Lesney Matchbox 9d Boat & trailer

Moko Lesney Matchbox 9d Boat & trailer

The Lesney model of the 9d Boat & trailer was introduced into the Matchbox 1-75 series late in 1966 replacing the 9c Merryweather fire engine.
The trailer was painted a darkish blue all over but the shades can vary some.
It was fitted with 9 x 36 black plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends which were kept for the life of the model.
The Boat was completely made from plastic with no metal parts at all. It was initially released with a blue deck, a white hull and a white interior and the windows were clear plastic.
Later the deck was recoloured to a dull turquoise-blue but the interior and hull were kept in white.
The Boat can be found with or without blocks cast into the sides just below where the trailer arms hold on to the boat, This is possibly to add some strength to an area that may crack with rough play.

There was also one minor casting modification to the trailer where two very small studs were cast into the ends of the axle carrier, I can't see a reason for the studs being added and it could just be that two different trailer dies were in use.
Pre production models of the boat are known to exist in red and black and possibly a dull green and white and other unusual colour variations have also been seen over the years.
The model was converted to superfast wheels in 1970 and the boat with its superfast trailer is known to have been released on at least seven colour schemes which should not be confused with the regular wheel issues. There is a list of known superfast issues below.
The blue and white issue of the boat and trailer is a fairly common model, The dull turquoise-blue issue is not so common but it does not sell for much of a premium probably because in the eyes of most collectors it is not a particularly desirable model.
It was packaged in 'E' and 'F' type boxes. It was deleted from the 1-75 superfast range in 1972 but I think it may have been re used at a later date.

above: dark green + white
possibly a pre production model

above: a line up of boat colours, photo courtesy George Marshall

below is a list of known regular wheel issues

code number general wheel type trailer studs boat type

code 1 blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic with studs without blocks

code 2 blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic without studs without blocks

code 3 blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic with studs with blocks

code 4 blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic without studs with blocks

code 5 dull turquoise-blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic with studs without blocks

code 6 dull turquoise-blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows 9 x 36 black plastic without studs with blocks

below is a list of known superfast boat colours

deck colour hull colour interior colour

white white white

blue white white

black white white

white blue white

off white blue white

white white grey

blue blue grey

box types	notes
E4	light blue sides
E4R	light blue sides
F2	A Lesney Product
F2	A Lesney Product, larger box
F2	"Matchbox" reg'd TM of Lesney Products& Co Ltd London England

values

with a blue deck £20

with a dull turquoise-blue deck £25

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery

code number	general	wheel type	trailer studs	boat type
code 1	blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	with studs	without blocks
code 2	blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	without studs	without blocks
code 3	blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	with studs	with blocks
code 4	blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	without studs	with blocks
code 5	dull turquoise-blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	with studs	without blocks
code 6	dull turquoise-blue deck, white hull & interior, clear windows	9 x 36 black plastic	without studs	with blocks

deck colour	hull colour	interior colour
white	white	white
blue	white	white
black	white	white
white	blue	white
off white	blue	white
white	white	grey
blue	blue	grey