Y1-2 Model 'T'Ford |
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A very early
prepro on the Y1 Ford 'T' and these are hard to find. This one was kindly
sent in by Martin Stamp of the UK and shows the small sump plug fitted
which was omitted on production. Note also the absence of any bracing
visible under the radiator front or behind it in the second pic. The rear
light has also been picked out in gold paint. A very interesting model and
very rare.
This was a colour trial
in yellow and pure white. The roof is the textured black version
A recent auction offering from Vectis UK.
A brightly coloured trial model.
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Y1-3 1936
SS100 Jaguar
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Well known preproduction
with small sidelights and different sump casting.
Now 2 preproduction Jaguars from a very
good friend. Both have black bodies and the same base with one in yellow
and one in red.
The chassis shows a number of casting
cahnges and all 3 models here share the same base features
The area around the sump is different as
is the centre bar section going to the front and goes without saying that
they all have the small sidelights.
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Y2 Prince Henry Vauxhall |
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An early Y2 in the well known
colour scheme. |
Y2 Bentley |
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From Roger North
in the UK comes these excellent pictures of the plastic Bentley's. These
were produced as trials before the metal version. Note the lack of door
casting and the smooth plain grilles before the 'mesh' effect was added.
Roger was lucky enough to be a part of the development of this model when
he worked for Matchbox. |
Y3-3 Riley MPH |
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This early version has a whole
different front end where the headlamp assembly sits with no rivet to
attach them
This colour trial also has a casting
change to the small lugs either side of the headlamp rivet. It is however
strange that both these models have a Y number and complete date on both
bases. |
Y3-4 Ford Model T
Tanker |
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This model was
trialed in many colours, most noticeable were red, green and black. This
version has no groove's cut into the roof yet or hole let into the base to
save metal. |
Y4- Duesenberg |
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The latest
acquisition. A very early casting on the Deusenberg model - the roof does
not sit to well, has the regular casting flaw in front of the windscreen
but also has many metal flow problems to the model's sides. There is a
hole in the sump and an incomplete date but the Y4 number is there so was
to be designated Y4 from the start.
A model in brown and black
with all the usual preproduction features, small 2mm body lug, no Y4 on the
bumpers and the longer lugs, X shaped section
on the roof with the rounded corners on the rear window
This is the well known issued model but
in another form. Roof and seats in yellow with the smaller window. Clear
plastic wheels, large 4mm body lug, X shaped roof and Y4 on the bumpers. |
Y5- Peugeot |
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A recent acquisition. I can
see no body changes to the model but the chassis is in matt black as per
the catalogue picture of the day. The front windscreen frame does not have
the lower centre support bar fitted and it does however have those extremely
rare crystal clear windows! Main changes on this model are to the internal
side of the roof and the baseplate inscription which has 'Y.5.' instead of
the more normal 'Y-5' |
Y5-4 Talbot Van |
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A well know prepro in white
and black without the Y number on and incomplete date.
This was a trial run for the 25th.
anniversary model. The second picture has it's label missing
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Y-6 Rolls Fire Engine |
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A highly reworked model with
the chassis off the Y7 Rolls and the windscreen component from the Y2 PHV.
It also has the matt black chassis which was a feature on the last run
model but in gloss this time. |
Y7 Rolls Royce |
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A nice example and almost the
same colour scheme as the Y16 further down the list |
Y8-2 Sunbeam |
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A proposal put forward for the
25th. anniversary was to issue this model in a painted form. Some of the
colours used were red, white, green and the blue shown here. Plastic seats
came in many different colours but not the all rare black.
Here is a beautiful prepro Sunbeam from
Mike Thomas' collection
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Y8- MG TC |
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A very well know model in
these colours and shown in the Yesteryear book. Has an incomplete Y number
and date on base.
Nice looking version with white base
trial and now has complete date on base. Funny the red on the first model
and the white on the second are the same as that used on the rare
red/white/yellow Y4 Duesenberg
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Y9 Simplex |
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This version is not really
preproduction but does sport some trial plastic white tyres. Probably made
due to problems Lesney was having with plastic shrinking over time and the
bits falling off the model like seats and grilles. My thanks to Bob Tutt
for this photo. |
Y10 Roll |
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As far as I can see this is a
normal model but in all over cream colour
Another couple of fine recent offerings
from Vectis UK
New addition in a metallic grey colour
scheme. Some interesting variations on this one mainly the raised bar
across the base is omitted.
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Y11- Lagonda |
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Another well known
preproduction model with incomplete date and Y number. This model has the
strange larger bumper locating rivet same as the purple model as coded 1
in the book.
Trials and prepros are hard to find on
this model but from Bob Tutt here is another excellent photo of a recent acquisition,
a plated body version.
Well known colour trial model in gold
with peacock blue chassis
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Y12 Thomas Flyabout |
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Just how many colour trials do you
need to prove a model? Apparently loads! These are some colour variants
that have appeared in auctions over time and the amount is mind boggling.
I do not know if this is the largest number of colour trials on a model or
not, but it certainly competes with the Y24 Bugatti. |
Y12- Ford 'T' Van |
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The yellow van is a true
preproduction in that it has an incomplete date and Y number.
This silver chassis version is a colour trial.
This model is very special to me as it has been
sprayed in a silver metallic that actually sparkles ( like the metallic
Birds Custard model). It has one side only mocked up with card and a hand
drawn layout for the 25th anniversary on it and then glued to the side.
Truly a wonderful original designer's mock up model.
From Mike Thomas again, this lovely
prepro Colman's van and looks so much better than what came out and the
fabled white Colman's van which was based on the Coca Cola van and given
to sales reps to show the customer what was coming out
Finally the original prepro with a smooth
roof instead of the lined one.
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Y13 RAF tender |
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This has to be one model with
the most casting changes I have ever seen. There are so many - 5 cleats on
the tray side, no roof locating lugs in the rear tray, different chassis
makeup and many more - try and spot them!
Many thanks to Bob Tutt once again.
Now this is a strange one, still
incomplete date, but with twin rear wheels - why none issued like this as
so much better looking. Later than Bob's one above as it now has cast bolt
details on the windscreen. Still has 5 cleats etc.
The famous yellow prepro, which I'm sure
came before the previous version as the rear canopy locating tags are half
the length of the normal version. Still has all the above variants plus
more.
This
red version was kindly supplied by Mike Thomas and is a far later version
as it only has 2 cleats on the body side. It has the trial twin rear
wheels again but this time the 2 axle lugs have been removed so the wheels
fit under the body, if you look at the blue version above, mine stick out
past the body on the earlier one.
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Y14- Stutz Bearcat |
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Well known colour trial but
with the 1973 date and open ended luggage rack |
Y15- Packard |
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Basically a standard model but
in all over red with a label stating 'plastics trial' on it. |
Y16- Mercedes |
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Well know preproduction model
as in the Yesteryear book. Has the cast diff in place as well as some
small changes to it. |
Y17-1 Hispano |
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The yellow / metallic green
version has no small lugs to fit the roof to so it is a poor fit. On the
yellow / blue version this has been corrected but has a slightly smaller
window in the roof. The silver / black version is the one shown in the
catalogue and was mocked up for showing at the Toyfair that year but was
never released in this colour scheme. |
Y19-1 Auburn |
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Has an incomplete date and Y
number and looks like a very expensive army staff car. I have seen this
model with cream body or cream and khaki as well.
New one just acquired is in a metallic
blue body similar to the Y17 Hispano and a royal blue chassis and again
has an incomplete date and Y
number
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Y20-1 Mercedes |
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Both well known models, first
in metallic red with all yellow plastics. It has a hole cast for the
exhaust pipe but this was filled in on release models.
Well known colour trial in metallic blue
and grey. It now has the fender hole filled in. There was a big problem
with this model and the sagging of the plastic sub frame component.
A beautiful version with a red base,
again from Bob Tutt.
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Y21-1 Model 'A' |
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Original 'first Shot' trial
with many metal flow problems on the body
The roof may seem odd in chrome plating
but this method actually shows up all flaws in more detail
A couple of trial runs without date or Y
number on. The one with beige bonnet is a very nice model and looked far
better than the released version with bright yellow.
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Y22-1 Model 'A' Van |
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A trial in beige
The well known trial in metallic green
A beautiful trial version in gold plate
with black chassis.
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Y23-1 Bus |
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Multi coloured preproduction
model. It has webs under the drivers roof and these were added as the
small roof would buckle in the tumbling process. |
Y24-1 Bugatti |
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Another model like the Y12
Thomas. It has so many colour variations as to become slightly silly.
Original runs had a problem with the front bonnet meeting the grille as
there was a gap so it was lengthened. This model was one of 48 to trial
the fit of the box design. |
Y25-1 Renault |
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A couple of versions with the
early 3 sided roof supports. Two more supports were added due to high
breakage on this rail part. The black roof version is fairly rare.
This was one logo that almost made it. It
was not carried through with though but a beautiful handmade version for
American Express.
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Y28 Unic Taxi |
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A green trial model auctioned
by Vectis UK. |
Y29-1 Harrods Van |
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No casting changes but a big
difference in the side label. The roof has been hand painted and the front
'Walker' label has the small body locating pin poking through. There are
obvious metal flow problems to the lower side panels |
Y30-1 Mack Truck |
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This early version has the
ridge around the top of the body missing. |
A special one off
Yesteryear model |
Y-5-2 Bentley |
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A highly reworked
Y5-2 Bentley. Cut and shut , brass sheet and rod as well as resin, to make
what appears to be an Aston Martin race car. Made by someone in R&D
for presentation to the board as a future model - sadly it never made it
but would have been a great companion piece to the Y5-1 Bentley as
approximately the same size. |
Some Non
Yesteryear preproduction Models
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K53 Hotrod |
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Beautiful version in all over
purple. Has casting differences to the rear number plate area. |
K53 Hotrod Fire Engine |
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Very nice preproduction fire
engine in silver and gold with a clear ladder on the roof rack. |
Some models that
were put forward but never made it to production
My thanks to Neil
Fraser for these photographs |
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A cattle
transporter based on the Y13 Crossley |
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A great
model, breakdown truck based on a cut down Y5 van and a shame this one
never appeared at all. |
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Made up model as a
bus/coach |
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Four variations on
the Y3 Tanker that never made it. |
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Not sure what
scale these are to but would say a mixture of Twin Pack scale and Kingsize
Last photo is obviously the Convoy range.
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This is a very
interesting model from Mike Schager as it's based on the Y9 Simplex but
mocked up as a delivery van. I have no idea who 'Olen's Garage' is. |
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This is an
interesting one as I was contacted by Jim Yates after he saw this model
here and here is his story
"I was at the Lesney, Chingford
development site until it closed in 1982 and was involved in the
development of this particular model, the biggest ever made and the first
(and last) of what was to be a new range of models even larger than Super
Kings. The model was close to 300 mm long and around 100 mm high. It
had a siren, flashing lights and a functional water pump fed by an
internal water tank filled via the cylindrical cap on the roof. The
photograph is of the prototype. The body was made from soldered brass
sheet and the base from plasticard. The exhausts were made from brass tube
and the nozzle from many bits of plastic. The seats were also made from
plasticard. The walkways on the roof were made from fine metal mesh fixed
in place with double sided tape. The wheels had substantial
suspension to carry the weight. On the side facing the camera is a
statement in German - on the other side was a similar statement in
English.
Diecast tooling was made for this model in early 1982 and a few hundred
shots were produced. I still have one somewhere in my loft. I do not
believe any other tooling was produced as the development was discontinued
due to Lesney Products ceasing trading shortly after"
Regards, Jim Yates
And to a further enquiry Jim kindly
replied
"Do you mean the
prototype Airport Crash Tender in the picture or other
pre-production models - I was only aware of the one, the
one in the picture, which is definitely the brass and plasticard
prototype - I can even see my fingerprints on it.
Then - I remembered
seeing a picture of one in a book - but I could not remember which book
it was - so I did a bit of digging and found it on page 32 of
"Matchbox Toys" by Bruce and Diane Stoneback. Sure enough,
there it was, not the brass and plasticard prototype but one made from a
diecast body and what appears to be an injection moulded roof, windows,
and other fittings. I was not aware that this much tooling had been
completed. The book suggests that 50 were completed. See attached
and compare the detail with the one on your site.
I was with Lesney UK
Operations Ltd. from late 1979 to early 1984 as Senior Control Systems
Engineer, initially at the machinery and toy development site
in Waterden Road. When that closed most of my engineering
team and most of the toy development group moved to the Chingford
site - which is where I became involved with the Crash Tender. I
also became heavily involved with the sad work of decommissioning and
closure of the Lee Conservancy Road site and then the Chingford
site. In early 1983 I moved to the Matchbox site at Rochford for almost
a year and then left Matchbox "
A fascinating piece of Lesney history
again and many thanks for this information Jim. I will try and show the
finished version in the book but do not want to broach copyright laws so
will try and find out before I post it here.
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