M6 vs K5 Race Car Transporter

[MatchboxFreak]

Perhaps others have known this for ages but I just noticed the side decals on the M6 Race Car Transporter are different from the K5 Race Car Transporter. On the M6 the race car faces toward the rear of the van. On the K5 the Race Car faces toward the front of the van.

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Does anyone know if this change happened during the change from M6 to K5 or was the decal change independent of the change from Major Pack to King Size?

Thank you
Kurt

[Idris]

What is important to remember is that there are actually two decals on each side: the "Racing Transporter" decal and the BP with circuit names decal. The transporter decal can therefore be applied with the car facing either forwards or rearwards. Furthermore, since (I assume) the decals were supplied in pairs, the direction of the car on the first side automatically dictated the direction of the car on the other side.
Having had a quick look on Ebay, both Major Pack and King Size models appear to be readily available with either forward- or rearward-facing car decals. However, I would have thought that the official line would have been for the racing car to be pointing forwards.

[Brad Pittiful]

i have one major and one king and both have the race car facing to the front...gonna need to look for the reverse decals now

[Moyboy]

There is also a rare variant ( probably prepro) with a different race circuit on it.

[MatchboxFreak]

Thank you Idres, Brad and Moyboy for the explanation.

Very clever how the decals have different graphics but the same carrier film shape and how the access doors are laid out differently on each side of the van to allow installation of the asymmetrical decals. So, in terms of the carrier film shape, there was no left or right decal.

i have one major and one king and both have the race car facing to the front...gonna need to look for the reverse decals now

Sorry Brad, it seems there is a new unofficial variation out there to look for!

Happy hunting!
Kurt.

[Diecast]

just to remember, I have mentioned it yet. There are two different rear door.

[Diecast]

There are two different fogheadlights.

[MatchboxFreak]

Thank you Antonin for the additional information.

I can confirm both variations.
My M6 has the short tab on the movable upper deck (but unfortunately, I am missing the rear gate). The M6 also has the short fog light stands.
My K5 has the long tab on the upper deck and the corresponding slot in the rear gate. It also has the taller fog light stands.

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The front of both vehicles have 7 horizontal ridges below the directional signal lamps. The fog lights are centered on the second ridge from the bottom. On the earlier casting, the bottom ridge rests directly on the front bumper. On the later casting, the bottom ridge is about 2mm above the front bumper.

M6 - fog lights rest on bumper

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K5 - fog lights 2 mm above bumper

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