lesney matchbox 54b S & S Cadillac ambulance

Moko Lesney Matchbox 54b S & S Cadillac ambulance

The Lesney model of the 54b S & S Cadillac ambulance joined the Matchbox1-75 series in mid 1965.
It was painted off white and it had a translucent blue tinted window unit which held in the three red plastic roof lights.
The grille and headlights were enhanced with mask sprayed silver trim but the rear end was never trimmed.
Initially the interior was ivory coloured plastic but towards the end of the models life it was replaced by a white plastic interior.
It was only ever fitted with one wheel size which was 10 x 36 black plastic which were mounted on dome head axles with rounded ends.
The first issues were fitted with red cross decals to the front doors, later small red cross labels were fitted instead, a short final run was fitted with the larger red cross labels from the 3c Mercedes ambulance.
A spring was concealed inside the baseplate to supply the springing to the suspension, the suspension was only operated on the front axle, the rear axle was solidly mounted.

There were two minor casting variations to the baseplate,
The first was carried out fairly early in its life and that was to the area below the rear axle where a raised platform was cast in probably to add some strength,
Later on towards the end of its life the second modification was carried out to the socket for the front rivet where it was lengthened and thickened slightly and this was most likely to add some strength and to ensure the front rivet would not be easily pulled out of the baseplate socket during when the model was subject to rough play.
On some of the later issues the black paint of the baseplate was not thinned enough and went on with a kind of a speckled finish that can be mistaken for flat or matt paint.
The issues with red cross decals or the ones with the smaller red cross labels are quite common but the one fitted with the larger red cross label as fitted to the 3c Mercedes ambulance are quite hard to find.
The Cadillac was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes and was converted to superfast wheels in 1970, it was finally deleted in 1971.

above: left rear, decal. right rear, small label. front large label (from 3c)

above: with large decal from 3c.
(awaiting model details for inclusion into the variation table)

code number	general	wheels	red cross	baseplate-rear axle	baseplate-front socket	interior colour
code 1	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	decal	no platform	short socket	ivory
code 2	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	decal	with platform	short socket	ivory
code 3	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	small label	no platform	short socket	ivory
code 4	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	small label	with platform	short socket	ivory
code 5	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	small label	with platform	long socket	ivory
code 6	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	small label	with platform	long socket	white
code 7	white body, silver trim, blue tinted windows black base, red roof lights	10 x 36 black plastic	large label	with platform	long socket	white

box types	notes
E2	two blue sides, "new model"
E2	light blue sides,
E3	light blue sides,
E4R	light blue sides,
F2	none

values

with decals £25

with small labels £25

with large labels (as 3c) £60

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery