The restoration or modification of play worn, old and forgotten Matchbox toys is a commendable and worthy effort.  An old Matchbox car with playwear and scratches exhibits hours of enjoyment experienced by little tikes over 50to 70 years ago.  Bringing these little classics back to their former glory serves to provide hours of enjoyment for us older tikes (like me) that appreciate, collect, display and restore the most significant series of diecast toys ever made, the Lesney Matchbox 1-75 Regular Wheels Series. 

A true restoration is A LOT more than a new paint job.  There are a lot of restorers doing a great job of bringing these treasures back to life.  When considering purchasing a restored or customized Matchbox model, buyers should carefully inspect the photos and request more photos if helpful.  Sellers should point out even the smallest flaws to eliminate buyer disappointment. Buyers should keep in mind that even brand new, fresh from the factory Matchbox cars may have a factory flaw, often found in the casting or painting process.  Axle ends are often a sign of a quality restoration.  All original Matchbox 1-75 models have axles with two different ends.  It always bothered me that one side of the model would include one end that was perfectly smooth, rounded and larger. On the same side of the model the other axle end was either crimped (on earlier models), and the majority were crushed by a drill press the Lesney factory upon final assembly to form a small, unattractive mushroom ridge that kept the wheel from coming off.  A lot of restorers don’t have the equipment to replicate the small end of the axle.  Although the rest of the model may look good, if the axle ends look messy or mangled, it’s a real distraction from an otherwise good restoration. When replacing axles (which is generally necessary when doing a complete restoration) I use an axle system that doesn’t require a drill press, ball peen hammer, or any kind of glue.  The best part is all axle ends match perfectly on all four ends (or all 6 six ends, or all 8 ends, etc.)  

Restorations are meant for collecting and displaying.  Although a good restoration may be as sturdy and robust as a factory model, restorations should be handled carefully and not "played with". For example, the lower half of the Mercedes Coach, 68B is diecast, but the upper half is made up of a long thin clear plastic window unit covered by a white plastic roof supported by over 30 thin window dividers, all of which have aged 50+ years.  In the hands of a 4-10 year old, a mint or restored Mercedes Coach would have little chance of surviving fifteen minutes of playtime.

Restoring Lesney Matchbox 1-75 Regular Wheels takes time and patience, and the process becomes easier and produces a better product with time.  It’s therapeutic, rewarding and fun.  Collecting restored models is a great way to add to, or complete your collection with pristine rare models at a fraction of the market price, or simply replace badly worn models and keep your collection shiny and impressive. 

 Buy smart, ask questions, and most of all enjoy the fun of collecting!

cb4ever1