Budgie Miniatures Nos.50-55 Road Tanker vintage toys

Budgie Miniatures

Nos.50-55 Road Tanker Series

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In 1963 Budgie introduced the Road Tanker Series with a new range of numbers from 50 to 55 with an 'R.T.' prefix. These were a unified group using the same castings but painted in the different colours and liveries of oil companies.

The cab and chassis of the Tankers was a one-piece casting which included a contol box and pipe unit on one side. There was no base and the wheel axles fitted directly onto the chassis. 'A Budgie Model', 'Made in England' and 'Tanker Series' was the lettering cast underneath.

The tank was a separate casting which slotted into the rear of the cab with a tab and onto the chassis with a rivet or a clip-fit system. Using a rivet was probably the first assembly method. Later the chassis was adapted with side holes and the tank with added lugs for the clip-fit assembly.

As a result, the chassis had two castings, one without side holes and one with them near the rear but the central hole for the rivet remained in place. The wheels on both variations were black plastic.

Although withdrawn in 1966, the Tankers must have been popular as several versions are still easy to find. The rare ones are the Shell and Shell BP variations, and some of the Modern boxes are very scarce.

Budgie Miniatures Nos.50-55 Roat Tankers - underside

Budgie Miniatures Nos.50-55 Road Tankers - with and without clip-fit holes

Budgie Miniatures Nos.50-55 Road Tankers -with and without rivet

Boxes & Packs

The Road Tankers were sold in Modern Vehicle Series (type 2) boxes with each version having its own illustrated box and an 'R.T.' number.

In addition, numbers 50 to 55 were issued in both yellow and blue Budgie blister-packs but often the cards carried random numbers not in line with the box numbers. Surprisingly the Road Tankers did not have their own Budgie triple blister-pack, the only exception being No.55 Mobil Tanker which was included in 98a Utility Vehicle Set.

Production of the Road Tankers ceased in 1966, most likely because of a fire at the Budgie foundry which destroyed almost all of the casting moulds.

Finally, No.50 BP Racing Service and No.55 Mobil Tanker re-appeared in the 1970 Budgie Garage multi-model sets. These comprised old stock being cleared when Budgie Models and the foundry were sold.