Early Matchbox Comparison Guide

On some of the early models, identifying which variation one is can be very difficult. We have put together this handy guide to help determine the differences.

1-B, C, and D: Aveling Barford Road Roller

B
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • Gold trim on the nose.
  • Tan driver.
  • No window cast into the back of the canopy.
  • Metal rollers.

C
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • No trim on the nose.
  • Green driver.
  • No window cast into the back of the canopy.
  • Metal rollers.

D
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • No trim on the nose.
  • Green driver.
  • Window cast into the back of the canopy.
  • Plastic rollers.
2-A and B: Dumper

A
  • 1 5/8" (41 mm) long.
  • No step cast in the platform next to the driver.
  • Wheels were metal, either painted or unpainted.

B
  • 1 7/8" (48 mm) long.
  • Step cast in the platform next to the driver.
  • Wheels were unpainted metal or plastic.
4-A and B: Massey Harris Tractor

A
  • Fenders over the wheels.
  • No number 4 cast underneath.
  • Metal wheels.

B
  • No fenders over the wheels.
  • Number 4 cast underneath.
  • Metal or plastic wheels.
5-A, B, C and D: London Bus

A
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • 7 windows on the top row.
  • No interior.
  • Labels.

B
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • 6 windows on the top row.
  • No interior.
  • Decals.

C
  • 2 9/16" (65 mm) long.
  • 6 windows on the top row.
  • No interior.
  • Decals.

D
  • 2 3/4" (70 mm) long.
  • 6 windows on the top row.
  • Plastic interior.
  • Decals or labels.
6-A, B, and C: Quarry Truck

A
  • 2 1/8" (54 mm) long.
  • Orange and gray.
  • 2 axles.

B
  • 2 1/2" (64 mm) long.
  • Yellow.
  • 2 axles.

C
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Yellow.
  • 3 axles.
8-A, B, C, and D: Caterpillar Tractor

A
  • 1 1/2" (38 mm) long.
  • Rectangular engine compartment opening.
  • Sometimes came in orange or had a red driver.
  • Had driver.
  • Rollers were painted yellow or unpainted.

B
  • 1 5/8" (41 mm) long.
  • Curved engine compartment opening.
  • All yellow.
  • Had driver.
  • Metal rollers.

C
  • 1 7/8" (48 mm) long.
  • Curved engine compartment opening.
  • All yellow.
  • Had driver.
  • Metal or plastic rollers.

D
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • Curved engine compartment opening.
  • All yellow.
  • Had no driver.
  • Exhaust stack was either short or tall.
  • Plastic rollers.
9-A and B: Dennis Fire Escape

A
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • No front bumper.
  • No number 9 cast underneath.

B
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • Front bumper cast.
  • Number 9 cast underneath.
10-A and B: Mechanical Horse and Trailer

A
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • Gray trailer.
  • Vertical ribs cast on the trailer.

B
  • 2 7/8" (73 mm) long.
  • Tan trailer.
  • Horizontal ribs cast on the trailer.
11-A and B: Road Tanker

A
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • Came in green, yellow or red.

B
  • 2 1/2" (64 mm) long.
  • Came only in red.
12-A and B: Land Rover

A
  • 1 3/4" (44 mm) long.
  • Had a driver.
  • Had no windshield

B
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • Had no driver
  • Had a windshield.
13-A and B: Bedford Wreck Truck

A
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • Had no number cast.

B
  • 2 1/8" (54 mm) long.
  • Had a number cast underneath.
14-A and B: Daimler Ambulance

A
  • 1 7/8" (48 mm) long.
  • No baseplate.

B
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Black baseplate.
15-A and B: Prime Mover

A
  • Closed bed.
  • One window on each side of the cab.
  • Came in yellow or orange.

B
  • Open bed with a spare tire.
  • Two windows on each side of the cab.
  • Came in orange only.
16-A and B: Atlantic Trailer

A
  • Had a flip-up ramp.
  • Came in tan only.
  • Had 3 axles.

B
  • Had a stationary ramp.
  • Came in tan or orange.
  • Had 4 axles.
17-A and B: Bedford Removal Van

A
  • No number cast underneath.
  • Came in maroon, blue or green.
  • Roof curved slightly more.
  • Difference in grille.

B
  • Usually had a number cast underneath.
  • Came only in green or dark green.
  • Roof was slightly flatter.
  • Difference in grille.
18-A, B, C, and D: Caterpillar Bulldozer

A
  • 1 7/8" (48 mm) long.
  • Had a red blade.
  • Had a driver.
  • Metal rollers.

B
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • Had a yellow blade.
  • Had a driver.
  • Metal rollers.

C
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • Had a yellow blade.
  • Had a driver.
  • Metal or plastic rollers.

D
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • Had a yellow blade.
  • Had no driver.
  • Plastic rollers.
19-A and B: MG Sports Car

A
  • 2" (51 mm) long.
  • MGTD.
  • Spare tire.

B
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • MGA
  • No spare tire.
20-A and B: ERF Truck

A
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • 2 axles.
  • Painted gas tanks.
  • Sides of bed were ribbed.
  • Red or maroon.

B
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • 4 axles.
  • No gas tanks cast.
  • Sides of bed were flat, with decals.
  • Blue.
21-A and B: Bedford Long Distance Coach

A
  • 2 1/4" (57 mm) long.
  • Decal extended over 5 windows.
  • Green baseplate.

B
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Decal extended over 4 windows.
  • Black baseplate.
23-A and B: Berkeley Cavalier Trailer

A
  • Faint door outline cast.
  • No number cast underneath.
  • Came only in pale blue.
  • Base support pin closer to door. On left side, support pin is within the door outline.

B
  • Heavy door outline cast.
  • Number 23 cast underneath.
  • Came in pale blue or in green.
  • Base support pin closer to wheel. On left side, support pin is outside the door outline.
24-A and B: Weatherill Hydraulic Excavator

A
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • Had simpler braces on the side of the blade booms.

B
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Had more intricate braces on the side of the blade booms.
26-A and B: Concrete Truck

A
  • Had a significantly shorter barrel.
  • Barrel was metal.
  • 2 axles.

B
  • Had a longer barrel.
  • Barrel was plastic.
  • 3 axles.
27-A and B: Bedford Lowloader

A
  • 3 1/8" (79 mm) long.
  • Came in blue, or green and tan.

B
  • 3 3/4" (95 mm) long.
  • Came only in green and tan.
28-A and B: Compressor Truck

A
  • Sloped windshield.

B
  • Vertical windshield.
31-A and B: Station Wagons

A
  • Yellow.
  • No windows.
  • Roof support at back of rear door was vertical.
  • Single headlights.

B
  • Yellow, or green with pink roof.
  • Usually had windows.
  • Roof support at back of rear door was slanted.
  • Double headlights.
32-A and B: Jaguar Coupes

A
  • 2 3/8" (60 mm) long.
  • Cream or red.
  • No windows.
  • No interior.

B
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Metallic red or bronze.
  • Windows.
  • Interior.
33-A and B: Ford Zodiac / Zephyr

A
  • Came in blue or blue-green, or in silver or tan with orange.
  • Usually had no windows.
  • No interior.

B
  • Blue-green.
  • Windows.
  • Interior.
34-A, B, C and D: Volkswagen Vans

A
  • 2 3/16" (56 mm) long.
  • Blue.
  • No rear doors.
  • Flat roof, no sunroof.

B
  • 2 9/16" (65 mm) long.
  • Green.
  • Rear doors that open.
  • Flat roof, with sunroof.

C
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Silver.
  • Rear doors that open.
  • Raised roof, with sunroof and side windows.

D
  • 2 5/8" (67 mm) long.
  • Silver.
  • Rear doors that open.
  • Slightly raised roof, with sunroof but no side windows.
37-A and B: Coca-Cola Lorry

A
  • Orange-yellow.
  • Sometimes had an uneven load.
  • Rear wheel guards.
  • No baseplate.

B
  • Yellow.
  • Always had an even load.
  • No rear wheel guards.
  • Black baseplate.
41-A and B: "D" Type Jaguar

A
  • 2 3/16" (56 mm) long.
  • Almost always had a 41 decal, though a few had a 52 decal.
  • Solid wheels.

B
  • 2 7/16" (62 mm) long.
  • Sometimes had 5, 6 or 19 decal instead of 41.
  • Sometimes had wire wheels.
44-A and B: Rolls Royces

A
  • 2 11/16" (68 mm) long.
  • Blue.
  • No interior.
  • No opening parts.

B
  • 2 7/8" (73 mm) long.
  • Tan or gray.
  • Interior.
  • Opening trunk.
48-A and B: Sports Boat and Trailer

A
  • No motor.
  • Tan and blue.

B
  • With motor.
  • Red and white.
55-C and D: Police Cars

C
  • 3" (76 mm) long.
  • Solid wheels.
  • Bottom of window in rear door was straight.
  • Tow hook.
  • Vertical double headlights.

D
  • 3 1/8" (79 mm) long.
  • Wheels with tires.
  • Bottom of window in rear door was curved.
  • No tow hook.
  • Horizontal double headlights.
65-A and B: Jaguar Sedan

A
  • 2 7/16" (62 mm) long.
  • Blue.
  • No plastic windows.
  • No tow hook.
  • No opening parts.
  • Black baseplate.

B
  • 2 11/16" (68 mm) long.
  • Red.
  • Plastic windows.
  • Tow hook.
  • Opening engine hood.
  • Silver-gray baseplate.

Feel free to ask for clarification on any others.

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