Lesney Matchbox 12c Safari Land Rover

Moko Lesney Matchbox 12c Safari Land Rover

The third version of the Land Rover was made by Lesney in 1965,It made it's first appearance in the Matchbox 1-75 series painted green with dark brown luggage on the roof rack and a black plastic baseplate.
Later the body colour was changed to blue with brown luggage which was soon changed to a lighter reddish brown luggage. It was fitted with 11.5 x45 black plastic wheels on dome head rounded axles and it had a clear plastic window unit and a white plastic interior which had the tow hook incorporated.
The interior can also be found with or without a transmission tunnel.
Unlike many other models in the range silver trim was never applied to the land rover. Just before conversion to superfast wheels took place a few regular wheeled models were issued in the new superfast colour of gold and a few of the first superfast issue were released in the regular wheels colour of blue, Both are extremely rare but unfortunately they are quite easy to fake too.

Soon after it's introduction here was a casting modification to the body, The rivet post that held the front bumper had short triangular braces on the inside of the bonnet(hood). At first these were only half the length of the rivet post but they were made longer so they reached right down to the baseplate.
Later on just behind the front bumper small triangular blocks were cast in, The plastic baseplate could either have a stud behind the tow hook or on some no tow hook stud,
Later the baseplate had the addition of a towing bracket molded in.
There are several regular wheeled models with silver body and it is believed they should have been transitional gold versions but missed the top coat of gold laquer leaving just the silver base coat and these are quite rare.
In 1970 after a five year run the land rover was converted to superfast wheels and after a very brief stay in the superfast range it was replaced by the 12d setra coach in 1970. The regular wheeled green or blue versions and the gold superfast are quite common.
It was sold in 'E' and 'F' type boxes.

above: the rare gold version

above: left, without blocks. center, with blocks. right, with blocks and towing bracket.

above: left, with tow hook stud. right, without tow hook stud

Note: All variations can be found with a transmission tunnel molded in but they are quite rare,
interiors without a transmission tunnel are common

code number	general	rivet post	bumper	tow hook lug
code 1	green body, black base, brown luggage	short braces	no blocks, no tow bracket	without lug
code 2	green body, black base, brown luggage	short braces	no blocks, no tow bracket	with lug
code 3	blue body, black base, brown luggage	short braces	no blocks, no tow bracket	without lug
code 4	blue body, black base, brown luggage	short braces	no blocks, no tow bracket	with lug
code 5	blue body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks, no tow bracket	without lug
code 6	blue body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks, no tow bracket	with lug
code 7	blue body, black base, brown luggage	long braces	with blocks, no tow bracket	with lug
code 8	blue body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks and tow bracket	without lug
code 9	blue body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks and tow bracket	with lug
code 10	metallic gold body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks and tow bracket	with lug
code 11	silver body, black base, tan luggage	long braces	with blocks and tow bracket	with lug

box types	notes
E3	small green model
E3	larger green model, two blue sides
E3	larger green model, light blue sides
E4	small blue model, light blue sides
E4R	small blue model, light blue sides
F2	A Lesney Product
F2	Lesney Products & Co Ltd London England

values

blue body £25

green body £30

gold body with regular wheels £2000+

silver body with regular wheels £2000+

blue regular wheel body with superfast wheels £500+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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