Matchbox Variations 1953 - 1969

D Box Variations
The 2 sub-types are recognized by their end flaps
D1 Lettering is written in serifs D2 Lettering is written without serifs
Picture
This is the most noticeable variation. Different drawings exist for the same model and
some drawing have only slight variations
Different drawing and 2 nd box has target
Different decal colours shown here
Number
D1 boxes nearly always have the model number without serifs and smaller than D2
D1 box with smaller number D2 D1 without serifs D2 with serifs
Targets
A few new models had a “target”. The target shows the model’s special features.
17D, 33B and 71B were issued with a yellow (1 st issue) and white target (2 nd issue).
The 17D Hoveringham Tipper is notable for having E style lettering on a variation.
New Model
Some models issued for the first time do not have a D1 type box, whilst others have both
Models with “NEW MODEL” are 2C, 6C, 15C, 16C, 17D, 32B, 33B, 38B, 43B, 47B, 53B,
55B, 58B, 59B, 71B and 73B.
Size
The following D box sizes are:
62B is found
Length Width Height in size 1 and
67mm 26mm 38mm size 2
67mm 38mm 38mm
78mm 26mm 38mm
78mm 38mm 38mm
Side Colours
The side colours can be blue/black (D1 & D2), 2 blue side (D2) & 2 light blue sides (D2)