Lesney Matchbox 73c Mercury commuter station wagon

Moko Lesney Matchbox 73c Mercury commuter station wagon

The Lesney model of the Mercury commuter station wagon joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in late 1968,
It was painted metallic lime green with an ivory interior complete with two dogs sitting at the tailgate window and a clear plastic window unit with rear view mirror and wiper detail molded in.
The baseplate was silver plated metal which it shared with the 55d Mercury police car and is numbered "No 55 or 73", and it can also have "1968 Mercury" directly on to the baseplate or "Mercury" on a raised panel which is more common for this model.
It also has the grille and front & rear bumper detail cast in but unusually it does not have a towing hook which could be because of the dogs molded in at the back.
The wheels were always 6mm chromed plastic with 10.5 x 45 black plastic tyres on dome head axles with rounded ends.
A plastic leaf spring mounted under the baseplate gives suspension to all wheels.

Apart from the baseplate inscription there were two other casting variations,
The first was to the interior locating posts on the underside of the bonnet (hood).
Early models had a smooth bonnet interior which was quickly changed to a single post either side of the bonnet interior just behind the front wheels, later a second post was cast in,
The other variation concerns the fuel filler cap,
Some superfast bodies without the fuel filler cap cast in were used for a short while before the model went over to superfast bases, It is quite a rare item as many superfast bodies still had the fuel flap cast in.
Apart from the fuel flap variation it is a very common piece and data on the value of the no fuel flap variation is unknown at the moment but I would not put too high a price on it,
the Mercury was sold in 'F' type boxes and was converted to superfast wheels in 1970.
In the picture gallery is an unusual example of the Mercury from my own collection with an odd black plastic wheel.

The earliest models had a smooth bonnet interior
Photo courtesy Antonin Schenk

The Mercury can be found in at least 3 different shades
Photo courtesy Antonin Schenk

code number	general	wheel type	tyres	bonnet interior	baseplate type	petrol cap cover
code 1	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	smooth	"1968 mercury"	with cover
code 2	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	single post	"1968 mercury"	with cover
code 3	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	single post	"mercury" on platform	with cover
code 4	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	two posts	"1968 mercury"	with cover
code 5	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	two posts	"mercury" on platform	with cover
code 6	metallic lime green, ivory interior clear windows, plated baseplate	6mm chromed plastic	10.5 x 45 black plastic	two posts	"mercury" on platform	without cover

box types	notes
F1	none

values

all models £20

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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