Ford Fairlane Fire Chief's Car

Red, grey wheels, 'Fire Chief'

Red, black wheels, 'Fire Chief'

Ford Fairlane Fire Chief's Car - 59b

I think it was the winter of 1963, might have been 1964, and as was common in those days I was taken into hospital to have my tonsils removed. I was 6 or 7 years old. My recollection was that the tonsils were thought to harbour infection and we were better off without them in those good old doctor-knows-best interventionist days. Tonsils meant two weeks in hospital too - which was a long stretch. One night when my parents came in to see me they brought two Matchbox cars. This one and the same car in blue done up as a Police car. I still have them both and remember playing with them on the floor of the ward with another little lad - who's stag night I went to in September 2008 and is still a mate. I have of course repainted this one, both of them actually. It is actually a good representation of the Ford in very miniature size.

The Matchbox Ford Fairlane Fire Chief 59b was released in 1963 and stayed in the range until 1966. They are all red and most have 'FIRE CHIEF' decals on the bonnet & doors, some have a shield decal on the doors. Values are all pretty high for mint and boxed examples. and in ascending order of desirability you should look for: grey plastic wheels, black plastic wheels, silver plastic wheels, any wheels but with shield decals - these are top of the tree. Good to know the one I butchered was the least sought after.