Caterpillar Bulldozer: Matchbox No.18

There are four different Caterpillar bulldozers with number 18, it can be hard to tell them apart, hopefully this page will help a bit.

The first release Caterpillar Bulldozer (18a) came out in 1955 and remained in production until 1958. Noticeably it had a red or red/orange bulldozer blade and a driver wearing a hat. All of the rest of the #18 Bulldozers were yellow all over and none of the other drivers wears a hat.

The second release (18b) came out in 1958 and was produced to 1961, it was 50mm in length. The third Caterpillar Bulldozer at No.18 in the Lesney range (18c) was again larger than its predecessor at 58mm in length. It was in the range from 1961 to 1964. These two, 18b and 18c, are hard to tell apart as they are visually so similar, both having drivers, neither of which wears a hat.

The most reliable method its to measure the length (50mm for 18b, 58mm for 18c), there is also a difference in the dozer blade casting; 18b has a squared-off top edge on the blade while 18c is curved all the way to the top.

The fourth Caterpillar Bulldozer at No.18 in the Lesney range was again larger than its predecessor at 62mm in length. It was in the range from 1964 to 1969. There is no driver figure which makes it the easiest one to identify.