EARLY MATCHBOX (Moko/Lesney/Matchbox)

62-C, Mercury Cougar,  1/86 scale. Introduced 1968, discontinued 1970.

Unpainted metal grill and base, opening doors, metallic lime green paint in various shades.

1968 to 1969 wheels has chrome metal hubs with black tires. In 1970 these became Superfasts.

I have this one in my collection.  My favorite year of Cougar.

Posted by: @david-green

Unpainted metal grill and base, opening doors, metallic lime green paint in various shades.

....and posable steering ("auto steer"). This MB had it all!

@david-green 

Another model I never new existed. thanks.

63-A, Army Ford 3 Ton 4x4 Service Ambulance,  1/100 scale. Introduced 1959, discontinued 1964.

Army green with Red Cross on white circle on both sides. Black plastic wheels.

David;  I have #62 General Service Lorry, but thanks to your post I now realize that I am missing #63.  The hunt begins.....

Update:  The hunt is over.  Lol.

12-B, Land Rover Series II,  1/68 scale. Introduced 1959, discontinued 1965.

Back in 1955, Lesney Matchbox released a small Land Rover that I presented here a few months ago. I did not show the two follow up versions that were made before 1970.

This revised, slightly larger than the 12-A version was dark green with a black metal base.  First issues had grey plastic wheels changing to black later.It looks very similar to the first issue.

Great looking MB!

12-C, Land Rover Safari  1/72 scale. Introduced 1966, discontinued 1970.

This one had three colour variations up to 1970 with the final one using Speedwheels for the last few months of 1969.

1966 Green with black metal base and brown plastic luggage on the roof, clear windows. Black plastic wheels.

1967 to 1969. Blue with black metal base and red plastic luggage on the roof, clear windows. Black plastic wheels.

This is the one shown on Chris Sweetman's New Year message.

Late 1969. Metallic yellow green with black metal base and brown plastic luggage on the roof, clear windows. Black with chrome plastic Speedwheels.

Note the complete Matchbox list for late 1969-1970 on the card back.

Very cool!

Here is another that I did not cover back at the start.

1-D, Averling Barford Road Roller,  1/86 scale. Introduced 1962, discontinued 1967.

Green body, high peaked canopy. one hole in baseplate, green driver. Red plastic rollers. Made in England on canary bottom, changed to on base in 1967.

I have A thru C...but for some reason I now realize I missed this one.  Thanks David!

A childhood favorite!

Here is the last of the MB-1 Lesney Matchbox models issued prior to 1970

1-E, Mercedes-Benz Lorry,  1/87 scale. Introduced 1967, discontinued 1981.

1967-69 Turquoise body with blue tinted windows, chrome plated plastic base, black plastic wheels and orange plastic canopy.

This one switched to Speedwheels in late 1969 and was around until 1981. It was paired with a matching trailer.

2-D, Mercedes-Benz Trailer,  1/87 scale. Introduced 1968, discontinued 1970.

Yep! We all had that truck but didn't know about that trailer until years later. 

Q: By being produced for 15 years (1967-1981) ...was this regarded as one of the longest production runs?