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.

Moko Lesney Matchbox 20b ERF "Ever ready" truck

In 1959 Lesneys new 8 wheeled ERF "Ever ready" (batteries) replaced the earlier 4 wheeled ERF stake truck in the Matchbox 1-75 series.
The new model was painted dark blue and it had mask sprayed silver trim to the radiator grille, To the headlights and to the front bumper.
It had a gloss black baseplate which was attached by a tongue at the front and by a single round rivet towards the rear.
It was enhanced by orange white and black decals which read "Ever ready for life!" which approximately half way through the models life were changed for red, white and black Ever ready decals.
The first run was fitted with 7.5 x 18 grey plastic wheels on dome head axles with crimped ends but all later issues had axles with rounded ends, The model went through silver, black and 8mm grey plastic wheels and the silver wheeled version is by far the rarest.
Very early in the models life a piece of the die broke off leaving infill in between the left side rear mudguards, The broken die was never repaired so all but the crimped axle models had the infill between the mudguards.
Towards the end of the models life the spacers or 'hubs' on the end of the axle carriers that spaced the wheels away from the body were enlarged very slightly.
The ERF was deleted to make way for the 20c Chevrolet taxi in 1965.
It was packaged in box types 'B', 'C' and 'D'. and apart from the hard to find silver plastic wheeled version there are no rare variations to look for.

above: the scarce silver wheels & the larger 8mm grey plastic wheels

above: top, red outlined decal. below, orange outlined decal.

above: the left side rear mudguards

code number general advert wheel type axle type axle hubs left rear mudguard

code 1 blue, silver trim, black baseplate orange outline 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped small hubs no infill

code 2 blue, silver trim, black baseplate orange outline 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 3 blue, silver trim, black baseplate orange outline 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 4 blue, silver trim, black baseplate orange outline 7.5 x 18 silver plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 5 blue, silver trim, black baseplate orange outline 7.5 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 6 blue, silver trim, black baseplate red outline 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 7 blue, silver trim, black baseplate red outline 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded large hubs with infill

code 8 blue, silver trim, black baseplate red outline 7.5 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded small hubs with infill

code 9 blue, silver trim, black baseplate red outline 7.5 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded large hubs with infill

box types	notes
B3	20a shown
B4	20a shown
B4	none
B5	none
C	background shown
C	no background shown
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue

values

with grey plastic wheels £60

with silver plastic wheels £200

with black plastic wheels £40

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

code number	general	advert	wheel type	axle type	axle hubs	left rear mudguard
code 1	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	orange outline	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small hubs	no infill
code 2	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	orange outline	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 3	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	orange outline	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 4	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	orange outline	7.5 x 18 silver plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 5	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	orange outline	7.5 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 6	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	red outline	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 7	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	red outline	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	large hubs	with infill
code 8	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	red outline	7.5 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	small hubs	with infill
code 9	blue, silver trim, black baseplate	red outline	7.5 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	large hubs	with infill