28c Jaguar 3 line base.

[nickjones]

Thanks for you help everyone.
I also emailed Hardy Ristau who has two gpw 3 lines, His models also have fully spun roof rivets and thin brace either side of the radiator.
My window unit also has one ejector ring at each end the same as Antonin's one.
Note the engine to left side front wing brace, it appears to be larger but I think it is a trick of the light.
My one is also more of a silver grey colour like Antonin's one

[kwakers]

You are Welcome Nick. This has been another very interesting thread that has revealed many new details. Very nice GPW 4 line base Antinin! I have never heard of that variation anywhere, but we know of at least (10) 3 line base GPW in collections that we had discussed very early on at the old Forum. I had never compared the thin front 3 line valance that you have pictured here with the later higher one on the 4 line base. That and the 3 style glaze units proves again that you are the King of Lesney variations Antonin....After Nick of course! kwakers

[numi]

Not sure what one would call these ringed details cos Dad isnt home right now for me to find out.One seems to have rounded corners while the other seems square or is this an illusion.Not sure how significant this could be.
numi

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hi numi, these are 'scuttle' air-vents and would be opened from inside the car for cool air to enter the driving compartment on really hot days, (so they don't get used here in the U.K.!) and the two designs you have noticed is another big clue to Lesney re-making a set of moulds for this model...or, a twin set of moulds have been made for double output during production, (see #69c, in Mick's Matchbox Superfast chatroom).

With two models looking very similar, it could be two mould sets made at the same time for production, with one model only sharing details of the other model, (as in this Jaguar) it could be a new mould had to be made, to replace a damaged or lost original mould.

The trick is in working out which one came first, not always an easy task!
GHOSTHUNTER.

[kwakers]

Unbelievable eye for fine details eagle-eyed Numi! Nick's pre-pro has the rounded corners, as does my GPW 3 line version. No time to check my others today, but very interesting. kwakers

[Diecast]

And when I examine the 1965 Fred Bronner Dealer Catalogue in more and more details, it looks like that there is perhaps the rarest Jag without the front radiator brace-valance ( and with BPW ø10x36 and 3 lines text).
Antonin

[Diecast]

in more detail

[kwakers]

So another of this variation was in Fred Bronner's photographer's hands, indicating possibly an early box of these pre-pros are now scattered all over the U.S.A. from his New Jersey warehouse! Who will now find the second known of this pre-production variation? How can they be told from stock in the normal E Bay listings of this 'common' model? Again, very nice spot Antonin. You must also have an electron microscope as I have....LOL kwakers

[Diecast]

Hi Dick, this only confirms what you said by topic 35b also. I agree with you, there must be a box with Pre Pro models to make a photo for the front page of 1965 Fred Bronner Dealer Catalogue. There are nice models like as 13d reverse colour Wreck Truck, 63b perhaps with a single face BPW ø12x45, 45b Ford Corsair with dark (green or violet ???) interior, 28c Jaguar .... Now we have the minor detail before us, find these models somewhere in the USA and put them into ours collections.
Antonin

[kwakers]

Don't forget the pre-production 53-C Ford Zodiac with blue interior that Bob Brennen listed as a variation he had in his collection in his 1971 NAMC Guide. I am sure that was also a pre-pro interior color trial just like this 45B that may also have been shipped to Fred Bronner when they were initially released.
Bob has no information listed on that odd 45B interior you have spotted there Antonin, he listed only the red interiors for this Corsair. He did have an odd Off White exterior paint model he listed as having with painted base, along with the stock color greenish blue one with painted base in his collection. Perhaps the odd interior color pre-pro one you see on this cover is also this same off-white color, but the Bronner pictures may not show that very well. kwakers