[REVIEW] Lesney Matchbox Evening News Van

Lesney Matchbox time again. This is Matchbox 42a, the Bedford Evening News Van. This casting entered the range in 1957, and enjoyed a long run, remaining until 1965. This is somewhat of an iconic casting, as it is one everyone associates with early Lesney Matchbox models:

Detail is ample from all sides, and the famous decals are eye-catching. This model exists with metal wheels, grey plastic wheels, and black plastic wheels. The example pictured today has grey plastic wheels. Nothing opens, no glazing, as this is a 1957 casting which never had them. Play value is in the realistic detail:

Front and rear have similar detail. This model would look at home alongside the garage I posted yesterday:

Base is straightforward, typical of the era:

This example is lucky enough to live in its original later issue “B” type box. This along with the grey plastic wheels, means it was likely made in 1959-60:

I also have this with metal wheels. I am definitely glad to have this in my collection. With the long production run, it is not rare, and it what many think of when thinking of early Matchbox castings. The Evening News van should be found in every representative collection of old Lesney Matchbox:

And 1:1 examples of the real thing, the Bedford CA Van, from the Nick Jones Matchbox site, flickr, and imcdb: