The Lesney model of the 60a Morris J2 pick-up was introduced into the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1958, Its livery was sky blue and it had a black baseplate, The first issue had decals for 'Builders supply company' and the word 'Builders' was in large red letters and the 'supply company' was in small black letters, this was very soon changed when the 'supply company' wording was recoloured to white letters. The first issue had dome head axles with crimped ends but that was soon changed to axles with rounded ends. Grey, silver or black plastic wheels in a variety of sizes and tread patterns were fitted, see the variation table for details. |Initially silver trim was applied to the headlights, grille and front and rear bumpers but the trim was deleted from the rear bumpers fairly early. The first issues could be found with a flat or gloss black baseplate, all later issues had a gloss black baseplate.
There was just one casting variation where the cab rear window was filled in very late in its life and only concerns the last two variations. One oddity that I have in my own collection has crimped axles and 9 x 20 grey plastic wheels which would be variation one but it is unusual because it has gold trim to the grille and front and rear bumpers which may be original as it was issued just as the last gold trimmed models (58a Wolseley) were being issued, I need confirmation that others exist before adding it to the variation table. The Morris is a fairly common model and there are no particularly hard to find variations although the silver wheeled and small grey wheeled versions are none too common, it was sold in 'B', 'C' and 'D' type boxes and was deleted to make way for the 60b Leyland site hut truck in early 1966
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