Matchbox 18f; Hondarora

It appears to be modelled on the Honda CB750 Four, a motorcycle I coveted back then, I only had a CB175 twin. Matchbox put it into production in 1974 and it continued right through to the end of Lesney in 1983. The same bike was released as 33e in Police livery and it is also found in a number of sets including Super Kings in both Police and civilian finish.

There are a lot of variations over such a long production run. From 1974 to 1980 they are mostly red with variations in which plastic parts are painted and or plated and whether or not they got the Honda sticker on the petrol tank. The rarest one of these has a white seat, presumably off the Police model. During this period there were some released in orange and in military drab green. The 1981/2 releases were metallic green and from 82/83 it switched to yellow with a brown or tan rider figure.