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I am reading toy car wars which is giving a good insight to the industry. Also the more I think about it the more the Enfield link makes sense the big wigs all lived with in a couple of miles from the pageant grounds,

Idris wrote:For me, the question is why did R&D preserve multiple examples of this unreleased version of the 75a. I think the fact that they did, invalidates Nick's apprentice piece argument and lends credence to them representing some kind of development initiative.

With the machinery Lesney were using during the sixties you could not just switch off a high pressure die casting machine, you had to completely empty the molten zinc container or it would harden. so there would have been more than one made, odd that no more have come to light though.

did you see i thought it may have been jack Odell that had the tbirds castings for sale

Yes I did see that, But I doubt it was Jack. He would not have bothered selling prepros or anything else, he was a multi millionaire at the time,
Plus he was notoriously bad tempered. I just don't think it was him.

I realise you RW enthusiasts won't appreciate this but I noticed interestingly a similarity between this rare thunderbird casting with its unusual roof detail and the Superfast #34 Vantastic. Not identical but certainly similar.

The similarity you are now showing us is very striking to me (also!) as for the exterior size and general shape of that roof rack on the Superfast Vantastic. That T Bird body would be displayed with an example of the RW #56 Fiat and now this Vantastic to show off their similar roof racks if it were in our collection. Nice spot Motorman! Here is proof that even an old RW collector can enjoy your Great comparison....... kwakers

Yes very interesting.......

checking in ,no more news re this casting

As far as I know, there is nothing new to report.
However, it remains an intriguing, fascinating and (for most of the Forum's Members) highly-desirable piece of previously-unknown Lesney history.