The Matchbox Lotus Racing Car was first released in 1966. The earlier issues have either green or orange paint with black plastic tires on yellow hubs. In 1970, it was given purple paint and Superfast wheels. This clean example of the green model with intact labels is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
The Matchbox #19 Lotus Racing Car features a plastic driver and an unpainted metal base, engine and exhaust.
Matchbox | 1966 | #19 | Lotus Racing Car | green with 3 decals, white driver and steering wheel, unpainted metal engine and base | England | black plastic wheels with yellow hubs
This orange model with missing labels is another one I landed from my Wichita eBay friend.
Matchbox| 1966 | #19 | Lotus Racing Car | orange, missing number labels, white plastic driver, unpainted metal base, engine and exhaust | England | black tires with yellow hubs
The Matchbox Opel Diplomat, based on the real-life Diplomat A (1964-1968), was first released in 1966 and was produced in four different variations up to 1970. This is the third example of this model that I’ve found over the years, each one the exact same variation – with metallic gold paint, clear windows, white interior, a chrome motor, a black metal base and black plastic wheels – and, fortunately, each one in better condition than the last. This one is another of my Holiday break finds from the Paramount Marketplace.
The Matchbox #36 Opel Diplomat features a hood that opens to reveal the Chevrolet V8 engine.
Matchbox | 1966-1969 | #36 | Opel Diplomat | metallic gold, clear windows, white interior, chrome motor, black metal base | England | black plastic wheels
The Matchbox #7 Ford Refuse Truck is based on the D Series, which was produced by Ford in the UK from 1965 to 1981. The Matchbox version was first released in 1966. I’ve only seen two variations listed:
orange metal cab with gray and silver plastic container, metal base, black plastic wheels
orange metal cab with gray and silver plastic container, metal base, Superfast wheels
The Matchbox #7 Ford Refuse Truck features a two-piece tipping container.
Matchbox | 1966 | #7 | Ford Refuse Truck | orange cab, blue windows, olive container, silver endgate, unpainted metal base | England | black plastic wheels
The Daimler Fleetline (Leyland Fleetline after 1975) DMS was a double-decker bus that was manufactured from 1960 to 1983. In Britain, London Transport purchased more than 2,600 Fleetlines, making it the “London Bus” of its era.
The Matchbox #74 Daimler London Bus was first released in 1966 and was produced in about 10 different variations. I was fortunate to pick up a couple nice examples from my Wichita eBay friend. This cream model with Esso Extra Petrol decals is an example of an early release with black plastic wheels.
Matchbox | 1966-1967 | #74 | Daimler London Bus | cream with Esso Extra Petrol decals, white plastic interior, cream metal base | England | black plastic wheels
This green model with Esso Extra Petrol labels and black plastic wheels is from 1968.
Matchbox | 1968 | #74 | Daimler London Bus | green with Esso Extra Petrol decals, white plastic interior, green metal base | England | black plastic wheels
The Matchbox #60 Leyland Site Hut Truck was first released in 1966. It wore black plastic wheels from 1966 to 1969 and Superfast wheels from 1970 to 1971, and the bed of the truck carries a yellow plastic construction site hut with a removable green roof. I have found this truck before, but never with an intact site hut. This example is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
The Matchbox Leyland Site Hut Truck features a nicely detailed representation of the Leyland Ergomatic cab.
Matchbox | 1966 | #60 | Leyland Site Hut Truck | blue, yellow plastic site hut with green plastic roof, blue tint windows, chrome plastic grille and base | England | black plastic wheels
Drott Manufacturing Company, founded as the Drott Tractor Company in 1916, produced heavy equipment buckets for other manufacturers such as Caterpillar and International Harveser. The Wisconsin-based company survived until 1968, when it was swallowed up by Case Corporation.
The Land Rover Series IIA Forward Control was released in 1962. Built on the 109 in. chassis with a 2.25 L engine, the cab was positioned over the engine to give more cargo space. Most models had a heavy duty rear axle and large 900×16 tires, with many receiving custom bodywork to suit.
The Matchbox Land Rover Fire Truck, apparently based on the Series IIA FC fire engine built by Carmichael, was first released in 1966. It can be found with black or gray (rare on this model) plastic wheels and was issued in 1970 with Superfast wheels. All three variations are red with yellow and white Kent Fire Brigade decals. I landed this worn but fully-intact example on eBay.
The Matchbox Land Rover Fire Truck features blue glass and dome light, a white plastic ladder and a gray plastic base which also makes up the rear hose insert.
Matchbox | 1966-1969 | #57 | Land Rover Fire Truck | red with red and yellow Kent Fire Brigade labels, blue windows and dome light, white plastic ladder, gray plastic base | England | black plastic wheels
The Opel Diplomat is a luxury car made by the German automaker from 1964 to 1977. In 1964, Opel’s Kapitän (introduced in 1938) and Admiral (introduced in 1937) were brought together with the Diplomat in a completely new three-tiered model range. At the high-end of the range, the front-engine, rear-wheel drive Diplomat could be had with a Chevrolet 283 or 327 V8 engine. A 2-door Diplomat coupe was also available, though it was produced in much smaller numbers than the 4-door sedan. The KAD models were redesigned in 1969 and given a slightly smaller body with a more sophisticated chassis.
The Matchbox Opel Diplomat, based on the Diplomat A (1964-1968) was first released in 1966 and was produced in four different variations up to 1970. Early versions have metallic gold paint and black plastic wheels with either a chrome or gray motor. A considerably more rare and valuable sea green variation was included in the 1967 G-2 Car Transporter Gift Set. And in 1970, the Opel Diplomat with metallic gold paint was given Superfast wheels. This metallic gold model with regular wheels and a chrome motor is one of my finds from Bondie’s Antiques back in October.
The company now known as Leyland Trucks Limited has its origins in the Lancashire Steam Motor Company. First established in 1896, the company’s original product was a steam van with a 1.5 ton capacity. The first petrol-powered vehicle, nicknamed “the Pig,” was introduced in 1904 and the name of the company was changed to Leyland Motors Limited in 1907. In 1912 Leyland entered the military market and throughout WWI the company provided nearly 6,000 vehicles to the British armed forces. Leyland expanded production in the 1920s and 1930s, building a variety of vehicles with animal names (Lion, Tiger, Bull, Bison, Hippo, Rhino) and thus the model line came to be known as the Leyland Zoo. This period introduced trolleys and fire engines and Leyland began to produce its own diesel engine. During WWII, Leyland produced tanks and tank engines as well as other wheeled vehicles for the war effort. In the 1950s, Leyland acquired Scammell Lorries and broke into international markets. The Ergomatic cab, which tilted forward to reveal the engine, was introduced 1964. In the 1980s, a new assembly plant was built on the outskirts of Leyland to build the T45 range of models, and in 1987 Leyland Trucks was merged with DAF of the Netherlands. Both Leyland and DAF are currently owned by PACCAR and their products are still produced at the Leyland Assembly Plant.
The Matchbox #60 Leyland Site Hut Truck (featuring the Ergomatic cab) was first released in 1966. Wearing black plastic wheels from 1966 to 1969 and Superfast wheels from 1970 to 1971, the bed of the truck carried a yellow plastic construction site hut with a removable green roof. This regular wheels version that is missing the site hut is one of the bonus items I picked up (to take advantage of combined shipping) when I bought the Hay Trailer on eBay.
As you can imagine, I have been on the lookout for a site hut to make this model complete, but so far have not had any luck.
Matchbox | 1966 | #60 | Leyland Site Hut Truck | blue, missing plastic site hut | England | black plastic wheels
The six-wheeled, amphibious Stalwart was produced between 1963 and 1971 by Alvis Cars (who were also responsible for the six-wheeled Saladin Armoured Car). The Stalwart, which served the British Army beginning in 1964, has a welded waterproof hull and a cab that is entered through twin hatches on the roof. The all-wheel-drive on land is powered by a Rolls-Royce 8-cylinder engine, and in water, it moves under vectored thrust water-jet propulsion units.
The Matchbox Alvis Stalwart was released in 1966 with white paint and BP Exploration labels on the sides. It can be found with yellow-hub wheels or green-hub wheels, as you see on my example, which was among my recent eBay score of 1960s Matchbox. Unfortunately, mine is missing the yellow plastic bed cover.
In 1979, the Alvis Stalwart was included (along with a Ford Heavy Wreck Truck) in the Matchbox Twin Pack TP-16, painted olive green and with black plastic wheels.
Matchbox | 1966 | 61 | Alvis Stalwart | white with BP Exploration labels | England | black plastic wheels with green hubs
The Race Case MBX 