Yesteryear Collection

From 1909 until 1927, 15.000,000 Model T Fords were built with no basic engineering changes. These cars were cheap, simple, rugged, agile, durable and somewhat ugly. They could go everywhere - except in society! This miniature represents the colourful early "Brass Radiator" model.

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The (Y1-2) 1911 Ford Model T joined the range in 1964 and despite Ford marketing the car as being "any colour you like as long as it's black" Lesney, who did not like black, used a darkish red.

Variations/Rarities: The 1911 Ford Model T is very commonly found, especially the version in dark red with a smooth black roof. You will also see it with a red chassis and white or cream bodywork and if you are very lucky all in black. Hoods can be textured or smooth and black or red.

The first issue had a twin gear lever/ handbrake which was soon replaced by a single gear lever.
It had a baseplate that had mounting holes for use in the giftware range which was different to the baseplate that actually got used by the giftware issues. The baseplate was quickly replaced by a newer version that had no mounting holes drilled.
It had a red metal steering wheel and black seats and a smooth black roof. The red metal steering wheel was soon replaced by a black plastic steering wheel.
The windsceen frame was unusual as it was made from thick wire bent to shape.
The wheels were originally brass plated 12 spoke but later chrome or brass plated wheels with 12 or 24 spoke were used.
It was fitted with a brass plated bulb horn and brass plated radiator grille shell and headlights, a black plastic radiator grille was fitted into the radiator shell.
The final red issue was fitted with a textured black plastic roof.
The colour scheme was changed to a cream body with a red chassis that was originally fitted with black seats which was later changed to red seats and the final red and cream issue had the textured black roof replaced by a dark red textured roof and it can have either a red or black plastic grille insert.
The colour scheme was changed again to a white body with a red chassis which can be found with a dark red, red, or bright red grille, seats and textured roof.
It was re-released in 1984 and this final issue was as Ford intended with a black painted body & chassis. It was fitted with a black textured roof and brown seats. This was part of the "Connoisseurs Collection" which has "Limited Edition" molded to the inside of the roof.

The ones to look for are the first issue with twin gear lever/handbrake and all issues with a black textured roof are rare but be wary of textured roofs from the Connoisseurs Collection (with Limited Edition) being substituted.
Issues with the bright red textured roofs are also hard to find.

This model was also released as both a silver and gold-plated version in the Matchbox Giftware series.

 

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Red body & chassis; smooth black hood & seats

Cream body & red chassis; textured dark red hood with bright red seats

Black, from the 1984 Connoisseurs Collection

Black, gold trim, from the 1996 Matchbox Collectibles 40th Anniversary Collection

Code 2 - Black body & chassis (Wanted)
 

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Twin & single brake lever

(A) Closed; (B) Partial; (C) Fully Open - Rear springs

Wheel size

Radiator scripts

 

Information as from "The Yesteryear Book 1956-2002"
Issue Year of Release Colour Hood Seats Grille Steering Wheel Wheels Diameter of Wheels Base Holes Windscreen Brake Lever Baseplate Rarity Box
1 1964 Red body & chassis Black smooth Black Black Red metal Brass 12 spoke 13mm 2 Red Twin LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R D2
2 Red body & chassis Black smooth Black Black Red metal Brass 12 spoke 13mm 2 Red Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND D2/D3
3 Red body & chassis Black smooth Black Black Red metal Brass 12 spoke 13mm No Red Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND E/E1
4 1968 Red body & chassis Black smooth Black Black Black plastic Brass 12 spoke 13mm No Red Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND F/G
5 Red body & chassis Black smooth Black Black Black plastic Brass 12 spoke 11.5mm No Red Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND S F
6 Red body & chassis Black textured Black Black Black plastic Brass 12 spoke 13mm No Red Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R G
7 1974 Cream body & red chassis Black textured Bright red Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
8 Cream body & red chassis Black textured Black Black Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
9 Cream body & red chassis Black textured Black Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
10 Cream body & red chassis Black textured Dark red Black Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
11 Cream body & red chassis Black textured Dark red Dark red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
12 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Bright red Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
13 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Black Black Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
14 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Black Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
15 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Black Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
16 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Red Black Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
17 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Red Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
18 Cream body & red chassis Dark red textured Red Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Brass Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND D H
19 1975 White body & red chassis Dark red textured Dark red Dark red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
20 White body & red chassis Dark red textured Dark red Dark red Black plastic Chrome 24 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
21 White body & red chassis Mid red textured Bright red Bright red Black plastic Brass 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND H
22 1976 White body & red chassis Bright red textured Red Dark red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
23 White body & red chassis Bright red textured Dark red Red Black plastic Chrome 12 spoke 10mm No Unpainted Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND R H
24 1984 Black body & chassis Black textured Fawn Black Black plastic Brass 12 spoke 13mm No Black Single LESNEY NO Y-1 ENGLAND K
Rarity: D - Difficult; S - Scarce; R - Rare; VR - Very Rare; ER - Extremely Rare
Box: D2 - Pictorial background with MOY banner; D3 - Pictorial background with 'Matchbox' banner; E - Picture of model on end flap; E1 - End flap picture plus 'Matchbox ®'; F - Pink and yellow see-through; G - Purple and yellow see-through; H - Woodgrain effect with clear panel; K - Connoisseur Set

 

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