The Matchbox Range Rover Police Patrol was first released in 1975 in the Rolamatics series – vehicles with moving features that are activated by the rolling wheels. The Range Rover, which has a spinning dome light, was produced in about 30 different variations, with liveries that include Police, Ambulance, County Sheriff and even Site Engineer duties. This white model with Police labels and an orange spinner – another of my Wichita eBay scores – is identical to one I already have in my collection … Or is it?
The Matchbox Range Rover Police Patrol already in my collection has a partially melted dome light (which inhibits the Rolamatic action of the spinner) and a sagging Police label, so I went after this model because it’s in better shape. It was only after comparing the two side-by-side that I realized the recent acquisition is the variation that has smaller Police lettering (see photo at bottom of page).
The photo below shows the Rolamatics mechanism, which consists of a piston protruding from the rear wheel that, as the wheel rolls, makes contact with a gear hidden inside the vehicle (the orange disc that you see here). In this case, the gear drives the spinner inside the dome on top of the car. On the Range Rover, the inner workings are obscured by frosted windows.
Matchbox | 1975-1980 Rolamatics | 20 | Range Rover Police Patrol | white with orange and black small Police labels, frosted windows, clear dome, orange spinner, unpainted metal base | England | Maltese cross wheels
The photo below shows a comparison of the Police labels, with the smaller letter variation at the top and the larger letter variation at the bottom.
Other Matchbox Rolamatics models in my collection include the metallic green Weasel Armored Vehicle, the olive green variation of the Weasel, the Badger Exploration Truck, the Stoat Armored Car and the Maxi Taxi.
The Race Case MBX 