A new batch of recently released and interesting diecast models

Mike Neale takes his monthly look at recently released and interesting diecast models of tractors and light commercial vehicles.

New from Universal Hobbies in 1/16 scale is a David Brown 950 Implematic tractor, a large diecast model with a tilting seat and a working steering wheel, with an RRP of £83.99. Introduced in 1959 as an upgraded version of the David Brown 950, most Implematic tractors were fitted with a 2.7-litre four-cylinder 42.5hp water-cooled diesel engine, but TVO and petrol engines were also offered. They were two-wheel drive, with six forward and two reverse gears, built until 1961. An optional cab was offered. The factory was in Meltham, West Yorkshire, and they were also sold as the Oliver 600 in the USA. 

In the smaller 1/32 scale is a Ford 7810 Jubilee Edition tractor, retailing for £55. The 7810 was launched in 1988 and built until 1991, with a six-cylinder Ford diesel engine developing 103hp squeezed into the chassis of the earlier Ford 7610. The Silver Jubilee version is now one of the most sought-after; a special edition produced in 1989 to celebrate 25 years of Ford tractors built at its factory in Basildon, Essex. Painted in a special silver livery, the model was built to a higher specification with some normally optional extras coming as standard fitment. Fewer than 500 were made.

Salvat/Ixo
Further models from a series of 1/43 scale diecast ex-partwork models originally sold in Argentina, made by Ixo for Salvat’s Unforgettable cars of Argentina range, are now available in the UK. These include a number of light commercials. The official retail price of each is £29.99, but I’ve seen (and indeed bought) some for less than this.

First up is a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 170D pick-up in yellow. After the war, Mercedes put back into production its pre-war 170V W136 models, beginning in 1946 with delivery van and pick-up versions which were most needed, with ambulance versions following, and then the four-door saloon in 1947. They had a 1.7-litre petrol engine. The 170D followed in 1949, the D signifying a diesel engine. A large number of chassis were exported to coachbuilders overseas, with many CKD (completely knocked down) sets being sent to Argentina where they were assembled until 1955.

There is a 1965 Fiat 1500 Multicarga in blue. This locally-designed pick-up derivative of the Fiat 1500 saloon of 1961 was built by Fiat Concord at its factory in El Palomar, Argentina, between 1965 and 1971. It had a lower compression version of the four-cylinder, 1,481cc engine compared to the saloon cars, and could carry three people on the bench seat in the cab, with a total payload of 600kg.

The next model is of a 1979 Peugeot 404 pick-up, also in blue. These, too, were manufactured in El Palomar, by SAFRAR (Sociedad Anónima Franco Argentina de Automotores). Peugeot launched the Pininfarina-designed 404 saloon in France in 1960, with the pick-up following in 1967. The Argentinian pick-ups were in production from 1973 to 1983, with this rear pick-up bed-style arriving in 1979, with a payload of 850kg. Both petrol and diesel engines were offered.

Also available is a model of a 1952 IAME Rastrojero with a blue cab and brown timber pick-up body. These utilitarian half-ton pick-ups were designed by Raúl Gómez and built by the Argentinian government-owned aeroplane and vehicle manufacturer, IAME (Industrias Aeronáuticas y Mecánicas del Estado). This first generation-type ran from 1952 to 1969, initially with a 2.2-litre Willys-Overland petrol engine then, from 1954, with a 1.8-litre Borgward diesel engine. The front wings were designed to reduce the amount of mud collecting under them when the vehicle was used off-road.

Finally we have a 1956 IKA Jeep in cream. This was the first vehicle introduced by Industrias Kaiser Argentina in 1956, based on the American Willys CJ-5 Jeep, the production rights for which were transferred to IKA, Kaiser having been acquired by Willys in 1953. They were fitted with a locally-built, four-cylinder, 151cu.in. (2,471cc) petrol engine and three-speed gearbox, the majority being rear-wheel-drive, although four-wheel-drive versions were produced, including those supplied to the army. Production continued until 1978.

The models illustrated here can be found online and at various model shops, such as RM Toys, Model Car World, Flâneur Automobilia, Sheffield Transport Models, Scale Farm, Farm Models, Brushwood Toys or Diecast Legends.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Old Glory, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE