Matchbox 12c; Land Rover Safari

The third of the Matchbox Land-Rovers was 12c which came out in 1965, in 1970 the wheels were changed to Superfast and the model remained in the range until 1971. The black wheels versions are generally teal blue in colour, with early releases being green and the Superfast versions are shades of gold metallic, some so pale as to be silver.

They must have made millions upon millions of these, it is unusual though to find an unboxed one complete with the luggage and tow hook intact. It is mostly a very good model, just spoilt by the windscreen. No Land Rover ever had a screen that deep. The Matchbox modellers missed off the scuttle panel below the screen where the vents are located - Dinky did the same with their LWB Series 2a Land Rover, I wonder if they copied each other? That aside this toy is very well modelled.

There are some significant rarities to look out for with this one and they are teal blue ones with Superfast wheels and gold ones with black plastic regular wheels. They are very rare and worth a great deal of money, probably some of the most valuable Matchboxes around. However all my references ask you to beware of fakes.