The Lesney Years - 1-75 Range
page last updated: 11 May 2012
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The Lesney Years - 1-75 Range |
page last updated: 11 May 2012 |
This range was launched in 1953 by the Lesney company and continued until the company went bankrupt in 1982 with production continuing into 1983 under the Lesney brand. Over this time the model numbers were re-used as old models were deleted and new ones added, there were some continuing themes like road rollers, bulldozers and fire engines which inherited the same number for a time but there does not appear to be a long term pattern. Below you will see the models which occupied these places in the 1-75 number range over the Lesney years. Each line is in chronological order reading left to right. The letter suffixes (7A, 23B e.t.c. which refer to the sequence of release of the models, are not part of the Matchbox numbering system but seem to be accepted by and common to most sources & collectors.
The big milestone came in 1969 when in response to the launch of Hot Wheels by Mattel Matchbox came up with Superfast which was their own version of the low friction wheels that made Hot Wheels such a success. Prior to this the models had a range of styles of regular wheels on thick mild steel axles. Regular wheels had been initially grey metal, later grey or silver plastic and latterly black plastic. Some models had plastic tyres with plastic or spoked wheel discs, but these are not too successful, the tyres are always loose.
The models with regular (i.e. not Superfast) have a peach coloured background. The transitional models, those which began life with regular wheels and were later adapted to Superfast, or spanned the change, have an orange background. The Superfast era models are shown with a blue background. Click on a thumbnail to go to a page about the model showing more pictures. Where I have a number of variations on the model they are shown on the model's own page. This is the fun of collecting Matchboxes, the production seems to have been so chaotic in terms of paint colours, wheel styles, decals etc that the variations are almost infinite. Some of the rare ones are valuable too!
Remember - wherever you are on the website - all the little pictures are clickable links
either to more information or to bigger pictures
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1 |
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1 |
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1a Road Roller |
1b Road Roller |
1c Road Roller |
1d Road Roller |
1e Mercedes Truck * |
1f Mod Rod |
1g Dodge Challenger |
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2 |
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2 |
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2a Muir Hill Dumper |
2b Muir Hill Dumper |
2c Muir Hill Dumper | 2d Mercedes Trailer |
2e Jeep Hot Rod |
2f Rescue Hovercraft |
2g S2 Buccaneer Jet | ||
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3 |
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3 |
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3a Cement Mixer |
3b Bedford 7½ Ton Tipper | 3c Mercedes Ambulance | 3d Monteverdi Hai | 3e Porsche Turbo | ||||
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4 |
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4 |
| 4a/b Massey Harris Tractor | 4c Triumph T110 Motorcycle | 4d Dodge Stake Truck | 4e Gruesome Twosome | 4f Pontiac Firebird | 4g 1957 Chevy | |||
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5 |
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5 |
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| 5a/b London Bus | 5c Routemaster Bus |
5d Routemaster Bus |
5e Lotus Europa |
5f Seafire |
5g Us Mail Truck |
5h 4X4 Jeep | ||
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6 |
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6 |
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| 6a Quarry Truck |
6b Euclid 4 wheel Quarry Truck |
6c Euclid 6 wheel Dump Truck |
6d Ford Pick-Up |
6e/f Mercedes 350SL |
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7 |
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7 |
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| 7a Horse Drawn Milk Float |
7b Ford Anglia |
7c Ford Refuse Truck |
7d Hairy Hustler |
7e Volkswagen Golf |
7f Romping Rabbit |
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8 |
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8 |
| 8a/b Caterpillar Tractor | 8c Caterpillar Tractor | 8d Caterpillar Tractor |
8e Ford Mustang |
8f Wildcat Dragster |
8g De Tomaso Pantera | 8h/i Rover 3500 | ||
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9 |
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9 |
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| 9a Dennis Fire Escape | 9b Dennis Fire Escape | 9c Merryweather Marquis | 9d Boat and Trailer |
9e Amx Javelin |
9f Escort Rs2000 |
9g FIAT (131) ABARTH |
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10 |
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10 |
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| 10a Mechanical Horse and Trailer |
10b Mechanical Horse and Trailer |
10c Foden Sugar Tanker | 10d Leyland Pipe Truck |
10e Piston Popper |
10f Plymouth Grand Fury Police | |||
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11 |
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11 |
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| 11a ERF Road Tanker | 11b Esso Petrol Tanker |
11c Taylor Jumbo Crane |
11d Scaffolding Truck |
11e Flying Bug |
11f Car Transporter |
11g Boss Mustang |
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12 |
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12 |
| 12a Land Rover Series I |
12b Land Rover Series II |
12c Land Rover Safari |
12d Setra Coach |
12e Big Bull |
12f Citroen CX |
12g Pontiac Firebird SE | ||
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13 |
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13 |
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13a Wreck Truck |
13b Bedford Wreck Truck |
13c Ford Wreck Truck |
13d Dodge Wreck Truck |
13e Baja Buggy |
13f GMC Snorkel Fire Engine |
13g Ford 4 X 4 OPEN BACK TRUCK |
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14 |
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14 |
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| 14a Daimler Ambulance | 14b Daimler Ambulance | 14c Lomas Ambulance |
14d ISO Grifo |
14e Mini Ha Ha |
14f Leyland Artic Tanker |
14g Monteverdi RALLYE ROYALE |
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15 |
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15 |
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| 15a Diamond T Prime Mover |
15b Rotinoff Super Atlantic Tractor |
15c Tippax Refuse Lorry |
15d Volkswagen 1500 Saloon |
15e Lansing Bagnall Fork Lift |
15f (VW) HI HO SILVER |
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16 |
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16 |
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| 16a Atlantic Trailer 6 Wheeler |
16b Atlantic 8 Wheel Trailer |
16c Scammel Snow Plough |
16d Case Tractor |
16e Badger Radar Truck |
16f Pontiac Firebird |
16g Pontiac T Roof |
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17 |
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17 |
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| 17a Removal Van |
17b Removal Van |
17c Austin FX3 Taxi |
17dHoveringham Tipper |
17e AEC Horse Box |
17f Londonner Bus |
17g Leyland Titan Bus |
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18 |
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18 |
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| 18a Caterpillar Bulldozer (46mm) | 18b Caterpillar Bulldozer (50mm) |
18c Caterpillar Bulldozer (58mm) |
18d Caterpillar Bulldozer (62mm) |
18e Field Car * |
18f Hondarora |
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19 |
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19 |
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| 19a MG Sports Car |
19b MGA |
19c Aston Martin DBR5 |
19d Lotus Racing Car |
19e Road Dragster |
19f Cement Truck |
19g Peterbilt Cement Truck |
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20 |
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20 |
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| 20a ERF Stake Truck |
20b ERF Ever Ready |
20c Chevy Impala Taxi |
20d Lamborghini Marzal |
20e Range Rover Police Patrol |
20f 4X4 JEEP with Canopy |
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21 |
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21 |
| 21a Long Distance Coach (57mm) | 21b Bedford Coach (68mm) |
21c Commer Bottle Float |
21d Foden Concrete Truck |
21e Rod Roller |
21f Renault 5TL |
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22 |
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22 |
| 22a Vauxhall Cresta E | 22b Vauxhall Cresta PA | 22c Pontiac GP Sports Coupé | 22d Freeman Intercity Commuter | 22e Blaze Buster | 22f Ford MINI PICK-UP with Canopy | |||
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23 |
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23 |
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| 23a Berkeley Cavalier Caravan |
23b Bluebird Dauphine Caravan |
23c Trailer Caravan | 23d VW Camper | 23e Atlas Dump Truck | 23f Ford Mustang GT 350 | |||
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24 |
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24 |
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| Weatherhill Hydraulic Excavator (58mm) | Weatherhill Hydraulic Excavator | Rolls Royce Silver Shadow * |
Team Matchbox |
Diesel Shunter |
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25 |
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25 |
| 25A Bedford Van Dunlop | 25B Volkswagen 1200 |
25C Bedford Petrol Tanker |
25D Ford Cortina GT |
25E Mod Tractor |
25F Flat car container |
25G Audi Quattro |
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26 |
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26 |
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| 26A ERF Cement Mixer |
26B Foden Cement Mixer |
26C GMC Tipper Truck * |
26D Big Banger |
26E Site Dumper |
26F COSMIC BLUES |
26G Cable Truck |
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27 |
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27 |
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| Bedford Low Loader (78mm) |
Bedford Low Loader (95mm) |
Cadillac Sixty Special |
Mercedes 230 SL |
Lamborghini Countach |
Swing Wing F14 TomCat |
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28 |
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28 |
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| Bedford Compressor |
Ford Thames Compressor |
Jaguar Mk10 |
Mack Dump Truck |
Stoat |
Lincoln Continental |
Formula Racing Car |
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29 |
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29 |
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| Bedford Milk Van |
Austin A55 Cambridge |
Fire Pumper |
Racing Mini |
Tractor Shovel |
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30 |
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30 |
| Ford Prefect | Magirus Deutz 6 Wheel Crane |
8 Wheel Crane |
Beach Buggy |
Swamp Rat |
Leyland Artic Truck |
Peterbilt Quarry Truck | ||
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31 |
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31 |
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| American Ford Station Wagon |
Ford Fairlane Station Wagon |
Lincoln Continental |
Volks Dragon |
Caravan |
MAZDA RX 7 |
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32 |
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32 |
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| Jaguar XK140 |
E Type Jaguar |
Leyland Petrol Tanker * |
Maserati Bora |
Field Gun |
Atlas Excavator |
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33 |
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33 |
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| Ford Zodiac |
Ford Zephyr 6 |
Lamborghini Miura |
Datsun 126X |
Police Motorcycle | ||||
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34 |
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34 |
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| VW Van | VW Caravanette |
VW Camper |
Formula 1 Racing Car * |
Vantastic |
Chevy Pro Stocker | |||
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35 |
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35 |
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| Marshall Horse Box |
Snow-Trac |
Merryweather Fire Engine |
Fandango |
Zoo Truck |
Pontiac Firebird T Roof |
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36 |
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36 |
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| 36a Austin A50 | 36b Scooter & Sidecar |
36c Opel Diplomat |
36d Hot Rod Draguar * |
36e Formula 5000 |
36f Refuse Truck |
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37 |
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37 |
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| 37a Karrier Coca Cola Lorry |
37b Karrier Coca Cola Lorry |
37c Dodge Cattle Truck * |
37d Soopa Coopa |
37e Skip Truck |
37f Matra Rancho |
37g Maserati SUN BURNER | ||
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38 |
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38 |
| Karrier Refuse Lorry | Vauxhall Victor Estate Car | Honda Motorcycle & Trailer * | Stingeroo |
Jeep |
Ford Camper |
Model A Ford Van | ||
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39 |
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39 |
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| Ford Zodiac Convertible |
Pontiac Convertible |
Ford Tractor |
Clipper |
ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW II |
CHEVROLET CORVETTE T-Roof |
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40 |
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40 |
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| Bedford Tipper S Type | Leyland Royal Tiger Coach |
Hay Trailer |
Vauxhall Guildsman |
Bedford Horse Box |
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41 |
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41 |
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| Jaguar D Type (55mm) | Jaguar D Type (62mm) |
Ford GT |
Siva Spider |
US Ambulance |
Kenworth Truck |
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42 |
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42 |
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| 42A Evening News Van | 42B Studebaker Lark Wagonaire | 42C Iron Fairy Crane * | 42D Tyre Fryer | 42E Mercedes Container Truck | 42F 1957 Ford THUNDERBIRD | |||
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43 |
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43 |
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| Hillman Minx |
Avelling Barford Shovel |
Pony Trailer |
Dragon Wheels |
Steam Locomotive |
PETERBILT Conventional Sleeper Cab |
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44 |
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44 |
| Rolls Royce Silver Cloud | Rolls Royce Phantom V |
GMC Refrigeration Truck |
Boss Mustang |
Railway Passenger Coach |
4X4 CHEVY VAN |
1921 Ford Model T Van |
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45 |
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45 |
| Vauxhall Victor |
Ford Corsair |
Ford Group 6 Racer |
BMW 300CSI |
KENWORTH Cabover Aerodyne | ||||
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46 |
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46 |
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| Morris Minor |
Pickford Removal Van |
Mercedes 300SE |
Stretcha Fetcha |
Ford Tractor and Harrow |
(VW) HOT CHOCOLATE |
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47 |
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47 |
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| Trojan Van, Brooke Bond Tea | Commer Ice Cream Canteen |
DAF Tipper Container Truck |
Beach Hopper |
Pannier Locomotive |
SS100 Jaguar |
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48 |
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48 |
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| Meteor Motor Boat and Trailer | Sports Boat and Trailer | Dumper Truck * |
Pie-eyed Piper |
Sambron Jacklift |
RED RIDER |
Mercedes UNIMOG Snowplough |
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49 |
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49 |
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| 49a Army Half Track M3 |
49b Unimog |
49c Chop Suey |
49d Crane Truck |
49e Peugeot Quasar |
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50 |
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50 |
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Commer Pick-up Mk VIII |
John Deere Tractor |
Kennel Truck |
Articulated Truck |
Articulated Truck Trailer |
Harley Davidson |
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51 |
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51 |
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| Albion Chieftain Cement Lorry | Farm Tipping Trailer | AEC 8 Wheel Tipper * |
Citroen SM |
Combine Harvester |
Pontiac Firebird SE |
MIDNIGHT MAGIC |
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52 |
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52 |
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| Maserati 4 CLT |
BRM Racer |
Dodge Charger MkIII |
Police Launch |
BMW M1 |
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53 |
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53 |
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| Aston Martin DB2-4 |
Mercedes Benz 220 SE |
Ford Zodiac MkIV |
Tanzara |
Jeep CJ6 |
Ford Flareside Pickup |
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54 |
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54 |
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| Saracen Personnel Carrier |
S&S Cadillac Ambulance |
Ford Capri |
Personnel Carrier |
Mobile Home |
NASA Tracking Vehicle |
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55 |
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55 |
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DUKW |
Ford Fairlane Police Car |
Ford Galaxie Police Car |
Mercury Police Car * |
Mercury Commuter Police |
Hellraiser |
Ford Cortina MkIV |
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56 |
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56 |
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| London Trolleybus |
FIAT 1500 |
BMC 1800 Pinifarina |
Hi-Tailer |
Mercedes 450SEL |
Peterbilt Tanker |
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57 |
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57 |
| Wolseley 1500 |
Chevrolet Impala |
Land Rover Fire Engine |
Eccles Trailer Caravan |
Wild Life Truck |
Ford MINI PICK-UP with Roll-bar | Carmichael Rescue Truck | ||
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58 |
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58 |
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| BEA Coach |
Drott Excavator |
DAF Girder Truck |
Woosh 'n' Push |
Faun Dump Truck |
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59 |
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59 |
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| Ford Thames Van (Singer) |
Ford Fairlane Fire Chief's Car |
Ford Galaxie Fire Chief |
Mercury Fire Chief |
Planet Scout |
Porsche 928 |
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60 |
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60 |
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| Morris J2 Pickup |
Office Site Truck * |
Lotus Super Seven * |
Holden Pick-up |
Ford MUSTANG PISTON POPPER (US) |
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61 |
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61 |
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| Army Scout Car |
Alvis Stalwart |
Blue Shark |
Ford Wreck Truck |
Peterbilt Wrecker |
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62 |
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62 | |
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62A AEC General Service Lorry |
62B TV Service Van |
62C Mercury Cougar |
62D Mercury Rat Rod Dragster |
62E Renault 17TL |
62F Chevrolet Corvette |
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63 |
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63 |
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| 63A Ford 3 Ton 4x4 Service Ambulance |
63B Airport Fire Crash Tender |
63C Dodge Crane Truck |
63D Freeway Gas Tanker |
63DX Freeway Gas Trailer |
63E DODGE CHALLENGER |
63F SNORKEL Fire Engine |
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64 |
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64 |
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| Scammell Army Breakdown Truck |
MG 1100 * |
Slingshot Dragster |
Fire Chief Car |
Caterpillar D9 |
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65 |
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65 |
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| Jaguar 3.4 |
Jaguar 3.8 |
Claas Combine Harvester * |
Saab Sonnet III |
Airport Coach |
Bandag Bandit |
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66 |
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66 |
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| Citroen DS19 |
Harley Davidson Motorcycle & Sidecar |
Greyhound Bus |
Mazda RX500 |
Ford Transit Pickup |
Tyrone Malone |
KENWORTH Super Boss | ||
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67 |
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67 |
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| Saladin Armoured Car 6x6 |
Volkswagen 1600TL |
Ford Capri Hot Rocker |
Datsun 260Z |
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68 | |||
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Austin Army Radio Truck |
Mercedes Coach |
Porsche 910 |
Cosmobile |
Chevy Van |
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69 |
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69 |
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Commer Van |
Tractor Shovel |
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow * |
Turbo Fury |
Security Truck |
Willys Street Rod |
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70 |
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70 |
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| Thames Estate Car |
Grit Spreading Truck |
Dodge Dragster |
Self Propelled Gun |
Ferrari 308 GTB |
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71 |
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71 |
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| Army Water Tanker |
Jeep Gladiator |
Ford Heavy Wrecker * |
Jumbo Jet Chopper |
Cattle Truck |
Cattle Trailer |
1962 Chevrolet CORVETTe |
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72 |
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72 |
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| Fordson Tractor |
Jeep |
SRN6 Hovercraft |
Bomag Road Roller |
Ford Capri MAXI TAXI |
Dodge Commando Delivery |
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73 |
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73 |
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| RAF Tanker |
Ferrari F1 |
Mercury Commuter |
Weasel |
Ford Model A Car |
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74
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Mobile Canteen |
Daimler Fleetline Bus |
Toe Joe |
Cougar Villager |
Dodge Charger ORANGE PEEL |
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75 |
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75 |
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| 75a Ford Thunderbird | 75b Ferrari Berlinetta |
75c Alfa Carabo |
75d Seasprite Helicopter |
75e Helicopter |
