Matchbox Pre-Production Models

Matchbox models are previewed at various shows and events around the world where orders can be taken from retailers for the product, as no production samples of forthcoming releases are usually available mock-ups made in Resin are often used , if production has advanced far enough for the first die-cast samples to have been made these are used too, Pre-production models are used to test the castings to ensure they fit together correctly , there are no sharp edges and the paint coverage is correct. Often they are created in different colours to the final production model and can also have different coloured plastics , utilising any paint and other material which is available at the time.

Problems with licensing can also result in a last minute design change or even cancellation of the release.

Identification :-  Models quite often have the last digit of the year missing from the base , an incorrect model description or a different model number (for Lesney castings) to that finally used , differences in colour and tampo printing are common.

The models shown below are all Pre-Productions from the Lesney era.

1962 Corvette	Cable Truck
Leyland Bus (Plastic Body)	BMW Polizei with regular model
Mercury Cougar Dragster	Blaze Buster
Matra Rancho

This Pre-Production Citroen SM in yellow was pictured in a Matchbox Trade catalogue :-

Here are some Matchbox Pre-Production models from later years :-

VW Bus - Live N Learn	Datsun
MICA Canada	Coca Cola (Red Bottles)

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