Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-12 1912 Ford Model T Van

The Y12-3 1912 Ford Model T Van was released in 1979 and used no less than 18 different liveries and colours all of which had a black plastic steering wheel. It stayed in production until it was replaced by the model of Stephensons Rocket in 1987.
This page covers the first six issues
Coca Cola, Colman's, Suze, Smith's Crisps, MoY Silver Jubilee and Bird's Custard.
PAGE 2
Cerebos, Arnott's, Harrods, Sunlight Seife, Royal Mail and Captain Morgan.
PAGE 3
Hoover, Pepsi Cola, Motor 100, Imbach, Heinz and Rosella.

Above. The Coca-Cola van was released in 1979, It had a creamy off white body with a black roof, chassis and seats. The rear doors were type 1 and it had gold plated radiator and windscreen frame. The wheels could be red 12 spoke, gold 12 or 24 spoke or chrome 12 spoke and it could have red or black rear lights mounted high up on the rear body. The first issues had a slightly different tampo print to the sides which is a very rare variation, See the pictures below for the full details.

Above. The type 1 tampo with (B) 5 vertical lines and (A) gaps where the text overlaps is very rare.

Above. The later type 2 tampo with 4 vertical lines and no gaps is common.

Above. The Colman's Mustard van was released in 1979. It had a yellow body and black chassis and roof. It had black seats, gold plated radiator and windscreen frame, The wheels can be red 12 spoke, Chrome 12 or 24 spoke or gold 12 spoke, The rear doors can be type 1 or 2 and the baseplate can be found with Y12 inscribed or with no Y number inscription, There are no rare variations.

Above. Extremely rare pre production Colman's Mustard vans are known to exist that used white painted "Coca Cola" van bodies.

Above. Left, Plain type 1 doors
Center, Ornate type 2 doors.
Left. Engraved type 3 doors.

Above. The next release was in 1980 for the French Liqueur company Suze which had a yellow body with a black chassis and roof which was basically the same as the earlier Colman's issue. It usually had black seats but some had brown seats and the radiator and windscreen frame were gold plated, It can be found with red 12 spoke wheels or chrome 12 or 24 spoke wheels and type 1 or 2 back doors. The baseplate can have Y12 inscribed or no Y number and the final issue is hard to find as it had red type 2 rear doors while all of the earlier issues had the doors in black.

Above. The Suze van was perhaps a little too similar to the earlier Colman's issue.

Above. The hard to find red door Suze.
photo courtesy George Marshall.

Above. The Smith's Crisps van was released in 1981, It had a blue body a black chassis and a white roof, It could have brown or black seats, Gold plated radiator and windscreen frame and red 12 spoke plastic wheels. The baseplate could have Y12 or no Y number and it could have type 1 or type 2 rear doors, There are no rare issues.
The Smith's van was a promotional issue obtainable by sending in empty crisp packets, Later the model went on general release.

Above. The Models of Yesteryear Silver Jubilee was released in 1981. It was painted green with a dark green chassis and pale grey roof. It had black seats and chromed radiator and windscreen frame and can be found with yellow 12 or 24 spoke or red or chrome 12 spoke wheels, The first version had type 1 doors and the later issues type 2 doors and early issues had a Y12 baseplate while later issues had no Y number, The most desirable piece being the very rare first issue with type 1 doors.

Above. The 25 years Silver Jubilee issue was not one of the most popular versions of the model T van.

Above. The Bird's Custard version was released in 1982, It was painted Royal blue with a yellow roof and black chassis, It was usually fitted with red 12 spoke plastic wheels but yellow wheels and chromed wheels are known and it had black or brown seats and chrome plated radiator and windscreen frame. Models with a metallic royal blue body and the version with gold plated radiator and windscreen frame are both hard to find.

Above. The Bird's van could have type 2 printed rear doors or type 3 engraved rear doors.

PAGE 2 Cerebos, Arnott's, Harrods, Sunlight Seife, Royal Mail and Captain Morgan.

PAGE 3 Hoover, Pepsi Cola, Motor 100, Imbach, Heinz and Rosella.