lesney matchbox 35a ERF marshall horsebox

Moko Lesney Matchbox 35a ERF marshall horsebox

Lesney introduced the 35a ERF Horsebox to the Matchbox range in 1957,
The cab / baseplate was painted a darkish red and the horsebox and it's drop down side door / ramp was painted light brown but shades of the brown can vary some,
Silver trim was applied to the headlights and radiator grille and a reported but as yet unconfirmed variation has been found with gold trim instead of the usual silver which will probably be added when it is confirmed.
The baseplate / cab was attached to the horsebox by a tongue and slot at the rear and by a flat spread rivet just behind the cab.
Unusually all four types of wheel can be found on this model which is something few other 1-75s had in common, The trolleybus is one that comes to mind but the SPW version is quite scarce.
The wheels were 7.5 or 8 x 18.
The axles were originally flat head with crimped ends and progressed through dome head with crimped ends and finally to dome head axles with rounded ends.

The drop down side door / ramp was held in place by two studs at the bottom of the door being held in place between the baseplate and the box, This was the weak spot on this model and even the lightest play worn example is quite often found with the door missing altogether,
There is only one known casting variation to the horsebox body which looks like it was caused by a small piece of the die breaking off. Probably because it was such a minor imperfection it was never repaired
The ERF stayed in the range for seven years so must have been a very popular toy in its day and with the exception of the black and silver wheeled variations which are not so easy to find the metal and grey plastic wheeled horsebox is even today still a fairly common model,
It was sold in 'B', 'C' and 'D' type boxes and was deleted to make way for the 35b Snow Trac in 1964.

Updated 17/04/2013. With the assistance of Antonin Schenk and other forum members.

The only known casting variation was a very small piece of infill added very early in production,
possibly as the result of a damaged die, the early model without infill is shown above
photo courtesy Antonin Schenk.

And this is the later model with infill
photo courtesy Antonin Schenk.

code number general wheel type axle type infill to horsebox silver trim

code 1 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped none hand applied

code 2 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped none hand applied

code 3 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped with infill hand applied

code 4 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped with infill hand applied

code 5 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped with infill mask sprayed

code 6 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded with infill hand applied

code 7 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed

code 8 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped with infill hand applied

code 9 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped with infill mask sprayed

code 10 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed

code 11 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 silver plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed

code 12 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed

code 13 darker red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 7.5 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed
code 14 dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim 8 x 18 black plastic dome head rounded with infill mask sprayed

box types	notes
B2	none
B3	none
B3	larger box
B4	large model number shown
B4	medium model number shown
B5	none
C	none
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue

values

with grey metal wheels £35

with grey plastic wheels £40

with black plastic wheels £90

with silver plastic wheels £120+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	infill to horsebox	silver trim
code 1	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	none	hand applied
code 2	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	none	hand applied
code 3	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	with infill	hand applied
code 4	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with infill	hand applied
code 5	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with infill	mask sprayed
code 6	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	hand applied
code 7	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed
code 8	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with infill	hand applied
code 9	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	with infill	mask sprayed
code 10	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed
code 11	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 silver plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed
code 12	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed
code 13	darker red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	7.5 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed
code 14	dark red body, tan horsebox & door, silver trim	8 x 18 black plastic	dome head rounded	with infill	mask sprayed