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Moko Lesney Matchbox lesney matchbox 32c Leyland petrol tanker

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 32c Leyland petrol tanker



The Lesney model of the Leyland BP tanker joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in early 1968 when it replaced the earlier 32b E type Jaguar.
The first issue had a green body and chassis and a white petrol tank. It had a blue tinted plastic window unit and a chromed plastic baseplate and was enhanced with BP decals to the sides of the tank.
The wheels were 11.5 x 45 black plastic which were the only wheel type fitted to this model.
Soon a tow guide was added to the plastic baseplate and the filler caps on the top of the tanker which stood proud on the earlier issues were altered so they were more flush with the top of the tanker and flatter in appearance.
Two blocks were cast in to the lower rear corners of the cab, What they were for is not known but the block on the right side of the cab is noticably larger than the one on the left.
Later the BP decals were replaced by paper BP labels and the baseplate which was chromed plastic until now was replaced by a white plastic baseplate.

The model was recoloured for the European market, The cab and chassis were painted a darkish blue and the tanker body was kept in white, The BP labels were replaced by Aral labels, Aral was a German fuel company, The Aral version had the same 11.5 x 45 black plastic wheels but was never issued with the white plastic baseplare as found on the regular issue.
Except for the hard to find white base version there are no really rare variations of the BP tanker but the Aral version is not so common and is eagerly sought by collectors.
The Leyland was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes with the 'F' type being slightly harder to find, The Aral version was packaged in it's own box which illustrated a blue & white tanker with Aral labels.
The model was modified to superfast wheels in 1970 and finally deleted in 1973.

above: the Leyland was recoloured to blue &
white with labels for "aral" for the German market

above: Aral labels, BP decals and BP labels

code number general wheel type advert cab blocks fuel filler tow guide
code 1 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic BP decal no blocks thick no tow guide
code 2 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic BP decal no blocks thick with tow guide
code 3 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic BP decal no blocks thin with tow guide
code 4 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic BP decal no blocks thin no tow guide
code 5 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic BP decal with blocks thin with tow guide
code 6 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thick no tow guide
code 7 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thick no tow guide
code 8 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thick with tow guide
code 9 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thick with tow guide
code 10 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thin no tow guide
code 11 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thin no tow guide
code 12 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thin with tow guide
code 13 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thin with tow guide
code 14 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label with blocks thick no tow guide
code 15 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label with blocks thick no tow guide
code 16 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label with blocks thin no tow guide
code 17 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label with blocks thin no tow guide
code 18 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label with blocks thin with tow guide
code 19 green body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label with blocks thin with tow guide
code 20 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thick with tow guide
code 21 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thick with tow guide
code 22 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label no blocks thin with tow guide
code 23 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label no blocks thin with tow guide
code 24 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic small BP label with blocks thin with tow guide
code 25 green body, white tank, blue windows, white grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic large BP label with blocks thin with tow guide
code 26 blue body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic Aral label no blocks thick no tow guide
code 27 blue body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic Aral label no blocks thin no tow guide
code 28 blue body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic Aral label no blocks thin with tow guide
code 29 blue body, white tank, blue windows, chromed grille 11.5 x 45 black plastic Aral label with blocks thin with tow guide

box types notes
E4R "new model" "BP"
E4R "new model" "ARAL"
F2 A Lesney Product
F2 Lesney Products & Co Ltd London England
F2 Lesney Products & Co Ltd London England,trademark to end flap closers

values

white & green body, chromed grille, BP decals or labels £20

white & green body, white grille, BP labels £50

white & blue body, chromed grille, Aral label £120

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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