Lesney Matchbox 39b Pontiac Convertible

Moko Lesney Matchbox 39b Pontiac Convertible

The Lesney model of the Pontac convertible joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in early 1962 when it replaced the Ford Zodiac convertible.
The Pontiac was initially painted metallic violet and it had a maroon baseplate, 9 x 20 silver plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends. Grey wheels can also be found on the metallic violet issue but this is a very rare variation which is not seen very often.
It had a green tinted windscreen which is very prone to breakage and its not unusual to find mint in box models with cracked screens so it most likely looks as if many were damaged when the model was assembled and on playworn models the screen is nearly always cracked, broken or missing altogether.
The plastic interior was cream coloured but on the early issues it tends to be darker and the later issues can be almost white.
The early issues also had a seperately molded red plastic steering wheel which was later changed to having a steering wheel that was molded in as part of the interior.
The model was enhanced with mask sprayed silver trim to the grille and front bumper.
The model was soon recoloured to yellow and the first of the yellow issues had a maroon baseplate and a red steering wheel but soon the steering wheel was changed to cream and later the baseplate was recoloured to black.
The yellow bodied Pontiac with maroon baseplate can be found with silver or grey wheels and the later issue with black baseplate can be found with silver, grey or black plastic wheels.
The final issues had the silver trim omitted from the front bumper.
There were no known casting variations to the Pontiac, It was replaced by the 39c Ford tractor in mid 1967.
The Pontiac was packaged in 'C', 'D' and 'E' type boxes and the 'E' type box is quite rare and will usually fetch a premium.

above: black or crimson baseplate

above, the Pontiac has either a red or a white steering wheel
also the interior tends to be darker on the earlier issues

above: the windscreen is prone to breaking on this one.

above right: unusual variation 17 with 8x45 bpw, photo courtesy George Mashall

code number general baseplate colour wheel type steering wheel silver trim

code 1 metallic violet body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 silver plastic red grille & front bumper

code 2 metallic violet body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 grey plastic red grille & front bumper

code 3 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 silver plastic red grille & front bumper

code 4 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 silver plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 5 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 grey plastic red grille & front bumper

code 6 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 20 grey plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 7 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 24 silver plastic red grille & front bumper

code 8 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen maroon 9 x 24 silver plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 9 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 20 silver plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 10 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 24 silver plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 11 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 20 grey plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 12 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 24 grey plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 13 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 24 black plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 14 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 36 black plastic cream grille & front bumper

code 15 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 36 black plastic cream grille

code 16 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 9 x 40 black plastic cream grille

code 17 yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen black 8 x 45 black plastic cream grille

box types	notes
C	"new model" red hood shown
C	"new model" yellow hood shown
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue
D2	two blue sides
D2	light blue sides
E3	light blue sides

values

metallic violet body, maroon base, silver wheels £120

metallic violet body, maroon base, grey wheels £500+ (estimate)

yellow body, maroon base, silver or grey wheels £80

yellow body, black base, silver, grey or black wheels £40

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery

code number	general	baseplate colour	wheel type	steering wheel	silver trim
code 1	metallic violet body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 silver plastic	red	grille & front bumper
code 2	metallic violet body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 grey plastic	red	grille & front bumper
code 3	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 silver plastic	red	grille & front bumper
code 4	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 silver plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 5	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 grey plastic	red	grille & front bumper
code 6	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 20 grey plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 7	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 24 silver plastic	red	grille & front bumper
code 8	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	maroon	9 x 24 silver plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 9	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 20 silver plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 10	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 24 silver plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 11	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 20 grey plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 12	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 24 grey plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 13	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 24 black plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 14	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 36 black plastic	cream	grille & front bumper
code 15	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 36 black plastic	cream	grille
code 16	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	9 x 40 black plastic	cream	grille
code 17	yellow body, cream plastic interior, green windscreen	black	8 x 45 black plastic	cream	grille