The Lesney model of the Vauxhall Cresta first appeared in the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1958. The Cresta has to be the collectors all time favourite, Not only is it a beautiful model but it is very hard to find and even the most common varieties still fetch good prices, Add to this the American styling which makes it extra popular in the USA plus the many colour variations to look for makes for one very desirable model.
The first issue was released in pink with grey metal wheels on dome head axles with crimped ends which is a very rare variation and is seldom seen,
Soon grey plastic wheels were fitted instead and soon after the flat black baseplate was changed to gloss black.
The first two issues had silver trim to the grille, headlights, front & rear bumpers and to the rear number plate and red trim to the tail lights. After these two issues the silver trim was omitted from the rear number plate.
Next green tinted windows were fitted and the axles were changed for dome head with rounded ends.
The model went through the following colour schemes. Pink, Cream, Pink with sea green side panels, Metallic grey-brown with sea green side panels. Metallic bronze-brown with sea green side panels. Grey with lilac side panels, Light metallic gold, Dark metallic gold, Light metallic copper and finally dark metallic copper.
The progression through the various colours was not done in order but if you take into account when the axle types changed and when windows were introduced we can see that there was much switching back & forth between colours.
Aproximately half way through the models life the silver trim was omitted from the rear bumper and Later silver plastic wheels were used for the first time.
There was one casting modification which occured during the metallic copper issues very late in the models life, The ejector post behind the grill was lengthened slightly, Where on early issues the ejector post was the same length as the brace that attached it to the back of the grille now it was a fair bit longer than the brace.
The last issues of metallic copper were fitted with black plastic wheels, 9 x 24 to begin with and finally 9 x 36 on the final issue. The Cresta was sold in 'B', 'C' and 'D' type boxes and the first issue cresta came in a 'B' box with the 22a Cresta illustrated on the front.
Updated:01-04-10, Jason (Nearlymint) has discovered a very rare Cresta in pink with sea green sides but this one has crimped axles, It has been added to the variation table at number 11.
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