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 14d Iso Grifo



The Iso Grifo was a luxurious and brutally fast Italian supercar that went into production in 1963, It was fitted with a 5.4 liter Chevrolet 327 and it was capable of over 170 mph, later 185 mph uprated version with a 427 Chevrolet measuring seven litres was introduced and briefly a 454 Chevrolet was used before switching to Ford powerplants and for the last two years of production the car was fitted with a Boss 351 Ford.
The Lesney model joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1968 relpacing the Lomas ambulance, It was painted either a dark or a lighter metallic blue,
The Interior is usually found in a light blue plastic but a few very rare examples have been found with a white plastic interiors and these could possibly be pre production models as it is a very rare variation which is seldom seen.
The Iso was fitted with a clear plastic window unit and 11.5 x 45 black plastic wheels fitted on to 6mm chrome plated metal wheels and then mounted on dome head rounded axles,
The baseplate casting was given a silver metal plating and fixed in place by the headlights which were part of the baseplate casting locating through holes in the front panel of the body and by a single round rivet at the rear.
Also the front and rear bumpers were cast in as part of the baseplate and being that the headlights and bumper had a silver metal plating then no silver trim was needed on this model.

To add to play value it was fitted with a tow hook and it had opening doors that were spring mounted,
An extension of the plastic interior provided suspension to the front axle but for some reason the rear axle was solidly mounted.
There are three variations to this model which was actually a result of the dies being slightly different, This resulted in the checkerplate pattern on the baseplate being oriented in different directions so the base can have the checkerplate lines facing to the front left or to the front right, and one version with the right checker facing to the front right and the left facing to the front left.
The Iso is a fairly common piece but the version with white interior is very rare and the lighter blue model is quite hard to find.
It was sold in 'E' and 'F' type boxes and expect to pay a premium for the 'F' box, It was converted to Superfast wheels in 1969, deleted in the mid seventies and was back in production in the late Eighties.

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The lighter metallic blue version
photo courtesy George Marshall

above, base casting types, left type 1, center type 2, right type 3.

above, Rare plated pre production model, photo courtesy Keith Dunkey.

* note
codes 4,5 and 6 may be pre production models

code number general body colour interior colour base casting
code 1 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue light blue type 1
code 2 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue light blue type 2
code 3 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue light blue type 3
*code 4 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue white type 1
*code 5 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue white type 2
*code 6 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels dark metallic blue white type 3
code 7 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels metallic blue light blue type 1
code 8 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels metallic blue light blue type 2
code 9 plated base, clear windows, 11.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on 6mm silver wheels metallic blue light blue type 3

box types notes
E4R light blue sides
F2 none

values

white interior £300+ (estimate)

metallic blue £100+

dark metallic blue £30

empty 'F' type box £80

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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