The Rolls-Royce Collection.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Ritchie, I just 'Googled'...Sunway Roller Blinds...or you can try...sunway.co.uk-sunway roller blinds.

Yes Ritchie I saw your #39e models and very nice, I have not checked to see if I have the same examples in my collection yet.

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[ritchie]

hello Ghosthunter,

i reached the website where the title said "sunway.co.uk-sunway roller blinds" ( the website url was actually http://sunwayblinds.org/roller_blinds/rollers.php ) but i don't see the under construction section where the silver spirit is shown. Am i on the correct website?

also on the subject of silver spirit, there was a release which had a coat of arm printed onto the front door. i have always wonder if this particular coat of arm actually have some special meaning or just simply one generic crest created by matchbox? and why the idea to have a coat of arm associated with a matchbox rolls-royce? may be you would have some info on it too?

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thanks,
R

[ritchie]

in black, my favorite colour for the Rolls. the look of grand, solemn and royal, just glamourous! a pity the colour never got approved at Lesney...

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from left:
RW#24 silver shadow prepro colour trial
SF#69 coupe unriveted colour trial (No, it does NOT carry the long seat Ghosty : (
#39 silver shadow II china release with the rare 5 arch wheels
#160 silver cloud prepro colour trial

cheers
R

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Ritchie, no, you won't find any mention of the "Matchbox" Silver Spirit model on their website, the website is only interested in current affairs, not any free gifts or promotions from several years past and the only connection with the company now is the fact that the model exists (would love to see more examples in differing conditions), and that there must be customers who had the model given to them when they had some new 'Sunway Roller Blinds' installed into their home.

Ghosty.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

The Silver Spirit with the crest on both front doors was released during 1986, it is from the Macau production facility and was very loosely marketed to tie-in with 100 years of the Automoblie, but for some reason was not packaged in a special box or given any special catalogue promotional artwork. It will be of limited production, but not limited enough to make it worth a lot of money!!

Ghosty.

[Idris]

in black, my favorite colour for the Rolls. the look of grand, solemn and royal, just glamourous! a pity the colour never got approved at Lesney...
RW#24 silver shadow prepro colour trial
SF#69 coupe unriveted colour trial

Both very, very nice indeed!
I'm extremely surprised to see these colour trials in black. As far as I can recall, Lesney never released any model in black, so I wonder why anyone in R&D bothered painting these two in that colour. (Perhaps someone else thought that they looked suitably imposing and, as they say, hope springs eternal....)

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I have not seen a written example, but part of the requirement to have a license from Rolls-Royce to make toys and models, is to keep to the overall image of what Rolls-Royce is all about, the models have to be representative, they have to be as accurate as possible within the given restraints of the material in use (in this case metal), they have to be in sober colours, if possible colours seen on the real cars. This is something 'MATTEL' had problems with when they painted their Silver Shadow in bright 'Metalflake' colours, they could not market them in the U.K. only a Silver-Grey or Pink version came here (arguably Pink is surely not right for a Rolls-Royce car, but yes it was allowed), but the overall look and design of the Hot Wheels version keeps it in the 'Toy' category.

If it is to be a toy, the 'Silver Lady Mascot' does not have to be (and is often not...), represented, but if it is a model, a Mascot has to be represented, unless the real car does not have one and in some markets the real cars do not have Mascots.

So Black 'Pre-Pro' "Matchbox" Rolls-Royce models do exist and are considered, but another 'perseption' problem then shows itself on small to medium sized models, it is not recommended to paint small models in very dark colours, it does not do justice to the detail on the model and kids don't want a black blob in their hand! paint everything in light Green, Blue, Yellow or White and they look bigger than they really are when in the hands of kids!

GHOSTHUNTER.

[ritchie]

The Silver Spirit with the crest on both front doors was released during 1986, it is from the Macau production facility and was very loosely marketed to tie-in with 100 years of the Automoblie, but for some reason was not packaged in a special box or given any special catalogue promotional artwork. It will be of limited production, but not limited enough to make it worth a lot of money!!

Ghosty.

i thought the matchbox silver spirit was first released in 1987 (Macau made), and the variation with crest on door (Thailand made) was not issued until 1992…?

r

[ritchie]

I'm extremely surprised to see these colour trials in black. As far as I can recall, Lesney never released any model in black, so I wonder why anyone in R&D bothered painting these two in that colour. (Perhaps someone else thought that they looked suitably imposing and, as they say, hope springs eternal....)

it looks like the no.VI lady bug for the US market from the late 70s was the first black model released by Lesney?

r

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Ritchie, took my 'Crested' Silver Spirit model information from my versions listing, but because of your comment, I will go and find the actual model and check the baseplate for Thailand or Macau origin.

Ghosty.