Matchbox Lesney COSMIC BLUES

Matchbox Lesney COSMIC BLUES

One of a pair of extreme hot rods The Pi-Eyed Piper (48d) was released in 1972 sharing its body casting with the Big Banger (26d) but each having its own engine and side pipes, colour scheme and sticker/tampo sets. It remained in the UK Range until 1977. In the US it was available in 1978 with a Roman numeral sticker and from 1981 to 1983 it was renamed Red Rider and recoloured red with white side tampos.

The UK release from 1972 to 1977 was always metallic blue with plated engine & side pipes. There is a stars and stripes design sticker on the roof overprinted with a large No8 in yellow. These can have either orange or blue windows. You can also find examples from this period in the Big Banger colour scheme; red with stickers on the sides. The 1978 US Roman Numeral release from 1978 is white with plated engine but black side pipes and blacked out windows. The '81 US Red Rider release is painted red with white tampos on the sides - flames on the front wings and 'Red Rider' on the body sides.

The one to look for is Pi-Eyed Piper done up as Big Banger, i.e. painted red and with Big Banger stickers. The standard UK release can be found with either blue or orange windows and the orange windows are a little harder to find.