Matchbox Racing Car Transporter Major Pack 6 King Size 5

The green Matchbox Racing Car Transporter Major Pack 6 King Size 5, is an interesting model with a lot of play value.

Many collectors appear unaware that this model was based on a prototype and is not pure fantasy. The fantasy part is the double decker loading ramp for F1-style racing cars.

The article linked here is from Model Auto Review shows a Ford Lotus Cortina being loaded into the transporter. The chassis is a Ford Thames PSV with the body work by Marshalls of Cambridge, which I imagine is the same Marshalls that built the prototype #35 Horsebox on the ERF chassis.

The Matchbox Racing Car Transporter was first issued as a Matchbox Major Pack M6b and later renumbered for the King Size models as K-5b when the Major Pack series was dropped.

The model also featured in the Race Track Gift Set G-4c (earlier issues: G-4a Farm Set; G-4b Grand Prix Set: later issues: G-4d Race’n Rally; G-4e Superfast Champions.)

Issued originally in a sliding tray box for the M-6b model and again with the King Size K-5 designation and later swapped to a window face box. The window face box was supplied with a pits diorama image and later with a chequered flag motif background. Later again the box was remodelled to include an upper hanger tab, with a plain yellow insert.

The model includes the BP racing logo and names race tracks as Le Mans, Sebring, Silverstone, and Nurburgring. I did read somewhere that another race track, (Monte Carlo?) was used at first but Matchbox had to change it for legal reasons. That said, maybe that decal was never issued, as I have yet to see one anywhere.

For your Matchbox Racing Car Transporter restoration, RecoverToy offers the following parts:

• Replacement set of 4 tyres – hard plastic
• Cab window and roof glazing unit
• Rear Door Ramp
• Decal sticker set
• Reproduction Window Box Set King Size K-5
• Reproduction Window Box Inner Tray Only