Spot the gem

[DrJeep]

An easy one for the New Year! What can you see?

[ChFalkensteiner]

An unspecified number of 1969-71 pre-pros:

- orange Boss Mustang
- blue Mercury Commuter
- three Mod Rods all seem to have colourless windows (beside labels from the G-3 gift set)
- Merryweather seems to be the early body casting (without the panel where the label would be and without the ridge towards the bottom)
- lemon Superfast Lamborghini Miura
- more possibilities which would require closer inspection (e.g. no Superfast on BMC 1800 Pininfarina base?)

What is the story behind this lot?

[DrJeep]

What is the story behind this lot?

Very good spotting! The seller tells me that they were given to him by a mould maker from the factory, I presume as a child, as they're very play worn. He didn't mention this in the advertisement! I first noticed the Merryweather, because I'd been looking for one for a while. I forgot to bid the first time they were listed so when I saw them again, I looked more closely. I'm not a great fan of Superfast but soon realised that there were several good things here.

- three Mod Rods all seem to have colourless windows (beside labels from the G-3 gift set)

Also red interiors and prepro bases. The Mod Rod (and similar made-up cars) put me off Superfast as a very small child, but I'm pleased to have these. Two of them appear to have gold, not silver, engines.

- lemon Superfast Lamborghini Miura

with tow guide. And lots of mud too.

- Merryweather seems to be the early body casting (without the panel where the label would be and without the ridge towards the bottom)

and without the A on the base, but with closed holes in the back, so not a prepro.

- blue Mercury Commuter

My favourite even though it's so worn. There's one the same colour on the listing page.

- orange Boss Mustang

With the smooth engine sides.

- more possibilities which would require closer inspection (e.g. no Superfast on BMC 1800 Pininfarina base?)

The BMC does have Superfast on the base, but has smaller exhausts and a narrower tow guide compared to the only other one I own - I'll post a photo later. The 30c crane, though missing its arm, is the early casting without the brace. The jeep has a darker red interior.

[DrJeep]

Here are the large and small exhaust pipes on the BMC 1800 - the new one has the smaller exhaust pipes. Or is this just the difference between different base moulds? I know there's a prepro on Christian's site without exhaust pipes. The wheels are the same size - just badly collapsed suspension on the one with the small exhaust.

[DrJeep]

and here's the colour-trial 73c Mercury Commuter. It's very worn, but still looks good. The colour is a metallic turquoise, not far off the shade of the 23e Volkswagen Camper.

[DrJeep]

and the prepro 44 Boss Mustang in orange with a matt black bonnet. I like this one too.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

These are good examples of original rare models that should never be restored back to new factory finish and while new condition models would be nice, I bet these will be adored and treasured just as much.

Great find Glenn.

Ghosthunter.

[DrJeep]

These are good examples of original rare models that should never be restored back to new factory finish and while new condition models would be nice, I bet these will be adored and treasured just as much.

Absolutely - restoration would spoil their originality, and I shall definitely treasure them just as they are.

[MatchboxFreak]

Well done and well spotted!
I am not much of a Superfast collector but the Muira jumped out for me. I’d have missed all the others.
Congratulations spotting all these gems hidden in plain sight!
Enjoy!
Kurt

[ChFalkensteiner]

Here are the large and small exhaust pipes on the BMC 1800 - the new one has the smaller exhaust pipes. Or is this just the difference between different base moulds?

I think that is what it is. I have just checked this in my own collection and noticed the difference between some examples there too, from the gold up to the orange narrow wheel versions.

Otherwise, congratulations on this find! In case you are willing to part with one of the Mod Rods, I might be interested.