Lesney Matchbox 5d Routemaster London bus

Moko Lesney Matchbox 5d Routemaster London bus

The Lesney model of the 5d London Routemaster bus replaced the earlier issue in the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1965,
It is easy to tell this model from the earlier issue because this one had a cream or white plastic interior and the earlier issue had none.
Also the later issue had no silver trim.
Like the real Routemaster it was painted red but shades can vary significantly.
The baseplate was also red and like the previous buses it included the cab as part of the casting.
It was fitted with 9 x 36 black plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends.
The interior was molded in two parts and it is not unusual to find models with a mixture of cream and white interior components.
The regular Lesney issued versions would be found with either BP longife decals or BP visco-static decals or labels, Both of these issues are very common.
Another very rare issue is fitted with News of the World decals that are normally found on the Yesteryear Y-3 tram which went out of production in 1965.
The decals were applied to the buses some time after this, It could be a result of Lesney not wanting to waste perfectly good decals but I suspect they were unofficially made up by an employee much like the reverse colour 13d with crimped axles.
There are two body castings which differ at the rear end, The early issue had fine body lines and the later had heavier body lines and two extra lines added.
There are four baseplate variations too,
Baseplate 1 had five lines of text. Baseplate 2 had four lines of text. Baseplate 3 had four lines of text and recesses under the axles. Baseplate 4 had four lines of text and recesses under the axle but it also had two small braces added in front of the front axle.
The Baron of beef decaled version was a promotional issue for a London restaurant of that name and the issue with Pegram labels was a promotional issue for the Pegram shopfitters company Ltd which is still in existance.
The Baron of beef version is very rare and the Pegram version is rarer still.
The Routemaster was packed in 'E' and 'F' type boxes, The 'E' box is very common but the 'F' box is quite rare and would probably add £50 to the prices quoted below.
The bus was deemed to be unsuitable for conversion to superfast wheels so it was deleted in 1969 to be replaced by the 5e Lotus Europa.

above: Longlife & Visco-static are the most common versions of the 5d

above: the issue with Baron of beef decals was
a promotional issue for a London restaurant

above: the other decal on the Baron of beef bus, Mecca were
famous for the Mecca ballrooms and restaurants, they were
also the originators of the Miss World competition.

above: the Y-3 News of the World decals went out of use in
1965 but a handful of 5d buses have been found fitted with
them. I believe they were an unnofficial lunchbox special
like the reverse colour 13c wrecker which was made at
the Lesney factory. but that is just my opinion.

above: the issue with Pegram labels was a promotional
issue for the Pegram shopfitters company of London

above: showing the cream and white plastic interiors

above: baseplate 1 is the only one with five lines of text

above: baseplate 3. the type 2 baseplate has four lines of text but no recesses under the axles

above: baseplate 4 has four lines of text, it has recesses
under the axles and extra braces ahead of the front axle

code number general wheel type decal / label interior colour body type baseplate type

code 1 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Longlife decal cream plastic body 1 baseplate 1

code 2 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Longlife decal white plastic body 1 baseplate 1

code 3 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal cream plastic body 1 baseplate 1

code 4 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal cream plastic body 2 baseplate 1

code 5 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal white plastic body 1 baseplate 1

code 6 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 1

code 7 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 2

code 8 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 3

code 9 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 4

code 10 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic News of the World decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 1

code 11 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic News of the World decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 2

code 12 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic News of the World decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 3

code 13 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic News of the World decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 4

code 14 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static label white plastic body 2 baseplate 2

code 15 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static label white plastic body 2 baseplate 3

code 16 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static label cream plastic body 2 baseplate 3

code 17 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic BP Visco-static label white plastic body 2 baseplate 4

code 18 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic Baron of beef decal white plastic body 1 baseplate 1

code 19 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic Baron of beef decal white plastic body 2 baseplate 4

code 20 red body & base 9 x 36 black plastic Pegram label white plastic body 2 baseplate 4

box types	notes
E1	two blue sides
E1	light blue sides
E3	light blue sides
E4	light blue sides
E4R	light blue sides
F2	none

values

with BP longlife decal £25

with BP visco-static decals or label £20

with baron of beef decals £350

with pegram labels £500+

with news of the world decals £500+ (estimate)

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery

code number	general	wheel type	decal / label	interior colour	body type	baseplate type
code 1	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Longlife decal	cream plastic	body 1	baseplate 1
code 2	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Longlife decal	white plastic	body 1	baseplate 1
code 3	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	cream plastic	body 1	baseplate 1
code 4	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	cream plastic	body 2	baseplate 1
code 5	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	white plastic	body 1	baseplate 1
code 6	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 1
code 7	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 2
code 8	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 3
code 9	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 4
code 10	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	News of the World decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 1
code 11	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	News of the World decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 2
code 12	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	News of the World decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 3
code 13	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	News of the World decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 4
code 14	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static label	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 2
code 15	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static label	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 3
code 16	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static label	cream plastic	body 2	baseplate 3
code 17	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	BP Visco-static label	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 4
code 18	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	Baron of beef decal	white plastic	body 1	baseplate 1
code 19	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	Baron of beef decal	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 4
code 20	red body & base	9 x 36 black plastic	Pegram label	white plastic	body 2	baseplate 4