Lesney Matchbox 74b Daimler bus

Moko Lesney Matchbox 74b Daimler bus

The Lesney model of the Daimler bus joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1966 and it was produced in three different colour schemes,
It made its first appearance in cream which was later changed to dark green and then finally to a bright red which was kept on after the model was converted to superfast wheels,
It was only ever fitted with one wheel size which was 10 x 36 black plastic that were mounted on dome head axles with riveted ends and unusually it was never fitted with a plastic window unit.
All three versions had "Esso Extra Petrol" labels but the very first cream version can have decals or labels. All were fitted with bright white plastic interiors except for the first issue cream variants which had off white interiors.

There are a few casting variations,
Firstly from a side view the windscreen pillars can be either tapered on the very early cream models and straight on all the other issues.
One hard to see variation on the later models is on the inside of the upper deck on the left hand side, the struts that run up the side the window openings can be found with fan shaped braces at the top which are not found on earlier models,
Finally a paint variation under the base on the opening beneath the engine can be either painted or unpainted on the early cream models, the green and red variants all had this area unpainted

This is quite an easy model to find, it was sold in 'E' or 'F' type boxes and there are many box variations to look for, The 'F' box with a red bus illustration is quite hard to find. It was converted to superfast wheels in 1970 and deleted in 1972.

photograph courtesy Jan Naessens

photo 74bal_zps53e7ae83.jpg photo 74bas_zpsabc68c4e.jpg
Showing the large and the smaller Esso labels

code number	general	base paint coverage	interior colour	windscreen pillars	window braces
code 1	cream body 10 x 36 BPW decal	painted opening under base	off white interior	tapered windscreen pillars	no fan shaped window braces
code 2	cream body 10 x 36 BPW decal	painted opening under base	white interior	tapered windscreen pillars	no fan shaped window braces
code 3	cream body 10 x 36 BPW decal	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	no fan shaped window braces
code 4	cream body 10 x 36 BPW decal	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 5	cream body 10 x 36 BPW small Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	no fan shaped window braces
code 6	cream body 10 x 36 BPW larger Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	no fan shaped window braces
code 7	cream body 10 x 36 BPW small Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 8	cream body 10 x 36 BPW larger Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 9	green body 10 x 36 BPW small Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 10	green body 10 x 36 BPW larger Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 11	dark green body 10 x 36 BPW small Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 12	dark green body 10 x 36 BPW larger Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 13	red body 10 x 36 BPW small Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces
code 14	red body 10 x 36 BPW larger Esso label	unpainted opening under base	white interior	straight windscreen pillars	fan shaped window braces

box types	notes
E3	two blue sides, "new model" cream bus
E3	light blue sides, "new model", cream bus
E4	light blue sides, "new model", cream bus
E4R	light blue sides, cream bus
E4R	light blue sides, green bus
F2	green bus
F2	red bus

values

red bus with red bus illustrated on box £45

all other models £25

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery