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 2c Muir Hill site dumper

The third Lesney model of the Muir Hill site dumper replaced the second issue in the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1962, Like other reissued models it was slightly scaled up with additional features not found on the previous version. The new Muir Hill had a roof and a yellow and black decal for the Laing construction company on the drivers door but on this version there was no driver included.
The first version was painted in the same colour scheme a the previous issue which was green body with a red bucket but these are extremely rare and are most likely to be pre production models
For regular production it was recoloured to red body with a green bucket. It had 11.5 x 45 black plastic wheels on the front axle and 16.5 x 20 black plastic on the rear, The front wheels were unique to this model because they had a shoulder molded in to one side which was to space the wheel out from the axle legs. When the axle legs were thickened the shouldered type wheel was no longer neccessary. No other Matchbox toy used the 11.5 X 45 shouldered wheel so it is most likeley that they simply modified the dies by removing the shoulder detail. The axles were dome head with rounded ends and the bucket could be tipped and it was hinged on a regular axle pin.
Silver trim was applied to the radiator grille but this was omitted towards the end of the run, The final issue was fitted with very slightly smaller 11 x 45 black plastic wheels to the front axle.
There was a number of casting variations some of which were done before the regular issue was released, The first was to join the left side of the front bumper to the front of the left wing to give some support to the end of the bumper, The early type bumper is only found on the pre production issue.
Later a hole was cast into the baseplate.
The last two modifications appear to have been done in quick succession, First a brace was added to the join left wing with the chassis just ahead of the left rear wheel and soon after the front axle legs/housings were thickened.
There were probably two dies in use as the lettering on the baseplate can be found in two sizes and the front number plate also comes in two sizes but these variations are so minute I have not included them in the variation table.
Some years ago an unopened Lesney trade box of I believe about 144 mint and boxed Muir Hills was discovered by a member of the family that owned the Miur Hill company, These were promotional issues that were all fitted with Miur Hill decals similar to the ones found on the Kingsize K2-a dumper,
These all found their way into collections so this must be the only old Lesney toy that can only be found mint and boxed condition. I believe another two boxes were found more recently.
The dunper was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes, It was replaced by the Mercedes trailer in 1967.
Updated: 09-12-09, Joe Allen (Tinman) recently showed us his previously unlisted 3c that has thin front axle legs with left rear wing brace cast in, It has been listed as the new number 6. Thanks also to Joe Allen and Mick Bruce for bringing the shouldered wheel information to light.

Updated: 04-04-10, Chris (ford_a_30) and George Marshall have both found early miur hill dumpers with "Made in England" and "Lesney" on the side of the front wheels, This has been added to the variation table at no 3.

above: promotional for Muir Hill which was never issued
photo courtesy George Marshall

above: the early wheel type with text.
photo courtesy George Marshall

above: the silver trim to the early issues was later omitted

above: these are the later thicker axle posts

above: the bumper brace was
the first modification, later the
wing to chassis brace was added.

above: the thin and thick axle braces and the mudguard brace,
the model on the left has the shouldered wheels which were unique
to this model
photo courtesy George Marshall.

above: Center, The previously unlisted casting with thin axle
legs and a brace cast between the left wing and the chassis.
photo courtesy Joe Allen.

body code	bumper-wing brace	wing-chassis brace	front axle legs
body 1	no brace	no brace	thin
body 2	with brace	no brace	thin
body 3	with brace	with brace	thin
body 4	with brace	with brace	thick

code number general decal type front wheels rear wheels front axle wing
brace baseplate
hole body
type

code 1 green body, red bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thin supports no no hole body 1

code 2 green body, red bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thin supports no no hole body 2

code 3 NEW red body, green bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 bp,with text thin supports no no hole body 2

code 4 red body, green bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thin supports no no hole body 2

code 5 red body, green bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thin supports no with hole body 2

code 6 NEW red body, green bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thin supports yes with hole body 3

code 7 red body, green bucket, silver trim LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thick supports yes with hole body 4

code 8 red body, green bucket LAING decal 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thick supports yes with hole body 4

code 9 red body, green bucket MUIR HILL 11.5 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thick supports yes with hole body 4

code 10 red body, green bucket LAING decal 11 x 45 black plastic 16.5 x 20 black plastic thick supports yes with hole body 4

box types	notes
D1	'new model' on endflaps
D2	one black side one blue side
D2	two blue sides
E3	light blue sides

values

green body, red bucket £2000+ (estimate)

red body, green bucket LAING decals £25

red body, green bucket MUIR HILL decals £80+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

code number	general	decal type	front wheels	rear wheels	front axle	wing brace	baseplate hole	body type
code 1	green body, red bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thin supports	no	no hole	body 1
code 2	green body, red bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thin supports	no	no hole	body 2
code 3 NEW	red body, green bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 bp,with text	thin supports	no	no hole	body 2
code 4	red body, green bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thin supports	no	no hole	body 2
code 5	red body, green bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thin supports	no	with hole	body 2
code 6 NEW	red body, green bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thin supports	yes	with hole	body 3
code 7	red body, green bucket, silver trim	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thick supports	yes	with hole	body 4
code 8	red body, green bucket	LAING decal	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thick supports	yes	with hole	body 4
code 9	red body, green bucket	MUIR HILL	11.5 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thick supports	yes	with hole	body 4
code 10	red body, green bucket	LAING decal	11 x 45 black plastic	16.5 x 20 black plastic	thick supports	yes	with hole	body 4