#45 Ford Group 6 prepro?

[DrJeep]

That's a really interesting find! For what it's worth, my non-metallic green Group 6 does have mould numbers on the wheels, though they're hard to see. Are the ends of the exhausts solid or tubular?

[motorman]

That's a really interesting find! For what it's worth, my non-metallic green Group 6 does have mould numbers on the wheels, though they're hard to see. Are the ends of the exhausts solid or tubular?

Glenn they are tubular. And I’ve had another look under a brighter light and I can see the raised edge of a letter and number on the inside edge of the wheel mould, sadly I cannot read it, it is so small.

[motorman]

Not many others have turned up on the back of the posting by Alex so perhaps not many more are currently circulating the collecting community.

Alex, when you showed this elsewhere, ''SMS88'' (Mick Bruce) commented on the wheel mould numbers so would you mind enlightening me on the numbers here (also mention if the number is on a little platform - more dating evidence!) thanks.

Ghosthunter.

Kevin, I’ve had another look under a brighter light and I can make out the raised edge of a letter and a number on the inside edge of each hollow wheel, sadly I cannot make out what they are. Any suggestions how I can get a closer image?

[DrJeep]

they are tubular... I can see the raised edge of a letter and number on the inside edge of the wheel mould

Great picture! My solid green Group 6 has tubular exhausts, but on my dark metallic green one (with rectangular number 7) the exhausts are solid. It would be interesting to hear what others have, but the tubular exhausts, unpainted base and numbered wheels make me think it's a prepro or early colour trial that's contemporary with the solid green Group 6s. There's a white prepro with amber windows on Christian's site. Really interesting find.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I am glad you have now spotted something on the wheels as this does make sense. The wider wheels were fited to #45 during 1970 as adverts from this year show models with thin and then (more predominately), thick wheels.

Forum member Olivier (''Matchboom'') purchased a USB powered miniature microscope for his wheel mould numbers and it was very effective. Sadly he no longer posts on the forum but I am sure they are out there in ebayland. I don't think there is any other way to see the numbers clearer unless I had it in hand as I view all my miniature details by the naked eye, no glass enlargements for me yet...

Ghosty.

[motorman]

I am glad you have now spotted something on the wheels as this does make sense. The wider wheels were fited to #45 during 1970 as adverts from this year show models with thin and then (more predominately), thick wheels.

Forum member Olivier (''Matchboom'') purchased a USB powered miniature microscope for his wheel mould numbers and it was very effective. Sadly he no longer posts on the forum but I am sure they are out there in ebayland. I don't think there is any other way to see the numbers clearer unless I had it in hand as I view all my miniature details by the naked eye, no glass enlargements for me yet...

Ghosty.

I don’t know how you could possibly see these Kevin, they are tiny. I will look into getting a USB microscope.

[motorman]

they are tubular... I can see the raised edge of a letter and number on the inside edge of the wheel mould

Great picture! My solid green Group 6 has tubular exhausts, but on my dark metallic green one (with rectangular number 7) the exhausts are solid. It would be interesting to hear what others have, but the tubular exhausts, unpainted base and numbered wheels make me think it's a prepro or early colour trial that's contemporary with the solid green Group 6s. There's a white prepro with amber windows on Christian's site. Really interesting find.

All very good points and I must admit I had not given much thought to how the exhausts were cast but could be significant in placing this in its correct timeline. Now I guess I will need to obtain the mould numbers to confirm this.

[Idris]

Just checked both my non-metallic green models, and both have hollow exhaust pipes.
To me, this example is looking increasingly like a late (because of the wide wheels), pre-release (because of the exhaust pipes) colour trial.

[DrJeep]

The wheel numbers on my solid green Group 6 are:

Front left A5
Back left A21
Front right A40
Back right A37

I won't post pictures of all of them. This was taken with a macro lens on a digital SLR, on a tripod.

IMG_7925.jpg (281.13 KiB) Viewed 5223 times

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Which when enhanced looks like this.


Ghosthunter.