by Nick Jones
The Setra Coach 12d is fairly common painted metallic gold but it can also be found in yellow gloss, metallic crimson and metallic purple. Green-tinted or clear plastic windows and a grey or white roof add to the variations available.
In 1970 Matchbox belatedly made a model of that British icon the Mini. The Racing Mini 29d was first released in metallic bronze, followed by orange gloss, and then red gloss. The red version with the racing number 3 sticker seems to be the hardest one to find.
Superfast models worth looking out for include the Ford Cortina 25d in metallic brown, the Faun Eight-Wheeled Crane 30c in red gloss with orange gloss crane boom, the Iron Fairy Crane 42c in an orangy-red gloss with a yellow gloss crane boom, the Refrigerator Truck 44c with a red gloss cab and turquoise gloss box, the Mercedes Benz 300SE 46c in metallic blue, the Ford Zodiac 53c in light metallic blue, the Morris 1100 64b in green gloss, and the Volkswagen 1600TL 67b in red gloss. There are a few other more common transitionals but these are the ones that are most sought after.
The Lamborghini Miura 33c can be found in the Superfast colour of gold with regular wheels and also in regular-wheels yellow fitted with Superfast wheels; both types can be found with a towing hitch cast into the front of the baseplate, but these are quite rare. There is also a bronze version with red seats that is fairly rare, and rarer still are yellow Miuras with white interior.
In 1970 Lesney at last released a Mini, the Racing Mini 29d. Originally intended to have the door handles, hinges and door outline cast in, it eventually went on sale with these details omitted so that it could be fitted with large stickers along the sides. However, a few were released with the door detailing and are eagerly sought by collectors. The standard colours for this model were metallic bronze, orange gloss or red gloss, but colour trials are known to exist in metallic gold or light blue gloss (a Swedish promotional).
The Formula 1 Racing Car 34f can be painted metallic dark pink, metallic blue, orange gloss or yellow gloss. The metallic blue is the hardest to find because it was available only in the Team Matchbox Superfast Champions G-4 gift set.
Ten models were not converted to Superfast, the reason usually given for this being that they were unsuitable for conversion, but many of the full-size vehicles were no longer being built and so the models were being phased out anyway. Another from the same year was the Ford Group 6 45c and the first release was in green gloss, which is very rare. Also in 1970 the Dodge Charger Mk III 52c joined the range. It was based on a futuristic prototype that never went into production but it showed in what direction the range was heading.
In 1971 the range shifted more towards the outlandish hot-rods and prototypes. The Dodge Dragster 70c was a prime example, with its lift-up Funny Car body and chromed V8 engine. Although it was always painted light or dark pink, there are at least seven different base colours, and more if the shades are counted. The Road Dragster 19e, Freeman Inter-City Commuter 22d and Alfa (Romeo) Carabo 75c also made it into the range, increasing the numbers of prototype and show cars, and it would be only a few years until there were hardly any normal road cars left. The following year saw the introduction of the Gruesome Twosome 4d, the Volks-Dragon 31d, the Vauxhall Guildsman 40d, the Blue Shark 61c and the Slingshot Dragster 64c; these were all fantasy cars that were never made. Although the various beach buggies, hot Volkswagens and custom cars were popular, the inclusion of Italian supercars, show cars, prototypes and fantasy cars that were rarely if ever seen on the roads meant that for the most part they would not be recognisable to children. Gone were the days when you could buy a Matchbox model of Dad’s car.
Hot Volkswagens and beach buggies were always popular. The Baja Buggy 13e was always painted metallic green and can be found with a variety of stickers but the one to look out for is fitted with the two-seat interior from the Beach Hopper 47d.
Introduced in 1973 were the ‘Rolamatics’, a small group of models with additional features that were intended to increase play value. These were operated by a peg on one of the wheels that when pushed along would turn a cam and drive each of the model’s special features. Among them was the Piston Popper 10e, which had the top of the engine moulded in clear plastic and was fitted with red plastic pistons that would bounce up and down as the car was pushed. It was normally painted blue or yellow but one issue was produced in white specifically for the German market and is quite rare to find today. Another unusual Rolamatic was the Turbo Fury 69d, which had large fans sticking out of the back that would revolve as it was pushed along. The model was always painted red but is quite rare when found with scorpion decals. The Weasel 73d was an armoured car with a revolving turret that was painted in various shades of green, but the bronze version is quite rare.
By 1975 the ‘1-75’ series consisted of only five normal road-going cars, but it was a turning point as the number of fantasy cars began to decline, being replaced with normal road-going cars. Admittedly these were ‘hotted up’ with ‘go faster’ stripes and the like but they were models of actual cars that could be seen on the road every day. Fortunately most of the commercial vehicles still represented actual vehicles. The Daimler ‘Londoner’ Bus 17e, which was first made in 1972, had appeared in various colours with either ‘Carnaby Street’, ‘Berger Paints’ or ‘Esso Extra Petrol’ labels, but can also be found with ‘Baron of Beef’ labels, one of three different ‘Sellotape’ labels, ‘Interchemicals and Plastics’, ‘Ilford HP5 Film’, ‘Eduscho Kaffee’ or ‘Borregaard Paper’ labels, all of which are hard to find and fetch a premium over the standard Berger issues.
The Dragon Wheels 43d and the Dodge Dragster 70c were both based on Funny Car dragsters with flip-up bodies and blown V8 engines. The Dragon Wheels was available only in two shades of green. The Dodge was available in pink or yellow, but with a variety of base colours and stickers.
The majority of high-value pieces are the earlier transitionals but a few later issues, made after 1975, are sought after. The two chopper trikes, the Stingeroo 38d and the Chop Suey 49c with chromed forks, are both very rare. The Tow Joe Wrecker 74c is usually found in green or yellow but also occurs in red, which is hard to find, and also in yellow with ‘Hitch Hiker’ labels. Another wrecker, the Ford Heavy Wrecker 71c, is quite common in red and white with ‘Esso’ labels, but the dark blue version that did not have labels is rather rare. Another very hard-to-find model is the Sambron Jacklift 48e. The first release, possibly consisting of surplus promotional models, has the name ‘Sambron’ printed on the sides. The name was quickly deleted, so the named versions have become quite sought after.
This is a ‘Rolamatic’ model, one of several made whose play value Lesney tried to enhance with added features. Push the Piston Popper 10e and the pistons would go up and down. It was powered by a peg on the inside of the front wheel.
Some Superfast components were shipped to Brazil, where they were painted and assembled; these usually have a ‘Roly Toys’ label stuck to the base, but after several decades quite often the labels will have come off. Brazilian issues are usually painted in unusual colours that are not normally seen on British Matchbox toys. Likewise, Hungary and Bulgaria also had their own Matchbox cars. These were made using British dies but the bodies were cast, painted and assembled overseas and have the country of manufacture embossed on the base. Hungarian and Bulgarian models were also painted in a wide variety of colours and may well have non-standard interior colours. Bulgaria also chrome-plated and metal-coated various models.
Japan also had its own range of Superfast models. These used British baseplates and normally came in the standard colours, but they were always packed into boxes with Japanese script, which were not generally available outside Japan.
The Brazilian issues are quite rare and not seen much outside South America. The Hungarian and Bulgarian issues are generally available and do not usually command much of a premium. Some of the Japanese issues were re-imported back to the United Kingdom by collectors and dealers, so are generally available with their Japanese boxes, but th
ese do fetch a moderate premium over standard models.
ACCESSORY PACKS, MAJOR PACKS AND THE KINGSIZE RANGE
By 1956 the miniatures or ‘1-75’ series had grown into Lesney’s best-selling range of toys and they wanted to build upon that success. This was done by introducing a collection of small-scale toys that were too large to fit into the standard-size Matchbox, yet still looked right when sat next to the miniatures. At this time the early large-scale toys were all taken out of production and the Accessory packs and the Major packs were launched. All bar one of the Accessory packs were not vehicles and they included Esso A-1a or BP A-1b Petrol Pumps and Sign, a Garage A-3a, a set of eight Road Signs A-4a and a Shop A-5a. The one vehicle that was included in the Accessory packs range was the Bedford Articulated Car Transporter A-2a, which is usually found in blue, but just before the model was deleted it was recoloured to red and grey, which is hard to find. There were variants fitted with metal wheels, grey and later black plastic wheels and enhanced with several different decals, so a complete line-up of this model’s different variations takes up a lot of shelf space.
Accessory pack A-1a, Esso Petrol Pumps and Sign, from 1957 and the A-1b BP Petrol Pumps and Sign that replaced it in 1963. The Esso set is fairly common but the BP set is slightly rarer, especially if it still has the plastic attendant, light stands and the box.
The Bedford Car Transporter A-2a was first made in 1957. On the top deck at the rear is the Ford Station Wagon 31b and in front the Jaguar 3.8 litre 65b. On the lower deck at the rear is the Ford Prefect 30a and in front the Cadillac Sixty Special 27c.
The Car Transporter A-2a would perhaps have been better suited to the Major pack range, which followed a few months later in early 1957. The Major packs were a collection of larger small-scale toys that were mostly trucks, but include a Ruston Bucyrus Power Shovel M-4a and a Massey Ferguson Combine Harvester M-5a. Two particular models were extremely popular: the Pickfords Scammell 200-Ton Transporter M-6a, which first appeared in maroon and dark blue, and later in dark red and blue, was a splendid model; likewise, the Hendrickson Double Freighter M-9a, which is probably better known as the ‘Cooper Jarrett’ because it was in that company’s livery. It was released with a blue tractor unit with silver trailers displaying yellow ‘Cooper Jarrett’ decals, but one quite rare version has orange decals and another hard-to-find version has grey trailers. Another one to look out for is the Guy Warrior Car Transporter M-8b, which normally had a turquoise tractor unit and an orange trailer, but small numbers of pre-production examples in all-over turquoise appear to have been sold in normal retail outlets. In 1967 the Major packs range was deleted and the models deemed suitable were moved into the Kingsize range.
A Major pack Massey Ferguson 780 Combine Harvester M-5a that dates from 1959 can have a variety of wheel types and either a metal or plastic steering wheel. The rarest version has yellow plastic hubs front and rear and the version with orange hubs front and rear is almost as rare.
Everyone’s childhood favourite, the Hendrickson Interstate Double Freighter M-9a was a wonderful model with great play value. It is normally found with silver trailers and yellow ‘Cooper Jarrett’ decals. Grey trailers are hard to find, as are silver trailers with orange decals.
The Kingsize range of models at first comprised mostly construction vehicles that were made to fit in with the then current Dinky and Corgi toys, which were made to a larger scale than Matchbox toys – not that Lesney ever kept to a particular scale for any of their models. Most of the range is generally available and there are few rarities but there are one or two worth looking out for. Among them is the Guy Warrior Car Transporter K-8 (formerly M-8), which kept its original Major pack colour scheme of turquoise and orange but was later recoloured to all-over yellow. During the recolour a few were issued with turquoise cabs and yellow trailers. Later another car transporter was released. This was the Daf K-11, which had a blue cab with a gold trailer. It was later recoloured to yellow and orange, but pre-production examples have been found in blue with a silver trailer.
The Thames Trader and Jennings Cattle Truck M-7a joined the range in 1960. The pre-production version in light blue with a metallic copper trailer is extremely rare and even a play-worn example can be worth more than £1,000.
The ‘Freuhof’ Hopper Train M-4b from 1965 was a lovely model but it might have been a better seller if it had been made to a slightly smaller scale as it did not fit in with the 1-75 models being produced at that date. It has no significant variations. In 1967 it was moved into the Kingsize range as the new K-4b.
It was not until K-21 was released that the first car made it into the range. This was the Mercury Cougar, which was painted gold and had red seats, but it is also available with white seats and this variation is quite rare. The next car, the Dodge Charger K-22, was painted metallic blue with a blue interior, but this one can also be found with a pre-production yellow interior, which is very rare. The next two cars were the Mercury Commuter Police Car K-23 and the Lamborghini Miura K-24, which were both copied from existing models in the ‘1-75’ series.
In 1970, at the time when the ‘1-75’ series was being converted to Superfast wheels, there was much disagreement among the Lesney management as to whether the Kingsize range should follow suit. Jack Odell wanted to keep the Kingsize range as it was but he was outvoted by the other company directors and so the Kingsize models were fitted with Superfast-type wheels and renamed ‘Superkings’. But, given the choice, most collectors would have agreed with Jack Odell. There were never any track sets with their loops and high-speed curves made for the Superkings and among collectors it is generally thought that converting the whole range was a total waste of effort. Instead of increasing sales, it probably had the opposite effect. These larger-scale models were not aimed at children but more towards the older teenage collector, and the fitment of Superfast wheels must have made quite a few of these older collectors lose interest. Whoever thought that fitting Speedwheels to construction vehicles would lead to increased sales was sadly mistaken.
The Speedkings Dodge Dragster K-22 from 1971 and the ‘Bazooka’ K-44 from 1973 were supposed to compete with the Dinky and Corgi ranges of the day. Although they were fairly well made they were never great sellers and so are relatively scarce, but they are not widely collected today.
Like the miniatures, many of the Superkings were revamped with brighter colours and a few were also given ‘go-faster’ stripes but on the whole the range was still heavily weighted towards construction, farm and heavy-haulage type vehicles. Eventually the range was split into two: the Superkings would keep the commercial vehicles, and the new range of Speedkings would be made up of cars. By 1974 a third range was added – the Battlekings, which were mostly army tanks and military vehicles, and a fourth range, the Seakings, comprising naval warships, followed by 1976.
Three models released into the Superkings range are of especial interest. The Dodge Twin Tipper K-16 was originally issued in green with yellow tippers and fitted with regular wheels. It was recoloured to yellow with blue tippers and at the same time it got Superfast wheels. The model was deleted shortly after, so the blue and yellow issue is fairly hard to find. It was replaced by the Ford LTS Tanker K-16b, which is seen with a variety of liveries, but the BP version is quite hard to find. Finally, the Bridgelayer K-44 was a wonderful toy with lots of play value, and it was also the biggest toy to appear in the Superkings range.
The Scammell Prime Mover and Trailer with Crawler Tractor K-8. The trailer normally has just the name ‘Laing’ on the sides but the early issue has a much longer decal with ‘Civil Engineering Contractor’ as well. (Vectis)
THE MODELS OF YESTERYEAR
The ‘Models of Yesteryear’ (MoY) range was launched in 1956. It was the brainchild of Jack Odell, who had a passion for vintage trucks, buses and steam vehicles. The range was aimed at adult collectors rather than children and so should have been kept to a set scale, but at least there was a little more use of colour in later years.
The range was originally limited to sixteen vehicles but in 1975 the Hispano Suiza Y-17 broke this rule and by 1983, when Lesney was declared bankrupt and manufacturing in Britain came to an end, the range stood at twenty-five models.
These early steam vehicles date from the mid- to late 1950s. The Sentinel Steam Wagon Y-4 is harder to find with black plastic wheels and the Allchin Y-1 (misspelled ‘Alchin’ on the box) is very rare if fitted with the smooth rear wheels from the Y11, but many fakes exist.
The earliest models are undoubtedly the most sought-after, particularly the 1924 Fowler Showman’s Engine Y-9. It was originally intended to be part of the early large-scale series but owing to the success of the ‘1– 75’ series it was never put into production. Instead, it was scaled down and moved into the Yesteryear range and sold at a premium of 4s 11d (the rest were sold at 2s 3d or 2s 6d), because of the large number of parts and the quantity of decals needed to decorate the model. It was painted dark maroon, maroon or red, but one much sought-after run was produced in purple.
Most of the bright components on this 1912 Packard Landaulet Y-11b, with the exception of the brake lever, were unintentionally not brass-plated. This is what collectors call an error piece.
