#71b Jeep Gladiator French box

[Kiov]

Hello all,
I just aquired this 71b jeep with this orginal box, on both end flaps say "Portieres Ouvrantes - Licence Solido" which is the translated into english "Opening Doors - License Solido" I am not a box expert, can anyone explain more about the box? Here are some photos of it.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

If your Jeep has a plastic door mechanism (which looking at the door frame suggests it is), for keeping it open or closed, then the box is correct for your model and Lesney was using this method under license to 'SOLIDO' (it was their original idea), but Lesney further developed their models and the Jeep's door opening mechanism was replaced by a metal spring which now caused a slight redesign of the door frame to be stepped and they no longer needed to show the "Portieres Ouvrantes - Licence Solido" on the box, but of course knowing Lesney they probably still had some earlier 'Solido' boxes in use when the newer version of the Jeep was in production leading to a 'Cross-over' issue.

Ghosthunter.

[ChFalkensteiner]

Actually the earliest D type boxes made for this model do not have the licence text on their end flaps, as it was introduced in 1965. The introduction of the licence text coincided with the change of the background colour of the small drawing on the front face from yellow to white.

Generally that licence text was included on the end flaps of the boxes of all models featuring opening doors from 1965 to 1970, up to F type boxes for early Superfast models. It was discontinued with the advent of box type G.

[Kiov]

If your Jeep has a plastic door mechanism (which looking at the door frame suggests it is), for keeping it open or closed, then the box is correct for your model and Lesney was using this method under license to 'SOLIDO' (it was their original idea), but Lesney further developed their models and the Jeep's door opening mechanism was replaced by a metal spring which now caused a slight redesign of the door frame to be stepped and they no longer needed to show the "Portieres Ouvrantes - Licence Solido" on the box, but of course knowing Lesney they probably still had some earlier 'Solido' boxes in use when the newer version of the Jeep was in production leading to a 'Cross-over' issue.

Ghosthunter.

Thanks for the info, You're correct, the door does have the plastic mechanism.