Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-44 1910 Renault Bus

The Y44-1 1910 Renault Bus joined the range in 1991. It was based on the Y25-1 Renault AG van but an all new diecast rear body and plastic roof complete with a rear step and seats molded in brown plastic which was fitted with a clear plastic window unit. The model had the open grab handles in the brass plated windscreen frame, It also had a brass plated handbrake lever and headlights,
It was not deleted or replaced but no further issues of the Y-44 bus were released.

Above: The renault bus had a gloss black baseplate, lower rear body and bonnet, The main body was painted orange-yellow and it had 12 spoke red plastic push fit wheels with blackwall tyres. The made in China baseplate was amended to include Y-44 in the description and it had a hole inserted in it to secure it inside the new N style boxes.

Above: The yellow of the body can be found in bright or darker orange-yellow but it's the version with a red plastic roof is the hard to find version that everyone wants. The tampo reads Wesserling Bussang and the bus would have been owned by a Hotel and it would have been used by the Hotel to collect patrons from the train station etc.

Above: The hard to find red roof version,
photo courtesy George Marshall.