44a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

[Idris]

Not at all an easy model to summarise, primarily because of the different interpretations of the colours, especially in terms of what is a colour and what is a shade. Nick has gone for a detailed breakdown into five distinct metallic blues, whereas Rob Newson's (U.K. Matchbox) approach is a bit more pragmatic: the first issues were in metallic mid-blue (sometimes called metallic dark blue), whilst subsequent issues were in a lighter steel blue (with some examples so pale that they approach silver grey).

The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (second edition), does not list any variations not already catalogued by Nick.
The AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983) has a model at 44-1c which looks like a plausible 'missing link': metallic dark blue, 9 x 20 GPW, c/a, This would fit very neatly between Nick's current variation codes 10 and 11. AIM also notes that the two types of SPW (9 x 20 and 9 x 24) each come in two different widths.
Houghton and Stannard both identify the same model missing from Nick's listing. For Houghton it is variation 44a-4 and for Stannard it is 44a-3. In both cases it is dark metallic blue, 9.5 x 18 MW, d/c, thick door brace, with bonnet pips, with roof pips and rings, and type 1 trim. However, it is possible that this represents just a particularly dark example of Nick's variation code 10.
Houghton also highlights an additional bonnet variation. Early on, the ejector rings were small, but towards the end of the model's life, an alternative casting with large rings has been identified. Houghton lists both variations for Nick's variation code 13 (light metallic blue, gloss black base, 9 x 20 GPW, d/r, thick door brace, with bonnet pips, with roof pips and rings, type 2 trim), and variation code 17 (light metallic blue, gloss black base, 9 x 20 SPW, d/r, thick door brace, with bonnet pips, with roof pips and rings, type 2 trim). It seems reasonable to assume that many of the other later variation codes exhibit similar pairings.
It should be noted that Houghton appears to contain an error from variation 44a-8 onwards, with the door braces being reported as thin instead of thick. Also Nick's table appears to have variation codes 6 and 8 identical. (Should Nick's code 6 be the missing Houghton/Stannard variation perhaps?)
U.K. Matchbox examined the model in Volume 7, no. 4 (Oct. '83) p125, but did not identify any variations not already listed by Nick..

In addition, back in Lefora days, Antonin showed us a previously unrecorded casting variation to the top of the B-pillars.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Can a member here confirm with a picture the 'Code 1' version with smooth inner roof, Stannard does not show it so seems to start with the version at 'Code 2'. I still have not seen an example and for many Years was sure I had the earliest versions available.

Ghosthunter.

[Diecast]

Hi Ghosty

Here is the photo of the code 1 with smooth roof (I have mentioned on 11.3.2011) and to compare a photo with the roof with one pip.
Antonin

[Diecast]

I have mentioned another unlisted variations also:
a) without roof brace on the B-pillar
b) with a small roof brace on the B-pillar

[Diecast]

a) short ejector post
b) long ejector post

[Diecast]

and cross hatching to the roof interior

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you Antonin for the picture of your 'Code 1' Silver Cloud, it seems I have yet more Years of searching ahead of me to get this one.

Ghosthunter.

[Fox]

Does anybody know what cast or wheels type was sold in what type of box design ?

Having a box with an illustrated blue model, what charactestics the model to be inside must be ?

Thanks for any advice.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

That is a difficult one to tie down Stephane, because of the cross over periods when a new box design replaces an older design but the same model casting will be put into both boxes, so we may and probably do, have Two boxes side by side with different artwork, but with the same version of model inside.

It will be a brave collector to come forward with a detailed listing matching boxes to models, something I have tried already, but it is difficult and at the moment I am not ready to make my findings public.

Ghosthunter.

[Fox]

Thank you Kevin.
I understand that.
Knowing that this box isn't the first type one, I will put a GPW cloud in it. I just hope it isn't impossible.