Matchbox/Lesney 47d; Beach Hopper; Blue Metallic, Pink Spots, Orange Seats, Pink Base, Beige Driver, No Windscreen, Sunburst Sticker, Rollamatics

The Rollamatics range was very curious, cars that when you push them along something moves, it doesn't seem to matter what it is that moves, just has to be something. Here it is the driver. To me there is a real disconnect with this Matchbox car. It is actually quite a cool little beach buggy in some whacky colours, metallic gentian bodywork with orange (sometimes yellow) seats and pink spots splashed all over the bodywork with a matching pink base, all topped off with a sunburst sticker on the bonnet. Really groovy as you might have said in 1973. The driver however is modelled on somebody's granddad. Beige mac, flat cap and scarf. Who let that go into production?

Beach Hopper was in the Matchbox range from 1973 to 1978. It was always metallic gentian blue with pink spots, seats are mostly orange, sometimes yellow and some of the orange seat models have a windscreen, most do not. The yellow seats version is the one to go for.

This MBX was sourced in August 2013 from Lacy Scott & Knight auctioneers