When Mr. Ray Stibbards learned that the mini-bus owned by the Greenwich Mentally Handicapped Society was no longer roadworthy, he began to organise a promotional model to raise funds towards a new mini-bus. The Society had estimated that a new mini-bus would cost in the region of £12,000, but when they approached the Variety Club of Great Britain, the latter agreed to match £1 for £1, funds raised by the Society towards the cost of the bus. Plans for the model got under way in April 1981 and Mr. Stibbards obtained the necessary permission from Lesney Products in June 1981. Only 300 'MENCAP' models were produced and all profits were donated to the Society - models were sold originally at £4.50 each and the £600 profits raised from this Code 2 model contributed significantly to the purchase of the Society's new mini-bus.

Livery: (Label)
- 'GREENWICH SOCIETY FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED' appears on the left-hand side van panel with a picture of a child beneath in red and 'VARIETY CLUB SUNSHINE COACH APPEAL 1981' appears in black on the right-hand side van panel with a heart beneath in red.

Other Comments/Identifying Features: Models can have either a yellow or black chassis with red 12 spoke wheels with black or whitewall tyres.

Fakes: Genuine models have labels printed on matt cartridge paper. The e's in Greenwich are touching, as are the figures 98 on the other side of the van. The boys face is partially solid red.
Fakes have labels printed on a plastic material, the e's and 98 are correctly spaced. The boy's face is pixelated.

Scale: 1:47

Greenwich Mentally Handicapped Bus Appeal

The Straw box has a sticker attached

Genuine model (left) and fake model (right)