Matchbox Lesney Rolamatics # 20 - Police Patrol - Made in England - 1975

Description

1975 Army Ambulance Matchbox Rolamatics No. 20 Lesney Police Patrol
Matchbox is a popular toy brand which was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953, and is now owned by Mattel, Inc, which purchased the brand in 1997. The brand was given its name because the original die-cast Matchbox toys were sold in boxes similar to those in which matches were sold.
Diecast cars are built from zinc alloy — and offer a healthy dose of nostalgia. In the peak of their production, these small-scale cars were carefully modeled after real-life designs produced by automobile manufacturers. For collectors in the market today, diecast cars perfectly marry two popular collecting categories: vintage toys & classic cars.
This listing is for a Rolamatics type Matchbox military police Range Rover, model No. 20, made by Lesney Products and Co. Ltd in England.
The full-size, two-door, Range Rover was built by Rover in England and introduced in 1970 with a 3.5 litre, V8 engine which developed 130 bhp. It operated in permanent, all-wheel-drive through a four-speed gearbox, two-speed transfer case and a lockable centre differential. The wheelbase was 100 inches and the body and the engine of the car were built of a light alloy.
The significance of the car at the time was that it was an entirely new concept and design which combined the features of a luxury station wagon with a heavy-duty, multi-purpose vehicle which gave excellent cross-country performance and maximum tractability.
This 1975 Army Ambulance Matchbox Rolamatics No. 20 Lesney Police Patrol is in good condition. Please see pictures.