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Showed up this morning...got a little excited, but then turned to research. Numbers look too coarse to me, decal does not continue to rear, and decal not offset like the movie Herbie...
This guy's story is interesting, but...?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matchbox-Beyond ... 4ad6ecd2c5

So...at the risk of starting a feeding frenzy...what do you think?

These Herbies were done originally by a hobby shop owner in the U.S. I believe, not at the Lesney factory. Never being sold in the stores to the public makes them kind of just a footnote reproduction to me, but in the past some have brought Great money for their owners. I believe it is again the case that even on these aftermarket Herbies, the decal kit for them has now been reproduced. This makes available reproduction reproductions (LOL), so they can now be found quite cheap on occasions. I have no experience on these Herbies, I am sure others here can be of more assistance.
I like the story about Grandma and the Movie, but our local theaters never advertised anything like this Toy handout. kwakers

I have no idea whether this is genuine or not, but I am intrigued by the comment that the Herbies issued by the model shop in question were Code 2 rather than Code 3.
Can anyone confirm this statement?

In my opinion, that argument turns out just like the crimped axle #13 reverse Wreckers done in 1970. Some say management knew of them being done specially in the factory for an influential U.S. collector visiting there, but others have the models only as Code 3s done as 'lunchbox specials'. Good luck on the same arguments on these Herbies, and which code might be 'proper' on them. Neither Harold Colpitts nor Bob Brennen in their AIM and NAMC Guides even mentioned these Herbies, which by 1973 were 'old'. That in itself keeps me from ever considering them genuine Code 2 production, but it does not keep any from being sold as 'highly collectable' for rarity prices...... kwakers

Idris wrote:I have no idea whether this is genuine or not, but I am intrigued by the comment that the Herbies issued by the model shop in question were Code 2 rather than Code 3.
Can anyone confirm this statement?

NEWBIE ALERT!!!! I've seen the reference to Code 2 & 3 several times and will admit that I don't know what that means...assuming has to do with the restoration/rehab of models?

Anyway, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that, if a model's rarity depends solely on its decals/labels, I will usually stay away.

Here is a link to what the CODE system stands for...

...viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1805&p=14186#p18178

Ghosty.

KennewickMan wrote:Anyway, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that, if a model's rarity depends solely on its decals/labels, I will usually stay away.

You learn quickly!

Idris wrote:

KennewickMan wrote:Anyway, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that, if a model's rarity depends solely on its decals/labels, I will usually stay away.

You learn quickly!

Thank you, Obi-Wan...

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:Here is a link to what the CODE system stands for...

...viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1805&p=14186#p18178

Ghosty.

Thanks, Ghosty! Learning all the time.

The hobby shop model is a code two and a known collector has correspondence from Lesney to prove the claim. While I have not seen the letter myself, Jim G. has viewed the document and has gone on record saying it's authentic. Because of the timing of the project, the Herbie models exist in regular wheels and superfast (I do not know which is more common but I would guess the latter).