OPO 10 - Dinky Toys Atlas - HONDA S800 1408 1:43 (MB316)

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With news that a new US version of the hybrid-powered Insight will appear in 2018, Richard Gooding drives the first generation of Honda’s pioneering petrol-electric car Could rent peak in 2025? Property firm says they will rise 6% next year before hitting 'affordability ceiling' The opening chapter for the ‘golden age; of Dinky Toys was with the release of the 40 series, which were all British Saloons, for example the Dinky 40a Riley Saloon. From this came the Super Toys -Dinky Supertoy No. 923: Big Bedford Van “Heinz”, the Car Lines which included No. 192 Desoto Fireflite, Dublo Dinky – No. 073 Dinky Dublo Land Rover. They’d set off two days earlier from Land’s End, taking turns on John’s bike and one from the Honda press fleet, and wearing bright orange Alzheimer’s Research T-Shirts over their bike kit.

But not any more. The chap in the posters for the J125 may have a blonde hanging on his leather-clad arm, but he is, gulp, wearing a tie. Air-conditioning was standard in some markets, too, and a raft of eco-minded displays include an economy shift indicator as well as a fuel mileage computer, which can be toggled between fuel economy, either a ‘lifetime’ or instantaneous 0 to 150mpg readings.With the low-carbon market very much in its burgeoning stages of development, the Insight arrived as a breath of fresh air against its – admittedly limited – competition. Boost for motorists as fuel prices fall sharply after intervention by markets watchdog, the AA reports EM90 is a business class electric people carrier with a 458-mile range - but is it coming to the UK? Walking up to it at the launch in Malaga, it looks more like a maxi scooter than the dinky Honda, but that’s hardly surprising, since it’s basically the J300 Kawasaki brought out two years ago, but with a smaller engine. Rarer in the UK than the 1,200-unit Toyota, only around 250 original Insights found their way here, so you might have to comb the classifieds very thoroughly.

With the Monkey, besides the basic MSX mechanicals, all the required classic details are present and correct, including the old-school Honda Wing logo on the tank – but it doesn’t look any the worse for its modern features either. It even exudes an air of old-school Honda quality because all the shiny things are proper metal, not just plastic with a chrome veneer. Fuel level, battery charge and the IMA’s ‘Charge’ and ‘Assist’ indicators reveal whether the system was being recharged or being used to send energy to the electric motor, much like the more sophisticated displays in electric vehicles and hybrids today. How economical was it?

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As were the emissions. While the hybrid Toyota emitted 114g/km, the little 80g/km Honda was a whole 34g/km cleaner. While few drivers would see the claimed economy figure (around 60mpg was nearer the mark for most), around 700 miles was theoretically possible from the Japanese hybrid. What did it cost? With fewer seats and therefore less usable space, the price was quite a big ask at the turn of the millennium. But again, just like the Prius, the hybrid technology that both were pioneering was in its infancy, and the prices reflected this. Mark Bryan, head of sales in the auction houses motorcycle department, said: 'Naturally we are thrilled to be entrusted with the marketing and sale of this bike, given its extraordinary provenance.'