Lesney Matchbox 48b Sports boat & trailer

Moko Lesney Matchbox 48b Sports boat & trailer

The second Lesney model of the speedboat was simply listed as a "sports boat" on the box so it may not have been based on a real boat,
Unlike the first issue which was all metal this boat was molded in plastic with the exception of the outboard motor which was die cast mazac (US zamac) which was actually hinged to the back of the boat so to give it a little extra play value the outboard motor could be raised and lowered just like on a real boat,
The outboard could be plated in either silver or gold but it does tend to tarnish with age which can make it difficuly to see exactly what colour it was originally,
The boat was made in two halves which were then glued together, It is not uncommon to find yellowing glue residue along the join between the two halves,
One half would be molded in red and the other would be either white or cream, The white part of the boat can discolour and appear to be off white and the red can lighten through sun fade.

The metal trailer is either dark blue or mid blue with the dark blue being more common. It was fitted with grey plastic or black plastic wheels which were 7.5 x 18 on domed head rounded axles.
There were a couple of casting variations, Firstly the heel beneath the towing hitch was lengthened, Then a strengthening ring was cast around the towing eye and finally a strengthening brace was added to the back of the ring.

It was first introduced to the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1961 and was sold in box types 'C' and 'D'. It is a fairly common model except for the one with grey plastic wheels which is quite scarce.
Then after a five year run it was deleted in 1966 to be replaced by the 48c American built Dodge dumper truck.
Boats made from all red, all cream or all white or a mixture of white and cream plastic have been seen but it is doubtful that they actually came from Lesney assembled in this way.

above: some of the different coloured boats that were available

above: with & without the strengthening ring cast. in the area

outlined in yellow is where the strengthening brace was added.

above: on the left the long foot and heel, on the right the short foot and heel

below: variation table for the boats

code number	deck colour	hull colour	outboard colour
code 1	cream	red	gold
code 2	white	red	gold
code 3	white	red	silver
code 4	red	cream	gold
code 5	red	white	gold
code 6	red	white	silver

below: variation table for the trailers

code number	trailer colour	wheel colour and type	towing foot & heel type	towing eye ring	strengthening brace
code 1	dark blue	grey plastic 7.5 x 18	short foot, short heel	no ring	without brace
code 2	dark blue	grey plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	no ring	without brace
code 3	dark blue	grey plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	with ring cast	without brace
code 4	dark blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	short foot, short heel	no ring	without brace
code 5	dark blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	no ring	without brace
code 6	dark blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	with ring cast	without brace
code 7	dark blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	with ring cast	with brace
code 8	mid blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	short foot, short heel	no ring	without brace
code 9	mid blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	no ring	without brace
code 10	mid blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	with ring cast	without brace
code 11	mid blue	black plastic 7.5 x 18	long foot, long heel	with ring cast	with brace

box types	notes
C	Sports Boat and Trailer "new model"
C	Sports Boat & Trailer "new model"
C	Sports Boat & Trailer
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue
D2	two blue sides
D2	light blue sides,

values

grey plastic wheels £125+

all other models £30

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery