The Matchbox #56 London Trolley Bus was first released in 1958 and was produced in three different variations. This red example with red rods, Peardrax decals is another of my Wichita eBay scores. The model has no interior or windows, but it rolls along on black metal wheels. And despite missing some paint, I’m glad that the decals are mostly intact.
Matchbox | 1958 | #56 | London Trolleybus | red with red rods, Peardrax labels, black metal base | England | black metal wheels
The Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier was designed and produced by the Alvis Car and Engineering Company of Coventry in the UK. The six-wheeled, Rolls-Royce B80-powered vehicle was made from 1952 until 1976. It became known primarily for its role in the policing of Northern Ireland, but the versatile machine – which also could be fitted as an armoured command vehicle or an ambulance – was also employed in many other countries around the world.
The Matchbox Saracen Personnel Carrier was first released in 1958 and only a single variation was produced up to 1965. It features a metal body and base with a rotating metal turret and three pairs of black plastic wheels. It is painted army green with a black gun barrel on the turret. This nice example is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
Matchbox | 1958 | #54 | Saracen Personnel Carrier | army green | England | black plastic wheels
Models of Yesteryear were a range of larger scale and highly detailed models designed by Jack Odell, the engineer who made all of Lesney’s machinery. The first four models were unveiled in 1956 at the British Toy and Hobby Show and, as the name suggests, the range included vehicles that were already antiques in the 1950s. The Models of Yesteryear line proved to be very popular and continued until 1992, when Tyco Toys purchased the company and began to release the models by mail-order only under the Matchbox Collectibles banner.
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of beautiful Models of Yesteryear – in near-mint condition with their original boxes – being shown by some of my online friends. Well, this is the only MOY in my collection, and while it’s not pristine, I consider it to be a nice find for as old as it is. The Y-5 Bentley 4.5 Litre was released in 1958 and features a diecast metal body, steering wheel and base, with cast metal wheels and rubber tires. This example is another of my scores from my Wichita eBay friend.
Matchbox | 1958 Models of Yesteryear | #Y5-1 | 1929 Bentley 4.5 Litre | green body, white and black 5 decals, black fenders and chassis, gold grille, red interior | England | diecast metal wheels with black rubber tires
When I bought the cab for my Matchbox Major Pack 7 recently on eBay, it came in a lot of 3 cars which included these two well-worn Lesney-era models.
Bedford was a brand of commercial vehicles produced by Vauxhall in the UK starting in 1930. The popular light commercial CA van was introduced in 1952 and made up until 1969. The Matchbox Bedford Van from 1957 would have originally had a sign board mounted diagonally across the top that proclaimed “First With The NEWS” and evening news decals on the sides and doors.
1957 | 42 | Bedford “Evening News” Van | yellow-orange | black plastic wheels
Morris Commercial was formed in the UK in 1924 and the J2 was produced from 1956 until 1967. The J2 was available as a van, minibus, or pickup. The Matchbox Morris J2 Pickup originally had “Builders Supply Company” decoration on the sides. This variation of the casting has an open rear window.
1958 | 60 | Morris J2 “Builders Supply” Pickup | light blue | open rear window | gray plastic wheels
The Race Case MBX 