[REVIEW] Lesney Matchbox Vauxhall Victor

It’s Sunday, it’s Lesney Matchbox time. Today we examine a model which is a variation of a casting seen before. This is a different version of Lesney Matchbox 45a, the Vauxhall Victor. This casting of a FA Victor entered the range in early 1958, and remained all the way until 1965. As one can see, it is an excellent example of the charming mellow models that helped Matchbox gain a foothold in the market, along with having laudable detail that attracted more buyers:

Right off the bat, one notices there is a quirk, some silver paint on the passenger side (RHD) rear wheel, and a little on the front wheel. Production error or something from the original owner? It does look similar to the paint used to trim Matchbox models of the era, but QC was usually pretty good, so it is hard to guess with certainty. However, one can be certain that this is an attractive model, in the yellow paint found on all but the earliest and rarest versions of this casting (which were red, and are now worth in the thousands). I estimate to be around 1:65. The car has a dainty feel, but the real world version was not large, and this was made to fit in a box, initially the smaller Type B2 box. There is ample fine casting line detail, and proportion is excellent. This casting was in the range long enough to experience the evolution of Matchbox features during the era. It started out with metal wheels and no glazing, then acquired grey plastic wheels, then glazing (seen on all subsequent varieties), then silver plastic wheels, then black plastic wheels. Nothing opens, and a tow hook adds play value. I reviewed a late run black wheels version last year (for which I have since found a box):

From all angles, this is just a nice little car:

Front and rear have the same more than ample detail, the mask-sprayed grille looking pretty sharp for something of this size, age, and price point:

The base is basic with complete identifying data, as was the standard by 1958:

This example is lucky enough to live in a nice Type C box. With this box type and other details, chances are this was made in 1961:

I am definitely glad to have this in my collection. I like the styling of the model and real car, its kind of middle stage in Matchbox evolution, and that it is in a short run C box (only made for around a year). I kind of worked backwards from the black wheels model, and should have reviewed my silver wheels variant before this, but too late now. It’s a pleasant little casting:

And a 1:1 from carandclassic.co.uk - these are kind of a 7:10 scale 1955-56 Pontiac: