108: Sam’s Car

DINKY 108 SAM’S CAR (1969-1974):

Dinky Toy’s 108 Sam’s Car was produced between 1969 and 1974. Sam’s car was a model of Sam Loover’s car from the Gerry Anderson TV21 series Joe 90.

It had a ‘keyless clockwork motor;’ which was enabled by pulling the car backwards to wind it up and then releasing. A W.I.N. (World Intelligence Network) lapel badge was also provided. Note the caveat on the box that the: Colour of the model may differ from illustration 

Underneath the licensing text reads: Made under licence from © ATV (Overseas) 1967. This was due to new separate arrangements for the U.S.A. in 1967, when a new subsidiary ‘Associated Television (Overseas) Limited’ took over responsibility for the pre-funding of various new Gerry Anderson productions for ITC.

FEATURES:

A stick-on W.I.N. badge (World Intelligence Network) was also provided in the box. The badge holder and sticky back protector is often missing. Note the font variations.

The new keyless pull-back clockwork motor feature was later used in the 352 Ed Straker’s Car.

IN THE TV SERIES:

Sam Loover was in charge of W.I.N. the World Intelligence Network who Joe 90 worked for, although he called him ‘Uncle Sam’. The TV series car was a modern two door saloon, with a rear spoiler that was a rarity in the 60’s and 70’s and gave the car a futuristic feel. The car was a metallic silver grey with a gas turbine job engine delivering 200 miles an hour.

Sam’s car with Joe’s car outside WIN HQ.

TV PROP v ACTUAL DINKY: 

VARIATIONS:

The four most widely available colours were metallic red, silver, a powder and a mid blue and the latter two are the rarest of the four.

There was also a maroon version and seen only very rarely, a fluorescent orange version, (also described by Astons Auction house as ‘fluorescent pink’) which was for USA export only and relatively few were manufactured.

A chrome version which is missing the red paint used for the rear vents and for the front radiator area has been sent in by a collector. This looks like a factory error but may have been a small production run  because of a lack of paint to add the detail on the production line. More examples please!

And finally the very rare gold version.  A New Zealand collector has two gold 108s, one of which curiously has gold screws. This is possibly a promotional model or specially produced as a gift for managers.

The second variant of the gold version has black detailing and is a slightly darker gold.

 

Dr Force’s Dinky book mentions this model as does The Great Book of Dinky Toys and the former has a picture of a dark gold/bronze chromed version.

There were two types of wheel used both of which were used on other models, mostly sports cars.

The majority of bases were black. A blue grey version has been seen on a Maroon coloured variation.

BOX:

Sam’s Car only had one box type and included a W.I.N. badge.

INSTRUCTIONS:

CATALOGUES:

The car first featured in the 1969 catalogue and looked white rather than silver but perhaps that was a printing issue.

The 1971 catalogue first featured the red version.

ADVERTS: