Spot the Difference = why are these two pre-pros?

[matchboxuk]

These two models are both pre-pros. How quickly can you decide why?

[Idris]

How quickly can you decide why?

Very (but I won't spoil the fun for everyone else).

[DrJeep]

The Zodiac was easy but the Ford tractor took a little longer. Really interesting - thank you very much for showing these.

[Fox]

As a newbie I would say something about the hood or inside it fof the Zodiac.

[MatchboxFreak]

Thank you for sharing. They are beauties!

The Zodiac wheels immediately jumped out.

Interesting to see the 39c Ford Tractor with the white steering wheel. I would have expected a pre pro 39c to also have the 7mm tall exhaust similar to the early casting. Does the pre pro casting have the thin tow hook?

[Idris]

I would have expected a pre pro 39c to also have the 7mm tall exhaust similar to the early casting.

Good point!

[matchboxuk]

Thank you for sharing. They are beauties!

The Zodiac wheels immediately jumped out.

Interesting to see the 39c Ford Tractor with the white steering wheel. I would have expected a pre pro 39c to also have the 7mm tall exhaust similar to the early casting. Does the pre pro casting have the thin tow hook?

You are absolutely right. This version has a thick tow hook and a short stack so it could not have been produced before general production started. It is securely fixed and is identical in shape so I have no idea why this would have been produced.

Thanks for spotting.

[Sebastian10]

matchboxuk

I would have some doubts about the tractor being pre production solely based on having a white steering wheel. Last year I bought an early version of the yellow/blue tractor with the long exhaust stack and a broken but thin tow hook - it was in a job lot for only a few pounds.

The steering wheel was all but gone but I remembered that I had an all blue version that I had bought for 25p about a decade earlier - this model was playworn but still had a black steering wheel in good condition. After digging out this model I gently pulled its steering wheel by hand and it seemed to be absoutely stuck fast. However I went to the trusty tool box and dug out a pair of fine long nose pliers and used these to grip the top of the steering wheel shaft just below the spokes - the steering wheel started to move upwards and with a bit of effort came free - it was simply a push fit albeit it needed some determination to shift.

Using the same method I removed the remains of the steering wheel on the long exhaust tractor and simply pushed the 'new' steering wheel into place.

I have seen a few of the short exhaust models fitted with yellow steering wheels for sale at inflated prices (One at nearly £2000!) but given how easy it is to swap steering wheels I would not risk buying something that I could probably make up using spares from a reproduction parts catalogue.

Last year I managed to buy 3 of the long exhaust tractors and 3 tractors with the larger front wheels but all unboxed so I began to look for a standard model with a good box at a competitive price. I got one online and was pleasantly surprised to find that the tractor was fitted with the usual black steering wheel but of much larger diameter. Unfortunately I did not save the online picture properly and all I have at present is the tiny picture shown - hopefully though this will show the larger diameter of the steering wheel.


Happy Collecting

Sebastian