Issued 1983-1984    Length 117mm

In the storerooms of Modern Products when Starcourt Ltd took over the business in 1983 they found several dies of toys made many years previously including the Aveling Barford Road Roller which had first been produced in 1955. These must have been in good condition because the re-issued model was an excellent casting. For more about the original model go to Morestone Diesel Road Roller.

Constructed in two halves, the casting included 'Aveling Barford' on both sides and 'Made in England' on the right side only. There was also a separately cast driver. The front metal roller was housed in a centrally pivoted frame attached to the body which enabled it to turn.

No.701 Road Roller was painted a glossy green with a red front frame and silver-painted rollers with red trim. There was also a neat touch of silver tim on the knob at the front of the engine. The removeable driver was dark-blue including his cap with tan-pink trim on face and hands. 

For the Road Roller Starcourt followed the familiar yellow Budgie box design with the number on each end-flap. The maker's details were given as 'Made in England by Starcourt Ltd' with their London phone number '01-800-1185'  

As it was primarily issued to collectors rather than as a toy to toyshops, a numbered system was planned for a 10,000 issue and early boxes carried an individual issue number on a Budgie label at one end. Later it seems this label system was dropped and it is not known if the full issue was completed.

Examples of No.701 Road Roller are not uncommon but it was a heavy model in a rather flimsy box so uncrumpled boxes are harder to find!