67b Volkswagen 1600 TL

[Idris]

The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (first edition) differentiates between dark red and red body colours.
There are no uncatalogued variations reported in the AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983), Stannard, Houghton or U.K. Matchbox (vol. 3, no. 12 (Feb. 1980), p233).

Please note that in Nick's catalogue listing. Variations 2 and 4 are detailed as having baseplate type "no patent number with tow guide". However, a comparison with Stannard, Houghton and U.K. Matchbox clearly indicates that this should read "with patent number no tow guide".

[kerbside]

Hello Hugh Nicks listing of code #4 is the same as my 67b model, no patent # but with tow guide.





So may be all the other catalogues might be wrong with the variations ?

George T.

[Idris]

Hello Hugh Nicks listing of code #4 is the same as my 67b model, no patent # but with tow guide.
So may be all the other catalogues might be wrong with the variations ?

That's really interesting, George. I agree that it seems extremely unlikely that both "no patent no./with tow guide" and a "with patent no./no tow guide" baseplates should exist. On the other hand, how likley is it that Stannard, Houghton and U.K. Matchbox would all make the same mistake?
Can other members please inspect their early 67b baseplates and report back?

[Brad Pittiful]

all my no pat number bases have tow guide...if i had one without tow guide i would posted about it

[kerbside]

Hello Dan, as your ones are the same as mine, what wheels are on yours? My one has the Chrome hubs and plastic tyres.

I have looked at so many 67b with-out the tow guide, but to date with out finding one. do they excist?

George T.

[Taniwha]

I've only got two of the 67b with RW. Both have tow guides and patent numbers.

Cheers,
Gavin

[nickjones]

On the other hand, how likley is it that Stannard, Houghton and U.K. Matchbox would all make the same mistake?

I would think they all get their variation info from Stannard, You can also find some of Stannards mistakes have been copied in Ramsays guide as well.

[Idris]

Well, unless anyone can come up with any evidence to the contrary, it looks like Nick's listing is the one which is actually correct and that everyone else's is wrong!

[kwakers]

I think George has asked the magic question, does anyone have one, or has anyone ever seen the non-towguide variation of this VW? I have only read about it, they must be VERY RARE. If the non towguide model exists, we need to have firsthand information on it to confirm it's details rather than guess which came first, the patent number or the towguide......kwakers

[kwakers]

In asking that question I ignored the fact that many of us have the model without patent number but with tow guide, so Mike Stannard's Guide listing the deletion and then re-appearance of the tow guide has never made sense to us. He does list that base without towguide but with patent number twice, with either style wheels. There has to be even a picture of that base without tow guide somewhere if we Forum collectors cannot produce the model.......kwakers