Yesteryear Collection - 1916 AEC Y Type Lorry

This popular 3-4 tonner built between the years 1916 - 1921 was powered by a petrol engine developing 45 b.h.p.
A similar vehicle known as the Standard Three Ton "W.D." Lorry saw active service in the first world war when 10.000 of these were made, which was a very considerable achievement for those days.
This 'Y' type vehicle had an all steel chassis with solid tyres and a wooden body. It was well known for its pulling power and robust construction.

The (Y6-1) 1916 AEC Y Type lorry joined the range in 1957. Last issued in 1961 after just four years in production so it was probably not a great seller but now regarded as the hardest to find "first series" model, especially in perfect condition.

Livery: (Transfers)
Lorry sides: 'OSRAM LAMPS' in white with black surround and 'G.E.C. LONDON' in white, all within red border.

Variations/Rarities: Late pre-production and early releases were painted in a pale blue colour, known as 'duck-egg', but were soon replaced by mid-blue and then by a light grey colour. The paint pigment has a tendency to fade to a blueish grey colour and so these have not been given individual codings.
The wheels were grenodised die cast metal with the front being a 10 spoked design while the rears were a 16 spoke daisy pattern which once again were completely new castings.
Due to oversights at the factory, several runs of the model had bonnet handles which were not painted by the outworkers. These have not been given separate codings.
By 1959 the shade of grey had been considerably darkened. Those models are slightly harder to find than the lighter grey ones.
The final run saw the need to use black plastic wheels taken from models in the 1-75 series.

The transfers used by Lesney were relatively fragile and it is hard to find a model with absolutely perfect ones. Original transfers normally discolour with age.
The blue versions and the one with black plastic tyres are all very rare.

Between 1997 and 1998 two more pale blue models and one mid-blue model, all three with their radiator shells in silver, were sold on the collectors market. All three models were in excellent condition and the silver trim was identical in texture and finish to that normally associated with the light and dark grey models. These new 'finds' caused quite a stir at the time and demonstrated that there are still more variants to be recorded!


1916 AEC Y Type Lorry; Osram Lamps	Blue with gold radiator-shell and grenodised wheels	Light grey with silver radiator-shell and grenodised wheels	Dark grey with silver radiator-shell and grenodised wheels	Black solid wheels

Information as from "The Yesteryear Book 1956-2002"
Issue	Year of Release	Colour	Radiator Shell	Seat	Driver	Steering Wheel	Grille	Front Wheels	Rear Wheels	Axles	Logo	Baseplate	Rarity	Box
1	1957	Pale blue body & chassis	Gold	Pale blue	Pale blue	Pale blue	Pale blue	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	ER	A
2		Mid blue body & chassis	Silver	Pale blue	Pale blue	Pale blue	Pale blue	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	ER	A
3	1957	Mid blue body & chassis	Gold	Mid blue	Mid blue	Mid blue	Mid blue	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	ER	A
4		Mid blue body & chassis	Silver	Mid blue	Mid blue	Mid blue	Mid blue	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	ER	A
5		Light grey body & chassis	Silver	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	D	A
6		Light grey body & chassis	Silver	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Riveted	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	R	A
7	1958	Light grey body & chassis	Gold	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Light grey	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	R	A
8	1958	Dark grey body & chassis	Silver	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Crimped	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	R	A
9		Dark grey body & chassis	Silver	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Grenodised 10 spoke	Grenodised 16 daisy	Riveted	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	S	A
10	1961	Dark grey body & chassis	Silver	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Dark grey	Black solid 24 tread	Black solid 30 tread	Riveted	OSRAM LAMPS	LESNEY No6 ENGLAND	ER	A
Rarity: D - Difficult; S - Scarce; R - Rare; VR - Very Rare; ER - Extremely Rare
Box: A - Line drawing, black number on end flap