A holy grail for sale......

[hydra427]

The cranes brought some really nice prices as well, £6800 & £4600 each. Still more than I can afford!

[kwakers]

One of those Cranes sold by Grizzly may have even been the original one I had known was sold over here out of Charlie Mack's collection. There are so few of those oddly painted cranes available to collectors all over the world in ANY condition, we just keep seeing the same few examples of them being sold through the decades by their 'caretakers'.
To prove the authenticity of any 'newly discovered' green 20A is very difficult today Idris. Because the model was released in 1956, we have 2 shades of greens that could have still been used on the last 1A Rollers, as well as the one on the 1B being introduced at that time, together with that 17A moving Van green. We also know color trials may have just been done with humbrol paints rather than on the 1956 Lesney production line, so an in-hand inspection had to be done on this one by any potential Buyer who was this serious on that rare Truck. I am sure the second Bidder went over his original price to try and catch the successful Buyer's high bids, so maybe we can safely say there are at least 4 of these that you have now heard of Idris. That is three more than I had ever heard about before now, I had believed Phillip's to be a unique surviving example. Should that slab sided one ever be found, it would be the equivalent of 2 Holy Grails in one model for me..... ..kwakers

[Tinman]

Dick, with a model like the green 20a, paint testing would be a reliable way to find out if it's real or a repaint. Once tested, the model's value becomes solid and tested models have been known to increase in value (case in point; the early green buses).

[kwakers]

I had never heard of the green Buses ever being tested Joe, and I am now amazed that they could be tested as authentic to Lesney in those very early years. I have always thought those early Lesney paints may have come from several sources, and for that reason be very hard to positively authenticate. In thinking about the paints of that era though, the chemical composition in 1956 was probably pretty distinct to that period in time, so I can now see how testing would detect a more modern, or out of period paint used on a 'faked' rarity.
If this latest Green 20A was tested and revealed to have non-authentic green paint, could it be argued successfully to the point of a refund from Vectis and perhaps the Seller Joe? I now clearly see the value in your paint testing. Once done with positive results, I am sure a premium value will always follow the rare model it was conducted on. Thanks for the education and forcing some knowledge and new thoughts into the cave tonight...... kwakers off to bed in deep thought, (Scarey! )

[Tinman]

Dick, paint testing of a copper colored Triumph proved it to be fake and it forced a US antiques dealer to make a full refund on the item. The paint testing allowed fraud charges to be filed against the seller. While Vectis might fight the charges, the testing has held up in US courts. One example, it's basically the same method that provides modern day legal proof that a Rembrandt painting is a fake.

[Tinman]

Here's another Holy Grail, and it too is for sale. No brace between the bed & cab, silver trim and flat head crimp axles.

[Tinman]