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http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Matchbox-Le ... SwcLxYExfB

Real ?

This has a very convincing description with statements such as...''used for the box artwork'' and it has several ''as new'' details.

The baseplate has that false look again I did not like on a certain Mercedes model which I claimed I could reproduce where the baseplate seems to have been weathered to give the effect of 'Playware'.

Now, given that tis Cougar is described as being in very good condition and the pictures show this to be the case, it is only the body which is in good condition to me. The baseplate I have already mentioned, but look at the interior moulding and the tow hook, far from good condition, that is my view of seeing the pictures in the above link.

Ghosthunter.

For me the base and the rivets looks not OK (cleaned). The hook is very played for the rest of the model.

The glazing is not very clear for a model in such good condition alluding to be genuine. Why is the glazing so blurred when you look through it?

Possibly blurred from cleaning off the wipers and then repolished.

What about the chewed up back wheel?

Ive never heard of or had ever seen a Cream Cougar with a later body having been coupled to the early base (with slashes but without patent text details).
Whats strange is that the baseplate doesnt seem as though its been tampered (patent text doesnt seem to have been erased).However the base plate centre somewhat seems to have been acid-etched
numi

A new one, the well known man is very hard-working:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Rare-Matchbox-LE ... SwEzxYS6V9

First comment: I've never seen a photo of a cream Cougar with red interior that wasn't fake. If real ones are out there, the owners have them hidden from public view and scrutiny.

2. The windows are for sure tampered with. They have a distinct look of having been sprayed with a clear lacquer ... totally wrong stuff to clean up clear plastic.

3. All comments about the interior is dead on, way too much wear & tear compared to the rest of the model.

4. As to the base being cleaned - absolutely! Pick up another Cougar model or any Matchbox model with a similar base (especially models that have been played with) and you will find that the darker areas are the flat smooth areas. Around the edges of all the lettering is lighter and retains more shine. That's because when the bases are handled the oils on your fingers darken the base sheen. When a base is polished up, the area around the lettering is always darker (because the upraised lettering protects that area from being polished.

Conclusion: 100% Fake.

The overwhelming bulk of these rare Cougar models, that are changing hands, are Fake. That seems to hold true regardless of interior colors. I've even seen a catalog listing that claims a cream Cougar with red interior and wipers/mirror cast on the windshield is real. To me, the latter seems highly unlikely (more probable someone has a well done fake that they paid dearly for and refuse to accept they have been cheated).

There are currently three Cream Cougars on ebay, the windshields on all three look like they have been polished to remove the wipers. How rare can they be when there are three for sale? Tow are priced in the $4500 range, and one is $10000! My guess is they are all fake, not that I would spend that kind of money for a real one!