Matchbox Superfast MB15-d Volkswagen 1500

The popular #15 Volkswagen was an early choice for the SuperFast range, joining in the first wave in 1969 and losing its autosteer feature at the same time.
Initially red ´SuperFast´ titles were added to the autosteer F box design before the specially painted Superfast ´F´ box design was ready for production.
It was also packaged in all blisterpacks with copyright dates between 1969 and 1972 as well as ´G´ boxes, ´H´ boxes and each format of the special Japanese boxes and blisterpacks used 1977-1980 before final stocks appeared in USA only single blisters and European two pack TP6.
The off white bodyshells remained in production unchanged for the VW´s first year in the Superfast range although a shortage of ´137´door stickers resulted in leftover decals from the original regular ´realistic´ wheels run being used up instead.
As with the autosteer examples, 2 shades of off white were used although they never approach the shade of cream that was used on Lesney ambulances. This colour is also prone to darken or discolour with age and exposure to sunshine, artificial light and tobacco smoke so premiums should not be paid for more creamy examples without close examination beforehand to make sure its a factory shade rather than age and wear........
A factory authorised California custom with Herbie stripes fetches high prices today, and is produced unofficially by many customisers these days now that decals are freely available.
Like the rest of the 1969 SF releases the VW was fitted with 11x2mm thin 5 slot wheels which are usually solid on pre-1971 white cars.
The 1971 European Collector catalog shows 2 examples in the new candy red clearcoat over gold primer in giftsets and during 1972 this colour became standard in ´G´ boxes too. The shade can vary because of the relative thickness of the gold primer v red candy coat.
The first casting change occurred during the 2nd red run when the centre section of the rear bumper was deleted in order to make assembley of the plastic tow hook onto the baseplate easier.
The second casting change occurred near the end of production of red examples by 1973, when the final decal used on any 1-75 series was dropped, and the front rally plate where it had been placed was resculptured with a sunrise pattern.
In 1977 the casting was revived in its original off white colours with ´137´ door stickers for the Japenese market, this time being fitted with smaller 10.5x2mm 5 slot wheels. Many were produced over the following 3 years including one hard to find run fitted with 10x4mm wide wheels which worked well with the traditional plastic superfast suspension. All had open rear bumpers and the sunrise cast rally plates being permenant alterations to the tooling.
All Volkswagens had clear plastic windows and an ivory coloured plastic interior and either an off white or dark red plastic axle securing strip inside the baseplate.