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.

photo home1_zpsb2bb0894.gif photo forum1_zps065b0a95.gif

Moko Lesney Matchbox 1e Mercedes truck



The Lesney model of the Mercedes truck was first introduced into the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1968,
It was painted light sea green, It had a chromed plastic baseplate that was attached by the grille which was part of the baseplate locating through the front of the body and by a single round rivet towards the center.
By constructing it this way it meant no silver trim was needed.
It had pale green plastic windows and was fitted with 12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels on dome head rounded axles,
It is usually found with an orange canopy but some have been found with yellow canopies from the superfast version,
It was fitted with a large tow hook as the next model in the range was its matching trailer,

Casting alterations were made to the step below the doors so it can be found with the top edge of the step below, Level with or above the top of the front bumper,
Also the front bumper which originally had a level lower edge had the center extended downwards to create part of the towing bracket,
The rest of the towing bracket was added to the baseplate by means of two raised ridges running backwards from the middle of the bumper.
There was a modification made to the brackets that held the canopy in place, they can be found with straight sides or angled sides,
The mercedes was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes and is very common,
It was converted to superfast wheels in 1970.

above: three combinations of bumper extension and baseplate tow guides, a fourth version exists with
baseplate tow guides but no bumper extension.

above: the fourth version without number
plate but with the baseplate tow guides.
photo courtesy JJ (twoj05 from the forum)

code number general canopy baseplate front bumper door step
code 1 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket flat lower edge thin step
code 2 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket flat lower edge step level with bumper
code 3 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket flat lower edge step above bumper
code 4 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket with tow guide extension thin step
code 5 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket with tow guide extension step level with bumper
code 6 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, no towing bracket with tow guide extension step above bumper
code 7 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket flat lower edge thin step
code 8 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket flat lower edge step level with bumper
code 9 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket flat lower edge step above bumper
code 10 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket with tow guide extension thin step
code 11 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket with tow guide extension step level with bumper
code 12 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		orange plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket with tow guide extension step above bumper
code 13 sea green, silver base
12.5 x 40 black plastic wheels 		yellow plastic silver plastic, with towing bracket with tow guide extension step above bumper

box types notes
E4 sides - two light blue
E4R sides - two light blue
F2 A Lesney Product
F2 "Matchbox" is the reg'd TM of Lesney Products& Co Ltd London England

values
all models £20
values are for mint models in mint boxes
price guide gallery
box gallery