Tanzara (53d) is one of the many fantasy jobs MB produced in the early seventies to compete with the all-conquering Hot Wheels from Mattel. I think this is one of the less successful ones in stylistic terms. Like a few of them it is heavy looking while trying to be stylish, at which it fails.

The variations you will see are white or orange paintwork, yellow or green windows, red or plated silver interior/engine unit and with or without stars and stripes tampos which can be red/blue or orange/blue, the tampos are only seen on the white version. Production began in 1972 on the orange versions switching to white in 1975 and eventually the model was deleted in 1976.

The only one which is seen as rarer than the others is the white one with stars and stripes and a red interior/engine casting, however it is very hard to find and consequently quite valuable.

Matchbox/Lesney 53d; Tanzara; Orange, Plated Engine & Seats, Unpainted Base, Green Windows	Matchbox/Lesney 53d; Tanzara; Orange, Plated Engine & Seats, Unpainted Base, Yellow Windows (I Box)	Matchbox/Lesney 53d; Tanzara; White, Plated Engine & Seats, Unpainted Base, Yellow Windows, Blue & Red Stars & Stripes Tampo, Rn53 (J Box)

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Last Edit: 12/06/2024		Page Added 10/04/2021