#1 Mercedes

[fixer]

Picked up this pair
Paint appears original, castings are Nick's code 1, smooth bases instead of textured, clear windows instead of green. I'm not 100% on the rivets and one looks to have been chiseled & spun ??
The crimped axles are beyond my knowledge of how they should be finished so leaves me 50/50 on the wheels used

[Idris]

I have a pre-production in that colour, but with solid wheels. IIC, one of the selector charts shows the 1e with some kind of hub and tyre arrangement.
Well done!

[fixer]

What window unit and base are on yours Hugh

[fixer]

Got this with them
Decals appear genuine. I'll post it in the errors topic

[DrJeep]

They look great! Are they without the brace to the rear mudguard? The smooth base is a very good sign. What a find!

[fixer]

No braces

[DrJeep]

No braces

That's a really good sign. The no brace Mercedes is hard to find anyway, and with the smooth bases and clear windows it points very strongly towards factory prepro and not home made (because what's the point in ruining two prepros by changing the wheels?). There may be other casting differences. I see one of the rear mudguards looks poorly formed and I wonder if the tow hook is thinner? My thin step Mercedes (with braces, but mine from new - hence the missing wheel and the generally used state!) has a much less elegant hook with additional metal added to the triangle. Amazing to find something so special at a toy fair - well done!

[nearlymint]

Great find Reg, shame I missed you would have been nice to see them.
J

[fixer]

I'll drag them down to sandown and Brentwood for some in hand opinions .
Be nice to meet you again

[Idris]

What window unit and base are on yours Hugh

Clear and plain (in that order ).