The Vauxhall Collection.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

This Topic has been created to concentrate on Matchbox 'Superfast' Vauxhall models. Please post pictures here of anything to do with these models, models in your collection, models seen on E-Bay and questions on Vauxhall models from the 'Superfast' range, anything really.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

#40, The Vauxhall Guildsman 1.

General Motors instigated a design competition for young up-coming wanna-be designers, it was very popular and brought to the UK, and promoted by Vauxhall Motors. The wining design would be turned into a diecast model courtesy of Lesney and added to their 'Superfast' range.

Looking at the boxart shown below, I get the impression there were more than one 'Guildsman' car designs, because it clearly says...GUILDSMAN 1...so is there a Guildsman 2 and 3?

Anyone know the full story and can enlighten us on designs 2 and 3?

GHOSTHUNTER.

[fixer]

these have been posted before but thought I'd repost them to help get this thread going
first is my prepro guildsman same colour as box picture and the base has no tow guide and is smooth around the edges
second may be too modern and I apologise if it is but I still don't know about this one red astra police car maybe they was going to introduce it as a fire chief car who knows , any one else seen a red one ?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank's Reg for the pictures. There seem to be an awful lot of 'Pre-Pro' #40 models now in collectors collections and one must wonder why so many are let out of the factories!

Your Astra is nice, I only know of the normal red (similar shade to yours), GTE versions which of course do not have the roof lights, I know this casting was used for the 'My First Matchbox' models range and they tended to be in unusual colours, it is possibly a fire chief car from that range, might be worth looking on Christian's site to see what he has there.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[fixer]

Kevin it's not on Christians site I think he said he wasn't aware of it when I first posted it maybe on the lefora site
the my first matchbox range always had rather garish coloured wheels from what I can remember , must admit they have the same affect on me as do certain Europeans have on Alex

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Looking at your Astra again, I see it has the normal pale blue interior and blue glazing, suggesting a model from full production and at the moment, a trim level you mention...a 'Fire Car' (or as I like to think of it as a 'Fire Chief' car), you may well have a colour trial for the said 'Fire Chief' version.

Would be nice to see another one, a box for it and some Catalogue images.

Thanks for showing it here Reg, Cheers.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[motorman]

Are you trying to confuse things Reg posting an image of that prepro Guildsman next to a Russian Box?

[fixer]

Are you trying to confuse things Reg posting an image of that prepro Guildsman next to a Russian Box?

the bu##er kept falling over ...........never confused

[maldat]

I'm sure as a kid I had a yellow Guildsman 1 as per the box with the centre sticker on bonnet..
The Streaker is called "Guildsman" not Guildsman 1.

MB 40d GUILDSMAN STREAKER.JPG (63.93 KiB) Viewed 1009 times

I have this with green/blue windows and amber,.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you Maldat for your pictures. I really don't know why Matchbox deleted the number '1' from the GUILDSMAN name on the box for the 'Streakers' version, surely they were not originally going to make other cars from the Guildsman Competion, meaning they would have to then name them as 'GUILDSMAN 2', 'GUILDSMAN 3' and so on!

GHOSTHUNTER.