Matchbox Superfast 55-e Mercury Commuter Police Car

Late in 1971 the #73 Mercury Commuter stationwagon tooling was modified with a new roof with 2 holes for lights, a new baseplate just for #55 with a new interior moulding featuring traffic cones instead of dogs, and painted white as the new SuperFast #55e to replace the #55d saloon version of the same car.
This bodyshell always featured the wider wheel arches and flatter bonnet but not the roof strips of the final version of the #73 stationwagon.
It was packaged in ´H´ boxes or any blisterpacks with copyright dates between 1971 and 1974.

The first run carried over the same paper bonnet & door stickers that had been fitted to the #55d. But the bulk of production was fitted with yellow red edged POLICE arrows on the doors and bonnet.
All were painted brilliant white with no shade variations however as with all whites it is easily discoloured by light or chemicals over time.
Baseplates were normally silver plated however one scarce run was silver painted. All were fitted with a pair of the same red (never blue) roof lights as used on the #55d.
Ivory or off white seats were always fitted, with the actual shade dependant upon the amount of white colour added to the otherwise clear plastic used to make the seats.
All were fitted with 10 x4mm 5 slot SuperFast wheels on plastic suspension strips and it is worth noting that the shape and sizes of the slots did vary noticably between different batches of wheel moulds.

Components for this model were shipped to Roly Toys Brazil for painting and assembly in a wide range of colours which included the logical metallic blue and a smart red Firechief version fitted with #59d helmet and axe stickers. No further use was ever made of this tooling beyond 1975.