Dinky Toy Restoration - 983 Car Transporter& Trailer - Guest Blog

Introduced in August 1958, the 983 Car Transporter and Trailer was the most expensive Dinky Toy in the range. Originally produced in a red and light grey colour-scheme, the Transporter and Trailer were available separately and numbered as 984 and 985.

It appears that the trailer was deleted from the range for 1964 and the Transporter appeared in the catalogue in a new colour-scheme of the yellow cab with blue decks and light grey sides and renumbered as 989.

The first time I saw the 983 combination was on the back page of the 1960 catalogue in about June of that year.  I wanted one desperately but I don’t think my parents could afford one.  As an adult, I tried to find one for over 20 years, finally locating one (and being able to afford it) for my 40^th birthday.  It has always been my favourite Dinky Toy.

Ensuing years have seen several more examples find their way into the “Humeville” collection, including a professionally restored combination in the alternate colour-scheme (even though the trailer was never actually produced in those colours).

I have managed to acquire a few examples in poor condition with the objective of one day “restoring” them in colour-schemes of my own choice.  A damaged 984 without sides or top deck was the first example to be stripped, repaired and repainted.  This was soon followed by a 985 trailer which was converted to an articulated unit behind a French Dinky Toys Willeme Cab. The following photos show these 2 models after refurbishment.

The following photographs show the 984 & 985 as purchased, dismantled and then stripped of paint but re-assembled after straightening.  The final photos show the painted parts before final assembly and then the finished product, fitted with new tyres and a set of transfers from the 582/982 transporters.

                              

This is my first attempt to recondition a full 983 set. As I already have good examples of both the authentic colour-schemes, I was keen to replicate the colours of the first transporter in our collection (in the 1950s), the 582/982 Bedford Pullmore Transporter, in mid blue and light blue.  I have often imagined that the Dinky designers might have played around with different colours during the design stages. Perhaps these colours were their initial starting point.

       

Written by Woody Hume