1976 Matchbox Dodge Cattle Truck – Minus the Cows

The Matchbox Dodge Cattle Truck is a long-running casting that was first released in 1967 as the #4 Stake Truck. In 1976 it was reissued as the #71 Cattle Truck, with two plastic cows riding in the back. (This is not to be confused with the #37 Dodge Cattle Truck, first released in 1966, which had a higher, more enclosed cattle compartment with an opening ramp at the rear.) This example, another score from the eBay collection of the Crafter’s Son, is identical to the one I still have from my childhood, but – except for the missing cows – is in better shape.

Click here to see my #4 Stake Truck.

Matchbox | 1976-1980 | 71 | Dodge Cattle Truck | metallic orange with orange-yellow stake bed, blue windows | England | Superfast 5 crown

1967 Matchbox Dodge Stake Truck

I was interested in this Matchbox Dodge Stake Truck because it’s the precursor to the Superfast version from my childhood. I found this one on eBay and it’s in such great shape that I had to ask the seller if it had been restored (the seller claimed it was all original).

This casting first appeared in 1966 as the #37 Dodge Cattle Truck, but it had a more enclosed plastic compartment with an opening tailgate ramp. It also came with two plastic cows. My eBay find is the #4 Dodge Stake Truck, which could be found from 1967-1969 with regular wheels, then from 1970-1971 with Superfast wheels. In 1976 it was reissued as #71 Cattle Truck with Superfast wheels and the two plastic cows (I still have the cows with mine). Since then, there are more than 40 variations continuing up until 2000.

Matchbox | 1967 | 4 | Dodge Stake Truck | yellow with green stake bed, no tow hook | black plastic wheels