In the spirit of trying to keep some interesting topics here and promote conversation, I decided to post images of my small collection of 38 series of Dinky's. I have not focused on trying to obtain as many color variations as possible, but rather on getting a very nice one in each model.
To me, this and the companion 39 series were two of the most important series that Dinky ever made, being right at the nexus of changing from the earlier pre-war, somewhat antiquated designs and casting techniques, and moving forward with new models that were actually designed from real prototypes in the British market. It is interesting that Dinky chose to make all of these as roadsters or convertibles, and the 39 series were all coupes or sedans.
The early versions were made with, I believe, windscreens that had a painted silver frame, resembling the real ones, and lacquered base plates. Also standard for some time were black wheels, later changed to color wheels for (I believe) the U.S. market in the early 1950's. Since all of mine were purchased in the U.S., they all have the colored wheels. Let's see some of your 38 series!!

Terry

Sunbeam Talbot

Lagonda

Jaguar

Frazier-Nash-BMW

Armstrong Siddeley

Alvis

All of them together

Yes, one of the nicest series Dinky ever made, introduced half pre-war and half post-war (Lagonda, Jaguar, Armstrong Siddeley). The intended 38e Triumph Dolomite was never made and replaced by the post-war 38e Armstrong Siddeley Coupe.
Your examples are all export models of the first half of the 1950s. With their coloured hubs they are some brighter than the 1945-1950 models with their dull standard black hubs. The wind screens are more flexible than those of the earlier ones, producing rather odd bent down windows very often (in the course of time).
Remarkable of this series is the lack of details in the vertical direction. That is because of limitations of the rather uncomplicated dies used. Those details (doors, bonnet louvres etc) had to be sacrificed in order to produce those very nicely cast interiors of the sports models.
Three export versions of mine:

And here they are, alltogether in the USA catalogue of 1954/55:

Their new numbers (100-105) predate the British sports cars series (nos. 106-111) to follow in 1955 and to be continued in the next few years.

Kind regards, Jan

Wonderful models, here are mine :
(not mint by any means, but I don't mind!).

The 38b is interesting as it is post war, but has smooth hubs, and a laquered baseplate that appears to be an offcut from something, maybe Hornby 0 Gauge?

Chris Warr.

For some reason Photobucket will not post the front view, so here's the back instead!

And of course as soon as I post this PB decides to work and the front view appears above, still, enjoy the rear view as well........

Chris Warr.

This forum is a mess, we already have two threads for the 38 series but no specific thread for each model.

Today, I will transfer most of these two threads to new specific one.

Please stop creating general threads where the information can hardly be retrieved and use specific thread for each model. The "New arivals" thread is also a mess which I have cleaned partly. Please do not use this thread either.

When creating a new thread, the title should always be :

reference dash official name of the model

or

old reference dash new reference dash official name of the model

Thanks for keeping this forum in good order.

The moderator.

Terry,

It is always important to have at least three views for each model: front rear and base plate. The base plates are as interesting as the bodies. Pictures of the inside of the castings when possible would be interesting as well.

My 38 series has been bought second hand c. 1958 and at that time I replaced the missing wind screens and screwed the bases back so I do not have any pictures or original 38 series base plates.

Then it would be nice if someone could provide them in the resoective threads.