Lesney Matchbox 8c Caterpillar crawler tractor

Moko Lesney Matchbox 8c Caterpillar crawler tractor

The Lesney model of the 8c Caterpillar crawler which joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1961,
It was a scaled up version of the previous model, the 8b,
It was 48mm long (1-7/8 inch) and like the previous model it was only ever painted yellow but it could have grey metal, silver plastic or black plastic rollers on dome head rounded axles and green tracks or treads.

As it was the same casting as the 18c caterpillar bulldozer the parts would sometimes get mixed and models went out with the wrong numbers on them so after a while the numbers on the bottoms of the 8c and 18c were removed, on some models part of the number was still readable and others it was removed completely.

There was only one other casting variation,
Two small triangular braces were cast in on the platform either side of where Lesney had their name inscribed on the underneath.
It was in the range for just three years, from 1961 to 1964 and was packaged in 'B', 'C' and 'D' type boxes,
The silver roller version is the hardest to find though exact value depends on which variation of box it is in because some of the 'C' type box variations are scarce.

above: showing the position of the triangular braces

code number	general	roller type	triangular braces	model number
code 1	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm metal	no braces	number 8
code 2	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm metal	no braces	number 18
code 3	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm metal	no braces	partial number
code 4	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm metal	no braces	no number
code 5	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm silver plastic	with braces	partial number
code 6	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm silver plastic	with braces	no number
code 7	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm black plastic	with braces	partial number
code 8	yellow, dome head rounded axles, green tracks.	9.5mm black plastic	with braces	no number

box types	notes
B4	none
B5	light background
B5	dark background
C	side view
C	elevated view
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue

values

silver rollers £60+

black rollers £35

metal rollers £30

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery