01 February 2019
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This gorgeous pale metallic blue MG saloon was the star of the show, fetching over £1,000 at the auction.
December saw Vectis host its specialist and tinplate sale.
December saw Vectis host its specialist and tinplate sale. Despite competition from other genres, it was the Lesney Superfast that stole the limelight, with several ex- Lesney employee items hitting the high notes.
How high? Well, a Superfast 21a Foden Concrete Mixer colour trial model, with an orange cab, dark yellow plastic barrel, turquoise green windows, a bright red chassis and dark green plastic base, running on 5-spoke narrow wheels, was just one example: this went to £624, against an upper estimate of £100. And then a Mack Dump truck (twin pack) with red cab and chassis, a dark olive-green tipper body (but without windows fitted), with a red grille and base whizzed past the £200 guideline to fetch £1,320.
Meanwhile, a 35a Merryweather Marquis Fire Engine in military green, with a light grey grille and base, was termed near mint (albeit with slight paint blistering around the cab windscreen front pillars). This realised a staggering £1,080. However, even this was eclipsed by the ultra-rare 64a MG1100 in metallic blue with clear windows and an ivory interior. The 5-spoke wide wheels made it the bee’s knees - and it was contested to a thumping £1,320.
Cheap, therefore, at £624 was the Stretcha Fetcha Ambulance pre-production colour trial in white, with blue windows, a pale-yellow interior and a metallic emerald green base, with a hand punched front rivet. Boasting Maltese Cross type wheels, it came in a New type I box.
A Superfast 55a Mercury Park Lane Police Car, also in white, with a revised roof light casting featuring red roof lights, clear windows and an ivory interior was thought worthy of £576; and the 67c Datsun 260Z with red body, light amber windows, a tan interior and gloss black base was fought all the way to £408.
Minis did well, too: one 29b Racing Mini in metallic bronze with orange outline racing number 29 door labels, clear windows, an ivory interior and a rare silver painted base went seven times over its estimate to realise £600; and a neighbour, with a burnt orange body with orange outline racing number 29 door labels, clear windows, a pale-yellow interior and a silver painted base, fell only slightly short at £504.
Want more? The 42b Tyre Fryer in metallic blue with lemon yellow interior and a rare dark red base, despite some chipping and tarnishing, attracted a closing bid of £744; while a 45a Ford Group 6 racer, in metallic green with a square racing number 7 nose label and dark amber windows, plus ivory interior, was fixed to a sea green base, running on 5-spoke wide wheels. This carried an upper estimate of £240 but actually achieved an astonishing £744 on the day.
And still they emerge from the woodwork…