Using another of the toys designed by Timpo, Benbros added a Petrol Lorry to the Qualitoys range. Some details of the Timpo version were discarded but it still made a robust model with good play value. It was probably not based on any actual vehicle but as it dated from 1949 it was fashioned on war-time petrol lorries.

 

The hollow-cast cab and chassis were one unit onto which the tank, which was cast in two halves, was riveted. There was no base and the axles fitted directly onto the casting. The first models had simple metal wheels but these were later replaced by hubs with black tyres. Because this had been a Timpo Toy, Benbros blanked out the id. but kept 'Made in England' under the chassis. There was no number added. 

 

The first known variation of the Petrol Lorry was probably a pre-production trial. It had a pale green cab and chassis, a yellow tank with a large 'Esso' decal on the right-hand side, and thin black metal wheels with a treaded tyre pattern.

 

Red was the colour of the real 'Esso' lorries in the 1950's so when Benbros began production, the cab and chassis of the model became red. However, it seems likely that some yellow tanks had been made so early models carried these with the large 'Esso' decal on one side. There was no silver trim on the early models and no black added to the tank lids. The wheels were the thin black metal type on both of the first variations.

 

Before long Benbros upgraded the Petrol Tanker giving it a red tank and a long decal saying 'Motor Oil ESSO Petrol' on the left side of the tank similar to the old Timpo one although it was positioned higher on the tank. The wheels were also improved to 6-bolt metal hubs and black treaded tyres. Silver trim was added to the front grille, headlights and bumper, and on the tank the three lids were usually picked out with black glossy trim.

 

Later Benbros added a variation promoting Fina petrol with a 'FINA Petrol goes a Long Way' decal but otherwise the model remained red with silver trim and black tank lids, and there was no change to the casting.

 

The first box used for the Petrol Lorry was shared with four other ex-Timpo models and was illustrated with detailed scenes but there were no numbers included. The version of the Petrol Lorry shown was the early red model with the yellow tank and large 'Esso' decal, although the picture also included a decal on the rear which seems not to have been added to the finall model.

 

The second multi-model box had the Petrol Lorry listed with the number 226 and an illustration of the all-red model with a long 'Esso' decal. On both box types, a blank panel was left on one end-flap for the model details to be added and this was usually a stamp saying 'Esso Petrol Lorry'. 

 

Finding good examples of the Petrol Lorry is quite hard. There is only one green model known to exist, and the first red one with the yellow tank is rare. Mint models of the final two variations are also scarce, especially the 'Fina' one.