EARLY MATCHBOX (Moko/Lesney/Matchbox)

I loved this one as a kid and have it in my collection.

55-C, 1965 Ford Galaxie Police Car,  1/73 scale. Introduced 1966, discontinued 1968.

White, red dome light, silver bare metal base, ivory interior and black plastic wheels.

55-D, 1968 Mercury Park Lane Police Car,  1/72 scale. Introduced 1969, discontinued 1970.

This issue came with a blue dome light and chrome metal hubs with black plastic tires. This one is quite rare in either the wheels shown or the superfastst which was introduced in 1970.

Auh...wait a minute here.  One is a Ford the other is a Mercury. 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔 

@chris 

Hi Chris,

Good spotting on your part. That final set of images is 55D 1968 Mercury Park LanePolice Car which came out in 1969. A rare beast that came out only that one year with those wheels changing to superfasts in 1970. This was a little confusion on my part as a Mercury Commuter wagon replaced it in 1971. I have corrected the section above. Thank you.

Posted by: @david-green

@chris 

Hi Chris,

Good spotting on your part. That final set of images is 55D 1968 Mercury Park LanePolice Car which came out in 1969. A rare beast that came out only that one year with those wheels changing to superfasts in 1970. This was a little confusion on my part as a Mercury Commuter wagon replaced it in 1971. I have corrected the section above. Thank you.

No problem...  and I did kind of know that the Mercury sedan is rare compared to the Merc. wagon. Love this series!

@david-green 
Thanks for the post. I found this one quite interesting. Did they make any stock, non-police, versions of these cars?

@ed-davis

Hi Ed,

Unfortunately no. The Fairlane, Galaxies and Park Lane were used again, but as Fire Chief Cars in red as Matchbox 59, which I will add here later.

55-F, Mercury Commuter Police Car,  1/72 scale. Introduced 1971, discontinued 1974

I don't normally cover super fast wheel matchbox here but this one is the last of the American police cars with decals that were only on for 1971 before a fresh 'arrow' decal was added. This one is a station wagon with police gear in the rear and two overhead red lights.

I don't remember this white one....I only remember a green version w/dogs in the back.

@chris 

Hi Christopher,

You are thinking of this casting that was released in 1970 as Matchbox No.73 which had a cream interior with two dogs in the back. I hope to do this one later.

Ed Davis had asked if any of the American Police Cars had been done as regular cars. I guess this one qualifies.

Posted by: @david-green

@chris 

Hi Christopher,

You are thinking of this casting that was released in 1970 as Matchbox No.73 which had a cream interior with two dogs in the back. I hope to do this one later.

Ed Davis had asked if any of the American Police Cars had been done as regular cars. I guess this one qualifies.

Yep, thanks. It would be neat to see that one again.

56-A, AEC London Trolleybus,  1/137 scale. Introduced 1958, discontinued 1964.

Pearldrax decals. Red with black base. Grey metal or black plastic  wheels.

A wonderful looking little bus!

56-B, Fiat 1500,  1/64 scale. Introduced 1965, discontinued 1968.

1965-1968 Turquoise with brown luggage on roof, black wheels, black base.

1968  Red with red luggage.

One of my favorites as a kid but I do not remember the red version.