Here are some quick phone-camera shots I snapped of this Bluebird Dauphine camper trailer. I got this Matchbox vehicle as a little kid and it is still around. It features an opening door and a rear hitch, although I am a bit perplexed as to what small-scale vehicle I can hook it up to........perhaps the cast of the"Wizard of Oz" or some hot dog will be very happy in their mobile home.
That Vauxhall Cresta was a perfect tow vehicle for the time with its 6 cylinder engine. I have the Matchbox but I also owned the full sized version in 1958.
@david-green My friend's mother had one of these identical to pic 1 below; we used to take it for unauthorized drives as teens. it was a surprisingly peppy car and handled quite well. I drove a variety of Vauxhalls from the 50s and 60s....I would say it was the best of the bunch. I always liked the 2-tone paint application shown in pic 2.
Thank goodness Matchbox/Lesney didn't combine these two lower colors on any of their Vauxhall offerings**......can you imagine how visually revolting that combo might have been?!! Nobody would have bought one......well maybe one person.....
** actually they did....I have one....but don't tell JK!
Here is mine Jack. It was an 18th birthday present from my father. Picked it up in July 1958 in England. Drove it 4000 miles there then had it shipped to Toronto, Canada arriving in early October. Colours were primrose and charcoal.
The last picture is in Ontario, the following Spring with my girlfriend and future wife.
@david-green Primrose and charcoal would be a really attractive color combo; did the roof color sweep down to cover the trunk area as well? Did your father buy the car in LHD in England?
Yes, the charcoal extended back covering the trunk. The car was ordered in Canada with left hand drive. My father originally ordered it in red for delivery to meet us at the docks in Liverpool. My girlfriend, and future wife, suggested the colour change which we agreed to. Lois and I were still 17 when the car was ordered. We married at 22.
By the way, we forgot to change the interior colour. It was two tone red and black leather. Might have been better in grey.
