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Benbros Mighty Midgets

No.25 Spyker

Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker

Once they had successfully transferred the TV Series into the Mighty Midget range, Benbros began creating new models. To start with, they produced representations of vintage cars which in several ways echoed the Charbens Old Crocks series. The first Benbros vintage model was the Spyker.

 

Benbros based No.25 Spyker on the 1905 Spyker 12/16 HP Double Phaeton, later made famous in the 1953 film Genevieve. One feature of the 1905 Spyker was the circular radiator grille which became a trademark of the marque.

 

The body of the Spyker model, excluding the steering column, was a single casting rivetted onto a tin-plate base incorporating the mudguards and running boards. Large metal wheels with spokes were fixed directly onto the body with nail-head or flat-head & crimped axles.

 

On the base 'Benbros' and 'Qualitoy' were cast and 'Qualitoy' and 'Made in England' was also cast on the underside of the body. The prominent steering column slotted through the body and was separately riveted to the base. The model measured 45mm long.

 

The first Spyker model was painted pink, including the steering column, with a black painted base and red painted wheels including the spare on the side. Two gold-painted headlights were attached at the front.

 

Next there was a pale-cream variation with the same black base, red wheels and nail-head axles.

 

Finally a chrome-plated version was issued, also with black base and red wheels but with round-head & crimped axles. The steering column on this chrome version could be either unpainted or finished in chrome.

 

The Spyker, along with the other two Benbros vintage models, is quite common at auction although the cream variation is rare. The chrome variation is the one most often seen.

Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker
Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker

Variation 1 : pink

Benbros No.25 Spyker

Variations

 

All models had Mighty Midget boxes

 

(1) PINK body,  PINK steering column,  BLACK base/mudguards,  RED pmw

 

(2) CREAM body,  CREAM steering column,  BLACK base/mudguards,  RED pmw

 

(3) CHROME body,  CHROME or UNPAINTED column,  BLACK base/mudguards,  RED pmw

Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker

Variation 2 : cream

Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker
Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker

Variation 3 : chrome-plated:

Unpainted steering column (top); chrome-painted column (bottom)

Benbros Mighty Midget No.25 Spyker

Benbros No.25 Spyker colours

Benbros No.25 Spyker box

Nicholas Martin Diecast
Benbros, Morestone & Budgie Vintage Toys
Britains Lilliput Vehicles   Kemlows Sentry Box   Dublo Dinky Toys

Abbreviations used on Nicholas Martin Diecast

   

  • umw - unpainted metal wheels

  • pmw - painted metal wheels

  • pw    - plastic wheels

  • gpw  - grey plastic wheels

  • spw  - silver plastic wheels

  • bpw  - black plastic wheels

  • sp     - silver plastic

  • um    - unpainted metal

  • id.     - maker's identification

  • w/wo - with or without

 

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