Dinky car, a true original (9)
I believe the answer is:
miniature
'dinky' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'car a true original' is the wordplay.
'car' becomes 'mini' (Mini Cooper).
'original' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'true'='atrue'
'atrue' with letters rearranged gives 'ature'.
'mini'+'ature'='MINIATURE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for miniature that I've seen before include "Smaller than normal" , "Of a much smaller size than usual" , "Small-scale version" , "Diminutive" , "Little" .)