regular wheels series 12/26/97

page reformated and links to images added

12/25/06

This is an abbreviated list of the models only, without the variations (e.g. different colors etc.). For a complete list of the series and variations see RW variation list. For photos of my childhood (and later additions) Matchbox collection see various image pages from the menu above.

BAMCA Interactive Matchbox Lineup

Covering the Years 1948-69 6/2/99 http://www.bamca.org/lesney/

Classification systems

There are a number of classification systems to identify the various products made by Matchbox [e.g., Charlie Mack, Michael Stannard, (which has (more) casting variations, wheel types (fine, knobbly), etc.)].

Classification lists for regular wheels (and Superfast) (typically) consist of three parts, e.g., "34B1":
- a number (here "34") from 1 to 75 (see below). This is the assigned model number based on a series of 75 models as the total number of cars issued at any one time. When new cars were issued they replaced prior ones holding that number.
  - NOTE: sometimes the series number (e.g., here "34", appears on the baseplate, but not always, & this may be a clue as to which series similar looking models belong to , e.g., 9A does not have a number cast into the base, but 9B does; the 2nd & 3rd parts of the classification number are "made up" by collectors for identification purposes and never appear on the baseplate; any letter designation such "(A)" appearing on a baseplate is NOT part of the classification numbering system & does not refer to the "letter" designation discussed below:
- The "letter" following the first number (e.g. "A", "B", "C", "D" etc.) identifies the series (here "B"). Each model to occupy a particular 1-75 number is assigned a successive "letter", thus "B" is the second model to be a number "34".
- the third part [not show in this list], and second "number" part (here "1") is the "variation" (here the 1st) of the particular casting (here "B") occupying the 1-75 number. The variations (depending on the classification scheme) can be a different color, decal, label (or tampo for periods after regular wheels), casting, wheel type, etc.
number 76 & greater [see history page]
"What is with the [current model] numbering scheme ?"
"Why do the same models have a different number in different years ?"
- In earlier times, Matchbox had 75 tools. They would use these 75 tools only making color, material or minor casting changes until the tool broke down. Today there exist about 375 current tools. It would be a logistical nightmare to keep the numbering system the same with this amount of tools. Also the lineup would not be as exciting if we were to expect the same models year after year until the tools broke down. Variety is the spice of life." [MB Forum 9/12/06 e-mail from Ambassador Jim Gallegos]
- More recently Matel is including 100 models in the basic regular wheel line.

Regular wheel series

1A DIESEL ROAD ROLLER, Issued 1953
1B ROAD ROLLER, Issued 1955, 2 1/4"
1C ROAD ROLLER, Issued 1958, 2 3/8"
1D AVELING BARFORD ROAD ROLLER, Issued 1962, 3"
1E MERCEDES BENZ LORRY, Issued 1968
2A DUMPER, Issued 1953, 1 5/8"
2B DUMPER, Issued 1957, 1 7/8"
2C MUIR HILL DUMPER, Issued 1961
2D MERCEDES TRAILER, Issued 1968
3A CEMENT MIXER, Issued 1953
3B BEDFORD TIPPER, Issued 1961
3C MERCEDES BENZ "BINZ" AMBULANCE, Issued 1968
4A MASSEY HARRIS TRACTOR, Issued 1954
4B MASSEY HARRIS TRACTOR, Issued 1957
4C TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE & SIDECAR, Issued 1960
4D DODGE STAKE TRUCK, Issued 1967
5A LONDON BUS, Issued 1954, 2"
5B LONDON BUS, Issued 1957, 2 1/4"
5C LONDON BUS, Issued 1961, 2 9/16"
5D LONDON BUS, Issued 1965, 2 3/4"
6A QUARRY TRUCK, Issued 1954, 2 1/8"
6B QUARRY TRUCK, Issued 1957, 2 1/2"
6C EUCLID QUARRY TRUCK, Issued 1964
6D FORD PICKUP TRUCK, Issued 1968
7A HORSE DRAWN MILK FLOAT, Issued 1954
7B FORD ANGLIA, Issued 1961
7C FORD REFUSE TRUCK, Issued 1966
8A CATERPILLAR TRACTOR, Issued 1955, 1 1/2"
8B CATERPILLAR TRACTOR, Issued 1959, 1 5/8"
8C CATERPILLAR TRACTOR, Issued 1961, 1 7/8"
8D CATERPILLAR TRACTOR, Issued 1964, 2"
8E FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK, Issued 1966
9A DENNIS FIRE ESCAPE, Issued 1955
9B DENNIS FIRE ESCAPE, Issued 1957
9C MERRYWEATHER MARQUIS FIRE ENGINE, Issued 1959
9D BOAT AND TRAILER, Issued 1966
10A MECHANICAL HORSE & TRAILER, issued 1955, 2 3/8"
10B MECHANICAL HORSE & TRAILER, Issued 1958, 2 15/16"
10C SUGAR CONTAINER TRUCK, issued 1961
10D PIPE TRUCK, Issued 1966
11A ROAD TANKER, Issued 1955, 2"
11B ROAD TANKER, Issued 1958, 2 1/2"
11C JUMBO CRANE, Issued 1965
11D SCAFFOLD TRUCK, Issued 1969
12A LAND ROVER, Issued 1955, 1 3/4"
12B LAND ROVER, issued 1959, 2 1/4"
12C SAFARI LAND ROVER, Issued 1965
13A BEDFORD WRECK TRUCK, Issued 1955, 2"
13B BEDFORD WRECK TRUCK, Issued 1958, 2 1/8"
13C THAMES WRECK TRUCK, Issued 1961
13D DODGE WRECK TRUCK, Issued 1965
14A DAIMLER AMBULANCE, Issued 1956
14B DAIMLER AMBULANCE, Issued 1958
14C BEDFORD AMBULANCE, Issued 1962
14D ISO GRIFO, Issued 1968
15A PRIME MOVER, issued 1956
15B ATLANTIC PRIME MOVER, Issued 1959
15C REFUSE TRUCK, Issued 1963
15D VOLKSWAGEN 1500 SALOON, Issued 1968
16A ATLANTIC TRAILER, Issued 1956, 3 1/8"
16B ATLANTIC TRAILER, issued 1957, 3 1/4"
16C SCAMMELL MOUNTAINEER SNOWPLOW, Issued 1964
16D CASE BULLDOZER, Issued 1969
17A BEDFORD REMOVALS VAN, Issued 1956
17B BEDFORD REMOVALS VAN, Issued 1958
17C AUSTIN TAXI CAB, Issued 1960
17D HOVERINGHAM TIPPER, issued 1963
17E HORSE BOX, Issued 1969
18A CATERPILLAR BULLDOZER, issued 1956, 1 7/8"
18B CATERPILLAR BULLDOZER, Issued 1958, 2"
18C CATERPILLAR BULLDOZER, Issued 1961, 2 1/4"
18D BULLDOZER, Issued 1964, 2 3/8"
18E FIELD CAR, issued 1969
19A MG SPORTS CAR, Issued 1956, 2"
19B MGA SPORTS CAR, Issued 1958, 2 1/4"
19C ASTON MARTIN RACING CAR, Issued 1961
19D LOTUS RACING CAR, Issued 1966
20A STAKE TRUCK, issued 1956
20B ERF 696 TRUCK, Issued 1959
20C CHEVROLET IMPALA TAXI CAB, Issued 1965
21A LONG DISTANCE COACH, Issued 1956, 2 1/4"
21B LONG DISTANCE COACH, Issued 1958, 2 5/8"
21C COMMER MILK FLOAT, issued 1961
21D FODEN CONCRETE TRUCK, Issued 1968
22A VAUXHALL CRESTA, Issued 1956
22B 1958 VAUXHALL CRESTA, Issued 1958
22C PONTIAC GRAN PRIX SPORTS COUPE, Issued 1964
23A BERKELEY CAVALIER TRAILER, Issued 1956
23B BERKELEY CAVALIER TRAILER, issued 1958
23C BLUEBIRD DAUPHINE TRAILER, Issued 1960
23D TRAILER CARAVAN, Issued 1965
24A WEATHERHILL HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR, issued 1956, 2 3/8"
24B WEATHERHILL HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR, issued 1959, 2 5/8"
24C ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW, Issued 1967
25A DUNLOP VAN, issued 1956
25B VOLKSWAGEN 1200 SEDAN, issued 1960
25C PETROL TANKER, issued 1964
25D FORD CORTINA, Issued 1968
26A CONCRETE TRUCK, Issued 1956
26B FODEN CONCRETE TRUCK, Issued 1961
26C G.M.C. TIPPER TRUCK, Issued 1968
27A BEDFORD LOWLOADER, Issued 1956, 3 1/8"
27B BEDFORD LOWLOADER, Issued 1959, 3 3/4"
27C CADILLAC SIXTY SPECIAL, Issued 1960
27D MERCEDES BENZ 230SL, Issued 1966
28A BEDFORD COMPRESSOR TRUCK, issued 1956
28B THAMES COMPRESSOR TRUCK, issued 1959
28C MK.10 JAGUAR, issued 1964
28D MACK DUMP TRUCK, Issued 1968
29A BEDFORD MILK DELIVERY VAN, Issued 1956
29B AUSTIN A55 CAMBRIDGE SEDAN, Issued 1961
29C FIRE PUMPER, Issued 1966
30A FORD PREFECT, Issued 1956
30B MAGIRUZ-DEUTZ 6-WHEEL CRANE TRUCK, Issued 1961
30C 8-WHEEL CRANE TRUCK, Issued 1965
31A FORD STATION WAGON, Issued 1957
31B FORD FAIRLANE STATION WAGON, issued 1960
31C LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, Issued 1964
32A JAGUAR XKI40 COUPE, Issued 1957
32B JAGUAR XKE, Issued 1962
32C LEYLAND PETROL TANKER, Issued 1968
33A FORD ZODIAC MKII SEDAN, Issued 1957
33B FORD ZEPHYR 6 MK III, issued 1963
33C LAMBORGHINI MIURA, Issued 1969
34A VOLKSWAGEN MICROVAN, Issued 1957
34B VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER, Issued 1962, 2 3/5"
34C VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER, Issued 1967
34D VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER, issued 1968
35A MARSHALL HORSE BOX, issued 1957
35B SNOW TRAC TRACTOR, Issued 1964
36A AUSTIN A50, issued 1957
36B LAMBRETTA SCOOTER & SIDECAR, Issued 1961
36C OPEL DIPLOMAT, Issued 1966
37A COCA COLA LORRY, Issued 1956
37B COCA COLA LORRY, issued 1960
37C DODGE CATTLE TRUCK, Issued 1966
38A KARRIER REFUSE COLLECTOR, Issued 1957
38B VAUXHALL VICTOR ESTATE CAR, issued 1963
38C HONDA MOTORCYCLE & TRAILER, Issued 1967
39A FORD ZODIAC CONVERTIBLE, Issued 1957
39B PONTIAC CONVERTIBLE, Issued 1962
39C FORD TRACTOR, issued 1967
40A BEDFORD TIPPER TRUCK, Issued 1957
40B LEYLAND ROYAL TIGER COACH, Issued 1961
40C HAY TRAILER, Issued 1967
41A D-TYPE JAGUAR, issued 1957, 2 3/16"
41B D-TYPE JAGUAR, issued 1960, 2 7/16"
41C FORD GT, Issued 1965
42A BEDFORD EVENING NEWS VAN, Issued 1957
42B STUDEBAKER LARK WAGONAIRE, issued 1965
42C IRON FAIRY CRANE, Issued 1969
43A HILLMAN MINX, Issued 1958
43B AVELING BARFORD TRACTOR SHOVEL, Issued 1962
43C PONY TRAILER, Issued 1968
44A ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD, issued 1958
44B ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM V, Issued 1964
44C G.M.C. REFRIGERATOR TRUCK, issued 1967
45A VAUXHALL VICTOR, issued 1958
45B FORD CORSAIR WITH BOAT, Issued 1965
46A MORRIS MINOR 1000, issued 1958
46B PICKFORDS REMOVAL VAN, Issued 1960
46C MERCEDES BENZ 300 SE, issued 1968
47A 1 TON TROJAN VAN, Issued 1958
47B COMMER ICE CREAM CANTEEN, Issued 1963
47C DAF TIPPER CONTAINER TRUCK, issued 1968
48A METEOR SPORTS BOAT & TRAILER, Issued 1958
48B SPORTS BOAT & TRAILER, Issued 1961
48C DODGE DUMPER TRUCK, issued 1966
49A M3 PERSONNEL CARRIER, Issued 1958
49B MERCEDES UNIMOG, issued 1967
50A COMMER PICKUP, Issued 1958
5OB JOHN DEERE TRACTOR, Issued 1964
50C FORD KENNEL TRUCK, Issued 1969
51A ALBION CHIEFTAN, issued 1958
51B JOHN DEERE TRAILER, Issued 1964
51C 8-WHEEL TIPPER, Issued 1969
52A MASERATI 4CLT RACER, issued 1958
52B BRM RACING CAR, Issued 1965
53A ASTON MARTIN, Issued 1958
53B MERCEDES BENZ 220SE, Issued 1963
53C FORD ZODIAC MK IV, Issued 1968
54A SARACEN PERSONNEL CARRIER, Issued 1958
54B S & S CADILLAC AMBULANCE, issued 1965
55A D.U.K.W., issued 1958
55B FORD FAIRLANE POLICE CAR, Issued 1963
55C FORD GALAXIE POLICE CAR, issued 1966
55D MERCURY POLICE CAR, issued 1968
56A LONDON TROLLEY BUS, Issued 1958
56B FIAT 1500, Issued 1965
57A WOLSELEY 1500, Issued 1958
57B CHEVROLET IMPALA, Issued 1961
57C LAND ROVER FIRE TRUCK, Issued 1966
58A BEA COACH, issued 1958
58B DROTT EXCAVATOR, Issued 1962
58C DAF GIRDER TRUCK, Issued 1968
59A FORD THAMES VAN, issued 1958
59B FORD FAIRLANE FIRE CHIEF CAR, Issued 1963
59C FORD GALAXIE FIRE CHIEF CAR, issued 1966
60A MORRIS 32 PICKUP, Issued 1958
60B SITE HUT TRUCK, issued 1966
61A FERRET SCOUT CAR, issued 1959
61B ALVIS STALWART, Issued 1966
62A GENERAL SERVICE LORRY, Issued 1959
62B TV SERVICE VAN, issued 1963
62C MERCURY COUGAR, Issued 1968
63A FORD SERVICE AMBULANCE, Issued 1959
63B FOAMITE CRASH TENDER, Issued 1964
63C DODGE CRANE TRUCK, Issued 1968
64A SCAMMELL BREAKDOWN TRUCK, Issued 1959
64B MG 1100, issued 1966
65A JAGUAR 3.4 LITRE SALOON, issued 1959, 2ý"
65B JAGUAR 3.4 LITRE SALOON, issued 1962, 2 5/8"
65C CLAAS COMBINE HARVESTER, Issued 1967
66A CITROEN DS19, Issued 1959
66B HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE & SIDECAR, Issued 1962
66C GREYHOUND BUS, issued 1967
67A SALADIN ARMOURED CAR, Issued 1959
67B VOLKSWAGEN 1600TL, Issued 1967
68A AUSTIN MKII RADIO TRUCK, Issued 1959
68B MERCEDES COACH, Issued 1965
69A COMMER 30 CWT VAN, Issued 1959
69B HATRA TRACTOR SHOVEL, issued 1965
70A FORD THAMES ESTATE CAR, issued 1959
70B FORD GRIT SPREADER TRUCK, Issued 1966
71A AUSTIN 200 GALLON WATER TRUCK, issued 1959
71B JEEP GLADIATOR PICKUP, issued 1964
71C FORD HEAVY WRECK TRUCK, Issued 1968
72A FORDSON TRACTOR, issued 1959
72B STANDARD JEEP, Issued 1966
73A 10 TON PRESSURE REFUELLER, Issued 1959
73B FERRARI F1 RACING CAR, Issued 1962
73C MERCURY STATION WAGON, issued 1968
74A MOBILE REFRESHMENT CANTEEN, issued 1959
74B DAIMLER BUS, issued 1966
75A FORD THUNDERBIRD, issued 1960
75B FERRARI BERLINETTA, Issued 1965