Dinky Omnisport A40 van fails to sell at auction

An extremely rare Dinky Omnisport A40 van has failed to sell at auction after it didn't meet its reserve. The model was estimated at £2,500 to £3,000 and bidding was going well at Adam Patridge Auctioneers in Liverpool between an interested buyer in the room and one on the phone. However, as the hammer hovered over £2,350, the telephone bidder chose not to carry on, bringing the proceedings to a premature conclusion.

However, vendor Len from Liverpool isn't disappointed and is now planning on selling the rare item privately. "I never realised it was worth anything," he explains, "so I was thrilled when I found out it could be worth around £2,500. I'm in my 60s now and the model was given to me when I was little, so I've had it for years and years.

"My aunties worked at the Dinky factory on Binns Road and one of them gave it to me. I think there used to be a factory shop on the premises, so they would often give me cars as birthday and Christmas presents but I must admit that I can't remember receiving this one. I had been keeping it in a big box of other models and my grandson would play with it, although this one was in much better condition compared to the others."

The model is often considered to be the Holy Grail for Dinky collectors, as only a few were produced and only one has previously sold on the open market… although some question that particular example's authenticity. The van is rare because it is light blue and bears an Omnisport logo – a general store in El Salvador in the 1950s for which this model was made. Because an order for more models was not taken up, it remains one of the few its kind. The only other Austin A40 dinky car models in production were for Nestlé, BP and Raleigh Cycles.

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