DC Peugeot 302 : Love is blue

Picture taken from Vincent's Auto jaune
blog, my father's model was like the
the bottom one.

When I was a little boy I used to fancy light blue model cars.

I remember my dad had two models which I use to like a lot, a sedan Peugeot 402 mase of 'Plaster & Flour" made by J.R.D. in the thirties, and a light blue Citroën 15-6 by Norev from the late fifties (in fact the rarest issue as they were normally issued in black or grey only). A sedan also known as the Big-6 in the UK. .My father wishing to buy a Vincent motorcycle, he then sold his collection of antique toys. Sadly the 402 vanished in a fair but the Norev went to my uncle who was collecting those Citroën. Before being interested in the pre-war period I had one of the hugest 1953 to 1962 Norev collection, I realized one day that I had made that collection just because of that little blue Citroën car.

I even had tow copies !

Last Sunday I went with my old pal Fred at Toymania, it seemed to become a total mess and at almost 11:30 am, I was about to leave. Moving softly between the stands I suddenly noticed at something like 3 yards a little light blue thing which was barely visible. My heart went booming, my temperature rose as I approached the table. There it was a 1936 blue Peugeot 302 made by DC (Domage & Cie). At first I thought it was a repaint, too good to be true, but by looking closer, it appeared that it was an original painting... Amazing ! this model is massively rare, I knew only one copy in relatively worn condition before finding this one, and last but not least as the seller knowing it was a rare pre-war model but not that much, he had priced it very cheaply.

I still don't understand why more than three hours after the beginning of that fair, this little blue thing was still there,

perhaps waiting for me ?

Those French lead toys from the thirties are incredibly rare, they were made in very small quantities and are really fragile, most of them were promotional used by car manufacturers to hook the little boys who wanted to have the "small daddy's car"or more often a better one.

 DC's weren't branded and this one as the other known example, is engraved : "REGULATEUR DE CONSOMMATION D'ESSENCE" on the base (fuel consumption regulator). The tin plate base retains the rear axle and the front wheels are independently suspended (there is a cut in the base), and retained by another piece of tin maintained to the body by the grille.

 Peugeot cars by DC are often mingled with AR (Autajon & Roustan) a small manufacture from Paris which made very impressive models based upon the 402 and 601 coupé, 402 Darl'mat and 802 Andreau. Those AR models are very sought after owing to the delicacy and perfection of their engraving. The DC despite their undeniable charm don't have the same level of finishing.

Love is blue popularized by Paul Mauriat, was composed by André Popp and Pierre Cour in 1967.

Sung by Vicky Leandros at the 1967 Eurovision song contest. Today let's take a listen to a more obscure cover by Lynn Taitt & the Jets from Jamaica ...