The Matchbox Armored Truck was first released in 1978 and was produced in about 6 different variations. This worn example of the 1979 Wells Fargo version with blue windows and QZ-2031 (barely visible here) on the front fenders is another of my finds from the Paramount Antique Mall.
This is the first of this casting that I’ve added to my collection.
Matchbox | 1979-1982 | #69 | Armored Truck | red, Wells Fargo QZ-2031, white plastic top, blue windows and dome light, grey metal base | England | Superfast 5-crown wheels
The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II was produced by the British carmaker from 1977 to 1980. Improvements over its predecessor included rack and pinion steering, better front suspension, and new, energy-absorbing bumpers. The Silver Shadow II was powered by a 6.75L V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Matchbox | 1979-1980 | #39 | Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II | metallic gray, clear windows, red interior, unpainted metal base | England | Superfast open dot dash wheels
The Matchbox Freeway Gas Tanker is an original tractor-trailer combination that was first released in 1973 and was produced in about 21 different variations. It was packaged individually and was also included in several different Two Packs, generally paired with the #63 Freeway Gas Tanker Trailer. This yellow and white Shell model – another of my Now & Then Antique Mall finds – was issued between 1978 and 1981. Since it doesn’t have a tow hook, we can assume it was from the 1-75 series rather than the TP-17 Two Pack.
The #63 Freeway Gas Tanker shares a cab with the #50 Articlulated Truck. The cab can disconnect from the trailer and the parts are interchangeable.
Matchbox | 1979-1981 | #63 | Freeway Gas Tanker | white metal upper, red and yellow Shell labels, yellow plastic lower, purple tint windows, black plastic base | England | Superfast Maltese cross wheels on the cab, 5-spoke wheels on the trailer
The Citroen CX, designed by Robert Opron, was manufactured by the French automaker from 1974 to 1991. The front-engine, front-wheel-drive luxury car was available as a standard 4-door fastback or, on a longer wheelbase, as a stretch 4-door fastback or estate. In addition to advanced features such as hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension and speed-sensitive power steering, the CX had a sleek, wind-tunnel tested body design with a drag coefficient of only 0.36.
The Matchbox Citroen CX Station Wagon was first released in 1979 and was produced in about 19 different variations. This nice metallic light blue model with yellow interior and metallic gray metal base is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
In addition to being packaged individually, the Citroen CX was also included in the 1982 TP-31 Two Pack, paired with the Motorcycle Trailer. A similar casting is the Citroen CX Ambulance, which was produced in 6 different variations starting in 1980.
The Matchbox #12 Citroen CX Station Wagon features an opening rear tailgate.
Matchbox | 1979 | #12 | Citroen CX Station Wagon | metallic light blue, clear windows, yellow interior, opening rear hatch, metallic gray metal base | England | Superfast open dot dash wheels
The Matchbox Two Packs TP-22 Long Haul Double Container Truck was first released in 1979 and was produced in about 11 variations, with differences in the cab color, container color and container labels. This example with a red cab and off-white containers with OCL labels is an eBay find.
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 flatbed holds two removable plastic containers which have slots in the sides that would fit nicely on the forks of the Matchbox Fork Lift Truck from my childhood.
Matchbox | 1979 | TP-22 | Long Haul Double Container Truck | red cab with amber windows, black plastic base, black trailer with off-white containers with OCL labels | England | Superfast 5 arch
The back of the card has beautifully rendered line art illustrations of some of the other models available in the Matchbox Two Packs.
The Matchbox TP-20 Diesel Shunter and Side Tipper was released in 1979 in two variations; one has a black dumper and one has a red dumper as you see in the example I landed in an eBay auction. In 1991, this Two Pack was re-released as TP-125 with models cast in China (with a red dumper).
eBay | 1979 | TP-20 | Diesel Shunter and Side Tipper
24 | Diesel Shunter | yellow with red and white D 1496-RF labels, red metal base with red plastic base insert | England | black plastic 8-spoked wheels
The Matchbox #720 Side Tipper was first released in 1977 and was produced in about 5 different variations. In addition to the Two Packs, it was included in the G-2 Railway Set from 1979 to 1982 and in the Live ‘N’ Learn Matchbox Pre-School set from 1989 to 1992.
#720 | Flat Car Side Tipper | yellow with red plastic tipper, black plastic base | England | black plastic 8-spoked wheels
The back of the card has beautifully rendered line art illustrations of some of the other models available in the Matchbox Two Packs.
The Matchbox Two Packs TP-25 Long Haul Pipe Truck was first released in 1979 and was produced in at least 5 variations, with differences in the cab color and flatbed color. This example with a dark green cab and metallic gray flatbed is an eBay find.
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. The Pipe Truck has a pair of plastic rails attached to the bed for the pipes to rest on. In case you’re wondering, those flecks of dirt inside the blister are the remains of the rubber bands that used to hold the pipes in place.
Matchbox | 1979 | TP-25 | Long Haul Pipe Truck | dark green cab with amber windows, black plastic base, metallic gray flatbed with orange pipes | England | Superfast 5-arch wheels
The back of the card has beautifully rendered line art illustrations of some of the other models available in the Matchbox Two Packs.
The Matchbox Porsche 911 Turbo is a popular casting which first debuted in 1978 and has been produced in over 50 different variations. In recent months, I’ve acquired three more variations of this casting from my Wichita eBay friend, to make a total of five different variations in my collection. This silver example is from 1979.
The Matchbox Porsche 911 Turbo features opening doors and a two hook.
Matchbox | 1979 | #3 | Porsche 911 Turbo | metallic gray, clear windows, red interior, black metal base, opening doors | England | Superfast 5-arch wheels
This next example, with red paint and black and white Porsche Turbo graphics was issued in 1982 and 1983.
Matchbox | 1982-1983 | #3 | Porsche 911 Turbo | red with white and black Porsche Turbo 90 tampo, clear windows, tan interior, opening doors, dark gray metal base | England | Superfast 5-arch wheels
Although I try to collect only England-cast Matchbox, this next red model with black, white and yellow Turbo 911 graphics is an early ’90s variation that was made in Thailand.
Matchbox | 1990-1993 | #3 | Porsche 911 Turbo | red with white, yellow and black Porsche 911 Turbo tampo, clear windows, white interior, black metal base | Thailand | Superfast 5-arch wheels
The Matchbox TP-19 Dodge Cattle Truck and Trailer was first released in 1979 and it was produced in about 3 different variations (red cab and trailer with differences in stake bed color and/or cow color). In 1984 it was re-issued as TP-103 and produced in another 4 variations (with differences in cab and trailer color, stake bed color and/or cow color).
The Matchbox Dodge Cattle Truck, based on the Dodge 500, is a long-running casting that was first released as the #4 Stake Truck – from 1967-1969 with regular wheels, then from 1970-1971 with Superfast wheels. From 1976-1991 it was reissued as the #71 Cattle Truck, and from 1992-1997 it was given the #12. In 1999 it became the #88 Beef Hauler. All together there are about 42 different variations in many different combinations of paint color, bed color and window color – with two plastic cows riding in the back. In my collection, I have an example of the early #4 Stake Truck from 1967, the metallic orange Superfast version that I’ve had since my childhood, and a metallic green model from 1981.
#71 | Dodge Cattle Truck | red with beige stakes, black cows, blue windows, silver metal base | England | Superfast 5-crown wheels
The Matchbox Cattle Trailer made its debut in the 1979 G-6 Farm Gift Set, was included in 3 different Two Packs (TP-19 and TP-103), and was also found in the 1991 MC-7 Motorcity Farm Set, for a total of about 9 different variations. The differences in paint color, stake bed color and cattle color generally match the Dodge Cattle Truck that is towing it in the set.
#TP-19 | Cattle Trailer | red with beige stakes, black cows, black plastic base | England | Superfast 5-crown wheels
The back of the package has nice line art illustrations of other vehicles available in the Matchbox Two Packs.
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.
The Race Case MBX 