Benbros Qualitoys
A101 Army Land Rover & Field Gun
A101 Land Rover & Field Gun was the first numbered model in the Army group of the Qualitoys Series. Benbros incorrectly called the Land Rover a 'Jeep' but it was an all-new casting. The Field Gun had been issued previously on its own in several variations but the one used with the Land Rover had small metal wheels and tyres.
Benbros made the body of the Land Rover in one single casting which included the figures of driver and passenger and a rear towhook. The only exception was the heads of the figures which were separately cast and fixed with central pins. The windscreen, front bumper and rear tailgate were additional castings.
The Land Rover was quite basic and although the detail was good there was not much else added, no doors, steering wheel, or roof. Underneath 'Benbros Qualitoy' and 'Made in England' were included in the casting. The metal wheels with round-head & crimped axles were fixed directly onto the body and fitted with black chunky tyres. A spare tyre was added to the bonnet.
There were two colours given to the Land Rover and Gun, a bright olive-green or a dark army-type green. Both included the wheels and the driver and passenger of the Land Rover who were also given black caps and on early models pink face trim and green scarves. On the front of the Land Rover a regimental insignia decal was added on later models, usually a red and yellow square. The front bumper was painted white along with the spotlight.
The Field Gun in this set was variation 4 with small metal wheels and black tyres and an open frame as is shown in the illustration on the box. Although the gun could fire small plastic shells or matchsticks, it is not thought that these were included in the Land Rover & Field Gun set.
Benbros produced a multi-model box for the Army Series with pictures of most of the models on all four sides with their numbers and titles. On one of the red end-flaps a blank panel was left for the model details of 'Jeep & Field Gun' to be added.
For some reason A101 Land Rover & Field Gun set is quite scarce, and the box rare, maybe because it was one of the more expensive toys in the Army series. At auction it often carries a premium value for collectors.
Variation 2: Army green, red/yellow decal
Benbros Qualitoys A101 Land Rover & Field Gun
Variations
1) OLIVE-GREEN Land Rover & Gun white bumper no decal pmw shared box
2) DARK-GREEN Land Rover & Gun white bumper RED/YELLOW decal pmw shared box