More records go at Vectis

As predicted, the Vectis Matchbox sale on April 26 produced some really interesting models and some breath-taking prices to boot.  The appeal of this particular auction lay in the fact that there were many unique pieces from a Matchbox employee collection.

Some of the bidding was so fierce that many initial estimates were cast aside. The Superfast No.17b Daimler Fleetline Londoner Bus with "Swinging London Carnaby Street" decals was an example: this was a chrome plated Giftware Series body with type 1 labels, a bare metal base with cast circular mounts and five spoke wheels. In excellent condition and in a near mint New type I box, its guideline of £30-40 was well out - the bus selling for £520.

The rare models also outperformed expectation: No.45a, a Vauxhall Victor in the scarce red finish was mentioned last issue: it found a new home for a staggering £2,600. But almost the same money (£2,500) was bid on a 31c Lincoln Continental with black plastic wheels but in metallic lime green (a Superfast issue colour): this came with a F2 box. And a whopping £2,600 secured the 29b Racing Mini, a pre-production colour trial with a dark red body with door outlines cast (these were removed from the production model to aid label application), clear windows and an ivory interior. The Regular Wheels 72b Standard Jeep that came up had a yellow body with the rare white interior, matt black base and yellow plastic hubs. Near mint in an E4 box, this is very hard to find with the white interior; no surprises, then, that the upper guideline of £1,000 was eclipsed, the jeep making £1,900.

A pretty Regular Wheels 14d Iso Grifo was another trial model, finished with a blue chrome plated body, clear windows and a light blue interior. In excellent plus state with a type E4 box, the Iso sped off to realise £1,500, way over estimate.

The bigger toys also did well, notably the Super Kings K94 Saval Kronenberg B.V. MAC 12 Airport Crash Tender. Again, here was a factory pre-production model complete with printer’s sample trial window box. This featured a red body with white interior and rear roof panel, brass plated monitor foam nozzle, a red plastic front roof panel with red beacons, clear windows and a cream plastic base. Overall near mint with some factory casting flaws to the side of the body noted, it was presented in a plain white card window box with two plastic fireman figures, as issued with K67 Dodge Monaco Fire Chief's Car. Never put into production, the bidding was finally extinguished at £2,000.