What’s up down under?

The recent Trains, Planes and Automobiles auction in Australia may not have been on every Gazette reader’s  itinerary but, as usual, it threw up a wide assortment of diecast models, many of which were less than mint. Because of this, prices were very reasonable by UK standards.

Our homegrown Matchbox models obviously did good business years ago down under, and various Lesney models came under the hammer. Arguably the most interesting of these was the MG1 Service Station set which was in excellent condition and came with base and all the (often missing!) accessories. Estimated to make AUS$200-300, it settled on AUS$310, suggesting that these special models are perhaps coming into their own now. And so on to King Size: possibly less collectable, but nonetheless AUS$120 was bid on a K3 Hatra Tractor Shovel. It came with a spare tyre and a very good box, which always helps a sale. The M2 Articulated Freight Lorry was another impressive large model to appear at the event and described as very good to excellent, also with box, this was bid up to AUS$70.

Slightly down the scale were a couple of Lesney 1/75 miniatures. The 29c (Fire Pumper Truck) and 59c, the Ford Galaxie Fire Chief car were both were billed as being in very good condition although their boxes were not quite so good. The pair finally found a new home for AUS$50.

To complete the report, an oddity in the shape of a Scalex tinplate Austin Healey. There can’t be many of these in the Antipodes! Although it had been repainted, that didn’t deter bidders, who pushed this unusual survivor up to AUS$45.