In terms of variations of this first coloured model there were the initial casting modifications to the front springs and the rear of the body. There were virtually no colour changes to the main body or the baseplate and chassis etc. The seats however went through Three colour changes.
The correct term here would be shades, because that is how most of us perceive colours all based around a base colour, but for the purpose of my listing and for clarity, I used Maroon, Brown and dark Red to describe the colours of the seats for this model and this is very difficult to show on electronic screens, but if you had the models in your hand (which they are when assessing and studying the models!), you can easily see the difference.
So from the above, it would be pointless showing every version I have in my collection as a single picture, but maybe one Day when I can upgrade the Camera equipment to a 20+ Megapixel system, I will post them.
The last versions in Lime Green and dark Brown were released into UK retail shops during 1972. Production of the 'Yesteryear' range was suspended at the end of 1972 and Lesney concentrated it's resources into the 'Superfast' range, this did not stop R&D doing some fine tuning and development of the models and one development were the replacement of the metal wheels with Nylon based plastic wheels, designed to be one size (back to Lesney's famous 'One size fits all' approach), with softer tyres of larger section.
Two types of wheel would be fitted to the models if and when the 'Yesteryear' range are re-launched, a 12 spoke 'Artillary' type for light commercials and some of the lighter cars and a 24 spoke 'Cross-Wire' type ideal for fitting to the heavier looking classic cars.
In 1973, Six 'Yesteryear' models were re-launched...
Y-1, Model 'T' Ford.
Y-3, Riley MPH in a Half-plated finish.
Y-4, Opel coupe.
Y-7, Rolls-Royce.
Y-9, Simplex.
Y-13, Crossly RAF Tender in fully plated finish.
All except Y-3 and Y-13, were packaged in new 'Woodgrain' window boxes and all models were now wearing the new wheel and tyre combination with the Riley and RAF Crossly wearing the 24 spoke 'Cross-Wire' type, the others had the less exciting 12 spoke type.
In 1974, a further Ten 'Yesteryear' models came to market, including the Y-10 in it's new colour of White over Red-Purple. It had the 12 spoke wheel and tyre combination instead of the 24 spoke design, which when it was fitted to this model looked much better in my opinion.
- LATE 1974.jpg (50.56 KiB) Viewed 707 times
This is now the new colour for this model until another colour change in 1979.
During the production of this version, there were more casting modifications to contend with than before, including some exciting seat colours...!
GHOSTHUNTER.
