1-75+Variations+20-29

For photographs of this series click here [|Matchbox/Lesney 21-30]

** 20A STAKE TRUCK, 2 3/8" (57mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** Maroon body or dark red body, silver or gold trim on grille and side petrol tanks, ribbed bed, no number cast, crimped axles **  ** 1. light green body, silver grille & tanks, mw* **  ** 2. maroon body, gold grille & tanks, mw **  ** 3. maroon body, silver grille & tanks, mw **  ** 4. maroon body, silver grille & tanks, gpw **  ** 5. maroon body, maroon grille & tanks, mw **  ** 6. dark red body, silver grille & tanks, mw **  ** 7. maroon body, dark red grille & tanks, gpw **  ** *Possible trial run, brace behind cab added after this model to strengthen the model **

** 20B ERF 686 TRUCK, 2 5/8" (66mm) 1959 Box types B, C & D ** ** Dark blue body, silver trim, No. 20 cast on black base, 8 plastic wheels on 4 axles, rounded axles except 1, with small (A) or large (B) axle post rims "Ever Ready For Life" decal on sides of body, outlined in orange or red **  ** 1. orange outline decal, open gap between left rear mudguards, rims A, small dark gpw, ca **  ** 2. same as 1, mudguards gap filled in, rims A, small kt gpw, ra **  ** 3. same as 2, larger kt gpw **  ** 4. same as 2, small kt spw **  ** 5. red outline decal, mudguards gap filled in, rims A, small kt gpw, ra **  ** 6. same as 5, rims B **  ** 7. same as 5, rims A, bpw **  ** 8. same as 6, rims B, bpw **

** 20C CHEVROLET IMPALA TAXI CAB, 3" (76mm) 1965 Box type E ** ** Orange/yellow or bright yellow body, ivory or red interior & driver, red "TAXI" decal or label on bonnet, clear windows with tow slot on front baseplate with tow hook, decal background comes in orange, orange/yellow, all yellow **  ** 1. orange/yellow body, ivory interior, unpainted base, red decals, ft gpw **  ** 2. same as 1, small bpw **  ** 3. same as 2, silver/grey base, bpw **  ** 4. same as 2, red interior **  ** 5. same as 4, label **  ** 6. bright yellow body, ivory interior, unpainted base, orange label, bpw **  ** 7. same as 6, red interior **  ** 8. same as 7, yellow label **

** 21A LONG DISTANCE COACH, 2 1/4" (57mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** Light green body, black base, no number cast, silver grille, orange lettered decal "LONDON TO GLASGOW" on sides, metal wheels, crimped axles **  ** 1. light green body, mw, "London to Glasgow" decals **

** 21B LONG DISTANCE COACH, 2 5/8" (68mm) 1958 Box type B ** ** Green body, black base, No. 21 cast on base, silver grille, orange lettered decal "LONDON TO GLASGOW" on sides **  ** 1. light green body, mw, ca **  ** 2. same as 1, dark gpw **  ** 3. dark green body, same as 2 **  ** 4. same as 3, rounded axles **

** 21C COMMER MILK FLOAT, 2 1/4" (57mm) 1961 Box types C, D & E ** ** Pale green body, clear or green tinted windows, ivory or cream bottle load, bottle or cow decal on doors with clear or white decal on roof panel, snap in front & rear baseplate or 2 front rivets holding base to body, with or without silver bumpers **  ** 1. clear windows, clear top decal & bottle side decal, cream load, kt spw, **  ** 2. same as 1, white load **  ** 3. same as 1, green windows **  ** 4. same as 2, green windows **  ** 5. clear windows, white top decal & cow side decal, cream load, kt spw, **  ** 6. green windows, white top decal & cow side decal, cream load, kt spw, **  ** 7. same as 6, white load **  ** 8. same as 6, kt gpw **  ** 9. same as 8, white load **  ** 10. same as 9, small gpw **  ** 11. same as 6, kt bpw **  ** 12. same as 11, white load **  ** 13. same as 6, ft spw **  ** 14. same as 13, white load ** ** 15. same as 6, ft gpw ** ** 16. same as 15, white load ** ** 17. same as 6, ft bpw ** ** 18. same as 17, white load ** ** 19. same as 6, very fine bpw ** ** 20. same as 19, riveted base ** ** 21. same as 19, white load ** ** 22. same as 20, white load **

** 21D FODEN CONCRETE TRUCK, 3" (76mm) 1968 Box types E & F ** ** Orange/yellow body & rotating barrel & gear under body, green tinted windows, 8 black plastic wheels on 4 rounded axles, with & without reinforced braces under 3rd & 4th axles, with metal or plastic pin holding rear barrel, with & without hole in base under 3rd axle, parallel or tapered top to ladder, thin or thick top step, braces or no braces between rear mudguard and platform **  ** 1. metal barrel pin, no brace reinforcement, no hole in baseplate **  ** 2. same as 1, reinforcement under 3rd & 4th axles **  ** 3. same as 1, plastic barrel pin **  ** 4. same as 3, reinforced under axles **  ** 5. same as 4, hole in baseplate **

** 22A VAUXHALL CRESTA, 2 1/2" (63mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** Dark red body, cream or off white roof, silver grille & headlights, black baseplate with tow hook, no windows, no number cast, metal wheels on crimped axles, small brace over middle of front axle, later models without brace (apparently due to worn die) **  ** 1. cream roof **  ** 2. white roof **

** 22B 1958 VAUXHALL CRESTA, 2 5/8" (66mm) 1958 Box types B, C & D ** ** With & without silver grilles, bumpers, tail lights painted, with & without green tinted windows, black baseplate & tow hook, knobby treads, rounded axles **  ** 1. pinkish cream body, no windows, mw, ca **  ** 2. pinkish cream body, no windows, gpw, ca, **  ** 3. pinkish cream body, green windows, gpw **  ** 4. cream body, no windows, gpw **  ** 5. cream body, green windows, gpw **  ** 6. pinkish cream & turquoise body, green windows, gpw **  ** 7. gun grey & turquoise body, green windows, gpw **  ** 8. dull bronze & turquoise body, green windows, gpw **  ** 9. bright bronze & turquoise body, green windows, gpw **  ** 10. grey & pink body, green windows, gpw **  ** 11. grey & pink body, green windows, spw **  ** 12. light metallic gold body, green windows, gpw **  ** 13. light metallic gold body, green windows, ft spw ** ** 14. dark metallic gold body, as 13 ** ** 15. metallic copper body, green windows, ft gpw ** ** 16. metallic copper body, green windows, ft spw ** ** 17. metallic copper body, green windows, ft bpw ** ** 18. as 17, very fine tread bpw **

** 22C PONTIAC GRAN PRIX SPORTS COUPE, 3" (76mm) 1964 Box type E ** ** Dark red to orange red body, light grey interior & tow hook, clear windows, silver grille & headlights,, with & without patent number on rear of baseplate, with & without licence plate under front bumper, with & without tow slot behind licence plate, with plastic or metal door springs, black base, 2 axles, 4 black plastic wheels, bonnet interior has thin or thick ridge behind radiator, with or without 4 retaining posts for metal door springs **  ** 1. plastic door springs, no patent number, licence plate or tow slot **  ** 2. same as 1, with patent number **  ** 3. metal door springs, with patent number, without licence plate, without tow slot **  ** 4. same as 3, with licence plate **  ** 5. same as 4, with tow slot **

** 23A BERKELEY CAVALIER TRAILER, 2 1/2" (65mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** Pale blue body & base, "ON TOW MB23" decal at lower right rear, light door outline, brace between tow bar & foot is set back (A) or even (B) with edge of towing eye, without (A) or with (B) 4 braces on axle cover on base interior, metal wheels on crimped axles **  ** 1. tow bar A, base A **  ** 2. tow bar A, base B **  ** 3. tow bar B, base B **

** 23B BERKELEY CAVALIER TRAILER, 2 1/2" (65mm) 1957 Box type B ** ** "ON TOW MB23" decal at lower right rear, with flat (A) or reinforced circle (B) or extended raised circle on (C) front tow ring, heavy door outline, 2 small pins on baseplate sides hold base to body, open axles, No. 23 cast on base, central brace in interior without rings (A), with ring at rear end (B) or rings at both ends (C) **  ** 1. pale blue body, tow bar A, brace A, mw, ca **  ** 2. same as 1, tow B, brace B **  ** 3. same as 1, tow B, brace C **  ** 4. lime green body, tow B, brace C, mw **  ** 5. same as 4, tow C, brace C **  ** 6. same as 5, kt gpw, ca **  ** 7. same as 6, ra **  ** 8. metallic lime green body, tow C, brace C, kt gpw, ra **

** 23C BLUEBIRD DAUPHINE TRAILER, 2 1/2" (64mm) 1960 Box types B, C & D ** ** "ON TOW MB23" decal at lower right rear, door on left rear side opens, 2 small pins on baseplate sides hold base to body, open rounded axles, flat or reinforced tow hook, thick or thin window pillars, door interior hinge plate with rounded top, 2mm or 3mm flat hinge plate **  ** 1. metallic lime green body, flat tow hook, large kt gpw **  ** 2. metallic tan body, flat tow hook, small kt gpw **  ** 3. same as 2 but with reinforced tow hook, large kt gpw **  ** 4. same as 2 but fine tread **  ** 5. same as 3 but fine tread **  ** 6. same as 2 but small spw **  ** 7. same as 6, reinforced tow hook **  ** 8. same as 7 but with green plastic window insert **  ** 9. same as 7, finer tread gpw **  ** 10. same as 7, finer tread bpw **

** 23D TRAILER CARAVAN, 2 7/8" (74mm) 1965 Box type E ** ** Yellow or pink body with white removable plastic roof, blue removable interior, open or closed axles, left door top even with roof or ends just below, roof, thick or thin drape on verandah, knobby or fine tread black plastic wheels **  ** 1. yellow body, open axles, door top even with roof, kt **  ** 2. same as 2, ft **  ** 3. same as 1, closed axles, kt **  ** 4. same as 1, closed axles, ft **  ** 5. same as 4, pink body **  ** 6. same as 5, door top ends below roof **

** 24A WEATHERILL HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR, 2 3/8" ((58mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** "Weatherhill Hydraulic" decal on rear, No. 24 cast inside body, Lesney cast inside scoop, metal wheels on crimped axles **  ** 1. orange/yellow body **  ** 2. yellow body **

** 24B WEATHERILL HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR, 2 5/8" (67mm) 1959 Box types B, C & D ** ** Yellow body, small & medium front wheels, large rear wheels, crimped & rounded axles **  ** 1. small kt dark gpw, ca **  ** 2. same as 1, rounded axles **  ** 3. same as 2, light gpw **  ** 4. same as 2, medium dark gpw **  ** 5. same as 3, medium front wheels **  ** 6. medium front ft bpw, ra **

** 24C ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW, 3" (76mm) 1967 Box type E ** ** Metallic red body, ivory interior, metal grille, clear windows, black 4 line (without patent number) or 5 line (with patent number) baseplate, with or without tow slot, silver hub caps or solid silver wheels, without or without extension & guides below bumper on base **  ** 1. black plastic wheels, silver hub caps, no patent number, no tow slot **  ** 2. same as 1, with licence plate **  ** 3. silver wheels, black tyres, no patent number, with licence plate **  ** 4. same as 3, with patent number, licence plate & tow slot **

** 25A DUNLOP VAN, 2 1/8" (56mm) 1956 Box type B ** ** Dark blue body, silver trim, black baseplate, No. 25 "Lesney England" cast on base, "DUNLOP" decal in orange-yellow or yellow cast on sides **  ** 1. mw, ca, orange decal **  ** 2. same as 1, large gpw **  ** 3. same as 2, yellow decal **  ** 4. same as 3, ra **  ** 5. same as 4,small gpw, ra **  ** 6. bpw, ra, yellow decal **

** 25B VOLKSWAGEN 1200 SEDAN, 2 1/2" (62mm) 1960 Box types B, C & D ** ** Silver blue body, with or without silver grille, with or without red painted tail lights, clear or green tinted windows, black baseplate, with or without braces on rear base clip, plastic wheels on crimped axles **  ** 1. clear windows, medium kt dark gpw **  ** 2. clear windows, larger wheels kt dark gpw **  ** 3. green windows, medium kt dark gpw **  ** 4. green windows, small kt dark gpw **  ** 5. green windows, medium kt spw **  ** 6. green windows, small kt spw **  ** 7. green windows, large ft gpw **

** 25C PETROL TANKER, 3" (76mm) 1964 Box type E  Yellow hinged cab, green chassis & base, with or without silver grille, white tanker body, "BP" or "ARAL"* decals on sides & rear of tanker, large fine tread plastic wheels on rounded axles  1. "BP" decals, gpw  2. "BP" decals, bpw  3. dark blue cab & chassis, "Aral" decals, bpw


 * ARAL model only produced for European market

25D FORD CORTINA, 2 7/8" (71mm) 1968 Box types E & F Light brownbody invarious shades, ivory interior & tow hook, metal baseplate, grille with tow slot, boot interior with or without studs, ft bpw  1. no roof rack  2. yellow roof rack (supplied as part of Gift Set G4)

26A CONCRETE TRUCK, 1 3/4" (45mm) 1956 Box types B & C Orange body & rotating barrel with short or long barrel stem, gap underneath may be open or closed with infill, silver or gold grille, No. 26 cast, small or medium knobby tread wheels  1. gold grille, short barrel stem, mw, ca  2. same as 1, silver grille  3. same as 2, long barrel stem  4. same as 3, dark gpw  5. same as 4, ra  6. same as 5, light gpw  7. same as 5, spw

26B FODEN CONCRETE TRUCK, 2 1/2" (66mm) 1961 Box types C, D & E Orange body & chassis, plastic rotating barrel, with & without silver grille, with & without reinforcements at rear of baseplate sides, 6 wheels on 3 rounded axles  1. gray barrel,no reinforcement, kt dark gpw  2. same as 1, orange barrel  3. same as 2, with reinforcements  4. same as 3, light gpw  5. orange barrel, no reinforcement, kt bpw  6. same as 5, with reinforcements  7. same as 6, spw  8. same as 3, ft dark gpw  9. same as 8, bpw  10. same as 8, large bpw

26C G.M.C. TIPPER TRUCK, 2 1/2" (67mm) 1968 Box type E Red cab with green windows, green chassis, silver tipper body with swinging rear tailgate, No. 26 cast inside petrol tank, black plastic wheels on 2 rounded axles  1. red cab, green chassis, silver dump, bpw

27A BEDFORD LOWLOADER, 3 1/8" (78mm) 1956 Box type B Silver grille & petrol tanks, with or without triangular braces at rear of trailer mudguards, metal wheels on crimped axles  1. light blue cab, dark blue trailer  2. dark green cab, tan trailer

27B BEDFORD LOWLOADER, 3 3/4" (95mm) 1959 Box type B Silver trim applied to grille, headlight & front bumper or to grille & headlights only, trailer colour varies from light to pale tan  1. light green cab, dark tan trailer, mw, ca  2. same as 1, dark gpw, ca  3. dark green cab, light tan trailer, dark gpw, ca  4. same as 3, rounded axles

27C CADILLAC SIXTY SPECIAL, 2 3/4" (69mm) 1960 Box types B, C & D Silver trim applied to grille, headlight, front & rear bumpers red trim applied to rear lights or silver trim to front only with red rear trim or silver trim to front only no rear trim, red or black baseplate, & tow hook, clear or green windows, white or pink roof, green, silver/grey or lilac coloured bodies, silver, grey or black plastic wheels*  1. green body, white roof, red base, clear windows, kt spw  2. silver-grey body, off white roof, red base, clear window, kt spw  3. same as 2, green windows  4. same as 3, finer tread spw  5. lilac body, pink roof, red base, clear windows, kt spw  6. same as 5, green windows, kt spw  7. same as 5, green windows, finer tread spw  8. same as 5, green windows, finer tread gpw  9. lilac body, pink roof, green windows, black base, kt spw  10. same as 9, finer tread spw  11. same as 6, kt gpw 12. same as 6, ft gpw 13. same as 6, ft bpw


 * Common to find different kinds of wheel on this model as the front wheels & rear wheels were fitted at different stages of the production process. Riveted front wheels were fitted to the base before fixing to the body. The rear wheels are held in place by the body & fitted at the same time as the base.

27D MERCEDES BENZ 230SL, 3" (74mm) 1966 Box types E & F Cream to off-white body in various shades, with or without braces over wheel arches unpainted metal grille, red plastic interior & tow hook, tow hook with or without brace in recess, clear windscreen, black plastic wheels on rounded axles  1. cream body, plastic door springs  2. white body, plastic door springs  3. white body, metal door springs

28A BEDFORD COMPRESSOR TRUCK, 1 3/4" (47mm) 1956 Box type B Silver front & rear grilles, front bumper & tanks behind cab, may be open between tanks or with pillar & flashing, No. 28 cast on base strut, LESNEY ENGLAND under cab roof, metal wheels, crimped axles  1. orange-yellow body  2. yellow body

28B THAMES TRADER COMPRESSOR TRUCK, 2 3/4" (59mm) 1959 Box types B, C & D Yellow body, front & rear grilles, silver trim to varying degrees - compressor radiator with & with silver trim, bumpers silver or plain, compressor engine can have round block between radiator & engine or be closed by infill of varying amounts, round rivet on base front with spread rivet at rear, single front wheels with dual rear wheels, black plastic  1. silver rear grille, large kt wheels, ca  2. same as 1, ra  3. yellow rear grille, large kt wheels, ca  4. same as 3, ra  5. same as 4, finer tread  6. same as 5, very fine tread

28C MARK 10 JAGUAR, 2 3/4" (70mm) 1964 Box type E Light brown body, ivory interior & tow hook, opening bonnet, black baseplate, 4 plastic wheels, with & without silver trim on bumpers  1. tan motor, gpw*  2. tan motor, bpw  3. unpainted metal motor, bpw  *Without MATCHBOX SERIES on base - thought to be pre-production model

28D MACK DUMP TRUCK, 2 5/8" (68mm) 1968 Box types E & F Orange body, green windows, unpainted metal grille & baseplate, 3 open steps under doors, with & without base brace studs under front mudguards, plastic wheels with black tyres  1. red plastic wheels, no brace  2. same as 1, with brace  3. yellow plastic wheels, with brace

29A BEDFORD MILK DELIVERY VAN, 2 1/4" (57mm) 1956 Box type B Tan body, white or cream bottleload & baseplate, No. 29 cast, silver trim applied in varying degrees  1. white load large dark kt grey mw, ca  2. white load, large dark kt gpw, ca  3. cream load, large dark kt gpw, ca  4. same as 3, ra

29B AUSTIN A55 CAMBRIDGE SEDAN, 2 3/4" (68mm) 1961 Box types C & D Light metallic green body, pale green roof & boot, green windows, with & without silver bumpers, grille & headlights, with & without rear painted tail lights, black baseplate & tow hook, thin or rounded brace on each side of rear rivet post  1. kt gpw  2. kt spw  3. ft spw  4. ft gpw  5. ft bpw  6. vft bpw

29C FIRE PUMPER, 3" (76mm) 1966 Box types E & F Red body, unpainted metal grille, bumpers & baseplate, blue windows & dome light, white plastic ladders & hose, with or without orange or yellow "DENVER" decal on doors, with recessed or flat raised door panels, black plastic fine tread wheels  1. orange "Denver" decals  2. yellow "Denver" decals  3. same as 2, tow slot  4. no decals, tow slot  5. same as 4, flat raised door panels **