Matchbox Regular Wheels No.70 Grit Spreader Truck

 

Matchbox Regular Wheels No.70 Grit Spreader Truck, made in England by Lesney in 1966, 6.9 cm long, 45 gm weight

The cab of the vehicle is red in color, while the dump portion is light yellow. It has a black plastic pull mechanism and black plastic wheels.

Overall, the vehicle is in good condition, although it does not come with its original box. See more

Matchbox Regular Wheels No.54A Saracen Personnel Carrier

 

Matchbox Regular Wheels No.54A Saracen Personnel Carrier was manufactured by Lesney in England in 1958. It measures 5.8 cm in length.

This diecast armored personnel carrier is army green and is entirely made of metal except for the wheels and the rotating turret. It represents Lesney's first metal car with the number 54 and was produced in a single color. There are approximately five other variations, including differences in wheel axles, tire tread patterns, and more. See more
 

Matchbox Regular Wheels No.23C Trailer Caravan

 

 

Matchbox Regular Wheels No.23C Trailer Caravan was manufactured by Lesney in England in 1965. It measures 7.3 cm in length.

This diecast car is a trailer house that comes in pink with a white removable roof and a light blue interior. Inside, you'll find a dining table, sofa, kitchen, and balcony. There's also a trailer in front, and the metal underbelly is the same color as the car. The 23C diecast  cars were produced in two colors: pink and yellow, and there are six other variations. See more
 

FODEN CEMENT MIXER

 

Matchbox Originals Series Produced over 40 Years
Ago Limited Edition Collectors' Series II  No.22 FODEN CEMENT MIXER, Made in Thailand by Tyco Toys Inc. in 1993

The Orange Cement Mixer utilizes the ERF Cab as its base, which was previously used for another model. This particular model remained in the range for six years, with the only notable change being the lengthening of the barrel stem at the front end. 

Lesney, the manufacturer, made the decision to create a miniature range by scaling down their larger toys. These miniatures were then packaged in small boxes that resembled matchboxes, giving rise to the "MATCHBOX SERIES" name. See more


 

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEELS NO.17 HORSE BOX

In March three other vehicles became available. Another ACE Truck with an Ergomatic cab took the form of a Horse Box, (17e). It had a red body, a dark green plastic box with an opening grey side door and two white plastic horses. It was also fitted with green plastic windows and a chrome plastic grille and base. It was not modified to Superfast wheels until 1970.

THE BEDFORD 12 cwt VAN

The Bedford 12cwt Van (25a), known in the USA as a panel truck, was only ever painted in dark blue. The ‘Dunlop’ decal was the first non-Matchbox advertisement, Lesney having sought and obtained permission from the tyre company for thids, and Dunlop was the first company to pay for its advertising space on a Matchbox vehicle. The fact that this model completed its life in one guise, with only changes to the wheels from metal to grey plastic and with the decals from orange-yellow to yellow indicates that as long as Dunlop paid for the advertisement Lesney was happy to continue with the model unaltered as long as sales were maintained. In any case, during the 1950s and for most of the 1960s, Lesney could never make enough models because export demand alone always outstripped supply. --Model Collector

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.54B CADILLAC AMBULANCE

The release of the Faun was accompanied by a white S&S Cadillac Ambulance (54b). This had red cross decals, which were later replaced by labels in two sizes, blue-tinted windows and red roof lights, as well as a detailed white interior and suspension.

The base was originally flat over the rear axle but this was quickly changed to a raised panel over the rear axle. There were no other casting changes and the model survived into the Superfast era.--Model Collector

THE STUDEBAKER LARK STATION WAGON

The Studebaker Lark Station Wagon (42b) had been released in the US in Nevember 1964, but it did not appear in Europe until the New Year. This model appeared at a time when Matchbox was including the maimum number of features to provide value for money. It was decides to enhance this model by including a sliding rear roof panel over the rear compartment.

The usual features of the time were included, in terms of spring suspension, clear plastic windows and a moulded white plastic interior which was extended to include a rear tow hook. A white plastic hunter complete with rifle and hound completed the accessories.

Early models were painted in blue but, as time went by, lighter blue versions appeared. The sliding roof became progressively lighter in colour until a very pale blue sliding roof panel appeared. The earliest boxes depict a red car but this was never issued. A pre-production version with red body, pinkroof and blue roof panel is shown for the sake of interest. It is presumed that this two-colour version was just too expensive to manufacture. Another trail version is known to exist, fitted with Police decals from the Ford Galaxy, but this idea did not reach production.

The only casting variation associated with this model concerns the tow slot below the front bumper which was cast into subsequent releases. The model was never fitted with Superfast wheels as it was replaced by the Iron Fairy Crane in 1969.--Model Collector

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.52b - BRM FORMULA I RACER

In September, the BRM Forular I Racer (52b) was released to complement the Lotus Racer. The new model, which replaced the Maserati, had plated engine, exhaust pipes and suspension. The first model was painted blue, but rarer red versions appeared in the 1966 G4 Racetrack and 1968 G4 ‘Race ‘n Rally’ Gift Sets. The number 5 on the nose and sides came originally in decal form but later as labels.

The blue BRM was fitted with a No.3 decal for a short time. Tow guides were included with later releases, whilst the engine may be found with eleven or twelve ribs. --Model Collector

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.30C - EIGHT WHEEL FAUN CRANE TRUCK

August saw the release of an eight wheel Faun Crane Truck (30c) with a green body and orange revolving jib. One variation involved a comparatively rare red hook as opposed to the normal yellow version.

The model comes with and without a tow guide and first releases did not have the central brace to the rear of the jib rivet. A model with a turquoise body was found in a G6 Gift Set. --Model Collector

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.51A - ALBION CHIEFTAN

A yellow Albion Chieftan Flat bed Truck with a pale brown load (51a) had ‘Portland Cement’ decals on the cab doors in a circle and on the truck sides in two lines. Very quickly the decals on the sides of the truck were increased to read, ‘Blue Circle Portland Cement’. Both the truck and the load were subject to colour shades, generally becoming lighter as time went on. All four tyres of wheels were fitted, with both the grey and rarer silver plastic wheels even appearing in two sizes.

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.40A BEDFORD 'S' TYPE 17-TON TIPPER

The ‘S’ type cab was again used with the 7 ton Tipper, no.40a. The cab was painted red but the tipper changed from pale to light brown as time went on. Metal wheels gave way to plastic and both the size of wheel and tread pattern can vary, but there were no major casting modifications made to this truck.

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEEL NO.36C - OPEL DIPLOMAT

The Opel Diplomat, saloon (36c) , was originally shown in turquoise on early boxes when they were made available during May 1966.


In fact, it was issued in gold with a white interior. It featured an opening bonnet revealing a chrome plated, or, more rarely, a grey plastic engine. When iewed through the front wheel recesses in the base, it may be seen that the bonnet hinge pin blocks were strengthened from lmm wide to 2mm wide on later models.

Earlier models had no number plate or tow slot. A number plate was quickly added and subsequently, in common with other models, a tow slot was cast behind the number plate, which was itself enlarged.

It is another of the more common models still common, paratively easy to obtain today and rouses little interest. It is therefore pertinent to record that a colour trail model, which had originally been found boxed and painted in turquoise, exchanged hands in the US for $9000 in November 1999. These models may be small in size but never stature, and in some case value. --Model Collector

MATCHBOX - MERCEDES UNIMOG

The most recognizable model of the Mercedes Unimog is the small-scale model produced by Lesney Matchbox in 1967 as catalogue number 49. The Matchbox Unimog was a popular toy and thus continued production into the 1970s as a Superfast model. The Matchbox Unimog was released in two main variations, one model had a blue cab and bed and red chassis and the other had a tan body and turquoise chassis. Both models are relatively easy to find but I believe the tan models is slightly scarcer.--Model Collector

THE HATRA TRACTOR SHOVEL

The Hatra Tractor Shovel (69b) was originally painted orange with grey tyres on orange hubs. The tyres were soon changed to black and, for a time, the hubs were red until the whole until the whole model was changed to yellow. Some crossovers have been noted in colours between the body and shovel as well as red wheels on yellow bodies and vice-versa, but these are not easy to find and may have been produced by accident. The base on early models had a square cover over the rear axle differential, whilst later models had a round cover with a hole over the rear differential. Later versions of the orange Hatras, and all yellow versions, were fitted with shovel arm braces.—Model Collector

ITALIAN WITH BAGGAGE

In the same month of July, the Fiat 1500 (56b) with a roof-rack joined the range. It is probably one of the most common regular wheel models to be found at swapmeets and of course the real vehicle can still be seen today as a Lada with only minor alterations.

The plastic interior was modified to include extensions ahead of the ‘M’ in Matchbox on the base. The roof luggage was originally brown but this was subsequently changed to tan. The main variation came in the 1968 GI Gift Set, when the Fiat was painted in all-over red with tan luggage. This is considerably harder to find than the normal green version.—Model Collector

THE TAYLOR JUMBO CRANE

The Taylor Jumbo Crane (11c) replaced the ERF Petrol Tanker in June. It was usually found in all-over yellow with a red double chain hook. When the weight box was painted red, a few hooks appeared with single chains in either red or yellow plastic.
The jib was subject to a number of casting changes. These centered upon the top and bottom lattice work which originally was cast open but this gap was later closed. The final jib version included a small cross brace between the top plates.

A King size version, also in plain yellow, was released at the same time. The miniature model was available for five years before it was replaced in April 1969 by the Scaffolding Truck.

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEELS - ATLANTIC TRAILER

The no.16a was rather plain in light brown, but it provided good play value with its moveable ramp. Earliest examples of the loading ramp were to be found with two flat ejector rings and a thin, oblong plate inside the ramp. Later issues had a thicker oblong plate whilst final examples had extended ejector rings. At the same time as the modifications to the loading ramp, there were slight alternations made to the front ramp brace.

MATCHBOX REGULAR WHEELS - FORD GRIT SPREADER

The final release for 1965 was a red and yellow Grit-Spreader on the new Ford D series chassis. It featured a realistic gritting rear tab pull and included a plated grille and tinted windows. It was the second model to fill the No.70 slot.

Most releases had a pale yellow container but a few later models were painted in bright yellow. Axle supports were originally thin but these were later strengthened. At least two moulds were used, since the text may be found positioned high and low.--Model Collector

THE ERF LORRY OR STAKE TRUCK

The ERF Lorry (20a) was a simple open back truck, known in the USA as a stake truck. It ranged in colour from deep maroon to dark red, and in its final very short run in 1959 it was fifted with grey plastic wheels instead of metal wheels, making this variant one of the rarest. The first issue was reputedly trimmed in gold (though I have never actually seen one), but all subsequent releases had silver trim. A colour trial model has been found in light green without a brace cast between the cab and the body.

For many years collectors sought another rare version with a spare wheel painted in the body colour lodged behind the cab. This appears to be a genuine variation, although it is difficult to decide whether this was a short-lived intentional version or whether loose wheels somehow got lodged in the gap during the feltling stage and no-one bothered to remove the rogue wheel before painting tool place.

The final variation linked to this model concerns the silvertrim. This was applied by mask spray, but interestingly the replacement model (20b) had the silver trim applied by hand to the earliest release.--Model Collector