CORGI 1/43 MORRIS J2 VAN MODEL DUDLEY ZOO

The J2 range of 15cwt vans and pick ups was designed by Morris but was very much a BMC product and was the corporations first unitary construction van. Launched in 1956 it continued in production until 1967 by which time over a 120,000 had been built. The J2 was originally fitted with the 1489cc version of BMC's B-Series engine, which was used in many different vehicles including the Austin Cambridge and MGA. In 1962 it gained the enlarged 1622cc engine, which was been fitted in the rest of the corporation's products, and a floor change gearbox. A diesel version using the same engine was also offered. In line with BMC's thinking in the late fifties, an Austin badged version of the J2 was made, which differed only grille shape, the Austin being plainer in style and more rectangular. The BMC JU van that was announced in 1967, and produced until 1974 was actually a very heavily revised J2 under the skin.

Founded in 1937 and celebrating it's 70th birthday in 2007, Dudley Zoological Gardens in the heart of the West Midlands is set in 40 acres of parkland in the shadow of the medieval castle. It is home to more than 1,000 animals and 200 species, many of them highly endangered and heads a prestigious conservation programme. The J2 van featured as a publicity vehicle during the 1960s.

MINICHAMPS 1/18 MORRIS MINOR MILLION PURPLE

MORRIS MINOR MILLION PURPLE 118 MINICHAMPS MODEL

The revolutionary Morris Minor (the prototype was called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September, 1948. Named for an earlier Morris Minor car , it was the work of a team led by Alec Issigonis, who later designed the Mini. Sir Alec became famous for his creation of the Mini but he was really proudest of his participation in designing the Morris Minor. He considered it as being a vehicle which managed to combine many of the luxuries and conveniences of a good motor car with a price suitable for the working classes, while the Mini, introduced in 1959, was a spartan mode of conveyance with everything cut to the bone. The Morris Minor, when compared with competitor products in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, excelled as a roomy vehicle with superior cornering / handling characteristics. Morris Minor finished in allover lilac the model has moveable wheels in cream with chrome hubcaps, opening doors, boot and bonnet to show the engine detail, interior seating is in pale beige edged in black, the dash panel is very well represented, length approx 21.5cm.

AUTO ARTS 1/18 LOTUS ELAN SE S3

Lotus Elan SE S3 Diecast Model Yellow 118 Die Cast Car By Autoart

Lotus launched a legend in 1962, the Lotus Elan. Following on from the previous Elite model the new Elan offered improved handling, performance and had a less fragile feel to its overall design. Below the Elan bonnet sat a twin-cam four cylinder engine which would become a legend in its own right, powering other classic Lotus models including the Cortina sports-saloons.Initially the Elan came as an open two seater, from 1964 a fixed head coupe was also available, both bodies being constructed from GRP and mounted on a separate chassis. Lotus Elan finished in bright yellow with black interior and hood, very nice detailed dash board, doors and boot open the bonnet also opens to reveal the engine. Moveable wheels with knock ons.

MONOPOLY '56 CHEVY SCHOOL BUS

Most of the 5th Release of Monopoly vehicles by Johnny Lightning were double ups of properties already done in previous releases. This Community Chest school bus was an original new additional. Community Chest had of course been done before with the Community Chest Ford Mustang Car from release one (and rereleased in release 2) and likewise the bus had been used for the Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go Bus (which is currently not listed on Amazon but was part of release 3). This time however the bus is yellow but surprisingly the prison bar through the windows remains from the old orange previous bus (keep them kids from escaping before they Pay School Tax of $150 which is written on the side near the back. There is also Mr Monopoly patting some nerdy looking kid on the head (same image as used in game on the card) on the side of the bus. The only disappointing thing however is that they missed a massive opportunity to do anything with the huge canvas which is the roof of the bus. It's just yellow, a nice Monopoly image would have been sensational here! Of course like all 5th series Monopoly vehicles they made the bonus token (a miniature version of the bus) silver to celebrate Monopoly's 70th year. This is a must own! --James N Simpson

MONOPOLY PARK PLACE PONTIAC TEMPEST

This nicely detailed Pontiac Tempest is one of only two properties (not including rail roads or utilities) in the first release of twelve vehicles. The other incidentally was the red '57 Chevy (Illinois Ave). This dark blue Pontiac represents Park Place the second most expensive property on the board. It is a bit of weird selection with so many more luxurious and expensive cars out there to choose from (in series two Boardwalk is a BMW) but it is one of the better looking vehicles of release one. Also like all other vehicles in series one it comes with a bonus game token which is also very well detailed even with the little top of the engine coming out of the bonnet. On the boot of this vehicle (trunk) is an image of the Park Place card you get when you purchase the property in the game. It is very well detailed with everything that is on the actual game card. On the roof is the moustache top hat guy holding his cane (like on the packaging as seen inside the Monopoly word). That very word symbol in the red rectangle is also on the doors and bonnet. I have all of the 12 first release Monopoly Johnny Lightning cars and can testify that this is one of the best vehicles of that release. These vehicles were also rereleased with an additional six new vehicles as series two, but with different packaging. So depending on if you're into keeping your vehicles in their packaging you may want to consider which series to buy from. Series one's packaging is purple on the left, and green on the right. Has the Monopoly Man in a car on the purple side and getting given some cash on the right. The five properties behind the car are Boardwalk, Luxury Tax (obscured by dice), Park Place, Chance and Short Line. There was a competition mentioned in the top left corner and on the back of the card. Series two replaced the dice with a big "bonus game token" red and yellow arrow, just in case you hadn't noticed the token before. The properties were replaced by the orange ones as well as Community Chess, and the top half of the packaging has a blue background. The initial twelve cars and their bonus token including this one are exactly the same. If you're going to take them out and throw away the packaging then it matters not which series you buy, get whichever is cheaper. Johnny Lightning cars are always well done and much better detailed than anything Matchbox, Hotwheels or anyone else puts out.-- James N Simpson.

MONOPOLY ILLINOIS AVE'57 CHEVY CAR

The Illinois Ave red Chevy is definitely one of the best cars to not just come out of release one of Johnny Lightning's Monopoly series but all the Monopoly series as well. This nicely detailed Chevy is one of only two properties' (not including rail roads or utilities) in the first release of twelve vehicles. The other incidentally was the Park Place Pontiac Tempest. These vehicles were also rereleased with an additional six new vehicles as series two, but with different packaging. So depending on if you're into keeping your vehicles in their packaging you may want to consider which series to buy from. Series one's packaging is purple on the left, and green on the right. Has the Monopoly Man in a car on the purple side and getting given some cash on the right. The five properties behind the car are Boardwalk, Luxury Tax (obscured by dice), Park Place, Chance and Short Line. There was a competition mentioned in the top left corner and on the back of the card. Series two replaced the dice with a big "bonus game token" red and yellow arrow, just in case you hadn't noticed the token before. The properties were replaced by the orange ones as well as Community Chess, and the top half of the packaging has a blue background. The initial twelve cars and their bonus token including this one are exactly the same. If you're going to take them out and throw away the packaging then it matters not which series you buy, get whichever is cheaper. On the bonnet of this vehicle (hood) is an image of the Illinois Avenue card you get when you purchase the property in the game. It is very well detailed with everything that is on the actual game card. On the roof is the moustache top hat guy holding his cane (like on the packaging inside the Monopoly word). That very word symbol in red rectangle, is also on the doors and boot (trunk). --James N Simpson See more.

MONOPOLY 70th ANNIVERSARY '57 CHEVY BEL AIR - ORIENTAL AVE

If you're collecting these Johnny Lightning (note not Hasbro as the seller selling through Amazon has listed, Hasbro owns the rights to the Monopoly name licence) vehicles and you're having trouble finding the Honda race car detailed Oriental Ave from the fourth release of Monopoly vehicles then this will fill that property square nicely instead of or as an temporarily. Being that it is a double up of a previous Monopoly property car has made this a lot less sort after (as is the case with most of the 5th series or 70th anniversary as they are called cars) than most other Monopoly cars so you can get it fairly cheap. The Release 4 Honda is usually a lot more expensive probably also due to the fact that it is the only Honda car of its type on the board and this is not the only 57 Chevy Bel Air. Illinois Ave from release 1 (also rereleased with release 2) was also a Chevy 57 Bel Air, it was red. It is a nice looking car though, it even has those old school tyres with the white circle on them. Disappointing though it doesn't have an Mr Monopoly in action pictures on the car, all it has is the Oriental Ave property card on the doors. Like all 70th anniversary vehicles the bonus token that looks like the die-case car is a lot shinier silver than the grey of most previous bonus tokens. --James N Simpson See more.