72b Jeep CJ5 (rewrite the history?)

[Diecast]

There is a lot of speculation, confusion and myths about 72b Jeep, especially around the model with the white seats and the dark yellow model. The model with the white seats tends to be listed at the bottom of the table and the dark yellow model with red seats is considered as the very late (transitional with the Superfast body colour) model.
I have been long time thinking about it and comparing my models. I came to the following conclusion:
The model with white seats is very probably a pre-pro model or first short run, the dark yellow model with red seats can also be a pre-pro or first short run.
To this conclusion led me to the following arguments:

[Diecast]

The white seats model has a body with the first casting modification to the underside of the bonnet without the post and has the interior with the small hook.

[Diecast]

The white seats model has dark yellow paintig, the same as 20c Chevrolet Impala Taxi.

[Diecast]

The dark yellow model with the red seats has the same colour as the model with the white seats (on the right is the standard yellow model).

[Diecast]

The dark yellow model with the red seats has also the body with the first casting modification and the interior with a small hook. It can not be the transitional with the Superfast body colour, because it has no post to the underside of the bonnet .
Antonin

[mike]

Hi Antonin,

very interesting story.
Thanks for the post.
I'm still looking for this model with white seats.

Greetings Mike & Nico from Austria.

[Idris]

Convincing arguments, Antonin.
I think it likely that there are two[/url] rich/dark yellow version with red seats: one having the earliest body casting and the pre-production colour. whilst the other has the final body casting and the Superfast body colour.
Antonin, could you please provide a comparison shot of the pre-production and the Superfast yellows for future reference?

[numi]

I have a beater back home and not sure about the dynamics.
numi

[Diecast]

Nice model Numi, it seems to be lighter yellow as my model. It would be nice the comparison photo. Do you have the bonnet without the post and the interior with the small hook?
Antonin

[Diecast]

Convincing arguments, Antonin.
Antonin, could you please provide a comparison shot of the pre-production and the Superfast yellows for future reference?

I am enclosing a comparison photo. It seems that the pre-pro models have almost the same colour as the superfast model (superfast is slightly lighter). I think that the first Jeep models (debut in 1966) were painted with the same painting as 20c Taxi (debut in 1965). Dick as the best expert in the Matchbox chronology could explain it for us.

a) dark yellow model with white seats and small hook, the first casting modification
b) dark yellow model with dark red seats and small hook, the first casting modification
c) yellow model with red seats and larger hook, the second casting modification
d) superfast yellow model with red seats and larger hook, the second casting modification

Antonin