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The Blunders – An everyday story...with Mr Blunders
In 1977 the British public was introduced to the Blunders – Mr Blunder, played by Ivor Salter – a familiar face on TV at the time, drove a 1972, Austin 1100 Mark II, unfortunately he wasn’t the greatest of drivers!
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,850 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
Thankfully we have laminared screens now .toughened glass causes bad injuries
This is filmed around Uxbridge and Ickenham
I think the name " Mr Blunders " is not the right name.. It should be " Mr MORON " needs locking up.
Harry Hewerdine Tabitha Sutton
Model Series – Lesney Matchbox MG 1100
Lesney Products & Co. Ltd., was founded in 1947 as an industrial die-casting company by Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith – they were not related but had been school friends and served together in the Royal Navy during World War II; Lesney was a created name from their first names. Soon after John "Jack" Odell, an engineer from another die-casting company joined Lesney as a partner.
Odell had a daughter, Annie, who kept on bringing home spiders and creepy-crawlies inside a matchbox, so Odell promised to make her a toy that would fit in the matchbox if she didn't bring home any more spiders! Odell then made her a scaled-down Road Roller, which became popular at her school and the idea was then born to sell the model in a replica matchbox – thus also yielding the name of the series which would propel Lesney to worldwide, mass-market success with 1:75 scale models. Originally, Lesney used a partner company, Moko (named after its founder, Moses Kohnstam), to market and distribute its toys and on the boxes the script, "A Moko Lesney product" appeared but in due course Lesney bought Moko.
Model number 64 appeared in 1959 and was a Moko Lesney Matchbox Series Scammell Breakdown truck – retrospectively this became known as №64a because in 1966 another 64 was released, becoming known as №64b – an MG 1100 saloon; a green car with an ivory interior complete with a driver, a dog on the back seat and a tow bar. All the wheels had suspension and originally they were 10 x 36 with small dome head axles, later they became 11 x 45 with slightly larger dome heads.
The models were made from Mazac, a mixture of Zinc (94%), Aluminium (4%), and Magnesium (1%) and had axles made from mild steel – officially there were no model variations of this MG 1100 but at least 4-casting variations exist – generally Matchbox dies could be modified to add ejector rings or pips to aid the removal of the toy from the die, also a model could be inadvertently changed when a die wore or needed repair. Also, due to damaged, worn or broken dies, some models could be replaced with what appears to be an identical piece but on closer examination is a slightly enlarged or modified piece – also, Lesney used more than one die per model and they bought in paint resulting in shade and brightness differences, so there are countless variations for the collector to look for!
With very special thanks to Nick Jones, and also Antonin Shenk
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,850 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
I did not know that about the axles. Had a look at my collection and I have both types. 😁
I remember going shopping in the mid 60s with my Mother and many times had the treat of choosing a matchbox model from the glass display cabinet on the toy shop wall. I can also remember going into Newcastle and closing a MINIX plastic Morris 1100 from a display stand in a big department store.
I had that model when I was a kid. I was as fascinated with the toy, as I was with the dog. Great post.
For some reason I never had an ADO16 Matchbox toy, but the two I vividly remember are my bright green mk4 Cortina and a mk1 transit flatbed that had a packing crate on the back of it!
I still have it! And I have the blue “superfast” version as well. 😊
in the 70s the same model was sold with a metallic turquoise paint job
Lovein Mardamootoo met photo to vitrine.fer zot babe n cou
Spain 1974-2021 – Austin Victoria (Part 2 of 2)
Javier has very fond memories of the family’s AUTHI built Austin Victoria which his father bought in 1970 and kept until 1990...
...so when in 2020 Javier came across a 1974, Austin Victoria showing only 28,000 km it was for him just like finding buried treasure – a complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration was necessary but by the end of 2021 Javier and his brother were able to present the restored Victoria at the annual meeting of their local classic car club...
...and 47-years on, Javier re-enacted the photograph with his brother.
We’re the global umbrella for the ADO16, the BMC/British Leyland 1100/1300 – in well over 60 countries and with a Facebook Group of over 2,850 members! You can join us too; the only ADO16 club with a FREE membership level: www.ado16.info/membership-join
Looks a lot less Dolomite-like in these photos somehow, has a clearer style of its own. I'm convinced this would have done a lot better than the Allegro ever did at a fraction of the development cost. Especially with the bigger E series engines fitted to meet the challenge from Ford. Perhaps that would have given them the funds and reputation to successfully introduce the Maestro in the late 70s when it was originally intended
Another icon saved!! Beautiful
Marc Grau Esther Grau
Joel Mutton
Interesting..
This week’s cover image – built in Spain, the Austin Victoria design was actually sold to AUTHI by Leyland South Africa; it was in production from October 1972 until May 1975 ending only when a bankrupt British Leyland sold the AUTHI factory to SEAT. Our featured car is in standard form of which only 7,393 were built compared to 17, 289 for the twin headlight Deluxe model.
This week’s cover image – built in Spain, the Austin Victoria design was actually sold to AUTHI by Leyland South Africa; it was in production from October 1972 until May 1975 ending only when a bankrupt British Leyland sold the AUTHI factory to SEAT. Our featured car is in standard form of which only 7,393 were built compared to 17, 289 for the twin headlight Deluxe model.
Better looking and a decent boot than the UK version and its Allegro replacement. BMC/BLMC missed so many opportunities through lack of capital and inefficient working practices and factories
Bill Sales
