1 st vitrine - Matchbox models
| The 1 st
shelf is reserved for the first Opel made by Matchbox , the # 36
1964 Diplomat A . Released only almost 3 years later , 1967
, it
is a very good model , with oppening hood showing a fairly good
reproduction of the motor , a detailed interior and
with the black "
regular " wheels . Only 2 colors are known, the usual gold and
the hyper scarce blue version ( worth 10000 US $ ) , 4 different
bases , chromed or grey engine and 5 different boxes E3 , E3R ,
E4 , E4R and F . In my collection all E boxes , 8 different models / bases , the 2 motor types . In the left you can see a caravan that suits perfectly to the Diplomat . |
pic 1 |
|
After a couple of years the #36 was updated (
pic2 ), the old wheels were
changed by the new " fast wheels " , but color remains the same
as motor , interior , etc . The variations are very simple ,
painted or not painted grille and the boxes , 2 different F type
boxes . On the right you can see one gold repainted model , I bought it 50 years ago in a shop near my home for " 7 escudos " , less than 4 c ! The other two models were purchased in Ebay and are repainted models . The blue is a replica of the rare " sea green foam " color variant and I've printed a fake box with picture of the model . The deep green model was a surprise , very good paintjob and fake boxe , it was bought for 20 euros or so . When I was taking picures I've noticed that the base ... was made of grey plastic instead of metal ! Only the rare blue mode had that type of base , so sometime ago , somewhere , someone has repainted one of the rarest toys ever made ! |
pic 2
pic 3 |
|
The 3
rd picture is from the set Motorised Motorway with the Diplomat
and a MG . The
ordinary model was transformed into a slotcar using a slot guide
glued to the base of the model . I've never used the set , so as
the model hasn't motor I don't know how it works .
In the meantime I've purchased the missing boxes and variations . Now missing only the " blue " ... |