PLEASE NOTE: I will no longer be altering the variation codes. All new discoveries will be inserted in to their correct place in the timeline and given a suffix.
So a new variation that would be nearest to variation 4 would become the new 4a, etc.

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 11a ERF road tanker



The Lesney model of the 11a ERF road tanker joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1955,
It was initially released in green but this was very soon changed to either light or darker yellow and finally in shades of red,
The green and the red versions usually have gold trim to the headlights and to the grille and to the two fuel tanks on either side but one run of red tankers were issued with silver trim,
The yellow versions all had silver trim,

It was fitted with 7 x 18 metal wheels on flat head crimped axles. The red version was decorated with either a 10mm or 13mm wide esso decal on the rear of the tank,
A very short run had 10mm or 13mm esso decals applied to both sides of the tank,
Another diecasting company local to lesney called Benbros also made a model of the ERF tanker and their tanker always had two decals to the sides so it's possible that an ex-Benbros employee now working for lesney had applied the decals this way in error.

There was only one casting variation and that was the addition of a half round brace on the underneath between the cab and the tank,
Except for the green version the 11a is quite a common model, It was packaged in 'B' type boxes. In 1958 the 52mm long 11a was replaced by identical but larger 11b ERF tanker which was 63mm long and also painted red. A pre production model of the 11a in dull military green drab is known to exist.

above: the 10mm and 13mm Esso decal.

above L to R: two pale yellow tankers with & without silver trim to the tank caps, dark yellow & green.


Most collectors are familiar with the Japanese AHI copies of Lesney toys but
few have seen the Jadali "Minivoiture Jadanette" (Mini Toy Cars) which were
made in France. Although they are very similar to the Lesney models there are
minor variations that help us tell them apart, Most notably on this model is the
tyre treads, Compare the treads with the yellow tanker's treads pictured above
photo: courtesy Manuel G

code number general trim wheels & axles decals half round brace
code 1 green body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped none no brace
code 2 dark yellow body silver 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped none no brace
code 3 dark yellow body silver 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped none with brace
code 4 light yellow body silver 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped none no brace
code 5 light yellow body silver 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped none with brace
code 6 red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 10mm esso on rear with brace
code 7 red body silver 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 10mm esso on rear with brace
code 8 dull red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 10mm esso on rear with brace
code 9 orange red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 10mm esso on rear with brace
code 10 red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 2 x 10mm esso on sides with brace
code 11 red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 2 x 13mm esso on sides with brace
code 12 red body gold 7 x 18 metal wheels, flat head crimped 13mm esso on rear with brace

box types notes
B1 blurred picture
B1 sharp picture
B2 none

values

green £1000+

yellow £75

red £70

red with decals to the sides £800+

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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