Matchbox/Lesney 36a; Austin A50; Blue-green, Metal Wheels

The Austin Cambridge (sold as A40, A50, A55, and A60) was made by the Austin Motor Company, part of BMC, from September 1954 through to 1969. It replaced the A40 Somerset but was entirely new with modern unibody construction. The car had two basic body styles with the A40, A50 and early A55s using a traditional rounded shape and later A55s and A60s using Farina styling. The old body shape, this one, actually lasted into the early 1970s in the form of vans and pickups.

Matchbox introduced their A50 in 1957 and produced it up to 1961, most of the ones you will see have turquoise bodywork, the later releases are pale blue. Wheels were initially metal and later grey plastic. The later pale blue cars with grey plastic wheels generally get a premium on the value.

This MBX was sourced in November 2012 from a private collection