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 33b Ford Zephyr 6 Mk III

In 1963 Lesney introduced the 33b Ford Zephyr to the Matchbox 1-75 series replacing the 33a Ford Zodiac.
The Zephyr was the first model to have spring suspension fitted, The holes that held the axles were opened out to make a vertical slot so that the axle could move up and down and a plastic leaf spring was concealed inside the base to provide the springing.
It can be found in various shades of dark blue with ivory plastic interior and a clear plastic window unit.

The first release was with silver plastic wheels and mask sprayed silver trim to the full width of the rear bumper and the front bumper & grill before the body was fitted to the base,
This was soon changed because now the silver trim was applied by masked spray painting after the body was fitted to the baseplate so the centre of the rear bumper was not painted because they had to modify the painting process to take into account the tow hook obstructed the bumper.

Strengthening braces or "webs" were added to the sides of the rear rivet where it joins on the the inside of the boot (trunk),
Later grey and black plastic wheels were used and on the last issue the silver trim was omitted from the rear bumper.
Some catalogs list this model as having red painted rear lights but I have not come across this variation yet.
The final issue was recoloured to a much lighter sea green which is a variation that often gets overlooked in the price guides and except for this one which is quite rare and the grey wheeled version that is quite hard to find it is a pretty common model so it must have been a popular toy in its day,
It was deleted in 1968 to make way for the Lambourghini Miura and was only available in box types 'D' and 'E' but there are several different box designs to look out for.

Above, rare sea green variation

code number	general	wheel type	rivet webs	rear bumper trim
code 1	blue body black base cream interior	silver plastic wheels 9 x 24	no rivet webs	rear bumper trim is full width
code 2	blue body black base cream interior	silver plastic wheels 9 x 24	no rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 3	blue body black base cream interior	silver plastic wheels 9 x 24	with rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 4	blue body black base cream interior	black plastic wheels 9 x 24	with rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 5	blue body black base cream interior	grey plastic wheels 10 x 24	with rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 6	blue body black base cream interior	grey plastic wheels 9 x 24	with rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 7	blue body black base cream interior	grey plastic wheels 9 x 24	with rivet webs	no trim on rear bumper
code 8	blue body black base cream interior	black plastic wheels 9 x 36	with rivet webs	gap in rear bumper trim
code 9	blue body black base cream interior	black plastic wheels 9 x 36	with rivet webs	no trim on rear bumper
code 10	light sea green body black base ivory interior	black plastic wheels 9 x 36	with rivet webs	no trim on rear bumper

box types	notes
D2	one black side one blue "new model"
D2	one black side one blue
D2	two blue sides
E3	light blue sides
E4	light blue sides

values

black or silver wheels £25

grey wheels £45

sea geeen £60+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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