lesney matchbox 30a Ford prefect

Moko Lesney Matchbox 30a Ford prefect

The Lesney 30a Ford prefect joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1956, note that the model was called the Ford prefect and not the Ford 'perfect' as some of my American friends call it!.
The model was initially painted light brown, It had 8.5 x 18 grey metal wheels on flat head axles with crimped ends.
It had hand applied silver trim to the grille, headlights and the front & rear bumpers. Red trim was applied to the tail lights.
Very soon the axles were changed to dome head with crimped ends and soon after two strengthening braces were added to the rear rivet post.
Later the wheels were updated to 8 x 18 grey plastic and shortly after the trim was changed from hand applied to mask sprayed which left an unpainted section in the middle of the rear bumper. Around this time the baseplate colour was changed from flat black to gloss black.
Then the axles were changed from having crimped ends to having rounded ends.

Next the model was recoloured to a light blue which it kept for the remainder of its life.
Stannard lists one version of the model having a blue body and grey metal wheels on crimped axles which does not fit into the timeline and sounds suspiciously like a base swap or possibly a pre production model,
I have kept this odd variation in the listing and hope to get some feedback regarding this one.
Another variation which I am sure exists is painted olive green, It is not very common and often gets overlooked because it had been missed in the price guides of years ago .
Vectis had one a while ago (see price guide gallery) and I have seen playworn examples myself but unfortunately did not realise what they were at the time,
Again any feedback or photographs regarding this variation would be greatly appreciated. Once it is confirmed it will be added to the listing.
All the light brown issues are fairly common, The light blue variation is quite rare and I believe the olive green variation to be slightly rarer.
The prefect was packaged in 'B' type boxes, it was deleted in 1961 when it was replaced by the 30b Magirus Deutz crane.
Updated: 21-05-09, A green Prefect with grey plastic wheels and crimped axles was recently discovered by Hugh Stiles, It has been added to the listing table at number 5
Updated: 11-08-09, Hugh has found a second green Prefect, This one has grey metal wheels but this variation has no web braces to the rear axle post, It has been added to the variation table at number 3

above: the elusive pale green model with metal wheels
on crimped axles and rear rivet post webs next to the
common brown version

above: another green prefect but this one has grey
plastic wheels, crimped axles & web braces to the rear
axle posts.
photograph courtesy Hugh Stiles

This photo shows the wide range of colours and shades,
photo courtesy Antonin Shenk.

A weakness in the rear of the baseplate means the Prefect
is often found with the rearmost part of the base missing.
photo courtesy Kurt Van Laere (the forums Pierkemimi).

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	rear rivet post	silver trim	baseplate colour
code 1	brown body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	no web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 2	brown body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	no web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 3 NEW	pale green body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	no web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 4	pale green body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	with web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 5 NEW	pale green body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 6	brown body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	with web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 7	brown body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with web braces	hand applied	flat black
code 8	brown body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with web braces	hand applied	gloss black
code 9	brown body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with web braces	mask sprayed	flat black
code 10	brown body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with web braces	mask sprayed	gloss black
code 11	brown body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	with web braces	mask sprayed	gloss black
code 12	blue body, red tail lights	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	with web braces	mask sprayed	?
code 13	blue body, red tail lights	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	with web braces	mask sprayed	gloss black

box types	notes
B2	none
B2	larger box
B3	none
B4	Ford "Prefect"
B4	Ford Prefect

values

brown body, metal wheels £35

pale green body, metal wheels £80

brown body, grey plastic wheels £50

blue body, grey plastic wheels £180

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

above: the prefect, this one was owned by my sister Jacqui