Wikipedia’s merchandise article (citing Marcus Hearn and others) gives its length as six inches (15 cm) and says more than two million were made; AP Films’ head of merchandising, Keith Shackleton, recalled it selling at least two million.
Sources differ on its dates: the official Gerry Anderson blog says it appeared in 1966 and was available until 1976; the Collectors Club gives 1967 to 1975.
How to identify it
- Look for the missiles and rockets, the two figures and the canopy — small parts are often missing. The Science Museum Group’s 1973 example is catalogued “Weaponry wanting”.
- A boxed example in good condition is a different proposition from an unboxed, playworn one — see condition and box grading.
Dinky Toys (1966–1979)
On the same shelf
- Dinky Toys No. 101 Thunderbird 2 (green) The original Dinky Thunderbird 2, with spring-loaded landing legs and a detachable pod carrying a little Thunderbird 4. Vintage
- Dinky Toys No. 101 Thunderbird 2 (1973 green-blue reissue) The 1973 reissue of the 101 in a darker green-blue — the first of Dinky’s “blue” Thunderbird 2s. Vintage
- Dinky Toys No. 106 Thunderbird 2 (1974, larger) An entirely new, larger Thunderbird 2 in powder blue with different packaging, sold until the late 1970s. Vintage