Most colours used by Lesney on baseplates can be matched to deleted or current 1-75 series models, with odd colours like charcoal & metallic grey previously being seen on Yesteryears.I think its fun to show the baseplates and the old model that was originally specified in that colour.Anybody got anymore (especially metallic green)?

Lincolns always seemed lighter than Fiat 1500s to my eyes although it could be an optical illusion caused by red seats in the Fiat.........anyway here are 2 distinctly different shades on Ford GT baseplates,one of which matches the Lincoln, the other the Fiat

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/toys/2009-July069-1.jpg

Here are a pair of gray wheels 39a Zodiac convertibles - one has a sea green baseplate to match the 33 Zodiac and the other a blue green baseplate to match the 70 Thames van
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/toys/2009-July065-1.jpg

no real chassis detail, is there?

Neat thread idea. I'll see if I can come up with any matches.

Neat thread idea. I'll see if I can come up with any matches.
Paint left over from the pink 23 Caravans was used on the baseplates of many transitionals although I only have one somewhere to dig up.......
No 69 Commer Nestles van matches baseplates of 27 Caddy Sixty Specials & 39 Pontiac convertables

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/toys/2009-July068.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/toys/2009-Aug022.jpg
Lesney had lots of caravan pink leftover as it appears on the baseplates of many different castings

I'm told, by one of the experts in this field, that the paint on the green Lincoln and the other cars posted on are not the same greens as proven by paint lab analysis. They LOOK the same, but are not in reality the same paint.

I'm told, by one of the experts in this field, that the paint on the green Lincoln and the other cars posted on are not the same greens as proven by paint lab analysis. They LOOK the same, but are not in reality the same paint.

Very interesting comment - is this lab report available on line?

Lesney bought paint by the drum, most likely those fullsize oil barrel size, from more than one supplier and over many years, and choosing one aqua Lincoln and 1 Ford GT baseplate is unlikely to result in finding out that both were painted from the same batch of paint so no surprises in those lab results.
Furthermore old paint that has been standing for some years is likely to be mixed with additional solvent ,perhaps of a different brand, before use in spray guns. By eye it is possible to see that a large proportion of baseplates have a much thinner and less glossy coat of paint than the body shell,which is also evidence of the use of extra solvents which would account for a large variance in lab chemistry.
With a whole rainbow of colours to choose from, few intelligent people will be able to have faith in the idea that the Superfast baseplate color choices of caravan pink, Lincoln aqua,Corsair yellow,Austin A55 metallic green,Yesteryear silvergray & charcoal was in any way random or coincidental because all these shades had already been selected by Lesney in the 1960s.
Here is Corsair yellow on a Ford GT baseplate
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/SMS369/2009-Aug026.jpg

i guess they didn't care about chassis detail back then... (would make the cost go up) ?

i guess they didn't care about chassis detail back then... (would make the cost go up) ?
Lesney focused on using the baseplates to makesure kids were in no doubt that these were Matchbox Superfast toys, and a bright colour rather than black may have been an effort to get the kids to notice the SUPERFAST text a bit more often in those days when HOTWHEELS were eating into every traditional Lesney market.
Using significantly thinned paint on the baseplates made the raised letters stand out more legibly, and as we can see on the playworn pink Ford group 6 above, it was easy to rub the paint off the letters so that the Matchbox Superfast legend really did stand out very visibly in grey.
It would be interesting to see the results of a lab test with the thick glossy metallic silver grey of the yellow seats 69a Rolls convertible compared to Yesteryear paint - this is the only very thick and high gloss baseplate colour that I have in my collection

IT WOULD BE NICE TO READ MOUNTAIN´s OPINION on this subject :wave:

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8382/dodgedragstersf70baselj8.jpg[/QUOTE]
Here is one of Mountain´s superb photos showing baseplates in Corsair yellow, Victor estate yellow,Austin A55 metallic green and Unimog tan. The common only to this casting purple colour doesnt ring any bells and may well have been intended for the baseplate of this casting from the beginning as full gloss lush yellow was chosen for the Alfa Carabou before being used on the new Datsun 126X

thanks for the info :)