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lesney matchbox 39c Ford tractor

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 39c Ford tractor



Lesney introduced the 39c Ford tractor into the Matchbox range in mid 1967 and it was the first part in a two piece set, The other part being the 40c hay trailer which was released at the same time as the 39c.
The tractor was painted blue to darkish blue as shades vary, It had a yellow (shades vary)front panel and bonnet (hood) and was fitted with yellow plastic hubs with black plastic tyres on dome head axles with rounded ends.
It was also fitted with a small black plastic steering wheel.
The very first issue is quite a hard one to find and I suspect it was probably a trial piece as all of the later issues were different, It was always painted dark blue and it had a 7mm long exhaust pipe, a 3.5mm ejector ring on the right hand side and a very thin tow hook.
All later issues had a 4mm or 5mm exhaust pipe, A 3.5mm or 4mm ejector ring which can be found on either side and the tow hook was much thicker. One hard to find variation was fitted with yellow 13mm rear hubs and 22 x 24 black plastic tyres that are usually found on the 50b John Deere tractor.

The model was later recoloured to blue all over, The ejector rings, tow hook and exhaust pipe stayed the same as the previous issue, Three tractors were also included as the load for the K-20 kingsize Ford tractor transporter, Three all blue tractors were attached to the trailer of the Ford truck by way of a plastic molding,

Another issue dating from 1972 found three of the tractor recoloured to orange all over and included as part of the BM-2 "big MX mechanised tractor plant & winch" set which were paired up with the Ford truck & trailer again, The orange tractors have a 4mm ejector ring on the left or right and a 4mm or 5mm long exhaust stack.

The yellow & blue and the all blue versions are fairly common, The early yellow & blue variation with the 7mm exhaust stack is quite hard to find and although the orange version was not a regular 1-75 model it is keenly sought after by regular wheel collectors.
The Ford tractor was sold in 'E' and 'F' type boxes, It was not considered suitable to be converted to superfast wheels, However Lesney decided it was to be continued into the superfast era with its black plastic tyres on yellow hubs, it was packaged in a superfast 'G' type box but without the word "superfast" printed on it, It was finally deleted in 1973.

Updated: 01-04-10,
Jason (Nearlymint) has found a 39c first version but with the 3mm ejector ring on the left side, It has been added to the listing as the new code number 1.

Updated: 04-06-10,

Christian Falkensteiner has recently found three 39c tractors in orange that have been fitted with 8mm yellow plastic front hubs that are usually found on the 49b Unimog, 65c Claas Combine Harvester and the 72b Jeep, These cannot be confirmed as variations as the authenticity of these is not certain unless others should come to light. Christian has also pointed out that the paint also comes in two distinct shades of orange.

Updated: 13-09-11,
Jason (Nearlymint) has found an unlisted 39c Tractor, It has the longer 7mm exhaust stack as found on variations 1 + 2 but with a thick towing hook as found on variations 3 upwards, It has a 3mm ejector ring on the left, As these were cast in pairs the model with a 3mm ejector ring on the right has been added as well. The new variations have been inserted into the listing as the new code 3 and 4.


above: the K-20 kingsize tractor transporter


above: the Big MX BM-2 mechanised tractor plant & winch transporter


above: the new code 3 and 4 with 7mm exhaust stack and thick towing hook.
Photo courtesy Jason (Nearlymint).

code number general rear wheels front wheels hook exhaust ejector ring
code 1 NEW yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thin 7mm 3mm on left
code 2 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thin 7mm 3mm on right
code 3 NEW yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 7mm 3mm on left
code 4 NEW yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 7mm 3mm on right
code 5 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on left
code 6 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on right
code 7 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on left
code 8 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on right
code 9 yellow & blue body 13mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on left
code 10 yellow & blue body 13mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on right
code 11 yellow & blue body 13mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on left
code 12 yellow & blue body 13mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on right
code 13 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 3.5mm on left
code 14 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 3.5mm on right
code 15 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on left
code 16 yellow & blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on right
code 17 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on left
code 18 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 3.5mm on right
code 19 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on left
code 20 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on right
code 21 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 3.5mm on left
code 22 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 3.5mm on right
code 23 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on left
code 24 blue body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on right
code 25 orange body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on right
code 26 orange body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 5mm 4mm on left
code 27 orange body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on right
code 28 orange body 9.5mm yellow hubs, 22 x 30 black tyres 6mm yellow hubs, 13mm black tyres thick 4mm 4mm on left

box types notes
E4 light blue sides "new model"
E4R light blue sides
F3 A Lesney Product
F3 Lesney Products & Co Ltd London England

values

blue & yellow body, long exhaust £150

blue & yellow body, short exhaust £25

all blue body £25

orange body £70

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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