PLEASE NOTE: I will no longer be altering the variation codes. All new discoveries will be inserted in to their correct place in the timeline and given a suffix.
So a new variation that would be nearest to variation 4 would become the new 4a, etc.

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 46c Mercedes 300 SE



The Lesney model of the 46c Mercedes 300 SE made its debut into the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1968. It was initially painted green but was later changed to metallic blue, It had clear plastic windows that were molded with the front windows in the open position,
The baseplate was plated metal and it included the grille, headlight and the front and rear bumper detail so silver trim was not needed on this model. On the top of the radiator grille was a Mercedes three pointed star emblem that was later removed for the superfast issues.
It had an ivory coloured plastic interior and a plastic leaf spring was concealed under the baseplate that supplied the springing to the front & rear axles.
To add to play value the model had an opening boot (trunk) and opening doors.
The wheels were 11 x 45 black plastic on dome head axles with rounded ends.

There were two small casting modifications. The first was to the studs under the bonnet (hood). The early green issues had studs that were there to support the metal spring that held the front doors in the closed position, Fairly soon it was realised that the studs were not necessary so they were removed from all later issues.
The next modification was to the two studs on the inside of the boot (trunk). On early issues the studs were quite long but on the last issues of the green model and all the meallic blue versions the studs were shortened considerably.

Both the green and metallic blue are fairly easy to find with the green version being the slightly harder to find model.
It was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes with the 'F' boxes being the harder one to find,
It was converted to superfast wheels in 1970 and briefly kept the metallic blue colour scheme before being recoloured to gold and having the doors cast closed, it was later released in military olive green and finally in silver but the boot (trunk) was cast closed for the last two issues.
A regular wheel model with opening doors is known to exist as a pre production or colour trial piece which was painted in the gold colour that was later used for the superfast issue.
Updated: 18-01-10, A blue Mercedes with out a bonnet stud but with long boot studs has been found by Jason over on the BVD forum, It has been listed as the new code 4

above: with green and blue box illustrations

Above: opening doors and boot (trunk)

above: the regular wheel issues with some of the later superfast models

code number general wheel type bonnet (hood ) studs boot (trunk) studs
code 1 green body, ivory interior, clear windows, plated base 11 x 45 black plastic with studs long studs
code 2 green body, ivory interior, clear windows, plated base 11 x 45 black plastic without studs long studs
code 3 green body, ivory interior, clear windows, plated base 11 x 45 black plastic without studs short studs
code 4 NEW blue body, ivory interior, clear windows, plated base 11 x 45 black plastic without studs long studs
code 5 blue body, ivory interior, clear windows, plated base 11 x 45 black plastic without studs short studs

box types notes
E4 green Mercedes shown "new model"
E4R green Mercedes shown "new model"
E4R blue Mercedes shown "new model"
F2 none

values

green with 'E' box £25

blue with 'E' box £25

blue with 'F' box £35

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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