Is it real?? Can you see what i see?

[SMS88]

Exactly correct Numi! I don't know whether to laugh at your Post or to cry over the well-loved reversed paint Wrecker ?? Again, the kids are teaching the teacher as he reasons through a problem with some homework they were given, and both end up a bit more educated than without these Forum discussions. Someone got a rare bargain, so we all went back to school for an enjoyable lesson.....
Because these reverse paint Wreckers were done so early in production, could we be looking at a prototype model without factory baked paint Mick? They did go on the production line for a short while with these colours, and were most commonly found in early Garage gift sets here in the U.S.A. This one may in fact be sub normal in it's unbaked paint, or the owner guilty of a poor chemical 'cleaning' of it as you have said. The model is 49 years old this year, so either might be a possible explanation here. I passed on a couple of oddly colored, but primitively painted Lesneys with non baked (And also non-factory) looking paint years ago, only to later find out their provenance as factory stress trial models, and also that they were known pre-production colors as well! kwakers

Of course it is possible that some Lesney colour trials and/or pre-productions were not oven baked or not as hot or as long as for stock to be store sold - this reminds me of the discussion re the Joe Stone Christmas 1969 crimped wreckers - there is no telling this far ahead where Lesney had paint trials conducted although what we can say is that it is likely that some sort of non standard paint was likely or could have been used on both the 1964 and the 1969 batches of reverse wreckers so in either or both cases may not have been oven baked. indeed it is more likely to be some sort of paint trial because reverse wrecker yellow does NOT match my 1964 made #25b BP tankers when in fact we could reasonably expect the colours to match being for the same company only a few months behind!

[Idris]

[...it is likely that some sort of non standard paint was likely or could have been used on...the 1969 batch of reverse wreckers...

Since they're fakes, it strikes me as being an absolute certainty!

[Brad Pittiful]

looks ok to me...one pic you can see the thin boom

[numi]

This Reverse Wrecker is undoubtedly original.It has all the 1st casting and color specs deemed to all Original Lesney Reverse Wreckers except now for a very slight color variation due to exposure & dirt.Im unsure whether this specimen left the factory with decals as no real signs of having them are evident.The overall play-wear seems consistent with this aged and "well-loved" model.Enviro and play damage to axle-ends,axles & wheels is evident with paint trauma to the green cab & crane booms coating as Sms88 also mentions but unsure if it had left the factory this way or caused by external factors post-Lesney.The Yellow seems in order with just some fading (milky & gunky) and the green had slightly darkened due to enviromental factors,sun,play-handling and age but a good clean and a recommended car polish should spruce it up just fine and it will be ready for display.A quick light wipe with acetone or paint thinner on a Q-tip,doing approx 1x cm at a time should bring out the original colors as Dad previously had used with excellent results.NOT RECOMMENDED FOR LADIES & KIDS....lol.

Im sure every interested collector worldwide would have taken a chance-shot esp at that low end-price esp if seller had opened his auction to international bidders as well.This sellers restriction was to both his detriment and the detriment of almost all eager potential bidders yet he knew full well that there was something odd/special about this particular casting amongst the lot.
Im glad this historical artefact has finally found a new home & resting place where it can be admired & loved so good luck to the new owner,
numi