Re: Beginners look at the Bentley
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:42 pm
In production from 1958 to 1962, you would expect various modifications to take place on the 1929 Bentley Le Mans car, Y5-1. We have come to expect this on Lesney models but in fact this model remains a rather un-interesting model because so few changes have been found or recorded by collectors.
This means collecting a full range (if we know what the full range is!) of this model, will be easy yes...NO!
In fact while no known body or baseplate casting modifications took place, collectors have to be content with body colours, baseplate colours, steering wheel colours, grille mesh and grille surround colours and finally, crimped or peened axle-ends.
The first picture shows my current collection of models in their 'Time-Line' starting at extreme left with what the defunct Matchbox Models of Yesteryear club classed as their issue 1.
Issue 1 is a very hard version to find and what makes it unique is the silver painted grille mesh. Shortly after introduction this detail was deleted as it meant the model did not represent a real car as accurately as intended.
The next picture (below) shows another hard to find version which has a gold grille surround but on a model still with the grey painted tonneau cover, the raised section at the rear which on a real car housed the folded hood and frame hence the higher bulging type design. This was also removed because again, it did not represent a real car...this model was clearly a steep learning curve for Lesney! We then come to the version with a green steering wheel. They are displayed in two rows because this model's baseplate comes in a satin black or a gloss black. The models behind are duplicates. You can also see in this picture the colour change on the main body from dark to a brighter green.
The last model in the time-line is a wheel trial. It has been fitted with a set of 'Cross-Wire' wheels from a Grand Prix car in the regular wheels range. The specification of this is correct for it to be at the end of the time-line and because there has never been a concise reference listing for the Y5-1 model, how could it be faked, what would you be faking and how would you know what model to choose to create this version - there is NO reference listing! Very few 'Known' variations are missing from my collection but one that eludes me is the model without any trim painting to the grille surround so the whole grille and mesh area is the same colour as the main body.
Ghosthunter.
This means collecting a full range (if we know what the full range is!) of this model, will be easy yes...NO!
In fact while no known body or baseplate casting modifications took place, collectors have to be content with body colours, baseplate colours, steering wheel colours, grille mesh and grille surround colours and finally, crimped or peened axle-ends.
The first picture shows my current collection of models in their 'Time-Line' starting at extreme left with what the defunct Matchbox Models of Yesteryear club classed as their issue 1.
Issue 1 is a very hard version to find and what makes it unique is the silver painted grille mesh. Shortly after introduction this detail was deleted as it meant the model did not represent a real car as accurately as intended.
The next picture (below) shows another hard to find version which has a gold grille surround but on a model still with the grey painted tonneau cover, the raised section at the rear which on a real car housed the folded hood and frame hence the higher bulging type design. This was also removed because again, it did not represent a real car...this model was clearly a steep learning curve for Lesney! We then come to the version with a green steering wheel. They are displayed in two rows because this model's baseplate comes in a satin black or a gloss black. The models behind are duplicates. You can also see in this picture the colour change on the main body from dark to a brighter green.
The last model in the time-line is a wheel trial. It has been fitted with a set of 'Cross-Wire' wheels from a Grand Prix car in the regular wheels range. The specification of this is correct for it to be at the end of the time-line and because there has never been a concise reference listing for the Y5-1 model, how could it be faked, what would you be faking and how would you know what model to choose to create this version - there is NO reference listing! Very few 'Known' variations are missing from my collection but one that eludes me is the model without any trim painting to the grille surround so the whole grille and mesh area is the same colour as the main body.
Ghosthunter.