1966 Matchbox Opel Diplomat Again

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.

Click here to see the rougher example of the Matchbox Opel Diplomat already in my collection. And click here to see the even rougher one I found before that.

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

1980 Matchbox Refuse Truck

The Heil Rail Joint Welding Co. was started in 1901 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Julius P. Heil, who had learned the new process of welding. Initially applying his craft to rail cars, he expanded to include tanks and truck bodies. Soon after, the first garbage truck bodies were built by Heil for the City of Milwaukee, and by the 1930s, hundreds of Heil garbage trucks were employed in cities across the U.S. Today the company still makes a wide variety of garbage trucks in the U.S. and markets its products through a global network of dealers.

The Matchbox Refuse Truck – based on a Heil Colectomatic – was first released in 1980 and this rather popular model was produced in about 40 different variations. This red version with a yellow container is the first casting and is another of my baggie finds from my Black Friday visit to the Paramount Marketplace.

The container on the Matchbox Refuse Truck does not tip, but it has tabs on the sides that can be slid back to dump your load of trash.

Most variations of the Matchbox Refuse Truck have the word “Colectomatic” embossed in the front of the container; apparently there is a fairly rare version of the red and yellow first casting that does not.

Matchbox | 1980 | #36 | Refuse Truck | red with yellow plastic container, Collectomatic embossed on front of container, orange windows, gray metal base | England | Superfast 5-arch wheels