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Lesney Matchbox 23d Trailer Caravan

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 23d Trailer Caravan



The Lesney model of the trailer caravan joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1965 and can be found painted in either yellow or pink. the first issue had a full covering of yellow paint but later on the interior floor was not painted because it was to be covered by the plastic interior, it was fitted with either 8 x 18 or 8 x 40 black plastic wheels on dome head rounded axles but a very short run were fitted with 8 x 18 grey plastic wheels. it has been reported to have been found fitted with a mixture of 18 tread and 40 tread black wheels. the roof was made from white or off white plastic and it was made to be removable to add play value

The plastic interior is usually found in light blue but shades do vary and colour trials are known to exist, it can also be affected by sunfade, numbers 1 to 6 can be found on the underside and there were a few modifications too, the first was to the table, on early issues the table had very short supports so the table was only held up at one end, soon these were extended so the table was supported along half it's length. then the triangular brace beneath the table was extended downwards to add strength to the extension that ran down to the tow hitch. the final modification was to alter the foot beneath the tow hitch from having a square corner to a rounded corner to match up with alterations that had been made to the caravan body.

There were two bodies used and there are several variations between the two, the first body can be found in yellow or pink and it had no top to the door frame, it had a 8mm long ventilation grill on the side and the curtain on the verandah is cast with less curtain draped in the corners, the axles can be open or covered.

the second body was painted pink and it had a top to the door frame, a 6.5mm long ventilation grill and looser verandah curtains, the axles were covered and after a while the tow hitch was altered and the interior modified to suit and short extensions were added to the axle carrier.

except for the grey wheeled variant is quite common, it was sold in 'E' and 'F' type boxes and as it was not deemed suitable for convertion to superfast wheels it was deleted in 1969.

above: left, no top to the door frame. right, with a top to the door frametop

above: front, flat front and curved rear to tow hitch & closed axles.
rear, curved front and flat rear to tow hitch, open axles

above: examples of interior colour variations.

code number body colour wheels body type axles hitch foot interior
code 1 yellow 8 x 18 black plastic no doorframe top open square short table legs & triangular brace
code 2 yellow 8 x 18 black plastic no doorframe top open square wide table legs & triangular brace
code 3 yellow 8 x 18 black plastic no doorframe top open square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 4 yellow 8 x 18 grey plastic no doorframe top open square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 5 yellow 8 x 40 black plastic no doorframe top closed square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 6 yellow 8 x 40 black plastic no doorframe top open square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 7 pink 8 x 18 black plastic no doorframe top closed square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 8 pink 8 x 40 black plastic no doorframe top closed square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 9 pink 8 x 40 black plastic no doorframe top closed square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 10 pink 8 x 40 black plastic with doorframe top closed square extended triangular brace & square foot
code 11 pink 8 x 40 black plastic with doorframe top closed with extensions rounded extended triangular brace & rounded foot

box types notes
E2 two blue sides, "new model" blue caravan shown
E2 light blue sides, yellow caravan shown
E3 light blue sides, yellow caravan shown
E4 light blue sides, pink caravan shown
E4R light blue sides, pink caravan shown
F2 none

values

yellow 8 x 18 grey plastic wheels £2000+

all other models £25

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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