These nice late 1970s Matchbox models were part of my recent banner day at the Village Flea Market. At 25 cents apiece, I was happy to take each of these home with me – especially with all of the plastic parts intact and functioning properly.
1976 | 29 | Tractor Shovel | dark yellow with red plastic shovel, chrome hubs, black motor, no markings | made in England
This Snorkel Fire Engine seems familiar to me. I think one of my childhood buddies might have had one of these.
1977 | 13 | Snorkel Fire Engine (closed cab) | red with blue windows, yellow plastic boom & bucket, unpainted base | made in England
This Sambron Jacklift reminds me of the Fork Lift from my childhood.
1977 | 48 | Sambron Jacklift | yellow no markings, black base, silver hubs | made in England
I already had the yellow Diesel Shunter, but this one is in much better shape. The Shunter was originally released in 1978 with metallic green paint.
1979 | 24 | Diesel Shunter Locomotive | yellow w/red metal undercarriage, red base | made in England
That Tractor Shovel has been in the range a long time.
It sure has, Jim. The Matchbox wiki shows 15 variations from 1976 to 2014.
[…] The CAT Forklift goes all the way back to the 1980 Hot Wheels Workhorses series. About nine different variations have been made up until 2001. I don’t have any of the other CAT versions, but I do have a couple of nice Matchbox forklifts, one from my childhood and another that I found at the Village Flea Market. […]
[…] and also paid $2.50 for it. It has a few paint chips, but makes a really nice companion to the Tractor Shovel and Sambron Jacklift that I found awhile back at the Village Flea Market. This all yellow with black interior Site […]