Lesney Matchbox 40a Bedford 7 ton tipper.

Moko Lesney Matchbox 40a Bedford 7 ton tipper

In 1957 the third model to be based on the Bedford (S type) truck joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in the guise of the Bedford 7 ton tipper which looks suspiciously like a copy of the Dinky model of the Bedford tipper which had made its debut a year previously.
The Lesney Bedford body was painted red and the tipper bed was painted light brown, It had hand applied silver trim to the grille, headlights and front bumper,
For added play value the tipper bed could be raised to empty it by hinging on two round studs one each side of the chassis rails which located into holes in the rear of the tipper body, The tailboard was hinged at the top which allowed it to open when the tipper body was raised and the tailboard was hinged in the same manner as the tipper body.
The wheels were 9 x 18 grey metal which were mounted on flat head axles with crimped ends but these were quickly replaced by dome head axles with crimped ends.
Soon the grey metal wheels were replaced by grey plastic wheels which came in a variety of sizes and the final issues had dome head axles with rounded ends.
The trim was reduced to being hand applied to the grille and headlights only and later it was applied by mask spray, The final issue had no trim.
The later issues with rounded axles can have a light brown tipper bed and tailboard like the early issues or a darker brown tipper & tailboard.
There were no casting variations and there are no rare variations of the Bedford, It was packaged in 'B' type boxes and was replaced by the 40b Leyland tiger coach in the first half of 1962.

above: with grey metal wheels.

above: with grey plastic wheels.

code number general wheel type axle type trim type

code 1 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper

code 2 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper

code 3 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper

code 4 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille & headlights

code 5 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper

code 6 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille & headlights

code 7 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9.5 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper

code 8 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9.5 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped by hand, grille & headlights

code 9 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded by hand, grille & headlights

code 10 red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim 8 x 18 grey plastic dome head rounded by hand, grille & headlights

code 11 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded by hand, grille & headlights

code 12 red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded by hand, grille & headlights

code 13 red body, light brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded mask sprayed, grille & headlights

code 14 red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded mask sprayed, grille & headlights

code 15 red body, light brown tipper 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded no trim

code 16 red body, darker brown tipper 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded no trim

box types	notes
B2	small numbers on endflap
B2	large numbers on endflap
B3	none
B4	none
B5	none

values

red body, light brown tipper, metal wheels £40

red body, light brown tipper, grey plastic wheels £50

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	trim type
code 1	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper
code 2	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper
code 3	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper
code 4	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille & headlights
code 5	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper
code 6	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille & headlights
code 7	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille, headlights & front bumper
code 8	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	by hand, grille & headlights
code 9	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	by hand, grille & headlights
code 10	red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	by hand, grille & headlights
code 11	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	by hand, grille & headlights
code 12	red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	by hand, grille & headlights
code 13	red body, light brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	mask sprayed, grille & headlights
code 14	red body, darker brown tipper, silver trim	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	mask sprayed, grille & headlights
code 15	red body, light brown tipper	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	no trim
code 16	red body, darker brown tipper	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	no trim