Unknown Bantam Coca Cola truck

[johnboy]

Thanks mm, does it mention anything about the tools and dies?

All the guide states is that suggestions that Benbros used or shared toy moulds from other small toy comapnies such as Timpo, Crescent, Budgie and Morestone charbens are untrue but they may have shared and or copied designs. Nothing more specific.

ok thanks mm.

[MOKOSEX]

I have one that has the made in england and a greyish paint finish.

[nickjones]

These are Benbros, I have one painted light grey inside and yellow outside, it has made in England under the cab roof, This was the last but one piece to join the Mighty Midgets range so it is very hard to find and it was only a few years back that a box was found for this piece, The last piece the number 50 RAC Land Rover is even rarer, I have never seen one.

[Idris]

I do wonder whether the yellow interior combined with the lack of any cast lettering might not be pointer to this not being Benbros. Could this be an example of Benbros tooling being used by a third party?

[johnboy]

I do wonder whether the yellow interior combined with the lack of any cast lettering might not be pointer to this not being Benbros. Could this be an example of Benbros tooling being used by a third party?

That's what I was considering.

[motorman]

These are Benbros, I have one painted light grey inside and yellow outside, it has made in England under the cab roof, This was the last but one piece to join the Mighty Midgets range so it is very hard to find and it was only a few years back that a box was found for this piece, The last piece the number 50 RAC Land Rover is even rarer, I have never seen one.

Nick, the #50 R.A.C Road Service model is rumoured to exist however an original has never been seen adding weight to the theory that it was never produced albeit may have been in the pipeline prior to toy production ceasing in 1965 when Benbros were taken over by Unerman Greenman Berger Ltd who made furniture castings.

Needless to say should one ever turn up that was proven to be genuine it would command a very very high price.

[nickjones]

The RAC may not exist Alex, but I keep looking anyway !.
Hugh, The benbros box for the coca cola truck is known to exist.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Robert Newson's 1989 Benbros book lists three versions of the Karrier lorry in Coca-Cola trim...

Rich yellow, no origin of it's manufacturer, Black Plastic Wheels.
Rich yellow, Made In England cast under the roof, Black Plastic Wheels.
Yellow with Light Grey undercoat, Made In England cast under the roof, Black Plastic Wheels.

RE, The R.A.C. Land Rover...He does give some definate details of the model, saying it has Made In England cast underneath, suggesting he has seen one... 'In the hand', but says a box has not been found for it, so the catalogue number is un-confirmed as #50. He has not shown any pictures of it.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Mercurysedan]

Thanks everyone, very interesting discussion.

I checked my truck again - no markings!

So it must be variant 1 listed in the Benbros book: Rich yellow, no origin of it's manufacturer, Black Plastic Wheels.

[motorman]

RE, The R.A.C. Land Rover...He does give some definate details of the model, saying it has Made In England cast underneath, suggesting he has seen one... 'In the hand', but says a box has not been found for it, so the catalogue number is un-confirmed as #50. He has not shown any pictures of it.

GHOSTHUNTER.

Well that just sucks Ghosty, were did he claim to have seen the #50? and in who's collection?

It seems very strange for Robert Newson writing a publication on Benbros to claim he has handled the #50 and then not make sure that he had an image of the rarest Benbros model in his book dont you think?

And so the #50 RAC Land Rover remains in Folklore