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Lesney Matchbox 39a Ford Zodiac convertible

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 39a Ford Zodiac convertible



In 1957 Lesney introduced their second model of the Ford Zodiac into the Matchbox 1-75 series only the new version was a convertible.
This was done by simply removing the roof from the 33a Zodiac saloon but Lesney overlooked the fact that thir model of the saloon was a four door and the real Ford convertible was only available as a two door but I guess they were only making toys.
The covertible was painted light peach to begin with, It had a brown baseplate and grey metal wheels on flat head axles with crimped ends.
The car was fitted with a brown painted driver and it had hand applied silver trim to the grille, headlights and the front and rear bumpers. The trim was later changed to mask sprayed, Red trim can also be found on the tail lights.
The baseplate colour was soon changed to light green, later dome head axles were used and later still the wheels were changed to grey plastic.
The body was recoloured to a darker peach and the baseplate to a blue-green and one late issue in dark peach had a sea green baseplate and silver plastic wheels.
On the earlier issues the driver had a gap underneath his arms which was later cast closed.
The body also had several modifications, Firstly the left side window which was cast open on the first run was cast closed. The next modification was to add two pips to the underside of the bonnet (hood). Then the lower edge of the windscreen frame was widened and finally the ejector post that can be found under the bonnet was lengthened slightly.
It should be noted that the bases come off of this model very easily so baseplate swaps are not unknown, I was pleased when I found my own silver wheeled example until I checked which variation it was to find it was a baseplate swap that had been matched up with the wrong colour body.
The versions with open side window are extremely hard to find and the silver wheeled version and the one with brown baseplate are both very hard to find and the darker peach is not as common as the lighter peach versions,
The Zodiac was replaced by the 39b Pontiac convertible in early 1962. It was packaged in box types 'B' and 'C'.
UPDATED: 20-04-09, A recent discovery made by Patrick Flawhinney is of a code 13 but with 9 x 20 grey plastic wheels, It has been added to the listing at code 14.

above: left, metal wheels & brown interior and right with light green interior

above: dark peach with sea green interior. right, peach with silver wheels and blue green interoir.

above: the four interior / baseplate colours. left to right. brown, light green, sea green, blue green.

above: with & without opening beneath drivers arms.

above: early and late windscreen frames

above: showing the side window that can be cast open or closed.

body code side window bonnet ejector post bonnet pips windscreen edge
body 1 open short none thin lower edge
body 2 cast closed short none thin lower edge
body 3 cast closed short 2 pips thin lower edge
body 4 cast closed short 2 pips thicker lower edge
body 5 cast closed long 2 pips thicker lower edge

code number peach body, brown driver, silver trim interior colour wheel type axle type driver's arms body type silver trim
code 1 peach body, brown driver, silver trim brown 8.5 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped open gap body 1 hand applied
code 2 peach body, brown driver, silver trim brown 8.5 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped open gap body 2 hand applied
code 3 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped open gap body 1 hand applied
code 4 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped open gap body 2 hand applied
code 5 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped open gap body 3 hand applied
code 6 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped open gap body 2 hand applied
code 7 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped open gap body 3 hand applied
code 8 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8.5 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped closed gap body 3 hand applied
code 9 peach body, brown driver, silver trim light green 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped closed gap body 4 mask sprayed
code 10 darker peach body, brown driver, silver trim blue-green 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped closed gap body 4 mask sprayed
code 11 darker peach body, brown driver, silver trim blue-green 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded closed gap body 4 mask sprayed
code 12 darker peach body, brown driver, silver trim sea green 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded closed gap body 4 mask sprayed
code 13 darker peach body, brown driver, silver trim blue-green 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded closed gap body 5 mask sprayed
code 14 NEW darker peach body, brown driver, silver trim blue-green 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded closed gap body 5 mask sprayed

box types notes
B2 none
B3 none
B4 none
B5 no driver shown
B5 driver shown
C none

values

peach with brown base, metal wheels & open side window £350

peach with light green base, metal wheels & open side window £250+

peach with brown base & metal wheels £250+

peach with light green base & metal wheels £50

peach with light green base & grey plastic wheels £50

dark peach with sea green base & grey plastic wheels £90

dark peach with blue green base & grey plastic wheels £90

dark peach with blue green base & silver plastic wheels £200

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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