RW alleged 23 VW pre-pro

[SMS88]

A collector on FB claims this is a genuine pre-pro that he bought from an ex factory worker - looks like a bog standard repainted Sf wheel swap to me -what does everyone else think?

[Diecast]

Hi Mick
It is difficult to judge from two photos. It could be a Pre-pro, because there is no inscription "SUPERFAST" and "C 1970" on the base plate. The rivets seems to be OK. However, the body does not have fuel filler flap, it raises doubts...
Antonin

[Idris]

It is difficult to judge from two photos. It could be a Pre-pro, because there is no inscription "SUPERFAST" and "C 1970" on the base plate. The rivets seems to be OK. However, the body does not have fuel filler flap, it raises doubts...

The thick paint on the baseplate has been used to disguise the fact that text has been ground off.

[kwakers]

Ever the optomist, I will cloud the waters with the fact that this is possibly a VERY early baseplate, but if meant for a regular wheel model release would not have the 'Pat. App' on it's base. The base was meant as a future Superfast release, but I believe this model was built by a factory employee as either a possible Superfast color trial with regular wheels (convenience?), or more likely just as a mixed component 'Special' built within the factory. I therefore have voted that it is 'REAL', not a home made fake, but still may or may not be a factory authorized color trial or pre-pro done there in 1970. The lack of gas cap and stock release color interior seem to support that this may have been done as a 'Custom' in later 1970. As Idris just beat me to it: The base plate paint may hide a ground off Superfast and date of 1970 which would make this model a purposeful 'Fake', but we would have to hold and modify the model to determine that for sure. My vote would then be changed to a Fake, but I believe still done in the factory from visible details based on these 2 pictures. Cheers! kwakers

[Idris]

With those deep axle wells, that is undoubtedly a Superfast baseplate design. If this were a genuine RW pre-production, it would be reasonable to expect it to have a classic, flat RW baseplate.
It is of course quite possible that it was assembled in the factory (as we know all too well, many ‘rarities’ were!) but, for me, the use of non-superfast wheels with what is undoubtedly a Superfast baseplate points very clearly towards it being something unofficial. As already pointed out, the use of stock colour plastic components makes it even less likely to be a pre-production, whilst the lack of a filler flap, although not conclusive (the very early RW example on Christian’s site does not have one either), must be a cause for concern since the body appears to be otherwise fully tooled.

[nearlymint]

I would need a photo of the back just to see if the ridge is above the rear bumper. First thought would have to be a fake, j

[matchboxkiwi]

Doesn't look right to me, but that could just be because we are so used to seeing a superfast model. It would be good to compare it to a known pre pro of this model. I think there was a green one. Christian many have a photo of it on his site and Vectis may have sold one or two over the years so there maybe something in their photo achieve.
The paint doesn't look right to me.
My guess at the moment off just the two photo's is yes it quite possibly came from a Lesney employee but it is a Friday Lunch Time Model.

Cheers Steve
Matchboxkiwi

[nickjones]

Its a home made repaint, the rivets are white yet the tongue that holds the front together is silver, no no no.

[tjlglass]

I've blown the photo right up and I don't think the tongue is Silver Nick, looks faded white to me ?

[motorman]

I've blown the photo right up and I don't think the tongue is Silver Nick, looks faded white to me ?

Sorry Nick but i have to agree with Tim, the tongue is not silver it appears to be a definate white in colour.

My concern is that the rivets and the tongue are white, but clearly a different shade of white to the rest of bodywork, which appears to be off white dare i say it cream.

I am not convinced yet that this is genuine.