71 Jeep Gladiator Orange Body Green Int. New Variation ???

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 4:18 pm

It's 1:09 am and I can't sleep. Tried counting matchbox jumping over a fence but that just got me excited.
Have been browsing Nick's variation guide and didn't see this one listed.
Only have this picture on my database so it's all I can upload right now.
Will dig it out asap and take more pictures of the base rivets, wheels, axles, door jams, door hinge springs and a picture or 2 of it right next to the red body model for comparison.
ORANGE BODY GREEN INTERIOR.

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:17 pm

Oh Oh !! Jumped the gun before checking the facts.
looks like a very suspect rivet
never noticed that when i bought it
everything else looks right, door hinge spring, no patent number on base, axle ends, wheels but that rivet!

Actually there would be no need to tamper with the axle ends, just the rivet to effect the body swap.
Going by the properties of the first photo I took of this model to add to my data base I bought this model 1 Jun 2010

I WAS wondering how many gems I had yet to discover in my collection now I'm wondering how many there may be like this jeep.
Will wait for confirmation from anyone who wishes to comment just in case others have similar looking rivets but i feel that's doubtful.
Will prepare to resign this model to the shelf of shame. LOL.

Maybe one for the custom treatment.

Post by **GHOSTHUNTER** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:29 pm

That rivet....Hmm, what can we say, has it been drilled to reduce the thickness, allowing for an easier removal of the baseplate then an easy job just to force the rivet side into a shape to keep the baseplate in place....

It does look as if the rivet has been reduced in it's size and thickness (drilling directly into the countersink will reduce the thickness), and then some work with a screwdriver!!

Is the baseplate very tight or does it have movement.

GHOSTHUNTER.

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:27 am

Hello Ghosthunter
The base plate is tight as a drum so maybe there is some type of glue used but cant see evidence of that.
I was thinking that given the orange colour is so obviously different to the red that this variation, if it were real would have been picked up long ago so that's another nail in coffin for me regarding authenticity.

Post by **GHOSTHUNTER** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:07 am

Hi slicc64, if you have seen Nick's guide for this model you will have seen the examples termed as Orange, so I don't really have a problem with the colour of your example. A very tight baseplate on a model with suspect rivet is suspicious, because I think even on mint models (any models from the range), there will be some movement of the baseplate, it is after all only a mechanical fixture, there is not at the moment a register of Matchbox models known to have a really tight baseplate, maybe we should have one for when this topic crops-up again.

If the model did not cost a lot of money, I would leave it as it is and display as such, to show others what does exist out there in the collecting World and it has the nice Green seats anyway...

GHOSTHUNTER.

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:11 am

I think that's a good assessment. Will leave it on the shelf of shame as a point of reference for myself and others.
The box alone [which i am quite satisfied is genuine] was worth the $20

Post by **Tinman** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:00 pm

It certainly looks like someone has taken an interior out of a beat up, play worn model and placed into a much nicer body. Take another look at the interior to make sure it's not painted green (as is sometimes the case). If it's an original green interior placed inside a better body, then at least you can display it as an original (but tampered) model.

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 3:00 am

Hey Tinman,
It's not a painted interior and in the natural sunlight it is actually a shade [or 2] lighter green in the orange version so perhaps there are a few shades of interiors out there...
I've snapped a dozen pictures but none really capture the difference well enough to post.
I have 2 x scaffold SF with light yellow scaff and the situation is the same, whenever I try to photograph it, it is almost impossible to discern the difference however with the naked eye it's obvious.

Post by **Tinman** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 4:06 am

Be careful with some of the newer models with plastic accessories. Replacement parts are often lighter or darker than the originals. Replacement reproduction scaffold is available.

slicc64 · Post by **slicc64** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:17 am

thanks for the warning re repro. Tinman.
I dont think mine are. Some may recognise this picture from another forum I posted it on years ago [2010]
I bought this lot and many other models from the same seller.
He was a train collector and had layouts he would use models on. He couldn't care less about the brand.
I bought this lot all at the same price per unit and if you have ever had the experience of opening a matchbox box for the very first time then you will know how stiff they are.
This lot had been lying where he packed them years ago, never opened.
If he were pulling a con then he would have brought the variation to my attention and wouldn't have sold the lot as a package. Fact is neither Klaus or I opened them at his place.
I did that when I got home to photograph them for my data base. It was when I had them all out that I noticed 2 of them had light yellow scaff and those 2 models both had short axle covers.
Now I know this would be easy to fake none the less I know in my bones this is real. Maybe someone else will find a factory packed bundle and find the same result I did.
I remember emailing Christian about this years ago.
The color diff. is difficult to see in the pic's but easy with the naked eye.

It was also this seller that I bought the refrigerator trucks from allowed me to see the casting variations in back floor of the container
And then there were these GMC's
and Dodge Dumper's
etc
etc
etc