A stunning 1/76 scale model of an earlier Leyland badged Boxer, post BMC badge engineered Austin and Morris variants but pre major facelift which took this multi named range of trucks through to the mid 1980's! Made by Base Toys who are the unsung heroes of diecast and who offer a very wide selection of classic commercial vehicles mainly of UK origin it offers immense levels of detailing and accurate era appropriate liveries. I guess its position in the market is similar to that of Greenlight and Auto World in being classed as semi premium products.
Sadly unlike its U.S. counterparts you are unlikely to find Base Toys in a normal big box store.....having said that I found this gem in my local branch of Bargain World. Mint and boxed.

Tags:   base toys leyland boxer bmc british leyland diecast

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Its "N" registration and LEYLAND badging puts this particular FG model firmly in the 1970's by which point it was becoming distinctly obsolete yet still selling in healthy numbers to patriotic buyers.
Base Toys have quite rightly maximised this casting to not only include various different liveries but also different body styles too, this probably being its most impressive and specialised. A Crewbus designed to transport various rail staff its shape has been captured perfectly, Base Toys are clearly not designed to be toys regardless of its title, more for collectors and model railway enthusiasts which means more attention to detail and a much higher level of quality. Bought from a model shop? Nope, I found it on the shelves of my local Bargain World store. Mint and boxed.

Tags:   base toys leyland fg british leyland bmc diecast

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Having had more marque names changes than an international con man its sometimes quite difficult to correctly catalogue models of long running British Leyland commercial vehicles! This Base Toys FG truck wears a mid 1960's "D" registration putting it firmly in the BMC era so its either an AUSTIN or MORRIS variant though this toy company does refer to 70's variants as LEYLANDS too. Confused yet? ;-p
Being born in 1977 my memories of this most distinctive of trucks lays with some of the last versions which were produced into the very early 1980's and ironically its its use as a Sunblest Bread delivery truck which shines in my mind the most, arguably a lot of people probably share that exact same view too. Its bulbous cab design with pioneering kerb side windows and doors designed not to open out into traffic were viewed as very modern on its launch but typical of many British vehicles of the era it stayed in production too long and looked virtually archaic by its demise.
Base Toys offer a truly astonishing range of models based on this truck spanning the 60's and 70's with countless era appropriate liveries and different body styles to match too. Quality and detailing are top notch too as you'd expect with intricate grille and headlight designs matched to realistic wheels. Bought recently from my local Bargain World where it cost the equivalent of just two ASDA bought Matchbox models!
Mint and boxed.

Tags:   base toys bmc fg british leyland bmc diecast

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If I search to the very depths of my mind I can JUST about remember seeing Roadline liveried trucks on our roads though more commonly it was after the trucks had been sold off and this unique colour scheme and graphics could still be faintly seen on them even after attempts had been made to remove it. Thats certainly how I remember the ubiquitous Leyland FG cab with its cuddly round styling and unique curbside lower windows and the fact this ancient relic from the BMC days was actually produced right into the early 1980's! Base Toys have made several versions of this cab with appropriate numbers of marque variations and body styles and as these are hardly supermarket fodder its quite difficult to keep up with new releases. Clearly aimed at adult collectors it is marvellously well cast with pin sharp detailing and era appropriate badging and registration number putting this as a mid 70's vintage. Bought recently from my nearest model shop which is 2k Technologies in West Yorkshire. Mint and boxed.

Tags:   base toys leyland fg bmc british leyland diecast

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Such a beautifully detailed and inexpensive little model of a Ford D-Series truck by Base Toys finished in an authentic British Rail Express Parcels livery. Mint and boxed.

Tags:   base toys ford d-series diecast Ford

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