Matchbox Superfast 43-c Pony Trailer

The #43-c Pony Trailer was converted to SuperFast wheels during 1970 for a one year stay in the 1-75 series. It was only packed in ´G´ boxes or USA or Canada blisterpacks with copyright dates between 1969 and 1971.
It kept its 1969 regular wheels glazing, gray door, Muira yellow body and British racing green chassis, with only the chassis being altered to accept a specially designed extra wide `SUPERFAST´ axle clip which was retained by two tiny rivits. The words ´PONY TRAILER´ and ´No 43´ were also repositioned when comparing Regular Wheels to SuperFast baseplates.
Wheels fitted were the same 9.5 x2mm thin 5 slots already specified for the #25 Cortina GT, and could be solid or hollow or a mixture of both types.
The only significant variation of the yellow bodied SF43 was one run made with standard BP green painted baseplates.

In 1976 the tooling was refreshed for use in the new Two Pack as TP3. All new TP3 production featured revised bodies made from the original mould but with raised extra vertical beading lines between each window and blanked out area where ´No. 43´ had been removed.
TP3 bodies were initially painted dark orange with black baseplates, clear windows and dark brown plastic ramps and the same white horses, with the addition of a red and white horse head sticker each side which can face backwards or forwards.
All TP3 issues featured hollow 9.5x2mm wheels which looked very much like the previous 5 slot design save for the much enlarged centre hole for the larger axle hub requiring the inner edges of the slots to be deleted making these open 5 slot wheels.

The TP3 Pony Trailer body was recoloured beige in the final Lesney years and the baseplate on these could be gloss or matt black or even silver.
It remained in production until all UK production shut down, being included in new TP111 and TP114 in the same colours but with a red tampo´d ´Silver Shoes´ logo and either a glossy black or plated metal baseplate.
Outside the scope of this site, this tooling was shipped to China and remained in the range as Matchbox International #743 into 1994 and has been used as recently as 2005 in some annual multipacks in a rainbow of colours.

Above: Showing the body colours and some of the baseplate colours, All Pony trailers were either packed in a 'G' type box or were on blister cards.

Above: The first release was in the same yellow body, dark green base, grey tailgate as the regular wheeled model.

Above: The first colour change was to the base which was now painted in a much brighter mid green.

Above: The body colour was changed to orange and the base was recoloured to either charcoal or gloss black.
photo courtesy Christian Falkensteiner.

Above: As the Pony Trailer would have come in its 900 series TP-3 blister pack.

Above: The next recolour was to beige, It could come with a variety of base colours and it could have either 'horse head', 'Silver Shoes' tampo or no decoration.

Above: The beige pony trailer with Silver Shoes tampo.

Above: Just some of the different tailgate colours.

Above: top-the thin and below-thick mudguard / fender castings.
photo courtesy Christian Falkensteiner.

Above: top-thick rear bumper. below-thin rear bumper.
photo courtesy Christian Falkensteiner.

Above: A pre production / colour trial model in yellow with a yellow base and 5 slot wheels.
photo courtesy Jason (Nearlymint) from the forum (yet again!!!)

Above: A pre production / colour trial model in blue with a black base and a white plastic wheel clip.

code number	body colour	base colour	wheels	window colour	tailgate colour	mudguards / fenders	rear bumper	decals / labels
code 14	yellow	dark green	9.5x2mm 5 slot	clear	grey	thin	thin	none
code 15	yellow	green	9.5x2mm 5 slot	clear	grey	thin	thin	none
code 16	orange	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thin	thin	horse head (TP-3)
code 17	orange	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thin	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 18	orange	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 19	orange	charcoal	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 20	orange	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	none (TP-3)
code 21	beige	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 22	beige	flat black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 23	beige	matt black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 24	beige	charcoal	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 25	beige	flat black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	dark brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 26	beige	matt black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	dark brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 27	beige	silver grey	9x3mm dot dash	clear	lime	thick	thick	none (TP-3,TP-111)
code 28	beige	flat black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	dark brown	thick	thick	none (TP-3)
code 29	beige	flat black	9.5x2mm cut out	smoke	dark brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-3)
code 30	beige	unpainted	9x3mm dot dash	clear	lime	thick	thick	none (TP-111)
code 31	beige	gloss black	9x3mm dot dash	clear	brown	thick	thick	horse head (TP-111)
code 32	beige	gloss black	9x3mm dot dash	clear	brown	thick	thick	silver shoes (TP-111,TP-114)
code 33	beige	unpainted	9x3mm dot dash	clear	lime	thick	thick	silver shoes (TP-114)
code 34	beige	gloss black	9x3mm dot dash	clear	lime	thick	thick	silver shoes (TP-114)
code 35	beige	gloss black	9x3mm dot dash	clear	white	thick	thick	silver shoes (TP-114)
code 36	beige	gloss black	9.5x2mm cut out	clear	brown	thick	thick	none (TP-111)

Values based on Vectis actual selling prices.

yellow, dark green base - £15-£25

yellow, light green base - £25-£35

orange, all - £15-£25

beige, all - £15-£20