Maker · UK · Thunderbirds models 1966–1979
Dinky Toys (Meccano Ltd)
Meccano Ltd’s die-cast brand, made at Binns Road, Liverpool. Its FAB 1 (No. 100) and Thunderbird 2 (Nos. 101 and 106) were the original 1960s Thunderbirds die-cast.
Wikipedia records that Dinky won the Gerry Anderson licence ahead of Corgi, which is why many Century 21 vehicles appeared as Dinky Toys. Keith Shackleton, head of merchandising at AP Films, later recalled FAB 1 selling at least two million.
Meccano Ltd had been taken over by Lines Bros in 1964. After the Lines Group went into liquidation in 1971, the Binns Road business passed to a new company that was later bought by Airfix Industries, which called in the receivers in 1979.
4 items
Specimens by Dinky Toys (Meccano Ltd)
- 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. Vintage
- 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