June 17 Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Nigel Cooper...

Ambassador Report 43

INTRODUCTION

I was grateful to all those collectors who were able to confirm that the China label affixed to a blister pack I showed last week was offering two models for the price of one. If you have a Matchbox related query, perhaps we can pool knowledge to answer the question. Two queries are shown in the History section. 

MATCHBOX ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

1. Will all of the new licensed castings come without interiors?  No.

2. I sincerely hope the 'premium' line anticipated for 2015 still comes into existence and ALL have diecast bodies and chassis, no more absurd fictional cranes in the premium collector series either please... PLEASE! Can you give us an update please? 

We will provide an update on this series next month.  With the exception of one vehicle, they will all be licensed vehicles. Stay tuned.

3. I love the reports on models past, and would like to know if it would be possible to continue in the future. I love to see all the versions, colours and trims that were available, and I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into making this part of the report very interesting. What is the Matchbox team's view? 

We enjoy this as well.  The content of future reports will depend on the format chosen by the future Ambassador.

 4.  Why does this new Ford casting not have an interior??? It is already half plastic... this is pathetic, first the otherwise promising Toyota lifeguard truck ruined by solid black windows and now this? Why are more people not upset... it's as though we are reverting 20-30 years in the diecast world suddenly... this would not fly in a new Hot Wheels, why here in the Matchbox division? As someone who would like to spend a few more dollars on Matchbox how could they ruin an otherwise well executed casting? I would consider myself an optimist among the Matchbox faithful relative to the future of the brand and even I am beginning to wonder why everything is still sliding down this irreversible slope? 

We are sorry that you feel that we are “Sliding down an irreversible slope”. Since this truck has a tilting stake bed, it could not have a separate interior due to parts count which is generally 4 parts.  We think that the tilting bed is a more important play feature. 

To your comment about Hot Wheels, they also have models that don’t have interiors in their basic line.

5. Since the Chevy K-1500 4x4 casting has returned, is there any possibility of getting the Ford F-150 4x4 casting redone again? (Sorry, I don't know the casting/tool numbers). They made a great pair when they were in the basic range back in the 1990's when I was a kid, would love to see the Ford return so the Chevy has its counterpart. And, as that Chevy Van has a current tool, are there any plans for a 4x4 base for the current tooling as well? That was another of my favorites when I was a kid. 

The Ford F-150 4x4 was a fun casting.  Not sure if we would bring it back again due to the tool condition.  The Chevy Van started out with a 4X4 base. We converted it to the stock configuration.  We won’t change it back.

6. The Ford Stakebed needs some modifications before release: along with adding the interior the base needs to be retooled because the front bumper needs to stick out a little more and the rear gas tanks looked warped (bent down) in these pictures. Otherwise nice! 

Thanks for your comments but there is nothing wrong with the Ford Stake Bed in fact this model was developed in cooperation with Ford and approved by them.

7. Now to the real cake; the Ford F-350 Stake Bed Truck. It is absolutely perfect. This is how I would have loved to see the Unstoppable theme executed. Licensed, realistic trucks with realistic designs, and play value. This has it all: it's a Ford, has a fresh livery, and a tilting stake bed. Beautiful. I am also ecstatic that the generation of Ford F-series chosen was not the same as the F-550 Mini Pumper or the F-350 Superlift. I prefer this version of the F-350 because the newer versions look too bold and chintzy, whereas this generation has a more resolute and determined front fascia. I have also noticed that the inside grille (the two bars with the brackets around them) is actually from the newer generation of F-series, not compatible with that older generation F-350. However, the surrounding grille-piece is still a correct part of that generation truck. That is surely on the odd side, maybe by Ford's request? Weird quibbles like this, however, make models that much more interesting and admirable! 

We agree. Thanks for your comments.

NEW RELEASES

2 new Sky Buster Deco’s:  Flight Strike & Twin Blast.

2 new deco’s for mainline singles.  The retooled Highway Maintenance Truck MB954.  Now has the front plow blade as part of the chassis rather than a separate part. Also shown is the Jeep Hurricane.

Another new model is this Creature Catcher Helicopter that will include a giant Bear that can be captured by a claw that can be raised and lowered by a cable.

A Little More History

Why does the 55/15 Ford Sierra show Made in England on the base but was not cast as a Lesney model? Was this the only model produced in this way as I thought all made in England models were made by Lesney?

I am unable to shed much light on this question and so further comments are welcome. I know that the model was released at the same time as the real car and Ford had worked with Matchbox in providing photographs and information to ensure that the model was as accurate as possible for many months beforehand. Indeed, the special box in which the first models were packaged was designed by Ford. Given the fact that the model had been some time in the making one would expect Lesney to feature on the base. 

I have a part resin model in silver with red and black XR4i tampo which has the axles held in place by tape. The base is plastic but instead of the usual casting it has the following words lightly cast, “WARNING – Salesman’s Sample Only and for reasons of safety must NOT be given to children. PROPERTY OF LESNEY PRODUCTS PLC.”

A red XR4i pre-production model has a Made in England Matchbox Toys Ltd base whilst a blue pre-production model has no model number but it does have 1983 cast with a Made in Thailand Matchbox Toys Ltd base. 

Why did the #48 Unimog, which had a copyright 1983 base, still have "Made by Lesney" included on the base lettering, when all other models from this time were now Made in Macau with “Matchbox International” bases?

I have always thought this strange as most 1982 models are Lesney, though there are a small number of models such as the Fire Engine and Datsun 280ZX which have 1982 baseplates yet are Matchbox International made in Macau, not England suggesting that the manufacturing changes took place in 1982. Paul Carr was able to offer an explanation.

Paul told me that the Unimog had been designed some years before it was released as for some reason it was decided not to proceed prior to any further work on the moulds. The model would never have seen the light of day but for the fact that some new apprentice toolmakers had just successfully passed their year’s apprenticeship and were taken on at the Chingford toolroom where tooling work on moulds took place. As the Unimog mould was only occupying shelf space it was decided that one of their first projects was to complete the work on mould. They made such a good job of their work that the decision was taken to release the model after all. (The body of the original Unimog is also shown for comparison purposes before it became part of the twin pack range). 

Obviously models like the Renault 5TL and Police Patrol carried on being made into 1984/5 in England and maintained the Lesney base into 1984. It is interesting to learn how a new 1983 model with Lesney on the base could be released when the company had gone bust and into receivership in 1982. It was almost as though the Unimog was a last tribute to Lesney and Made in England!!

I have received several requests to examine further Lesney Superfast models in a little more detail and there is far more interest in passenger cars than any other type of vehicle. Thus we are looking at two cars from 1978. The 1978 catalogue was the first for many years to specifically indicate which new models would be released that year. Twelve were shown within the range, though three of these had been previewed in the 1977 catalogue. A further six new models were previewed in the 1978 catalogue. Of these eighteen models, only three were passenger vehicles and as the Jeep CJ6 was not strictly speaking a car, this leaves only the Ford Escort RS2000 and the Datsun 260Z 2 + 2.  

The rather beautiful AMX Javelin was replaced in the range by the equally impressive Ford Escort RS2000 at #9. The Javelin would however remain in the Two Pack range until 1982. Pre-production examples of the Ford can be found in a bright red shade which would have been a good choice in production. 

Instead Lesney chose white, enhanced by no less than four labels: “Ford” to the bonnet; “Shell” to the roof and “9” to each side. The shell emblem on the roof label can be found centrally located or slightly toward the front. The side labels come in two distinctly different lengths and rare examples have rounded edges. Such was the desire to use up paint that though the base plate was usually painted gloss black, it may also be found in matt black, charcoal, dark grey, blue-grey or an extremely dark metallic brown. However a very small run had silver painted bases, which to some is considered a far more attractive look and creates further interest. 

   

The windows were clear as standard, although a relatively small run were made with amber glass, which attracts a small premium. The interior was dark beige as standard, although it can also be found in a bright creamy beige shade, or pink-tan, and the very desirable red colour. The wheels were almost always dot dash on this model, although on the white version very rarely it can be found with 5 arch wheels or maltese cross. These are extremely rare.   

It was perhaps a curious decision for Lesney to give this sports version of the saloon car a tow hook, but this proved useful when in 1980 the Escort replaced the Capri in the Two Pack 5 “Weekender” set, towing the Boat & Trailer (another former #9). In these sets the Escort can be found in white as above or in powder blue with four “Phantom” labels. This model came with clear or smoky white windows, and a gloss black or charcoal base. Cross over models do exist in white with “Phantom” labels in reasonable numbers, so should not be too hard to find. The blue model could also be found packaged on single blister cards.

In the 1981 catalogue the Escort was shown in the miniatures range with “Castrol” labels, although the labels were only pre-production and indeed it was never actually released like this.  

In 1982 the colour of both the single and Two Pack release was changed to metallic green, although in the USA both single and Two Pack versions were deleted. In the green guise the labels changed again to a seagull image, and on the sides the seagull could face forward or backwards, such that four combinations exist. The base was still gloss black as standard, but could also be found in satin black. The interior was mostly found in dark beige, although it can also be found, without too much effort, in an attractive white. Red interiors can be found in extremely small quantities and this variation is much sought after. Indeed in 2012 an example sold at a leading auction house for no less than £1,300, and that was before commission!  

The last examples of this superb and authentic model produced were in a non metallic dark green with the dark beige interior. This version retained the seagull labels, but curiously almost all examples have the seagull facing backwards on both sides. Occasionally one seagull can be found facing forward but these are rare, and I have yet to see an example with both seagulls facing forward! 

The Ford Escort RS2000 was deleted in 1983 in favour of a revamped AMX Javelin, highly modified and as a result losing almost all of its original appeal. It would perhaps have been wiser simply to re-colour the Escort again! 

The Ford Escort was revived in 1985 as part of the Super GT range, with the standard black plastic base and windows and lacking an interior. It appeared both as an England and a China issue, in red, beige, blue, purple or rarer yellow bodies with various tampo print.  (Unfortunately I cannot take photos of these models at present).

The Datsun 260Z 2 + 2 was introduced in the #67 position, in a purple shade which varied in tone including burgundy. The model was enhanced with opening doors, and included a cream interior, clear windows and a matt black metal base plate. Some versions appeared with a charcoal base. Apart from also being available with a yellow interior, this model remained unchanged into 1981. Some pre-production models are shown below.

As with so many models during that year, it was given a makeover, which resulted in a silver body with a red interior. This version again came with a matt black or charcoal base, although additionally it could be found with a blue grey or very dark brown base, and occasionally smoke windows. A rare and desirable version in silver can be found with the cream interior from the purple version.  

In 1979 the TP-21 was a new release comprising the #51 Citroen SM which had by then been deleted in the miniatures range, towing a specially created casting, a Motorbike Trailer with three yellow bikes, which bore a remarkable similarity to those found on the back of the #60 Holden Pick-Up! These models both came in metallic blue, and are shown again in both the 1980 and 1981 catalogues. However although never shown, this duo could also be found with the Datsun replacing the Citroen, in the same metallic blue shade and with a cream interior. Rare versions can be found with a red interior, which indicate this sought after variant must have been found in 1981 once red interiors started to be produced for the silver version.

  

In 1982 the silver body had red and black tampo print applied and the interior was changed to white. This was available as a single issue or in the new TP-30 towing a very attractive black and yellow #5 Seafire. 

No Two Packs were advertised in 1983 and the single miniature was deleted in favour of another modified model originally released in 1972 like the Javelin: the #44 Boss Mustang, now at #67, sprayed in black with tampo print and named the IMSA Mustang.  

However in the 1984 catalogue the TP-107 includes #67 Datsun, now towing the #31 Caravan! Still in silver but now with a black interior and two tone blue stripes tampo, this model is not seen again in a Matchbox catalogue, yet was made available in several other guises, all made in England into 1985. These later versions had the opening doors cast shut, and include a plain silver model with silver base and black interior, and a plain black model with a gloss black base and black or white interior. These can be found with Lesney bases and then Matchbox International bases, in Twin Packs with the #9 Boat & Trailer! These last variants can also be found with opaque white glow windows from the Glow Racer sets which varied in opacity! 

Finally the casting was sent to China, and in much the same way as the #55 Ford Cortina with sealed doors, was used as a test piece by apprentices and with a tampo design much the same as the 1984 Two Pack version in silver, except that rather than two tone blue, the tampo was now blue and green. Such pieces were never officially released outside of China. In 1989 the moulds for this Datsun were sent to Bulgaria. A huge range of colours were applied and just some are shown below.

I am grateful to Graham Tomlinson for his help with the compilation of this article.

Nigel Cooper      17^th June 2014

June 10th Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Nigel Cooper...

Ambassador Report 42

INTRODUCTION

For many years I have received a complimentary magazine called Toys and Games, sent because I used to attend the Annual Toy Fair in London when Matchbox had a huge stand. There were inevitably queues to get on to the stand and it was always the highlight of the year. Sadly, Mattel decided many years ago that they did not need to attend the Toy Fair and to my mind many potential sales were lost as all major competitors attended and displayed their wares.

The June magazine had exclusively Mattel logos on the front cover and I wondered whether I dared hope that there would be some mention of Matchbox within its pages. I learned that Mattel was the biggest spending toy company on advertising in the UK and that Hot Wheels has a new concept involving plastic track lanes which would be heavily advertised in all forms of media. It was a forlorn hope but I scanned the pages all relating to Mattel. Predictably, there was not a word about Matchbox ……..

MATCHBOX ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

This feature has been held over until next week.

NEW RELEASES 

The Austin Minivan returns for this year in the City Works 5 pack and is a new colour scheme for 2014.

These next models will be part of the singles assortments. Note that the Tractor Plow tool had been revised.  The manufacturing number is now MB 950.  The upper cab is now plastic instead of die-cast.

This Sky Buster called Duel Tail has a fresh decoration. (In the UK we would know a duel as a gentleman’s fight generally with swords and this Skybuster would be known as Dual Tail, but I guess the American spelling will be used worldwide.)

A Little More History

I can never satisfy every collector all of the time in these jottings. There are few collectors who want or can afford to collect all Matchbox models and so interest varies from one article to another. Some collect thematically or from particular eras. I receive requests to look at various models from different times. I am departing from the norm in this article as I am looking at a wide variety of models whose only connection is that they were never released.

Like many of you I am most interested in seeing what might have been. Many times I have seen a model which was a rejected colour trial or simply a pre-production version, which I think was superior to the released model. I am fascinated by these models. In the regular wheel days there were boxes that hinted towards what might have been. Thus I make no apology for an indulgence as I look at a few of my favourite pre-pros from across the years in various ranges and times.

Not many people were aware that another military model was destined to join the regular wheel range in the 1960s. It was to have been a tank – the Centurion Tank. However, even though other models had cost slightly more to produce than others, the Centurion would have been sold at a considerable loss. Les Smith told me that he had said to Jack Odell that there were too many military models in the range anyway – “It was top heavy”. Odell had another idea. He would make some larger vehicles that would not have to fit into a specific box size but would sit comfortably alongside the cars in the range. Thus the Tank ended up on the back of a Transporter and would make an excellent addition to a collection of military models and models could be individually priced.

I believe in those days that the amount of metal used to produce a King Size or Major Pack model was such that a pre-production model almost always found its way back into the recycling bin. I only know of the M-7 Cattle Truck in a different livery which appeared on an auction site relatively recently with a blue cab and a bronze trailer. Odell changed his mind on Major Packs and said they were neither miniatures nor 1:43 scale models which could be competition for Dinky or Corgi vehicles. Thus it was decided in 1966 that the Major Packs would end and be replaced by a larger scale King Size range. Although the M-9 Cooper Jarrett Truck and double trailer remained available for a few more years, the other models were either subsumed into the new King Size range or withdrawn. The GMC Tractor with Hopper Train was a massive model which had just been released in 1965. It was probably this model which signified the end of the Major Pack series. It was quickly modified to become K-4 instead of M-4. The very early Major Pack model is shown below with comparatively rare grey plastic tyres, together with a pre-production M-4 example with various odd fittings.

The regular wheel models shown are all colour trials. When the 33a Zodiac was being considered for a recolour, the metallic blue paint from the 44a Rolls Royce was tried but in the end a two-tone version was decided upon. The grey plastic wheels fitted to the Ford show that it was painted in this colour some years after its initial release. The Mustang was possibly considered for this metallic blue colour and maybe white was decided upon instead. No undercoat was used as it was just painted to decide upon a general colour. The GMC Pininfarina was a concept car and is shown here with standard regular wheel tyres before Superfast came along.

I never had much interest in King Size models for many years though I know that collections belonging to Charlie Mack, Everett Marshall and the late Wolfie Ginsburg contain some impressive models. Several of the later King Size pre-production models passed through my hands but one model that fascinated me was the K-8 Caterpillar Traxcavator with 1970 cast on to the base. Some variations are shown below. The silver version was produced for the ill-fated Big MX range and like the other models in this range once modified, could not be used to make standard models again. Note the casting differences on these silver models. At some time it was considered to fit tiny Superfast wheels but this never came to fruition.

When the Superfast range was being developed, it was decided that there ought to be competition with Hot Wheels in terms of paint colours. Matchbox had usually stuck to authentic liveries with regular wheel models and so this was a complete change of direction. It was therefore necessary to consider alternative colours. Some of the early colours were deemed to be too plain though today they may hold a certain charm.

The Faun Dump Truck figured prominently in the range for many years with a variety of names. It was first released in 1976, made in England with Lesney bases. Here are two colour schemes which were not chosen.

Colour Trial models and pre-production models continued to proliferate when the manufacturing switched to Macau. There was to have been a range advertising well known confectionery and beverage products but again the idea was dropped.

The next four models shown were considered for a Cartoon range but maybe because of licensing problems the idea was shelved.

When production moved to China, these were three of the models which did not make it. The white Jaguar SS was produced for a paper company in Australia. I have no idea why the project failed.

These three models were produced in Thailand. They all varied in some way for the actual model which was issued though the colour schemes are similar.

These three models have blank bases and so I do not know where they were made.

Finally, I am indebted to Peter Stevens who found this blister card for me with what looks like a Chinese label attached. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who can throw some light on this particular sticker.

Nigel Cooper      10^th June 2014