1970 Matchbox Dodge Crane Truck

The Dodge 500, later called the K Series, was a heavy-duty truck built in the UK by Dodge. It was introduced in 1964 and sold as a cab and chassis which could be fitted by the operator for a variety of purposes. Engine options included a V6 or V8 Cummins diesel or a 120hp Perkins diesel paired with a manual transmission. The 500 cab was styled by Ghia and was comfortable, roomy and had great visibility.

The Matchbox Dodge Crane Truck, based on the Dodge 500, was first released in 1968 and was produced in only three different variations. All three are yellow with green windows, but the regular wheels version could be found with a yellow or red plastic hook. This example – another of my finds from the Grandparent’s Estate Sale – is the Superfast version that was issued from 1970 to 1972. It has paint chips, aftermarket spatters, and is missing the yellow plastic hook.

The Matchbox Dodge Crane Truck features an arm that swivels, but unfortunately, does not raise up or down.

Matchbox | 1970-1972 | #63 | Dodge Crane Truck | yellow with green windows, missing yellow plastic hook, black plastic base | England | Superfast 4-spoke wheels

1970 Matchbox DAF Tipper Container Truck

The Dutch truck manufacturing company, DAF, can trace its roots back to 1928, when Hubert Van Doome started a small workshop. Early on, the company converted 2-wheel-drive trucks to 6×4 drive and produced the M39 Pantserwagen armoured car. After WWII, the company, now called Van Doome Automobile Factory, began making trucks, trailers and buses. By the late 1950s, DAF began making passenger cars using its innovative Variomatic CVT belt-drive transmission. The car division was sold to Volvo in 1975 so that DAF could focus on its successful line of trucks, and in 1987 DAF merged with Leyland Trucks. Today, the company, which has its headquarters in Eindhoven, is owned by Paccar and markets its long haul, distribution and construction trucks worldwide.

The Matchbox DAF Tipper Container Truck, based on the 2600 series, was first released in 1968 and was produced in three different variations. This metallic silver model with a yellow box and Superfast wheels – another of my finds from the Grandparent’s Estate Sale – was in the 1-75 lineup from 1970 until 1973.

The Matchbox DAF Tipper Container Truck casting is very closely related to the DAF Girder Truck, which was also released in 1968. They both share the same cab and much of the detail on the chassis. Click here to compare to my two examples of the DAF Girder Truck.

The cargo box on the Matchbox DAF Tipper Container Truck does, in fact, tip. Though my example is covered in unfortunate paint splatters, I’m happy that it still includes the removable plastic container cover.

Matchbox | 1970-1973 | #47 | DAF Tipper Container Truck | metallic silver, yellow tipping box with gray removable plastic cover, blue tint windows, orange plastic base | England | Superfast 5-spoke wheels

1968 Matchbox Mercedes-Benz 300 SE

The Mercedes-Benz W112 is a full-size luxury car built by the German automaker from 1961 to 1967 and marketed as the 300SE. It was available in a 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe and 2-door convertible, all powered by the 3.0L M189 six-cylinder. Power steering, automatic transmission and self-levelling suspension were standard features and interiors were finished with wood and leather trim.

The Matchbox Mercedes-Benz 300 SE was first released in 1968 and was produced in about 8 different variations. This early model with nice metallic blue paint and black plastic wheels is another of my finds from the Grandparent’s Estate Sale.

Click here to see my example of the Superfast-era metallic orange Mercedes-Benz 300 SE.

Early examples of the Matchbox Mercedes-Benz 300 SE have opening doors and trunk; on later models they were cast shut.

Matchbox | 1968 | #46 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SE | metallic blue, clear windows, ivory interior, unpainted metal base | England | black plastic wheels

1968 Matchbox Mack Dump Truck

The Mack Brothers Company was founded in Brooklyn, NY, in 1900, initially manufacturing buses and trolleys. The company moved to Allentown, PA, in 1905 and introduced its first truck. While Mack produced a variety of civilian vehicles, including firetrucks, dump trucks and concrete trucks, important military contracts during both World Wars helped cement the company’s reputation for quality and reliability. Mack Trucks, Inc., is currently owned by AB Volvo, and its headquarters is located in Greensboro, NC. Even though Mack trucks are sold worldwide, manufacturing for the North American market is still done at various locations in the U.S.

The Matchbox Mack Dump Truck, based on the off-highway truck, was first released in 1968 and was produced in four different variations. While there are three variations from the Superfast era, this early example – another of my scores from the Grandparent’s Estate Sale – is orange with treaded black plastic wheels on orange plastic hubs.

The Matchbox Mack Dump Truck is nicely detailed and has a well-engineered tipping bed. The bed on this one still holds in place in a variety of positions.

Matchbox | 1968-1969 | #28 | Mack Dump Truck | orange, blue tint windows, unpainted metal base | England | large treaded black plastic wheels with orange plastic hubs

1968 and 1970 Matchbox DAF Girder Truck Variations

Here’s another comparison of a regular wheels model and a Superfast version of the same casting, using cars I picked up in the Grandparents Estate Sale. The Matchbox DAF Girder Truck was first released in 1968 with black plastic wheels and was transitioned to Superfast wheels in 1970. This cream example of the early model is unfortunately missing the eight red plastic girders that made up its original payload. Notice the four metal spikes on the sides of the bed that hold the girders in place, then imagine walking through a child’s dark bedroom and stepping on one of these. Ouch!

Matchbox | 1968-1969 | #58 | DAF Girder Truck | cream white with missing red girders | England | black plastic wheels

When the Matchbox DAF Girder Truck was released with Superfast wheels in 1970, it was also slightly retooled to remove the four dangerous metal spikes from the bed. Two holes were added in the center of the bed and a plastic insert (missing from this model) was used to hold the girders (also missing) in place. Rather than this nice metallic gold paint, the Superfast version can be found in the same cream paint as above, though that variation seems to be fairly uncommon.

I believe the large hole drilled in the back of the bed on this example is aftermarket work of an unknown purpose.

Matchbox | 1970 | #58 | DAF Girder Truck | metallic gold with missing red girders and black plastic insert (extra hole drilled in rear of bed), red plastic base | England | Superfast 5-spoke

1968 and 1970 Matchbox Foden Concrete Truck Variations

One of the fun things about the cars I picked up at the Grandparent’s Estate Sale is that there are a couple of examples of the same Matchbox casting from both the regular wheels years and the Superfast years. The eight-wheeled Matchbox Foden Concrete Truck was first released in 1968 with black plastic wheels, then transitioned to Superfast 5-spoke wheels in 1970.

This regular wheels version has a red metal chassis with a yellow metal cab and yellow plastic mixing barrel.

A nice feature of the early Matchbox Foden Concrete Truck is the mechanism in the base that causes the mixing barrel to rotate as the truck is rolled forward.

Matchbox | 1968-1970 | #21 | Foden Concrete Truck | yellow cab, red metal chassis, yellow plastic barrel, blue tint windows | England | black plastic wheels

The Superfast version of the Foden Concrete Truck has the same red metal chassis, yellow metal cab and yellow plastic mixing barrel.

On Superfast versions of the Foden Concrete Truck, the mechanism that drives the mixing barrel was removed and a green plastic insert hides the axles of the truck. (The barrel spins feely, but is no longer driven by a gear in the base.)

Matchbox | 1970-73 | #21 | Foden Concrete Truck | yellow cab, red metal chassis, yellow plastic barrel, blue tint windows, green plastic base insert | England | Superfast 5-spoke wheels

1968 Matchbox Mercedes-Benz Lorry with Trailers

Last May, I was checking out an estate sale, when I came across some baggies full of cars. I was flipping through them, deciding how much I wanted to take home, when a nice lady sorting through some things offered to make me a good deal. “This was all of our Grandparents stuff,” she said “and we just want to get rid of it.” Some of the cars were in rough shape, and some were items I already had. But, at the right price, I felt like all of it was worth being rescued. So we made a deal and I helped her out by taking it all off her hands.

I’ve had a nice example of the Matchbox Mercedes-Benz Lorry since I found one in a baggie of cars at a garage sale many years ago. Later, I picked up a matching trailer on eBay. But neither one has the orange plastic canopy. So what got me most excited about my Grandparents Estate Sale scores, were the orange plastic canopies – not just one, but three – to go with the Lorry and – not just one, but two – trailers.

The Matchbox Mercedes-Benz Lorry and Mercedes-Benz Trailer were released in 1968 as No. 1 and 2 in the 1-75 lineup. Though they were packaged individually, they were an obvious pair. The Lorry was produced in about 10 different variations, most of them wearing Superfast wheels. Whether packaged individually or included in a Two-Pack, it was generally paired with a Mercedes-Benz Trailer in matching livery.

Matchbox | 1968-1969 | #1 | Mercedes-Benz Lorry | mint green, orange plastic canopy, blue tint windows, chrome plastic base | England | black plastic wheels

The Mercedes-Benz Trailer was produced in about 13 different variations. It was most often paired with the Mercedes-Benz Lorry, but was also mated to the Mercedes-Benz Unimog in at least three different Two-Packs.

Matchbox | 1968-1969 | #2 | Mercedes-Benz Trailer | mint green, orange plastic canopy | England | black plastic wheels

The Matchbox Mercedes-Benz Trailer not only has a hitch that mates perfectly with the Lorry, it also has a tow hook of its own.

Matchbox | 1968-1969 | #2 | Mercedes-Benz Trailer | mint green, orange plastic canopy | England | black plastic wheels

Despite their blemishes, nicks and paint spatters, it sure is fun to hitch these three together and roll them around with their little orange canopies intact.

1975 Matchbox Mini-Ha-Ha

The Matchbox Mini-Ha-Ha, first released in 1975 and produced until 1980, is a hot-rodded version of the Mini Cooper. It features oversized rear wheels, a chrome plastic rotary aircraft engine, and opaque sky-blue windows. Sticking out of the top of the car, a comically large pilot’s head is adorned with a leather helmet and goggles. This example – one of my finds from a visit to the Paramount East antique mall during the December holiday break. – is missing the Royal Air Force target labels that were originally affixed to the doors.

The Matchbox Mini-Ha-Ha is a very different model than the Matchbox Racing Mini, which was released a year later.

Matchbox | 1975 | #14 | Mini-Ha-Ha | orange with blue windows, missing target labels, chrome exposed engine, unpainted metal base |  England | Superfast Maltese cross wheels front, 5-spoke wheels rear

More recently, I picked up another Matchbox Mini-Ha-Ha with some other cars I found at an estate sale. This one is, in some ways, in even poorer condition, with much of the chrome worn off all the wheels. But at least it still has one of the door labels intact, if badly worn.

Matchbox | 1975 | #14 | Mini-Ha-Ha | orange with blue windows, missing one target label, chrome exposed engine, unpainted metal base |  England | Superfast Maltese cross wheels front, 5-spoke wheels rear

[Edit 02/18/24] I found some replacement labels on the Gasoline Alley Toys & Antiques website and applied them to the doors of the first Mini-Ha-Ha. Much better I think.