Coming up for auction next month is an extremely rare early 20th century tinplate model chauffeured Limousine Touring Car by Carette (circa 1910) which is based on a Mercedes. The model features lined green coachwork with working rear doors with handles intact, hand brake and forward and reverse gears, and measures approximately 41 cm in length. The motor winds correctly and changes direction, and three of the four original lamps remain intact. It has a glazed windscreen and fully intact roof rails, and appears to have survived remarkably well for its great age. An American catalogue published at the beginning of the last century states that this model was originally being offered at $2.98, a pretty heft price for a pre-World War One toy. This item is listed as lot 522 in British Toy Auctions sale on Monday 4th November 2024 with a guide price of £500 to £800.