EARLY MATCHBOX (Moko/Lesney/Matchbox)

40-B, Leyland Royal Tiger Long Distance Coach,  1/145 scale. Introduced 1961, discontinued 1966.

Blue grey with light blue tinted windows and black base.

That's a fine model of a very impressive, quite futuristic long-distance bus ! Those "'57 Chevy" style tailfins are especially cool on this vehicle.

Posted by: @mikedetorrice

That's a fine model of a very impressive, quite futuristic long-distance bus ! Those "'57 Chevy" style tailfins are especially cool on this vehicle.

I recall thinking the same when I got this one as a kid.  I have it in my collection; M but no box.

41-A, Jaguar D-Type,  1/70 scale. Introduced 1957, discontinued 1959.

This is the first D-Type issued by Lesney/Matchbox which was smaller than the next release in 1960. This one is 55 mm long in dark green with a black base and the #41 decal. First issues had metal grey wheels with crimped axles. Later issues had grey plastic wheels. A very rare issue in the final year had the #52 decal. There are fakes of this one. All 41A issues came in the same box type.

See the difference in size between 41A and 41B.

I have these and love them.  No box with my small one though.

@david-green 

Nice. Any idea why they changed the size?

@ed-davis 

About this time they increased the size of several other matchbox models. Budgie and Morestone were putting out competitive models which were closer to 1/64 scale which may have driven the change. Also, some of the dies were wearing out and needed retooling, which gave them the opportunity to increase size simultaneously. This Jaguar D-Type was very popular and sold well.

41-B, Jaguar D-Type,  1/64 scale. Introduced 1960, discontinued 1965.

This 60mm long version is in dark green with a black base and a beige driver. Wheels varied with initially grey wheels with crimped axles. Standard number decal was still #41. The box was revised as shown. Variations included wire wheels, red plastic wheels and occasional use of a #5 or #6 decal.

Impressive!!

41-C, Ford GT,  1/61 scale. Introduced 1965, discontinued 1969.

This model continued in white from 1970 but with Speedwheels and is coded 41-D.

The Ford Gt initially came out in white with blue stripes, number 6 decal, clear windows, red interior and a black base. The standard wheel was yellow plastic but was found also with red plastic wheels. Stripes varied from mid-blue to dark blue. In 1966, for several months, the Ford GT was made with a yellow body.

@david-green 

This is a surprise to me. I did not expect a Matchbox Ford GT. Looks nice.

39-C, Ford Tractor,  1/56 scale. Introduced 1967, discontinued 1972.

This one has a blue body, yellow hood and wheel hubs, black steering wheel and tires. It says Ford Tractor on the base.

An orange version was released in a set with tractor trailer in 1972 and in a revised box.

42-A, Bedford Evening News Van,  1/70 scale. Introduced 1957, discontinued 1964.

Has decal'First With The News'. Yellow with grey metal wheels initially followed by light grey plastic, then black plastic wheels.

I don't have a boxed version of this but show a black wheel version from my files.

This van is a nice one.  Had it MB but lost it; looking to replace it.

42-B, Studebaker Lark Wagoneer,  1/66 scale. Introduced 1965, discontinued 1968.

This is blue with an unpainted metal base. It has a sliding roof panel and the box originally contained a white plastic dog and hunter.

Mine is unboxed without the figures.