Just found some older photos of my (only) Sunbeam Alpine, in competition finish, blue with competition no. 26. It is an early example with smooth tyres, upright brand lettering on the box and the reference number 107 embossed into the base plate.  I like this special 'by night' presentation. Kind regards, Jan 

Jan-----I like both the "by night" presentation and the nice light blue color. I have the light maroon shade version, which is the same vintage as yours. By the way, saw a very late version of the Austin Healey Competition model listed, with treaded tires and the racing numeral by itself, with no white roundal behind it.
Best regards, Terry

Jan (and Terry)

I do like the dark background ("by night presentation!) which I think is better than mine using a light background.  I also noticed with mine that the worker almost missed sticking on the racing numbers on both sides as they are almost at the bottom of the doors!

I have an example of the version in deep pink somewhere!  Actually, the description of the colour caused a little confusion when the model was announced in the Meccano magazine in November 1955. The back cover advertisement referred to the colour as cerise, whereas The Toyman on page 606 described the colour as red!

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20160413/889/1324

Well, I might as well show my little Sunbeam Alpine racing number....in the cerise color.  Also a photo of it alongside the touring version.............

            Best regards,  Terry

Hi Bruce, maybe nothing really important, but it strikes me that your nice blue '26' seems to have a considerably firmer layer of silver paint applied to the head lamps and bumpers - just an observation. Kind regards, Jan 

Jan---I agree.  I went back and just looked closely at my two Sunbeam Alpine's, to see how the silver coverage compares.  My competition version has no silver paint at all on the rear bumper...just the body paint color...not sure if that is typical or just missed on my model.  I couldn't tell if Jan's is painted or not.  But Bruce's rear bumper is totally painted, including on the top side, all the way to the start of the body.  Dinky normally did not paint bumpers like that, at least in that era.  In addition, the rear deck trunk or boot hinges and handle are also painted silver, and the headlights also look as it they have a larger surround painted silver than normal.  I think it was common for some hobbyists to enhance the silver painting, and to also increase the coverage over what the factory did.  I think it is likely that is what happened here.  In seeing many Dinky Toys restorations, I think trying to duplicate the original factory silver coverage is impossible, as it was sprayed, not brushed on, and a mask was used, so there is normally not a real sharp, or built up edge where the silver stops.  Of further interest, my touring version does have the rear bumper painted, in the normal fashion, and also has the tail lights painted red.

               Best regards,  Terry

Always hard to see those subtile differences on photos, Richard, but no doubt your keen eye on these unveiled them. My blue example seems to have the fainter shade of yellow and my cerise example seems to have the fatter race number. The originality of the presence or not of rear lights (not with my examples) is always difficult to judge. With some models of mine I have doubts.

I also dug up from my files a picture of the assy of this model, which was auctioned in September 1995 by Christie's South Kensington. I cut it in two pieces in order to save the interesting details to be read. You can see confirmed the note in the GBofDT (page186) that in the course of designing this model the '26' was first (3 December 1953) whereas the second, '34' number, was added much later, 13 May 1955! And, please, note other interesting details. Kind regards, Jan