Portsmouth man's Dinky toys collection sells for £150,000

John Kinchen had been collecting the vehicles for decades before he passed away last year, in his seventies.

Containing models dating from 1937 to the early 1970s, the assortment of 2,000 toys were sold in Exmouth after being inherited by Devon-based family members upon John’s death.

One vehicle, an extremely rare 935 Leyland Octupus Flat Truck brought in £2,300.

Many others also sold in excess of £1,000, including a 408 Big Bedford Lorry, which garnered a closing bid of £1,800.

Auctioneer Piers Motley called the lifetime collection ‘the biggest sale of its kind in the West Country.’

‘We listed some 2,000 vehicles running from £10 each up to estimates of £5,000’, said Mr Motley.

‘Most of the collection he bought as they came out, but later in life he spent a lot of money on his hobby.’

Mr Kinchen initially began collecting as a young boy, after he was given a selection of post-war toys after missing a children’s party organised by his father’s workplace.

From this moment,he became absorbed by his hobby and went on to promote collecting on radio and TV, even appearing on Blue Peter.

His collection included items gifted to him by renowned 60s singer, Yana, whom he first met at a Bob Monkhouse show at South Parade Pier, Southsea when he was 13.

Describing the nature of modern collection, Mr Motley, said: ‘Dinky Toys are standing the test of time, although I cannot see the next generation wanting to collect them like Mr Kinchen did.

‘He clearly enjoyed his collection. At the end there was him and his cars, and his thoughts of Yana – whose photograph was always kept on his sitting room wall.’