PLEASE NOTE: I will no longer be altering the variation codes. All new discoveries will be inserted in to their correct place in the timeline and given a suffix.
So a new variation that would be nearest to variation 4 would become the new 4a, etc.

Moko Lesney Matchbox 33a Ford zodiac

The Lesney model of the 33a Ford Zodiac joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1957. It was initially painted dark green with hand applied silver trim to the grille, headlights and front & rear bumpers, Red trim was applied to the tail lights. The wheels were 8.5 x 18 grey metal on flat head axles with crimped ends and it had a flat black baseplate
The model was recoloured several times, There was one issue in flat dark green then there was dark blue, dark bluish green (or teal), blue (from 34a), sea green and finally silver with orange side panels, The silver is actually a metallic mauve but has been listed as silver in the listing.
It was later fitted with dome head axles, then grey plastic wheels with crimped and later rounded axle ends and finally with silver plastic wheels. Only the later issues of the silver & orange version was fitted with windows which were green tinted plastic.
The silver trim was changed to mask sprayed while the blue issue was in production and during the run of silver & orange the trim from the rear bumper was omitted.
The baseplate was changed to gloss black during the sea green issue and continued through the silver & orange versions.

There were many casting variations, The baseplate originally had the number 33 in small text but this was later enlarged. The roof had a smooth interior for the first issue only then an ejector ring was added followed by two pips, then the ejector ring was replaced by two ejector rings and finally both ejector rings and pips were removed and replaced by a window unit fixing rivet.
The rear rivet post had two thin triangular webs which were later enlarged to a much thicker web which encircled the top of the post. There was a short ejector ring under the bonnet which was just behind the grille, this was lengthened twice and the interior of the bonnet which was smooth on the first issue had a small almost flush ejector ring added which was followed shortly by two pips and finally by a larger ejector ring making four versions of the bonnet interior and five of the roof.
The flat dark green, dark blue green, dark blue and blue versions are all rare and don't come up for sale very often, The dark green is common and the silver & orange is a ittle harder to find. The model was packaged in 'B', 'C' and 'D' type boxes, The 'C' box is hard to find and the 'D' box is quite rare and both will fetch a premium.
The Zodiac was replaced by the 33b Zephyr in 1963.
It should be noted that it is almost impossible to photograph the common dark green zodiac as the photos will show it much bluer than it really is, This also applies to this model when viewing it under sodium lights as it also looks bluer. and as for auction pictures - I have a drawer full of dark green zodiacs that were bought in error.

above: blue, dark green, silver & orange, the dark green model is
unusual because it has one flat head axle and one dome head axle.

above: left, dark blue-green (or teal blue). right, dark green

above: left, blue with grey plastic wheels. right, blue
with grey metal wheels. both versions are very rare.

above: sea green with grey plastic wheels

above: L to R, dark blue, dark blue green, dark green, sea green and blue.
photograph courtesy George T

above: the small and larger number '33' with a ridge below the tow hook.

There are three versions of the two tone model with no windows.
8x18 gpw, 9x20 gpw and 9x20 spw.

code number	silver & red trim
code 1	hand applied silver trim to grille, headlights & both bumpers, red trim to tail lights
code 2	mask sprayed silver trim to grille, headlights & both bumpers, red trim to tail lights
code 3	mask sprayed silver trim to grille, headlights & front bumper, red trim to tail lights

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	baseplate	rivet post (R)	bonnet	roof	ejector post (F)	trim	windows
code 1	dark green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 1	type 1	short	type 1	none
code 2	dark green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 2	type 2	short	type 1	none
code 3	flat dark green	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 4	dark green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 5	dark green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 6	dark blue green	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 7	dark blue body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 8	blue body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 9	blue body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 2	none
code 10	blue body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 2	none
code 11	sea green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	flat head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 1	none
code 12	sea green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 3	short	type 2	none
code 13	sea green body	8.5 x 18 grey metal	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 14	sea green body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 3	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 15	sea green body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 3	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 16	sea green body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small 33 flat black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 17	sea green body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head crimped	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 18	sea green body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 19	silver & orange body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 20	silver & orange body	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 20a	silver & orange body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 4	short	type 2	none
code 21	silver & orange body	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thin webs	type 4	type 5	medium	type 2	green
code 22	silver & orange body	8 x 18 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	medium	type 2	green
code 23	silver & orange body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	long	type 2	green
code 24	silver & orange body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	small 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	long	type 3	green
code 25	silver & orange body	9 x 20 grey plastic	dome head rounded	large 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	medium	type 3	green
code 26	silver & orange body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	large 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	medium	type 3	green
code 27	silver & orange body	9 x 20 silver plastic	dome head rounded	large 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	long	type 3	green
code 28	silver & orange body	9 x 24 silver plastic	dome head rounded	large 33 gloss black	thick webs	type 4	type 5	long	type 3	green

box types	notes
B2	small model number
B2	large model number
B3	none
B4	Ford "Zodiac"
B4	Ford Zodiac
B5	Ford "Zodiac"
B5	Ford Zodiac
C	Ford Zodiac
D1	one black side one blue

values

dark green body, grey metal wheels £45

flat dark green body, grey metal wheels £200

dark blue green (teal blue) body, grey metal wheels £300+

dark blue body, grey metal wheels £500+ (estimated)

blue body, grey metal or grey plastic wheels £500+ (estimated)

sea green body, grey metal or grey plastic wheels £90

silver & orange body, grey wheels, no windows £150

silver & orange body, grey wheels, green windows £120

silver & orange body, silver wheels, green windows £80

for models in a 'C' box add £20

for models in a 'D' box add £100

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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