Unique Dan Dare spaceship prop offers on eBay

By John Freeman on September 30, 2023

If you’ve got a spare £5000 (plus £250 delivery), then you might want to check out a unique piece of Dan Dare memorabilia on eBay.

On offer is the rocket model used in the 1987 Mobil petrochemical company Dan Dare driven advertising campaign. The seller describes it as an “absolutely fantastic display item, but has suffered a little wear and tear over the years but it will be up to the buyer to either restore or leave as.”

The model, made of wood, measures some 100 cm in length, and comes apart to reveal the pipes which were used for smoke to emulate rocket propulsion.

As we’ve previously noted on our dedicated Dan Dare Guide Page, Dan Dare has only made it to “live action” thanks to the Mobil 1987 advertising campaign created by Lowe Howard-Spink Marschalk for Mobil Oil products, shown on British television, featuring Dan Dare (played by Niven Boyd) and Digby (played by Jimmy Yule). The Mekon made a guest appearance in the third advert, all affectionate parodies played for laughs, with Dan portrayed as being rather gung-ho and dim-witted, while Digby was portrayed as being the brains behind the team.

The ads were titled Dan Dare in “Rocket to Nowhere”, advertising Mobil synthetic oil; “Passage to Delmik”, advertising Mobil unleaded petrol; and “Mekon Ahoy”, advertising Mobil cleaner diesel.

Dan Dare in “Rocket to Nowhere”

Dan Dare and Digby in “Passage to Delmik”

Dan Dare in “Mekon Ahoy”

Eagle comic “Dan Dare” artist Keith Watson worked on the campaign thanks to author Alistair Crompton, who was then working at another ad agency, Doyle Dane Bernbach.

“I heard from some mates they were doing the DD work, and needed an artist to help with the poster (and, I believe, some other work, but I can’t tell you what),” he recalls. “I immediately told them about Keith Watson, who I explained worked on the original strip.

“I got a delightful note from Keith about a couple of months after the job, saying thanks for putting his name forward. I believe they paid him rather well.”

The seller, schiavone7389, has a number of terrific models and militarism for sale that are also worth checking out, including some Gerry Anderson-related items.

• Check out this unique Dan Dare Rocket Ship Film Studio Prop Model here on eBay

• Check out our dedicated Dan Dare Guide Page

Thanks to downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf for the information

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.