PLEASE NOTE: I will no longer be altering the variation codes. All new discoveries will be inserted in to their correct place in the timeline and given a suffix.
So a new variation that would be nearest to variation 4 would become the new 4a, etc.

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Lesney Matchbox 75b Ferrari Berlinetta

Moko Lesney Matchbox 75b Ferrari Berlinetta



In mid 1965 the Lesney model of the Ferrari Berlinetta joined the Matchbox 1-75 series. It was unusual because it was just a plain model of a car with no added featured such as opening doors, bonnet (hood) or boot (trunk), luggage or anything else to enhance the model, However it was a beautiful little model and it was very accurate too.
The first little known variation was painted red, It had 7mm wire wheels with black plastic tyres on dome head axles with rounded ends and a either silver plated baseplate or a grey painted baseplate but which one I am not sure of because I need more info on this variation. It had clear plastic windows and an ivory interior which included a tow hook in the molding - on a Ferrari!. This variation is very rare and could be a pre production issue.
The model was very soon recoloured to metallic green on which the first versions had a grey painted baseplate and wire wheels. The painted baseplate was quickly reverted back to silver plated with a dark metallic green body which can be found with wire wheels or 7mm chromed hubs, one short run had a metallic blue-green body before the final issue with metallic green body and wire wheels or chromed hubs which can be found with the regular type headlights or with a modified casting which had cowled headlights.
The final issue had a red painted body with cowled headlights which was suppposed to have a superfast baseplate & wheels but had been matched up with a regular wheels baseplate, The red issues may have a harder paint than the green versions because it seems to chip quite easily and very often cracks or chips to the center of the bonnet (hood) are found on otherwise mint models which was probably done during assembly of the model and for some reason there seem to be a lot of Ferraris in all colour schemes that have cracked or broken windscreens, Wether this is a fault in the model itself is unknown but more likely it was just a very popular toy which saw an awful lot of playtime.
Although the superfast issues are not covered by this site it has to be mentioned that the later type superfast base was fitted to regular wheeled metallic green bodies with cowled headlights before the regular red painted superfast bodies were fitted, The Ferrari was converted to superfast wheels in 1970 and was deleted in 1971. It was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes, Both the red versions and the blue-green are very rare, Both the dark metallic green and the metallic green versions are common.

above: the four colour schemes found on the Ferrari. left rear, metallic blue-green.
right rear, dark metallic green. front left, red gloss. front right, metallic green.

above: the rare transitional red Ferrari.

above: the metallic blue-green and metallic green.

above: the silver plated and grey painted baseplates.

above: top, the early type headlight casting.
below, the "cowled" headlights found on the later issues.

code number general baseplate wheel type tyre type headlight type
code 1 red body. silver trim ???? 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 2 metallic green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior grey 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 3 metallic dark green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 4 metallic dark green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm chromed hub 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 5 metallic blue-green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 6 metallic green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 7 metallic green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm wire wheel 11.5 x 45 black plastic with cowls
code 8 metallic green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm chromed hub 11.5 x 45 black plastic without cowls
code 9 metallic green body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm chromed hub 11.5 x 45 black plastic with cowls
code 10 red body, silver trim, clear windows, ivory interior plated 7mm chromed hub 11.5 x 45 black plastic with cowls

box types notes
E2 two blue sides, "new model", blue Ferrari
E2 light blue sides, blue Ferrari
E2 light blue sides, green ferrari
E3 light blue sides, green ferrari
E4 light blue sides, green ferrari
E4R light blue sides, green ferrari
F2 none

values

red body, wire wheels, no headlight cowls £1000+ (estimate)

metallic green body. grey painted base, wire wheels £50

metallic dark green body. wire wheels £30

metallic dark green body. wheel hubs £40

metallic green body. hubs or wire wheels £30

metallic blue-green body, wire wheels £300

red body, wheel hubs, cowled headlights £400

values are for mint models in mint boxes
price guide gallery
box gallery

Steve McQueen's Berlinetta, a present from his
first Wife Neile Adams sold for $2.3 million in 2007.