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SITE LAST UPDATED ON: 2023-07-16
1962-66
The first type to feature a colour picture, it is one of the nicest and most interesting to collect. All the Matchbox range was issued in this type in 1962, after the type C
was withdrawn. The same thing happened again in 1963 but in 1964, another box appeared, the Type E, and every new model was issued in that latter style rather
then the Type D. However, older models were still distributed in the Type D box until 1966.
The box features a coloured picture (actually a very nice drawing rather than a real picture) and the words "Matchbox Series" in arch, still written in red. It is believed
that those pictures (like the ones in the catalogues) were based on black & white photographs which were retouched and coloured manually. The scroll was no
longer there and was replaced by "A LESNEY PRODUCT" straight at the bottom of the box. The model number was in the middle of the box, on each side of the
model's picture.
On a collecting note, it is interesting to notice that most "A models" and a few old "B models"are harder to find, and sometimes extremely difficult, skyrocketing their
collecting value. It is well known that all boxes only available in D1 type are hard to find, with the hardest being 55A, 58A, 66A, 47A, 53A, 33A, 71A, 62A and 15B in
descending order of rarity. These models were discontinued in 1962.
SUB TYPES
The 2 sub-types, usually know as D1 and D2, are easily recongnizible by their end flaps.
D1
The model's name is written in lettering with serifs
D2
The model's name is written in lettering without serifs
D BOX Major variables
The model’s picture
This major variable depends on the picture of the model. For one single model, different drawings exist and sometimes the difference between two variations is very small
This first example shows two different variations for the 15C model. Note the color of the decal.
THis example shows the 16C with black stripes or red stripes.
The model’s number
This is an interesting variable. Although there is no absolute rule for it, most of the time the model's number differs whether the box is a type D1 or type D2.D1 boxes almost always
have the model's number without serifs and smaller than the D2 boxes.
As you can see, the box at left (D1 type) has its numbers smaller and without serifs, when you compare it to its D2 conterpart. There are, however, exceptions. Model 6B
has the same number for both sub-types. 6C and 16C were only released in D2 type but feature both types of numbers.
Some new models first issued in D type box have some interesting boxes, such as 53B and 58B :
In the case of the 53B, the first box featuring the very small "53" also has the mention "NEW MODEL" on its end flap while the two other variations don't. The
second one has the typical "small number without serif/D1 end flap" combination and the third one the "large number with serifs/D2 end flap" combination. However, for
the 58B, the "NEW MODEL" end flap is combined with the larger "58". The very small "58", without serif is a D1 box and the typical "large number with serifs/D2 end
flap" is the last variation. Model 24B, 25A, 43B and 73B also have a similar box combination. Models 13C and 40B have even 4 different number patterns !
Some new models issued for the first time in a D box don't have any D1 type box. It is the case for 6C, 15C, 17D, 33B, 59B, 62B, 72B. Some others have both types :
1D, 2C, 32B, 38B, 43B, 47B, 53B, 55B, 58B, 66B, 73B. The "NEW MODEL" is not on end flaps for 1D.
Targets
A few new models were released in D boxes with a "target". The target was used to show a special feature on the model. 17D, 33B and 71B were issued with a yellow or white target.
The yellow one was always the first issued followed by the white one. In each case, only one number was printed on the front of the box instead of two.The 17D Foden Hoveringham
Tipper featured a special lettering for two of its three variations. It is the only place where we can actually find the lettering used for E type boxes on a D type box.
The 33B Ford Zephyr 6 MK III did not feature a target on its very first variation, but did on the following two boxes :
D BOX Minorvariables
Side Colors
Three different color patterns could be found on the boxes sides :
Size
Sizes available for B boxes are the following (the size only matters for one mode, the 62B which can be found in size 3 and 4.
“NEW MODEL”
Several models, as discussed earlier, have a "NEW MODEL" on end flap for models introduced for the first time on the market with a D type box.
Models with "NEW MODEL" are : 2C, 6C, 15C, 16C, 17D, 32B, 33B, 38B, 43B, 47B, 53B, 55B, 58B, 59B, 62B, 66B, 71B and 73B.
Here is the table showing all models with "New Model" boxes, and the sub-type they came in.
Models Table by Sub-type
