59b Ford Fairlane Fire Chief's Car

[Idris]

The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (first edition) has no less than three unlisted variations:
- 59-2a has GPW, silver rear bumper and c/a. If confirmed, this would be a new code 1 in Nick's table.
- 59-2b has GPW, red rear bumper and r/a. This would slot in between Nick's variation codes 4 and 5.
- 59-2c has BPW, silver rear bumper and r/a. Since the NAMC listing does not differentiate between the BPW on the different variations, it is possible that these would also be 9 x 36 which would also slot in neatly between Nick's code 4 and 5 (but would appear before 59-2b).
No unlisted variations are present in the AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983), Houghton or Stannard, and U.K. Matchbox did not cover the model.

[matchbox_n_molars]

I've acquired what I thought would be an upgrade for my gray wheeled example on this model. It arrived today and as it turns out the two models are different in two ways and both examples are unlisted in Nick's guide.
The original model that I have is one of the unlisted examples that you mentioned Hugh, from the NAMC Catalog. It has GPW and NO silver trim on the rear bumper.
The new model that arrived today has GPW and it has a silver trimmed rear bumper. The peculiarity on this one is that it has the first body casting, the one without diagonal lines in any of the four wheel wells.

[Tinman]

The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (first edition) has no less than three unlisted variations:
- 59-2a has GPW, silver rear bumper and c/a. If confirmed, this would be a new code 1 in Nick's table.

This one has alarm bells going off. That's too late in the game for a crimp axle, especially when you consider this is the easiest way to fake a wheel swap. I doubt the model used for the catalog listing was real.

[Taniwha]

My GPW 59b is the same as Greg's second one - silver rear bumper, but no diagonal lines in any of the wheel wells. This was discussed here a while back as someone else (not Greg from memory) found one the same.

Cheers,
Gavin