DESIGN CHANGES AND CONFLICTING MODELS
read with interest the letters in the January 2021 issue regarding the Bedford TK, specifically questioning why the Matchbox version incorporated a tilt cab, because I believe I may have the answer. As I understand it, Bedford had originally planned for the TK to have a tilting cab and had built the prototype(s) with this feature. However, it proved too costly to adopt for the production item and was abandoned at the last minute in favour of opening panels. Indeed, as one reader mentions, they went ahead with the tilt cab for the TK's replacement, the TL, and it is said that the cost of it was contributory to the demise of the company. Frequently toy companies would work with car, truck and bus manufacturers to develop models of forthcoming vehicles during the prototyping stage, so that the toy itself could be released as near as possible to the launch of the full-sized item, presumably to benefit from the publicity generated. However, this would sometimes backfire if the manufacturer changed the design at the last minute and alter details that had already been applied to the toy, and this is clearly what happened to Matchbox. Another example would be Dinky's MGB, which is clearly based on the pre-production item as it featured an opening panel on the rear deck (for removable hood storage?) and overriders positioned on the bumpers beyond the outer extremes of the grille, both of which were changed on the production car. Similarly, Corgi's version of the Ferrari 250LM was modelled on the prototype that featured much narrower ‘buttress' panels and shallower, more faired-in, rear air scoops than those on the production (such as they were) examples. I'm sure others can point to many more instances where toy manufacturers were wrong-footed by last minute changes and I've often thought a magazine article featuring such differences would make very interesting reading so if anybody out there would like to take on this challenge, it would be very welcome. BobAllen,Woking
IED Ah, that makes perfect sense now. As do all the other inconsistencies that you point out (I've never noticed any of these!). You're right, though, an article highlighting such differences would be most fascinating – I'm sure our contributors can rise to the challenge.
ED Many thanks for sending this in and, I agree, there could well be some similarity of manufacture here. Far from being an expert in this area, I'm throwing this open to our super-knowledgeable readers.