SuperFast wrote:Hi guys,
here I have some nice Bulgarians.
I don't know the history of the manufacture of Bulgarian Matchbox, but there must be also a period before and after 1983.
So I think the following models are vintage and before 1983.
Bulgarian Matchbox production started in 1983.
Not only is this well-known from contemporary accounts in Matchbox club magazines of the time, but the fact that it cannot have started any earlier can also be deduced from the fact that there are no Bulgarian Matchbox models featuring the Lesney name. Even the earliest examples say either "Matchbox Toys Ltd." or "Matchbox Int'l Ltd." on their bases. These names came into being in June and September 1982, respectively, and were first seen on the bases of any Matchbox models (regardless of place of manufacture) during 1983.
From 1983 until 1986 (and 1987 for Hungarian production) the moulds were leased on an annual basis; i.e. they had to be returned to Matchbox after one year of production time. That changed from 1988 onward, when the moulds were kept by the Bulgarian factory indefinitely and kept being used into the 21st century.
These are the production dates of Bulgarian Matchbox Miniatures castings (using Charlie Mack's model numbers):
1983:
MB 05-A LOTUS EUROPA
MB 39-A CLIPPER
MB 51-B CITROEN S.M.
MB 74-C Mercury COUGAR VILLAGER
MB IX FLAMIN' MANTA
1985:
MB 24-A ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW
MB 25-A FORD CORTINA Mk II
MB 33-A LAMBORGHINI MIURA
MB 40-A VAUXHALL GUILDSMAN
MB 45-B BMW 3.0 CSL
MB 46-A MERCEDES 300 SE Coupé
MB 66-B MAZDA RX 500
1986:
MB 22-C BLAZE BUSTER Fire Engine
MB 75-C SEASPRITE Helicopter
1988 onward:
MB 28-C LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MK V
MB 51-D MIDNIGHT MAGIC
MB 59-C PLANET SCOUT
1991 onward:
MB 06-B MERCEDES 350 SL
MB 09-D FIAT (131) ABARTH
MB 16-B PONTIAC Firebird
MB 17-D AMX PRO-STOCKER
MB 21-C RENAULT 5 TL
MB 27-A MERCEDES 230 SL
MB 33-E RENAULT 11
MB 35-C PONTIAC Firebird T-Roof
MB 37-E Talbot MATRA RANCHO
MB 39-C TOYOTA SUPRA
MB 41-A FORD G.T.
MB 56-C MERCEDES 450 SEL
MB 67-C DATSUN 260 Z 2 + 2
1993 onward:
MB 07-C VW GOLF
MB 31-C Caravan
MB 31-E MAZDA RX 7
MB 46-F Mission Helicopter
MB 49-D (VW) Sand Digger
MB 55-D FORD CORTINA Mk IV
MB 57-E CARMICHAEL COMMANDO
Some of the early models are sometimes found in later packaging - either blisterpack types introduced in later years or blisterpacks with later dates stamped on the back. This must mean that stocks of produced models remained in storage at the factory for some years before being packaged and issued.
