The Matchbox Two Packs TP-23 Long Haul Covered Container Truck was first released in 1979. There are at least three variations (the red cab can have amber windows or no windows, the red and cream Firestone trailer can have solid or outlined letters) and this combo used the Long Haul cab paired with a covered trailer. This example, which I found on eBay, has a nice, straight card with a blister that is unfortunately a bit yellowed and scuffed.
The Matchbox Long Haul tractor cab is based on a two-axle Peterbilt. It was issued in red, green, bronze and yellow, and though the cabs were not packaged individually, they were designed to detach from their trailers so that the pieces could be intermixed. Click here to compare to the Matchbox Peterbilt Conventional Tractor from 1982.
The trailer used with the Long Haul cabs has a versatile metal flatbed base that can be fitted for a variety of different functions. In this case, the red metal base has a low, cream plastic box attached with a red plastic canvas cover on top.
Matchbox | 1979 | TP-23 | Long Haul Covered Container Truck | red cab with amber windows, black plastic base, red trailer with cream box, red cover, solid-lettered Firestone labels | England | Superfast 5-arch wheels
The back of the card includes skillfully rendered line art illustrations of some of the other models available in the Matchbox Two Packs.
Click here to see my Matchbox Two Packs TP-14 Military Tanker and Radar Truck.
The Race Case MBX 