Budgie Miniatures
No.16 Austin-Healey
The real Austin-Healey 100/4
No.16 in the Budgie Miniatures collection was a model of a famous 1950's sports car, the Austin-Healey 100. Morris & Stone first issued the Austin-Healey in 1957 as Esso Series No.16 Austin-Healey and it continued in the Budgie range until 1963/4.
The Austin-Healey was a straightforward body & base model held together by a central rivet. The driver was part of the base. The windscreen was represented by two side struts.
The model was always painted red with an off-white or cream base & driver. Silver trim was hand-applied for most of the model's life to the grille, headlights and front & rear bumpers but later when spray trim was used the rear bumper was omitted.
The wheels of No.16 were unpainted metal except for a last run which had black plastic wheels.
No.16 was not a mainstream model in the Budgie Miniatures. After the Esso Series it appeared in both 'Mobile' and 'Modern' (type 1) Vehicle Series boxes but is not thought to have been issued in blister packs. It was also one of the cars in Noddy's Garage Set and was included in Budgie Gift Set No.12.
Late versions of the Austin-Healey show deterioration in the casting and the model is frequently a victim of fatigue. It was withdrawn in 1964.
Variation 1 with Esso Petrol Pump box and Tanker Coupon
No.16 Austin-Healey
Model Variations
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(1) RED, OFF-WHITE base & driver, hand-applied trim, unpainted metal wheels
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(2) RED, OFF-WHITE base & driver, spray-applied trim, black plastic wheels
Variation 2 with 'Modern' type 1 box
Wheel variations : Metal and Black Plastic
Rear trim variants and central rivet posts
No.16 Austin-Healey
Boxes and Packs
1957-59 Esso Petrol Pump Series boxes
1957-58 Noddy's Garage Set
1961-64 Budgie Gift Set No.12
1962-64 MOBILE Vehicle Series boxes
1962-64 MODERN Vehicle Series (type 1) boxes
