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Budgie Toys No.278

RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover

Issued 1963-64    Length 97mm

 

Second of the two Budgie Land Rovers was the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) Radio Rescue version. This was promoted as being in regular radio contact and so included an aerial which fitted into a hole on the nearside wing.

 

The casting and construction of the RAC Land Rover was identical to the AA model (No.268) including windows but it was painted in the blue RAC livery in use at the time. Inside a bench seat was included and at the rear there were opening doors comprising a lowering tailgate and a lifting upper door. On the sides large decals were attached with 'Radio RAC Rescue' in white on a green background. White RAC decals were also applied to both front wings and both rear upper corners. The roof (a separate casting) had a sign board at the front (another separate casting) on which was a decal reading 'Radio RAC Rescue'.

 

The RAC Land Rover had front and rear numberplates, the front one also including the grille. There were two possible numbers, 'WLM 899' or 'YYU 384' which were the same as the AA Land Rover but seem to have been issued in reverse order on the RAC models with 'WLM 899' on earlier issues and 'YYU 384' on later ones.

 

The RAC Land Rover had silver trim added to the headlights although this seems to have been dropped on late models, and a metal aerial which fitted into a little hole on the left front wing. Inside, clear windows were added for the front windscreens and the side doors.

 

Early models had black painted metal wheels with knobbly tyres on axles inside the black glossy base which had the number '278' cast on a defined panel. Otherwise the base was identical to the AA version (No.268) with 'A Budgie Toy' and 'Land Rover' included in the lettering.

 

The main change to the RAC Land Rover was the fitting of silver plastic wheels but the knobbly tyres continued. Both 'WLM 899' and 'YYU 384' numbers were used on these variations. Also, because the base was shared with the AA Land Rover, some RAC models were fitted with AA bases carrying the number '268'.

 

The box in which the RAC Land Rover was issued is interesting because it was the first to have a panel on the reverse side describing the real vehicle on which the model was based (B2). It was the only type of box which the RAC Land Rover had and it is a hard one to find.

 

The RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover had a short run and is a scarce model. Mint boxed examples are rare.

Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover
Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover

Variation 1: black pmw, 'WLM 899', aerial, windows

Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover
Variations

 

1)  BLUE body, BLACK pmw, Aerial, Windows, 'WLM 899', B2 box

 

2)  BLUE body, SILVER pw, Aerial, Windows, 'WLM 899', B2 box 

 

3)  BLUE body, SILVER pw, Aerial, Windows, 'YYU 384', B2 box

Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover
Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Resue Land Rover
Variation 2 : spw, 'WLM 899'
Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover
Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover

Variation 3: spw, 'YYU 384' (missing aerial & windows)

Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover variations

Different number plates

Contrasting base numbers: '278' (left), '268' (right)

Budgie No.278 RAC Radio Rescue Land Rover  box

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