Models of Yesteryear

[billjustbill]

I came across this set and in the original carton it was shipped in. It was sent to a young girl, and by the postmark, it was July 30, 1965.

Each model box reads "A Lesney Product".

Every car is mint.

What do you think of the set?

Thanks,
Bill

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[Hangman]

Cool set, but not true models per say, I think they are die cast, AMT, Revel and Monogram where the big company's of the day, Those where my passion as a kid. But still very nice and there is a market for die cast.

 

[Lost&Found]

Lensey also manufactured Matchbox cars, a brand more familiar in the US, Nice buy.

 

[billjustbill]

On another one of the seven die cast models, here is what's cast into the bottom:

"Models of Yesteryear

1928 Mercedes Benz 36/220

Made in England by Lesney"

 

[tamrock]

Wow! I had at one time each and everyone of those very cars. It would have been around 1965 I think? That was around the time the movie "The Great Race came out and latter Chitty Chitty Ban Bang. You going to sell those Bill?

 

[billjustbill]

Wow! I had at one time each and everyone of those very cars. It would have been around 1965 I think? That was around the time the movie "The Great Race came out and latter Chitty Chitty Ban Bang. You going to sell those Bill?

I would be inclined to sell the full set along with the carton's provenance as the pics show. Don't know what a fair price for this kind of set would bring.

Bill

 

[tamrock]

I would be inclined to sell the full set along with the carton's provenance as the pics show. Don't know what a fair price for this kind of set would bring.

Bill

They do bring back some memories of mine. Not sure of what they'd be going for. Do you sell online like ebay and that? Fair Price? It may help to see what other think of that question and I'll do a little checking myself. Dang! you hit me. I'm I a fair and honest guy?

 

[tamrock]

I now found out how I came by these cars as a kid. It was joint promotion between the Mobil Oil Company and Lesney in the 1960s. It's all coming back to me. I know my mom wouldn't have just bought those for me unless there was a deal or something. I found out very early in life the stuff I saw in the store I wanted she'd wouldn't just buy it like you see mothers doing today for their screaming & crying little brats. If I just asked "why Not", she'd grab me by the arm and pull my face to her's and say with a very stern look. "BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED IT". That be the end of the discussion. My Mom's turning 90 here in October. Her childhood was the great depression. Thanks to her I'll never fall in love with the things that can't love me back, but still I like those cars.

 

[billjustbill]

I now found out how I came by these cars as a kid. It was joint promotion between the Mobil Oil Company and Lesney in the 1960s. It's all coming back to me. I know my mom wouldn't have just bought those for me unless there was a deal or something. I found out very early in life the stuff I saw in the store I wanted she'd wouldn't just buy it like you see mothers doing today for their screaming & crying little brats. If I just asked "why Not", she'd grab me by the arm and pull my face to her's and say with a very stern look. "BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED IT". That be the end of the discussion. My Mom's turning 90 here in October. Her childhood was the great depression. Thanks to her I'll never fall in love with the things that can't love me back, but still I like those cars.

Interesting information, do you have any links to the Mobile Promo?.... I, too, have a 90 year old mom....and understand your responsibility.

Thanks, Bill

 

[diggummup]

That is a great find Bill! I don't know the value but it is a pretty rare mail order promo set. Although this particular set was a promo for "DuPont no.7" products. Mobil oil did have a promo sets too. As you already mentioned do not get rid of the original shipping box. Here is the original salesmen's sample set-

and a DuPont no.7 ad from one of the magazines-

And here is your set-

Matchbox Models Of Yesteryear | Vectis Toy Auctions

 

[billjustbill]

Thank you Diggummup!

In a lesser condition that my set, selling for just over $122.00 made me smile.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it all together. Someone will like the set.

I paid $10 for it and another $5 for a small metal "bluish 6"x 6" square" portable camping stove that's also a collectible. Both came with stories of being a little girl and a mountain biking young lady from the original owner who has her yard/porch sale with the whole street has its yearly Street Sale in a historical part of town.


Bill

 

[diggummup]

Thank you Diggummup!

In a lesser condition that my set, selling for just over $122.00 made me smile.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it all together. Someone will like the set.

I paid $10 for it and another $5 for a small metal "bluish 6"x 6" square" portable camping stove that's also a collectible. Both came with stories of being a little girl and a mountain biking young lady from the original owner who has her yard/porch sale with the whole street has its yearly Street Sale in a historical part of town.


Bill

Is that stove an Optimus? I found an Optimus 8R recently myself, still in the (badly beaten) box.

 

[billjustbill]

I'll look this afternoon and get some pics.

 

[billjustbill]

I'll look this afternoon and get some pics.

I was looking for more hatchets and covers, but didn't get that far.

Here are the little Optimjs stove pics. It is about 10"x10". The pump-plunger doesn't pump air with the dry leather, but it appears everything works.

 

[tamrock]

Bill, Your set looks like all 7 that would have been in the promo set's offered. Still I wonder if what I had came from a Mobile Gas promotion?. My Dad was a regional manager for Standard Oil at the time those sets were being offered. I don't believe mom would have been filling up at Mobile in those days. I'm thinking my dad must have had a connection of some kind to those cars. They could have been offered to him as a possible promotion idea some how?. I do recall the same boxes that your set has, but I'm sure I tossed those for the get-go. My favorite was that blue Bugatti. I recall I referred to that red one with the enclosed coach marked Y-11 as the Munster car.

 

[diggummup]

I was looking for more hatchets and covers, but didn't get that far.

Here are the little Optimjs stove pics. It is about 10"x10". The pump-plunger doesn't pump air with the dry leather, but it appears everything works.

Nice. When you mentioned it was blue I thought it may be an Optimus.

Bill, Your set looks like all 7 that would have been in the promo set's offered. Still I wonder if what I had came from a Mobile Gas promotion?. My Dad was a regional manager for Standard Oil at the time those sets were being offered. I don't believe mom would have been filling up at Mobile in those days. I'm thinking my dad must have had a connection of some kind to those cars. They could have been offered to him as a possible promotion idea some how?. I do recall the same boxes that your set has, but I'm sure I tossed those for the get-go. My favorite was that blue Bugatti. I recall I referred to that red one with the enclosed coach marked Y-11 as the Munster car.

Here is the Mobil Oil Promo set that Lesney Models of Yesteryear produced- MOY sets

[h=4]Mobil Promotion[/h]

A joint promotion with Mobil Oil company and Lesney in mid 60s in which Models of Yesteryear were given away in exchange for 'purchase'coupons. Some of the models were in special Mobil boxes.

• Y2-2 1911 Renault Two Seater
• Y3-2 1910 Benz Limousine in cream and green
• Y5-2 1929 4.5 Litre Bentley No 5
• Y6-2 1926 Type 35 Bugatti in blue or red
• Y8-2 1914 Sunbeam Motorcycle and Milford Sidecar
• Y10-2 1928 Mercedes Benz 36/220

[h=4][/h]​

 

[wagbert]

A-uggaa....Those are real fine quality die cast cars. I think a lot of people, young and old, would like to have them. I quit bringing stuff home. I want to keep everything.
Good Luck with selling them,
Phil

 

[billjustbill]

Is that stove an Optimus? I found an Optimus 8R recently myself, still in the (badly beaten) box.

In some of 111 models I see for sale, some have cleaned and polished the copper parts. With the pics of the one I have, Diggummup, what would you do before selling it?

 

[diggummup]

In some of 111 models I see for sale, some have cleaned and polished the copper parts. With the pics of the one I have, Diggummup, what would you do before selling it?

I'm debating that one myself. Mine is in the box but it is tarnished. I'm thinking of maybe giving it a quick polish whenever I do get the time to sell it. Even though I only paid a few bucks for it, I don't want to spend too much time on polishing it.