Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-16 1928 Mercedes Benz SS Coupe

Above: The blue Mercedes had a black plastic roof, seats, luggage trunk and grill insert and is usually found fitted with 24 spoke chromed wheels. The sidepanels were painted in either off white, pale grey, pale blue or pale brown, The blue version is rare and the off white can be hard to find, The most common version has grey sidepanels but this version may also have red 12 spoke wheels.

Above: The Mercedes in blue with pale grey sidepanels, pretty common.

Above: The very rare pale blue sidepanels

Above: The hard to find pale brown sidepanels.

The final British made Mercedes had the convertible roof modified to one in a folded down position which was done to try and breath some new life into a tired model. It was quite successful but Lesney could have done a better job of chosing what colours it was going to be painted as the finished model looks rather toy like. The model can be found with 12 or 24 spoke red plastic wheels.

Above: Note that the wheels are not quite so bright red - The flash photography has bleached them.

The final Y-16 was made in Macau. It had the baseplate modified to read "Made in Macau" and two strengthening rings were cast in around the rivet holes. It had a black baseplate and the body was a strange pale pinkish-grey which does not look too bad but the model has then been enhanced by simply adding tampo detail to the roof stretchers, trunk and bonnet straps and by the careful addition of black stripes on the side. The finished result is a very realistic looking model.

Above: The model was fitted with 24 spoke push fit wheels and whitewall tyres and it could have green or brown steering wheel spokes. The baseplate also featured additional silver trim to the engine and and exhaust.