The Lesney Years - 1-75 Range
page last updated: 18 April 2021
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The Lesney Years - 1-75 Range |
page last updated: 18 April 2021 |
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 are common to most sources & collectors, in later editions of Ramsay's price guide the letter suffixes start again at 'A' in the Superfast section.
The big milestone came in 1969 when Mattel launched Hot Wheels. In response 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 metal spoked wheel discs, but these are not too successful, the tyres are always loose.
The models below with regular wheels (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!
Page updated: 18 April 2021
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 Massey Harris Tractor | 4b 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 |
| 5a London Bus | 5b London Bus | 5c Routemaster Bus |
5d Routemaster Bus |
5e Lotus Europa |
5f Seafire |
5g Us Mail Truck & 5h 4x4 Jeep Off Road |
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6 |
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6 |
| 6a Quarry Truck |
6b Euclid 4 wheel Quarry Truck |
6c Euclid 6 wheel Dump Truck |
6d Ford Pick-Up |
6e Mercedes 350SL |
6f 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 |
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8 |
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8 |
| 18a/B Caterpillar Bulldozer (46mm) | 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 | |||
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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 |
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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 Break |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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16 |
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16 |
| 16a Transporter Trailer 6 Wheeler |
16b Atlantic 8 Wheel Trailer |
16c Scammell 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 |
| 17a Removal Van |
17b Removal Van |
17c Austin FX3 Taxi |
17dHoveringham Tipper |
17e AEC Horse Box |
17f Londoner Bus |
17g Leyland Titan Bus |
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18 |
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18 |
| 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 |
| 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 Desert Dawg 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 | |||
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23 |
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23 |
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| 23a Berkeley Cavalier Caravan | 23B Berkeley Cavalier Caravan |
23C Bluebird Dauphine Caravan |
23D Trailer Caravan | 23E VW Camper | 23F Atlas Dump Truck | |||
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24 |
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24 |
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| 24A Weatherhill Hydraulic Excavator (58mm) | 24B Weatherhill Hydraulic Excavator | 24C Rolls Royce Silver Shadow * |
24D Team Matchbox |
24E Diesel Shunter |
24F DATSUN 280 ZX |
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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 Rail car & container |
25G Audi Quattro |
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26 |
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26 |
| 26A ERF Cement Mixer |
26B Foden Cement Mixer |
26C GMC Tipper Truck * |
26D Big Banger |
26E Site Dumper |
26F Cable Truck |
COSMIC BLUES | ||
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27 |
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27 |
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| 27A Bedford Low Loader (78mm) |
27B Bedford Low Loader (95mm) |
27C Cadillac Sixty Special |
27D Mercedes 230 SL |
27E Lamborghini Countach |
27F Swing Wing F14 TomCat |
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28 |
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28 |
| 28A Bedford Compressor |
28B Ford Thames Compressor |
28C Jaguar Mk10 |
28D Mack Dump Truck |
28E Stoat |
28F Lincoln Continental |
28G Formula Racing Car |
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29 |
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29 |
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| 29A Bedford Milk Van |
29B Austin A55 Cambridge |
29C Fire Pumper |
29E Racing Mini |
29F Tractor Shovel |
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30 |
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30 |
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| 30A Ford Prefect | 30B Magirus Deutz 6 Wheel Crane |
30C 8 Wheel Crane |
30D Beach Buggy |
30E Swamp Rat |
30F Leyland Artic Truck |
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31 |
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31 |
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| 31A American Ford Station Wagon |
31B Ford Fairlane Station Wagon |
31C Lincoln Continental |
31D Volks Dragon |
31E Caravan |
31F MAZDA RX 7 |
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32 |
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32 |
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| 32A Jaguar XK140 |
32B E Type Jaguar |
32C Leyland Petrol Tanker |
32D Maserati Bora |
32E Field Gun |
32F Atlas Excavator |
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33 |
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33 |
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| 33A Ford Zodiac |
33B Ford Zephyr 6 |
33C Lamborghini Miura |
33D Datsun 126X |
33E Police Motorcycle | ||||
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34 |
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34 |
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| 34A VW Van | 34B VW Caravanette |
34C VW Camper |
34D Formula 1 Racing Car * |
34E Vantastic |
34F Chevy Pro Stocker | |||
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35 |
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35 |
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| 35A Marshall Horse Box |
35B Snow-Trac |
35C Merryweather Fire Engine |
35D Fandango |
35E Zoo Truck |
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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 |
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38 |
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38 |
| 38A Karrier Refuse Lorry | 38B Vauxhall Victor Estate Car | 38C Honda Motorcycle & Trailer * | 38D Stingeroo |
38E Jeep |
38F Ford Camper |
38G Model A Ford Van | ||
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39 |
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39 |
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| 39A Ford Zodiac Convertible |
39B Pontiac Convertible |
39C Ford Tractor |
39D Clipper |
39E ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW II |
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40 |
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40 |
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| 40A Bedford Tipper S Type | 40B Leyland Royal Tiger Coach |
40C Hay Trailer |
40D Vauxhall Guildsman |
40E Bedford Horse Box |
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41 |
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41 |
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| 41A Jaguar D Type (55mm) | 41B Jaguar D Type (62mm) |
41C Ford GT |
41D Siva Spider |
41E US Ambulance |
41F 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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| 43A Hillman Minx |
43B Avelling Barford Shovel |
43C Pony Trailer |
43D Dragon Wheels |
43E Steam Locomotive |
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44 |
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44 |
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| 44A Rolls Royce Silver Cloud | 44B Rolls Royce Phantom V |
44C GMC Refrigeration Truck |
44D Boss Mustang |
44E Railway Passenger Coach | ||||
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45 |
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45 |
| 45A Vauxhall Victor |
45B Ford Corsair & Boat |
45C Ford Group 6 Racer |
45D BMW 300CSI |
45E KENWORTH Cabover Aerodyne | ||||
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46 |
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46 |
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| 46A Morris Minor |
46B Pickford Removal Van |
46C Mercedes 300SE |
46D Stretcha Fetcha |
46E Ford Tractor and Harrow | ||||
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47 |
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47 |
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| 47A Trojan Van, Brooke Bond Tea | 47B Commer Ice Cream Canteen |
47C DAF Tipper Container Truck |
47D Beach Hopper |
47E Pannier Locomotive |
47F SS100 Jaguar |
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48 |
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48 |
| 48A Meteor Motor Boat and Trailer | 48B Sports Boat and Trailer | 48C Dumper Truck * |
48D Pie-eyed Piper |
48E Sambron Jacklift |
48F RED RIDER |
48G 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 |
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50 |
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50 |
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50A Commer Pick-up Mk VIII |
50B John Deere Tractor |
50C Kennel Truck |
50D Articulated Truck |
50DX Articulated Truck Trailer |
50E Harley Davidson |
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51 |
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51 |
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| 51A Albion Chieftain Cement Lorry | 51B Farm Tipping Trailer | 51C AEC 8 Wheel Tipper * |
51D Citroen SM |
51E Combine Harvester |
51F Pontiac Firebird SE |
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52 |
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52 |
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| 52A Maserati 4 CLT |
52B BRM Racer |
52C Dodge Charger MkIII |
52D Police Launch |
52E BMW M1 |
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53 |
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53 |
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| 53A Aston Martin DB2-4 |
53B Mercedes Benz 220 SE |
53C Ford Zodiac MkIV |
53D Tanzara |
53E Jeep CJ6 |
53F Ford Flareside Pickup |
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54 |
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54 |
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| 54A Saracen Personnel Carrier |
54B S&S Cadillac Ambulance |
54C Ford Capri |
54D Personnel Carrier |
54E Mobile Home |
54F NASA Tracking Vehicle |
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55 |
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55 |
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55A DUKW |
55B Ford Fairlane Police Car |
55C Ford Galaxie Police Car |
55D Mercury Police Car * |
55E Mercury Commuter Police |
55F Hellraiser |
55G Ford Cortina MkIV |
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56 |
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56 |
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| 56A London Trolleybus |
56B FIAT 1500 |
56C BMC 1800 Pinifarina |
56D Hi-Tailer |
56E Mercedes 450SEL |
56F Peterbilt Tanker |
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57 |
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57 |
| 57A Wolseley 1500 |
57B Chevrolet Impala |
57C Land Rover Fire Engine |
57D Eccles Trailer Caravan |
57E Wild Life Truck |
57F Carmichael Rescue Vehicle | |||
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58 |
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58 |
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| 58A BEA Coach |
58B Drott Excavator |
58C DAF Girder Truck |
58D Woosh 'n' Push |
58E Faun Dump Truck |
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59 |
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59 |
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| 59A Ford Thames Van (Singer) |
59B Ford Fairlane Fire Chief's Car |
59C Ford Galaxie Fire Chief |
59D Mercury Fire Chief |
59E Planet Scout |
59F Porsche 928 |
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60 |
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60 |
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| 60A Morris J2 Pickup |
60B Office Site Truck * |
60C Lotus Super Seven * |
60D Holden Pick-up |
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61 |
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61 |
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| 61A Army Scout Car |
61B Alvis Stalwart |
61C Blue Shark |
61D Ford Wreck Truck |
61E 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 |
| 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 4x4 Open back truck |
63F SNORKEL Fire Engine |
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64 |
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64 |
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| 64A Scammell Army Breakdown Truck |
64B MG 1100 * |
64C Slingshot Dragster |
64D Fire Chief Car |
64E Caterpillar D9 |
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65 |
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65 |
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| 65A Jaguar 3.4 |
65B Jaguar 3.8 |
65C Claas Combine Harvester * |
65D Saab Sonnet III |
65E Airport Coach |
65F Kenworth Bandag Bandit |
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66 |
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66 |
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| 66A Citroen DS19 |
66B Harley Davidson Motorcycle & Sidecar |
66C Greyhound Bus |
66D Mazda RX500 |
66E Ford Transit Pickup |
66F Tyrone Malone |
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67 |
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67 |
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| 67A Saladin Armoured Car 6x6 |
67B Volkswagen 1600TL |
67C Ford Capri Hot Rocker |
67D Datsun 260Z |
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68 | ||
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68A Austin Army Wireless Truck |
68B Mercedes Coach |
68C Porsche 910 |
68D Cosmobile |
68E Chevy Van |
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69 |
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69 |
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69A Commer Van |
69B Tractor Shovel |
69C Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Coupe |
69D Turbo Fury |
69E Security Truck |
69F Willys Street Rod |
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70 |
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70 |
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| 70A Thames Estate Car |
70B Grit Spreading Truck |
70C Dodge Dragster |
70D Self Propelled Gun |
70E Ferrari 308 GTB |
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71 |
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71 |
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| 71A Army Water Tanker |
71B Jeep Gladiator |
71C Ford Heavy Wrecker * |
71D Jumbo Jet Chopper |
71E Cattle Truck |
71EX Cattle Trailer |
71F 1962 Chevrolet CORVETTe |
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72 |
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72 |
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| 72A Fordson Tractor |
72B Jeep |
72C SRN6 Hovercraft |
72D Bomag Road Roller |
72E Ford Capri MAXI TAXI |
72F Dodge Commando Delivery |
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73 |
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73 |
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| 73A RAF Tanker |
73B Ferrari F1 |
73C Mercury Commuter |
73D Weasel |
73E Ford Model A Coupe |
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74
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74A Mobile Canteen |
74B Daimler Fleetline Bus |
74C Toe Joe |
74D Cougar Villager |
74E Fiat Abarth |
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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 |
