Lesney Matchbox 50a Commer pick-up Mk Vll

Moko Lesney Matchbox 50a Commer pick-up Mk Vll

The Lesney model of the 50a Commer Mk Vll pick-up truck joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1958.
It was initially painted light brown or dark brown and could be found fitted with grey metal, grey plastic or later silver plastic wheels although one early issue has been found with grey metal wheels with 'M2' on the side of the wheels as they were borrowed from the major pack M2.
The early issues had a flat black baseplate but this was soon changed to gloss black.
The commer had hand applied silver trim to the headlights, grille and front & rear bumpers, later the trim was changed to mask sprayed and later still the trim was omitted from the rear bumper.
The first issues had dome head axles with crimped ends but soon this was changed for dome head axles with rounded ends.
Later the model was recoloured to a red body with a white roof and pick up bed with grey or silver wheels and after a while it was changed again to a red body with a grey roof and pick up bed with grey silver or black wheels on the final issue.

There were several casting modifications to the commer.
The roof had a smooth interior on the early issues but soon an ejector ring was added to the center.
The dashboard had no braces underneath on the first issue but later a straight brace was added and later still a curved brace was cast in.
The tailboard was altered very early on. The first issue had a 2mm gap between the bottom of the tailboard but this was changed and all later issues had a 2.5 mm gap
The baseplate on the final issue of the commer was modified by having three ejector rings added to the inside, one large ring centrally and two smaller rings at the front.
The Commer was packed on 'B', 'C' and 'D' boxes, The D box is quite hard to find and will probably add a premium.
After six years in the range the Commer was replaced by the Jonn Deere lanz tractor in 1964.

Updated: 02-03-10, Jason (nearlymint) from the forum has recently found a Commer in red & grey with 9x20 silver plasic wheels but this one has no dashboard brace, It has been listed at the number 25 position.
Updated: 10-03-10, George Marshall informs me that he has a code 1 with gloss black base, It has been added to the listing at number 3
Updated: 10-03-10, Jason (nearlymint) and Louis (carb) from the forum have both told me of code 1 commers with flat head axles, This has been added to the listing at the new number 1, It has also come to light that the amount of handpainted trim can vary considerably.
Updated: 04-06-10, The listing table has been updated to include trim variations that were not previously listed, Thanks to Christian Falkensteiner for passing on the information.
Updated: 14-04-11, Antonin Shenk and Martin Avis have both reported very early commers in a very pale brown as found on the rare tan minor, These were possibly the first variation so have been listed as code 1a.

above: right, the red and white and. left, the red & grey with silver wheels.

above: the red and grey versions with black and with grey wheels.

above: Antonin Shenk and Martin Avis have both shown very early commers in pale brown.
These appear to have been painted the same colour as the rare tan minor,
These are now listed as code 1a
photo courtesy Antonin Shenk

trim code	trim description
code 1	hand applied silver to headlights, grille, front & rear bumpers
code 2	mask sprayed silver to headlights, grille, front & rear bumpers
code 3	mask sprayed silver to headlights & grille only

code
number general wheel type axle type baseplate dashboard
brace roof type tailgate
gap trim code

code 1a NEW pale brown body 9 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2mm trim 1

code 1 NEW light brown body 9 x 18 grey metal flat head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2mm trim 1

code 2 light brown body 9 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2mm trim 1

code 3 NEW light brown body 9 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none no ejector 2mm trim 1

code 4 light brown body 9 x 18 grey metal (M2) dome head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2.5mm trim 1

code 5 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2.5mm trim 1

code 6 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none no ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 7 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none no ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 8 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 flat black none no ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 9 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 10 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 11 light brown body 9 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 12 light brown body 9 x 18 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 13 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 14 light brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 15 brown body 9 x 18 grey metal dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 16 brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 17 brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head crimped type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 18 brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 2

code 19 brown body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 20 brown body 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 21 red & white body 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 22 red & white body 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 23 red & white body 9 x 24 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 24 red & white body 9 x 24 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black curved with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 25 NEW red & grey body 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 26 red & grey body 9 x 20 silver plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 27 red & grey body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black none with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 28 red & grey body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 29 red & grey body 9 x 20 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black curved with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 30 red & grey body 9 x 24 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 31 red & grey body 9 x 24 grey plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black curved with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 32 red & grey body 9 x 24 black plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black straight with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 33 red & grey body 9 x 24 black plastic dome head rounded type 1 gloss black curved with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

code 34 red & grey body 9 x 24 black plastic dome head rounded type 2 gloss black curved with ejector 2.5mm trim 3

box types	notes
B2	none
B3	none
C	none
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue

values

light or dark brown, grey metal wheels £40

light or dark brown, grey plastic wheels £40

dark brown, silver plastic wheels £120

red & white body, silver or grey wheels £300 - £400

red & grey body, grey or silver wheels £120 - £150

red & grey body black wheels £100

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	baseplate	dashboard brace	roof type	tailgate gap	trim code
code 1a NEW	pale brown body	9 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2mm	trim 1
code 1 NEW	light brown body	9 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2mm	trim 1
code 2	light brown body	9 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2mm	trim 1
code 3 NEW	light brown body	9 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	no ejector	2mm	trim 1
code 4	light brown body	9 x 18 grey metal (M2)	dome head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2.5mm	trim 1
code 5	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2.5mm	trim 1
code 6	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	no ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 7	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	no ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 8	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 flat black	none	no ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 9	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 10	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 11	light brown body	9 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 12	light brown body	9 x 18 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 13	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 14	light brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 15	brown body	9 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 16	brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 17	brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 18	brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 2
code 19	brown body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 20	brown body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 21	red & white body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 22	red & white body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 23	red & white body	9 x 24 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 24	red & white body	9 x 24 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	curved	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 25 NEW	red & grey body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 26	red & grey body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 27	red & grey body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	none	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 28	red & grey body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 29	red & grey body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	curved	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 30	red & grey body	9 x 24 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 31	red & grey body	9 x 24 grey plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	curved	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 32	red & grey body	9 x 24 black plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	straight	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 33	red & grey body	9 x 24 black plastic	dome head rounded	type 1 gloss black	curved	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3
code 34	red & grey body	9 x 24 black plastic	dome head rounded	type 2 gloss black	curved	with ejector	2.5mm	trim 3