1955 Jaguar puzzle

[Mikebentley]

Purchased a Dec 1955 Autocar article on XK140 FHC. This picture of model Jaguars appeared in article and if I'm not wrong shows an etype.....in 1955. I thought it was released in 1961 so is this model something else. Look forward to answer from Jaguar experts.

[harrycovert]

Rear window too small. Gullwing?

[Dinoboy]

Or a Bristol 401?

[Mikebentley]

Too low for Bristol 401, Gullwing has larger rear window and parallel bonnet bulges.

[Mikebentley]

Hope this helps

[TooMany2cvs]

Mikebentley said:

Hope this helps

Don't think it's Australian-built.

Definitely not an E. Aston DB2?

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Saturday 28th January 12:41

[williamp]

DB2 or Db2/4. The scoop on the bonnet is right

[alftupper]

The picture shows Matchbox Toys , the car that looks like an E-Type is an Aston Martin DB2 .

[Mikebentley]

Thanks all I think DB2 also. Strangely I was looking at a friends DB2/4 next to my XK140 FHC the other day and the proportional similarities are striking. I looked at the picture with Jaguar blinkers on and kept seeing Etype . Thanks all

[epoch911]

Definitely a DB2 rather than a DB2/4 which has a much larger rear window and hatchback-style hinged boot
Ant

[Plinth]

I think they are tinplate Startex and Scalex cars, about 1/30 scale.
These were the models that came out before Scalextric cars - designed by Freddie Francis.
The Scalex Aston is a DB2 and has a clockwork motor that is wound up using a rubber wheel in the chassis - which then powers it along the floor.
The Startex Sunbeam Alpine has a "pull cord" in the dash (see the toggle in the picture) which is pulled to wind the motor.
The Scalex Jaguar XK120 also has a mechanism similar to the Aston.

Matchbox made a DB2/4 but it was not released until 1959.
Matcbox never made an XK120 (did a 140 FHC) or Alpine.

[Perseverant]

Well done Plinth! I'd marked them as Scalex before I reached the end of the thread. I collect fifties diecasts - mainly Dinky - in a desultory fashion, but I have a dogeared book about Scalex and Scalextric which has lots of pictures.

[Plinth]

Perseverant said:

Well done Plinth! I'd marked them as Scalex before I reached the end of the thread. I collect fifties diecasts - mainly Dinky - in a desultory fashion, but I have a dogeared book about Scalex and Scalextric which has lots of pictures.

You probably identified them quicker than me - I had to cheat by looking in Roger Gillham's book before I posted my reply!
I used to have those models in my collection - so I shold have recognised them straight away...
Old diecast and Scalextric fan myself - enjoy refurbishing playworn items.
I see from your profile that you are also a Jaguar man!