Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Restoring a Lesney Matchbox No. 74B Daimler Bus, in the Matchbox range from 1966 until 1972, joining the Superfast series in 1970.
Aside from the latter Routemaster, this Daimler Fleetline bus is my favourite from the regular wheels Matchbox range. It is handsome and distinctive in its cream colour with bold Esso advertising. But Lesney kept it fresh, changing the colour after a couple of years to a very regal green, before swapping to a more traditional red. It then received a new lease of life when it was adopted into the new Superfast family in 1970 where it would remain until 1972.
This model belonged to one of my oldest friend's partner's dad, Mac. He was decluttering his collection of childhood toys and I had first refusal. Missing a Fleetline in suitably poor state ripe for restoration, this one leapt out at me. Not only was it significantly paint thinned, but it's lower deck plastic insert had snapped. This affected the suspension so the front wheels lacked that bit of sponginess.
The Daimler Fleetline bus was built by the British marque between 1960 and 1968 prior to Daimler, who were owned by Jaguar at the time, being amalgamated into that 'great' automotive machine, British Leyland. The Fleetline continued in production beyond this, though it became closer and closer to its former rival Leyland. By 1975, the Daimler name had been dropped and it was now badged as a Leyland Fleetline. It would remain in production until 1983.
Help support the channel via Patreon:
patreon.com/DiecastRestos
Or become a YouTube member to get access to unique perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCnejV0mBuRlTcGcnIit2_0A/join
Take a look at the DieCastRestos Instagram page here:
instagram.com/DieCastRestos
If you'd like to send me something, get in touch via email here:
jason.crouch88@gmail.com
Parts source:
model-supplies.co.uk
Music by Karl Casey
@whitebataudio
Hackers
youtube.com/watch?v=NZ4Of3lID84
The Drop
youtube.com/watch?v=IuqTbOnbQL0
Stargazing
youtube.com/watch?v=gF8ga-Jxr9g
Image credit:
1964 Daimler Fleetline:
flickr.com/photos/tarquinius_superbus/7319970708
1962 Leyland Atlantean:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Leyland_Atlantean_1013MW.jpg
1981 Leyland Olympian:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Yellow_Bus_Leyland_Olympian_Marshall.jpg
1964 AEC Routemaster:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/AEC_Routemaster_RM._London._2018-07-23_10-49-58.jpg/1280px-AEC_Routemaster_RM._London._2018-07-23_10-49-58.jpg
#Matchbox #Diecast #Restoration
Restoring a Lesney Matchbox No. 74B Daimler Bus, in the Matchbox range from 1966 until 1972, joining the Superfast series in 1970.
Aside from the latter Routemaster, this Daimler Fleetline bus is my favourite from the regular wheels Matchbox range. It is handsome and distinctive in its cream colour with bold Esso advertising. But Lesney kept it fresh, changing the colour after a couple of years to a very regal green, before swapping to a more traditional red. It then received a new lease of life when it was adopted into the new Superfast family in 1970 where it would remain until 1972.
This model belonged to one of my oldest friend's partner's dad, Mac. He was decluttering his collection of childhood toys and I had first refusal. Missing a Fleetline in suitably poor state ripe for restoration, this one leapt out at me. Not only was it significantly paint thinned, but it's lower deck plastic insert had snapped. This affected the suspension so the front wheels lacked that bit of sponginess.
The Daimler Fleetline bus was built by the British marque between 1960 and 1968 prior to Daimler, who were owned by Jaguar at the time, being amalgamated into that 'great' automotive machine, British Leyland. The Fleetline continued in production beyond this, though it became closer and closer to its former rival Leyland. By 1975, the Daimler name had been dropped and it was now badged as a Leyland Fleetline. It would remain in production until 1983.
Help support the channel via Patreon:
patreon.com/DiecastRestos
Or become a YouTube member to get access to unique perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCnejV0mBuRlTcGcnIit2_0A/join
Take a look at the DieCastRestos Instagram page here:
instagram.com/DieCastRestos
If you'd like to send me something, get in touch via email here:
jason.crouch88@gmail.com
Parts source:
model-supplies.co.uk
Music by Karl Casey
@whitebataudio
Hackers
youtube.com/watch?v=NZ4Of3lID84
The Drop
youtube.com/watch?v=IuqTbOnbQL0
Stargazing
youtube.com/watch?v=gF8ga-Jxr9g
Image credit:
1964 Daimler Fleetline:
flickr.com/photos/tarquinius_superbus/7319970708
1962 Leyland Atlantean:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Leyland_Atlantean_1013MW.jpg
1981 Leyland Olympian:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Yellow_Bus_Leyland_Olympian_Marshall.jpg
1964 AEC Routemaster:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/AEC_Routemaster_RM._London._2018-07-23_10-49-58.jpg/1280px-AEC_Routemaster_RM._London._2018-07-23_10-49-58.jpg
#Matchbox #Diecast #Restoration
