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I was highly intrigued by a 44A Rolls Silver Cloud model that was available in Ralph's recent Matchbox Grizzly Vectis auction. Only the second time I've participated in a Vectis auction and I was delighted to end up with this one coming my way.

Here is the description that Vectis had provided:
Matchbox Regular Wheels No.44a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud - unlisted Stannard Code - darker shade of metallic blue body with smooth roof interior, bonnet interior without casting pips and thin side panel braces, front and rear silver trim, matt black base, metal wheels with domed crimped axles - Mint apart from factory casting flaw to roof in generally Excellent type B2 box. Please note model has entirely smooth roof interior without the central casting pip behind the windscreen associated with the 1st issue of this model and may possibly be a pre-production issue.

And here's the model now that it has arrived in Ohio.



It is a distinctly deeper and more vivid blue than any of my other 44A models. Here it is pictured alongside another early example, a Stannard code 2 with metal wheels.



And indeed it is as smooth as a baby's behind on the inside surface of the roof.



Other than the pips being absent from beneath the bonnet/hood and roof the body casting and base casting appear to be identical to my other 44A models. Any thoughts/comments on this one?

The casting flaw in the roof would be consistent with other low pressure preproduction Lesney models.

Tinman wrote:The casting flaw in the roof would be consistent with other low pressure preproduction Lesney models.

My thoughts too,

Very nice, looks like a genuine pre-pro!

A superb catch Greg!
Yeah,this was one of the outstanding Grizzly specimens that caught my eye and was at a keen end-price too!
I would definitely welcome this specimen into my collection.
numi

Yes, a great addition and it'll display nicely next to the lighter blues.

Hello Greg,
The first three versions of #44a do not have the inner roof spikes, they have Satin Black baseplates and a low inner side brace
The first two versions are in the lighter Blue and the third version was in a darker Blue, yours is this darker Blue.
The next version after yours has the inner roof spikes, is in a lighter Blue and a small brace has been added to the very top of the 'B' pillar where it joins the inside of the roof.

This is a quick guide as other details can identify your particular model shown in the pictures like specific casting faults, all of which I have studied and recorded to help me put my #44a models in the correct 'Time-Line'.

In the picture below the bottom row of models start from the left with the very first version. The three models on the top row are the last three versions I have with Silver-Grey plastic wheels.
GHOSTHUNTER.

That is one handsome lineup of 44A models indeed Ghosty! I can see that your "Ghosthunter" moniker is well-deserved. This also answers pretty much all of the questions I have about where this model fits into the picture. After reading your tutorial on the 44A I went back and looked at Nick's guide and I can see that I would have learned much of this there had I been on my toes.
Some additional questions:
1. What is the difference between your first two examples, the two lighter blue models with the smooth roof interior?
2. How is it that we know this chronology so precisely? How do we know that the light blue models came before the darker blue? I noticed that Nick credits Antonin with helping put these pieces in order. My hunch is there was a thread looking at these issues somewhere in the past.
3. How hard is it to find the examples with the single roof pip?

Hello Greg,

My very first version in pale Blue has had the wheels fitted in such a way the model number (44), can not be seen unless you look at the inside of the wheel. Casting faults and surface abrasions tell me what models go where and from this a 'Time-Line' can be worked out and on my second version, a small casting fault has appeared towards the bottom of the drivers door, that is also on my third version and on your dark Blue one if I had clear close up picture, I could probably point it it out to you and the wheels on the second version have now been randomly fitted so at least one of them shows the catalogue number (44), on the outside surface.

For a very long time, I also had my dark Blue example with the smooth inner roof surface as my earliest version, but I have found these two earlier versions that because of studying those casting faults etc, predate the dark Blue version, so for my own benefit they are listed like this...

Vesrion 1: Pale Blue, smooth inner roof, no 'B' pillar top brace, satin Black base and the number on the wheels face inwards.
Version 1A: As above, but now a casting fault appears towards the bottom of the drivers door and the number on the wheels can be seen facing outwards.
Version 1B: As above but in dark Blue.
Version 1C: As above but a tooling change now puts a small brace at the top of the 'B' pillar, spikes under the bonnet, spikes under the roof with two additional flat discs and the body colour back to pale Blue.

...and so and so on, covering all those models you see in my picture, no duplicates were used in that picture, so it gives you something to aim for...

I think the first three versions are difficult to find because of their early production period all coming out during early 1958.

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

nice going Greg!