In 1886, John S. Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, concocted the "elixir" that would become the world's most popular soft drink of all time. The drink was named COCA-COLA by Pemberton's assistant, Frank Robinson, who also developed the trademarked script that identifies the drink everywhere. On May 8, 1886, Pemberton made his first retail sale. Before long, COCA-COLA was being sold at soda fountains, train stations, theater lobbies, drug and department stores. Pemberton died two years later and, in 1891, the COCA-COLA formula and the rights to its name were bought by Asa G. Candler. It is Candler, perhaps, who is most responsible for making COCA-COLA one of the most recognizable brands in the world. A promoter by trade, Candler was an energetic marketer and, before long, was providing retailers with colourful posters and cut-outs, glasses and light fixtures, signs and equipment - all prominently displaying the COCA-COLA brand name. By the 1930s, sales of COCA-COLA had reached extraordinary levels.

Now, this achievement is reinforced on the sign of a colourful die-cast replica of a 1937 GMC "Special Delivery" Van: Nine Million Drinks A Day. Precision-engineered, your COCA-COLA Brand 1937 GMC Van is marked with mwticulous attention to detail. It is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

(1996)

Scale: 1:45