My Great uncle George Nolan (he’s still alive!) was one of the head artists for matchbox in the 60’s and eventually went on to paint portraits for the royal family. My dad left me a huge amount of vintage matchbox cars when he passed.
Did he do the box art for the cars? I'm an automotive artist and I've always found the Matchbox illustrations very inspiring. I've often wondered who did them.
Early Lesney models came in boxes, not in blister packs. When Jack Odell (John Michael, to give him his full name) joined the company he changed the name to Matchbox, (Lesney was kept also). This was because at his daughter's school the children were only allowed to bring in toys that would fit inside a matchbox, so he made a scaled down (tiny) Aveling Barford Roller model for her. The name was taken from there (models that could fit inside a matchbox). Oh the figure in your ice-cream van is missing his ice-cream. Nice red rims on those models.
04:00 - Lesney Matchbox did not appear in blister packs until near the end of the UK manufacturing period. They came in little boxes well into the 1980's. How you bought them was part of the fun. Shops had counter displays that featured all 75 cars. You pointed out the model you wanted, and the shopkeeper would get it for you from a special drawer that contained the boxed models. My local newsagent, in the 1960's, would, if you had the current catalogue with you, tick off your new car in it - the Lesney catalogues always had boxes to tick off.
brianartillery Thank you, that's exactly what I was thinking, the shop displays were a turtable with all of the cars out of the box glued to it, I saw a 1950 LEGO HO scale cars display which was a cork board with every car sliced in half, glued on and covered with their garage
brian - Lesney were using Blister packs for their export 1-75 models from 1963, the UK market didn't see them until later: www.bamca.org/pic/pub/blister/ww-d.jpg / www.bamca.org/cgi-bin/package.cgi?page=blister#ww
MC2 I was actually lucky to see some super rare lesneys just this fall and there were blister packs from the mid 60s to some early superfasts from 69-71. They still had the recognizable box with them too.
I have most of my matchbox cars from the 60’s and 70’s - still missing some. However I have literally thousands of these vehicles now bought cheaply off EBay and I plan to restore them all to their original look for new collectors to buy. I have already had some very good results.
You can thank me and my friends for the rarity of all those Matchboxes for our timely destruction of them on the Fourth of July as well as many smashing sessions with the sledgehammer in the 60s .
Recently found my old heart will case and couldn’t believe I found a 1969 rose red VW beach bomb in great condition although the surfboards were gone not the prototype version the side/version but still you could imagine my amazement that it was still in there!!
I have the cars and catalog, also several farm and military vehicles. As a child in 1968 my mother would take me to the dimestore and we would have lunch then she would get me a match box. Great memories !!! I do lack some of the trucks but my older brother has an extensive collection too. His has the trucks that came with the plastic gurders that looked like steel. The military ones are just amazing. NFS....
I saw your video last night... I went out to the flea market this morning, I purchased a couple of regular basics hw and when I was walking away the seller called me "hey dude let me show you som'" he sold me the mixer with the orange barril for almost nothing!!!
When superfast started I lost interest, (1970), but more recent collecters think the older stuff is junk! It's a win for us original lovers! The memories!
As a huge collector of die cast cars/trucks I really admire MATCHBOX ,and HOT WHEELS. If given a choice I'd choose MATCHBOX, mostly for their historical significance Don't get me wrong, I do love HOT WHEELS, but MATCHBOX, seems to profile those every day vehicles which makes me buy collect them more! I do have quite a bit of the older ones dating as far back as the late 50's to the early 60's some in their original box! I love your collection ,pretty impressive 😊
When I was a little guy, my Dad would take me over to the local Rexall Drugstore once a week to buy a Matchbox car. I actually still remember passing up that red Ford w/the luggage for the turquoise Land Rover instead. Prob had a couple of these once upon a time. Nice finds!
Grey wheel models are usually rarer than black wheels except for a few cases. The merriweather fire engine with black wheels is late and is rare. I am fortunate enough to have both. I also have a grey wheel red bed 3b Bedford tipper
I hope you are going to restore these! Great selection. Love the grey/silver/metal wheels, especially with pinched axles. I stopped collecting when stupidfast came out.
Thank you for the Informative video. Oh by the way I just purchased the rare greenish gray Cadillac in mint condition with the original box for $10 on eBay.
I have the Rolamatics Ford Wild Life truck no. 57, and I got it for 30 dollars, still in the box barely used. I had it for for 8 years already and it’s probably worth like 50 now. I’m keeping it though.
Did you know you can have them restored to mint condition? Your cars obviously have been enjoyed and played with extensively- decades of user fun- i think i might like the distressed look over pristine anyway- so much character, thanks
My rarest matchbox car is the Dreamworks Madagascar car that I owned in real life I wish it was in forza horizon 6 if it comes out on Xbox series X! 😎👍🏼
I have the Following... #71 Ford Wrecker from 1972, Rear Duel Wheels Are Missing, a Super fast Model! #33 in Pieces from 72! #47, One of Two Ice Cream Trucks from 1967, the Blue One, the Plastic Roof is Gone, my Yellowish one is Missing Decals like the Blue one! #21 the Cement Mixer from 67 is in Good Condition, but Missing Paint! #56 the Fiat I Got in Xmas 67 was Lost. &... #41 the Ford GT was my Very 1st Batch of Matchbox Cars I got as a 6 Year Old in September 67, the Wheels are Missing! Never got the 59 Ford Wagon or 58 Caddy, & woulda Love Having #39 the 60 Pontiac Convertible!
I remember writing Lesney in the late 60s asking if they sold different models or discontinued ones in other countries! A polite reply (ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND!) said no. I was about 12.
yup, 1959. That body came out in '57 but had the backup lights inside the big round taillights. That '59 has separate little round backup lights above the tail lamps, built into the fins.
Those are some very cool and awesome cars but I have some to that are from 68 or 69 and 80s up old cars I'm trying to get them appraised looked at so if anybody knows a good hot wheels and Matchbox appraiser let me know please in Dallas-Fort Worth area
Scott- Also- did he buy those items for his collection??? I'm sorry, but all those in THAT condition aren't worth $20,00!!! I consider those items "sandbox"- something to give a child to play with!
My Great uncle George Nolan (he’s still alive!) was one of the head artists for matchbox in the 60’s and eventually went on to paint portraits for the royal family. My dad left me a huge amount of vintage matchbox cars when he passed.
Did he do the box art for the cars? I'm an automotive artist and I've always found the Matchbox illustrations very inspiring. I've often wondered who did them.
Early Lesney models came in boxes, not in blister packs. When Jack Odell (John Michael, to give him his full name) joined the company he changed the name to Matchbox, (Lesney was kept also). This was because at his daughter's school the children were only allowed to bring in toys that would fit inside a matchbox, so he made a scaled down (tiny) Aveling Barford Roller model for her. The name was taken from there (models that could fit inside a matchbox).
Oh the figure in your ice-cream van is missing his ice-cream. Nice red rims on those models.
04:00 - Lesney Matchbox did not appear in blister packs until near the end of the UK manufacturing period. They came in little boxes well into the 1980's. How you bought them was part of the fun. Shops had counter displays that featured all 75 cars. You pointed out the model you wanted, and the shopkeeper would get it for you from a special drawer that contained the boxed models. My local newsagent, in the 1960's, would, if you had the current catalogue with you, tick off your new car in it - the Lesney catalogues always had boxes to tick off.
brianartillery Thank you, that's exactly what I was thinking, the shop displays were a turtable with all of the cars out of the box glued to it, I saw a 1950 LEGO HO scale cars display which was a cork board with every car sliced in half, glued on and covered with their garage
brian - Lesney were using Blister packs for their export 1-75 models from 1963, the UK market didn't see them until later: www.bamca.org/pic/pub/blister/ww-d.jpg / www.bamca.org/cgi-bin/package.cgi?page=blister#ww
MC2 I was actually lucky to see some super rare lesneys just this fall and there were blister packs from the mid 60s to some early superfasts from 69-71. They still had the recognizable box with them too.
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
Great to see so many unique versions. Also great to see that a Lesney doesn't have to be mint to be a wannahave.
I have most of my matchbox cars from the 60’s and 70’s - still missing some. However I have literally thousands of these vehicles now bought cheaply off EBay and I plan to restore them all to their original look for new collectors to buy. I have already had some very good results.
You can thank me and my friends for the rarity of all those Matchboxes for our timely destruction of them on the Fourth of July as well as many smashing sessions with the sledgehammer in the 60s .
Recently found my old heart will case and couldn’t believe I found a 1969 rose red VW beach bomb in great condition although the surfboards were gone not the prototype version the side/version but still you could imagine my amazement that it was still in there!!
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
I have the cars and catalog, also several farm and military vehicles. As a child in 1968 my mother would take me to the dimestore and we would have lunch then she would get me a match box. Great memories !!!
I do lack some of the trucks but my older brother has an extensive collection too. His has the trucks that came with the plastic gurders that looked like steel. The military ones are just amazing. NFS....
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
I saw your video last night... I went out to the flea market this morning, I purchased a couple of regular basics hw and when I was walking away the seller called me "hey dude let me show you som'" he sold me the mixer with the orange barril for almost nothing!!!
When superfast started I lost interest, (1970), but more recent collecters think the older stuff is junk! It's a win for us original lovers! The memories!
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
That sounds so cool - now I wanna go find some to buy too
As a huge collector of die cast cars/trucks I really admire MATCHBOX ,and HOT WHEELS.
If given a choice I'd choose MATCHBOX, mostly for their historical significance
Don't get me wrong, I do love HOT WHEELS, but MATCHBOX, seems to profile those every day vehicles which makes me buy collect them more!
I do have quite a bit of the older ones dating as far back as the late 50's to the early 60's some in their original box!
I love your collection ,pretty impressive 😊
Matchbox can recast some of those with modern wheel set up.that would be awesome.
When I was a little guy, my Dad would take me over to the local Rexall Drugstore once a week to buy a Matchbox car. I actually still remember passing up that red Ford w/the luggage for the turquoise Land Rover instead. Prob had a couple of these once upon a time. Nice finds!
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
Hi, I like it when you do not disturb your video with music, keep it up.
good selection , great to see
Even though they're not in great condition I love them. I would buy them also 👍👍👍
Ive got a 1978 matchbox Lesney Wells Fargo armored truck. In desperate need of restoration. Is it common and or worth anything?
RNR the red one isn't that valuable
I immediately recognized the green Jaguar from very early childhood. Although I don't remember the color of the wheels.
Grey wheel models are usually rarer than black wheels except for a few cases. The merriweather fire engine with black wheels is late and is rare. I am fortunate enough to have both. I also have a grey wheel red bed 3b Bedford tipper
Same here and many more
As a kid in the 60's I had cars with those grey wheels 🤗
Ooh I have an Ice cream van and cement mixer in my inventory
Cool beans,I got one in my posession. It's a #47 tipper container truck. Minus lots of paint but complete.
If you look at Marty’s restoration, you could bring your collection back to life or at least get some ideas..Just a thought.
Beautiful cars
I hope you are going to restore these! Great selection. Love the grey/silver/metal wheels, especially with pinched axles. I stopped collecting when stupidfast came out.
Don't restore
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the Informative video.
Oh by the way I just purchased the rare
greenish gray Cadillac in mint condition
with the original box for $10 on eBay.
Excellent finds - like looking for treasure.
i`m a collector as well....thanks for the up-load.....already subscribed....
I have the Rolamatics Ford Wild Life truck no. 57, and I got it for 30 dollars, still in the box barely used. I had it for for 8 years already and it’s probably worth like 50 now. I’m keeping it though.
Did you know you can have them restored to mint condition? Your cars obviously have been enjoyed and played with extensively- decades of user fun- i think i might like the distressed look over pristine anyway- so much character, thanks
Really cool cool collection- thank you
The Ford N tow truck was a favorite as Americas greatest race car the FORD GT was
You have some beauties in this group!
Those are some nice cars
I have one of those white gt40s with a bunch of old matchbox and hot wheels cars that would probs go for a lot of money
My rarest matchbox car is the Dreamworks Madagascar car that I owned in real life I wish it was in forza horizon 6 if it comes out on Xbox series X! 😎👍🏼
I have the Following...
#71 Ford Wrecker from 1972, Rear Duel Wheels Are Missing, a Super fast Model!
#33 in Pieces from 72!
#47, One of Two Ice Cream Trucks from 1967, the Blue One, the Plastic Roof is Gone, my Yellowish one is Missing Decals like the Blue one!
#21 the Cement Mixer from 67 is in Good Condition, but Missing Paint!
#56 the Fiat I Got in Xmas 67 was Lost.
&... #41 the Ford GT was my Very 1st Batch of Matchbox Cars I got as a 6 Year Old in September 67, the Wheels are Missing!
Never got the 59 Ford Wagon or 58 Caddy, & woulda Love Having #39 the 60 Pontiac Convertible!
You forgot to mention the NAMC (National Association of matchbox collectors) truck there were only 500 made I have one.
Simply AWESOME!!!
I had the Lambo and the Caddy. 🙂
Have same jag , no person ,virtually same condition as yours , slightly less paint , free when bought some railway stuff 2nd hand
I got one with the greenlight n windows
I can hardly ever keep up; do you ever sell these toy cars?
I remember writing Lesney in the late 60s asking if they sold different models or discontinued ones in other countries! A polite reply (ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND!) said no. I was about 12.
Cool
Best video ever!
let's see now the blue ice cream truck is an English Bedford number 10 the yellow station wagon is a 1959 Ford Country sedan.
yup, 1959. That body came out in '57 but had the backup lights inside the big round taillights. That '59 has separate little round backup lights above the tail lamps, built into the fins.
I've got the shell and chassis of the gt40 but there not connected
I have a kenworth drag truck. Not sure how rare, but it's pretty cool
White red and blue Superfast one?
@@MokoHead1 no black and green. It says lesney on the bottom, but it might be super fast. Idk
Very nice!
👏👏👏👏
th-cam.com/video/FGqQtIU-x60/w-d-xo.html
I have so many vintage cars...wants to sell them
I have a blue Fiat 1500 with brown luggage.
Nice
I have d type with wire wheels
Cool!
I have a 1985 Lamborghini couach
Have Five of what your displaying.!!!, mint in box.!!!
I have the lambo still in its box
I have the golden Lamborghini miura but with super fast wheels
I have one as well. But not superfast wheels.
Lost my laborgini on the beach
Nice!!!
I have GT40 red hubs
Me suscribo!
YOU ALL NEED TO CHECK OUT Toy CarCollector.com if you think these are OK
coool
40 dollars????
Those are some very cool and awesome cars but I have some to that are from 68 or 69 and 80s up old cars I'm trying to get them appraised looked at so if anybody knows a good hot wheels and Matchbox appraiser let me know please in Dallas-Fort Worth area
You could always go on a forum and ask experts
I have 2:04
lol iam 47 i had those cars. ;´)
🤗❤️👍
Dude.!!!.!!!, You really need to brush up on your knowledge of collectibles before making a video.!!!
Scott-
Also- did he buy those items for his collection??? I'm sorry, but all those in THAT condition aren't worth $20,00!!! I consider those items "sandbox"- something to give a child to play with!