Matchbox: historia y coleccionismo
Lesney Tipper Trucks: No.48 Dodge Dumper or No.17 Hoveringham?
A tipping body is an important part of a vintage truck's completeness. MM's listed No.48 Dodge Dumper and No.17 Hoveringham Tipper both have that body present, but they are different castings with different decoration and wear. Evaluate the actual examples rather than choosing solely from a casting number.
No.48 Dodge Dumper
The No.48 listing describes a red truck with regular black wheels. Its tipping bed is present. The condition is playworn with moderate-to-heavy edge wear, chips and scuffs, and no box is included. The base is recorded as Dodge Dumper Truck No.48, Made in England by Lesney.
Look at the bed edges as well as the cab. A broad side view helps you see the silhouette, while a closer view can show where the paint has worn away. If tipping movement is important for your collection, ask for confirmation of operation; a bed being present does not by itself establish smooth movement.
No.17 Hoveringham Tipper
The No.17 has a red cab and chassis with an orange Hoveringham tipping body and regular black wheels. Its listing states that the tipping body is present, and describes the example as heavily playworn with extensive paint wear, chips and scuffs. It is loose, not restored and supplied without a box.
The recorded base marking is Hoveringham Tipper No.17, Made in England by Lesney. Use the orange body and named decoration as comparison clues, but do not assume that every No.17 example has the same surviving condition or original parts.
Presence, condition and operation are separate
| Question | How to check |
|---|---|
| Is the load body included? | Read the explicit contents statement and inspect the gallery. |
| How much wear is visible? | Check cab, bed edges and chassis separately. |
| Does it move as intended? | Seek confirmation for the exact offered model. |
| Is it boxed? | Both examples here are listed without boxes. |
For a clear example of a missing load body, see the No.26 GMC complete-bed versus chassis-only comparison. Do not buy a different truck expecting its bed to be a proven replacement. Casting names and similar appearances do not establish fit.
A display can accommodate either a worn original or a restoration project, but record which you have. Both examples discussed here are described as not restored; no replacement body or repair work is promised with the purchase.
Find your next Matchbox project
Explore MM custom Matchbox cars and Matchbox DIY kits, checking each listing for the parts included. For original loose and vintage models, browse loose Matchbox cars or vintage Lesney Matchbox. Return to the Matchbox collector hub for more guides.
