Matchbox 12a; Land Rover Series 1

How cute is this? What a nice simple little model of the early Series One Land Rover. Probably an 86" model from the early/mid Fifties. Matchbox released 12a in 1955 and kept it in the range until it was replaced by the Series 2 version of the SWB Landy in 1959, 12b, a year after Land-Rover themselves made the switch. The Number 12 slot was held right up to 1971 by another Land-Rover, the 12c which was a Series 2a LWB Station Wagon - so there were 17 years of Series 1&2 Land-Rovers at Number 12 in the range.

There are no rare versions to look out for - except perhaps those examples that have managed to hang on to their driver. Your will see it with either rounded or crimped axles, the wheels are always metal