I had this as a kid growing up in England in the 70s. Then, in 1990, I found a brand new one in a toy shop in Italy. I was travelling round Europe at the time so spent two weeks with it in my rucksack. I have it to this day, in pristine condition, but a slightly damaged box due to my travels. Still can't believe I found it in a regular toy shop so long after production. Also, about a year ago, upon watching a youtube video, it transpired there was meant to be a sticker sheet to put orange stripes on the pod. I hadn't been aware of this as a kid, but I checked in the box of the one I got in Italy, and low and behold... it was there!
As a child I hated the green. I wanted it to look just like the eagles on the show. As an adult, I still hate it for the same reason. I never understood why anyone would want one. I had the 3' plastic toy and it always annoyed me that they didn't make it just like the eagles on the show either.
There was a craze for dinky eagles at my school when I was seven, even then it annoyed all the kids in my school it was green,we were all jealous of the kid with the white freighter! Dinky definitely got it wrong with the bizarre colour choices they made didn't they. 🙄🙂
The story of the green eagle, as I understood it, is simply Dinky having ordered too much green paint and having to use it or lose money. Same for green UFO interceptor. There was also a blue eagle for the same reason IIRC. Of course the savvy 70s child had both the transporter and the freighter and put the transporter’s pod on the white freighter. And Dinky sold twice as many eagles WINK.
I never had any of the Dinky toys. I have a vague memory of seeing them in a case in a hobby shop once when I was little, but I think they were fairly expensive. I always hated the green paint though. In fact, I almost always dislike it when they deviate from the original colors for a toy.
Like many kids in 70s the Eagle came in Blue Green and I remember orange nose,this was latter I heard the maker of the toys thought white wasn't jazzy enough for the toy market,and yes it is pretty, but not the colour in show,but thankfully 60s 70s and 80s best time for toys and many kept them the actual oolour to the props in show.
Excellent Steve! These videos are brilliant ! The Dinky Eagle and Dinky Thunderbird 2 were my favourite toys in 1975. Hope to see more videos and retro collectables . Regards , Robert Hill (AUSTRALIA)
I had the green Dinky eagle transporter as a kid in California in the late ‘70’s. I too was surprised by the coloring. But it was an extremely rugged and beautiful toy. I wish I knew what happened to it.
You and me both mate, grew up in Bolton, only managed to get the Eagle freighter, my local shop sold out of the transporter. Same with the Lone Ranger and Tonto, I ended up with Tonto and his brown horse. Oh and hand me down Action man from my older brother.
Great idea. I had that toy too and it was my favourite. I looked through your website wanting to buy a die cast eagle, but I couldn’t find one on it’s own (without retro colours) that wasn’t part of a set with extra ships, buggies etc. Do you sell an un-retroed eagle on its own? Cheers mate, Jason.
