lesney matchbox 43c pony trailer

Moko Lesney Matchbox 43c pony trailer

The Lesney model of the 43c pony trailer made its debut into the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1968. The first version was painted yellow or orangy yellow as shades can vary.
It had a clear plastic window unit and 10 x 36 black plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends.
The ramp was made from plastic which can be light grey or a darker grey and all shades in between so the ramp colour has not been included in the listing. There are two versions of the handle on the ramp. One is a solid handle and the other one has a slot in the top and it appears that both types of handle were in use for the life of the model. The door was actually the same one that was used on the 17e AEC horsebox.
The base was originally painted light brown but after a while it was recoloured to a dark green, the dark green version being the most common although neither versions are rare.
To add to play value two white plastic horses were included with the model.

The first casting variation was to lengthen the brace that runs across the top of the ramp opening. The early issues had a straight brace but it was later lengthened so it continued down the inside of the box.
Next a ridge was added to the outside of the body along the lower edge which went along both sides, along the rear edge of the mudguard and across the rear end.
Then the roof brace was lengthened yet again when the ends were continued further down the inside edge of the box.
The final modification was to the foot of the towing hitch where the usual foot had a squared end the final run had an angled edge to the foot.
An oddity of this model concerns lettering that can be found under the left mudguard between the wheels on the later issues, It can be found to be either smooth or with the letters 'X', 'IA', 'XA' or 'IXA' cast in, Why the letters were added is not known but they were removed when the model was converted to superfast wheels in 1970.
All bases can be found with the number 1 to 4 cast in.
The trailer was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes and there are no known rare variations although a pre production model is known to exist in the superfast colour of white but it is the earlier casting without the lower ridge.

above: brown or dark green base, dark or light grey door.

above: with or without a ridge on the bottom edge.

above: two different versions of the tow hitch foot.

above: three different roof braces.

above: two different door handles.

code number	general	wheel type	tow bar foot	body ridge	roof brace	ramp handle
code 1	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	straight	solid
code 2	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	straight	open top
code 3	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	short corners	solid
code 4	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	short corners	open top
code 5	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	short corners	solid
code 6	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, brown base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	short corners	open top
code 7	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	short corners	solid
code 8	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	with ridge	short corners	open top
code 9	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	short corners	solid
code 10	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	short corners	open top
code 11	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	long corners	solid
code 12	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	squared	without ridge	long corners	open top
code 13	yellow body, clear windows, grey ramp, dark green base	10 x 36 black plastic	angled	without ridge	long corners	open top

box types	notes
E4	"new model"
E4R	with brown ramp
E4R	with black ramp
F2	none

values

yellow body & brown base £30

yellow body & green base £20

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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