Dinky Toys 22m/23s/222; Thunderbolt Speed Car / Streamlined Racing Car

I always thought the driver's head to be ridiculously small in this model, then I researched the real car, it was enormous, weighing over 7 tons and having three axles with a Chinese layout, that is two steering axles at the front, represented on the Dinky by bumps in the bodywork, although the Dinky has only two axles. It is another of Captain Eyston's cars (see Speed of the Wind, The Hotchkiss Record car and Magic Midget), who lived just a couple of miles from where Little Wheels is located now.

Between 1937 and 1939, the competition for the Land Speed Record was between two Englishmen: Captain Eyston and John Cobb. Thunderbolt's first record was set at 312.00 mph (502.12 km/h) on 19 November 1937 on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Within a year Thunderbolt returned with improved aerodynamics and raised its record to 345.50 mph This record only stood for a matter of weeks before John Cobb's Reid-Railton broke the 350 mph (560 km/h) barrier and raised it to 353.30 mph (568.58 km/h) on the 15th September 1938, as Eyston watched. This inspired him to take Thunderbolt to a new record of 357.50 mph (575.34 km/h). Cobb had held the record for less than 24 hours.

Eyston and Thunderbolt held the record for almost a year, until Cobb took it again at a speed of 369.70 mph (594.97 km/h) on 23 August 1939. This was the last record attempt before WW2.

This Dinky was first made in 1938 when the Thunderbolt was still breaking the land speed record at Bonneville salt flats, and continued in production until 1956. It ran from 1938 to 1941 as 'Thunderbolt Speed Car' and from 1938 to 1956 as 22s (later 222) 'Streamlined Racing Car'. The very first releases were cast in lead, switching to the conventional mazak alloy very early in production.

A production run of almost 20 years led to a wide range of variations, you will find these in shades of red, orange blue, green and silver with detailing an a range of contrasting colours. To identify which you have you really need to consult Ramsay or one of the other reference books.

Dinky Toys 23s; Streamlined Racing Car; Green, Silver Flashes	Dinky Toys 23s; Streamlined Racing Car; Metallic Silver, Green Detail	Dinky Toys 23s; Streamlined Racing Car; Navy Blue, Silver Detail	Dinky Toys 23s; Thunderbolt Speed Car; Silver, Blue Detail	Dinky Toys 23s; Streamlined Racing Car; Silver, Red Flashes

---

Site Home		Dinky Home
Last Edit: 14/02/2021		Page Added 04/02/2021