Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Restoring a Lesney Matchbox Superfast No. 56C BMC 1800 Pininfarina, in the Superfast range from 1969 until 1974.
Believe it or not, the basis of this BMC 1800 Pininfarina is BMC's ADO17, otherwise known as the Austin/Morris 1800, otherwise known as the "Landcrab." This Pininfarina study however is a thing of beauty. Sadly, it would never reach production but its design certainly influenced cars that followed in its footsteps.
Matchbox released this concept car as one of it's new Superfast series launch cars in 1969, by which time the Pininfarina project was dead in the water, making it a bit of a curious release. The casting lasted for five years in the mainline with a couple of colour variations and a body modification that allowed it to have larger wheels fitted.
The Pininfarina concept was built in just three months ahead of the 1967 Turin Motor Show. Designer Leonardo Fioravanti reported on his creation directly to BMC the month after the show. Less than two months after that, BMC had merged with British Leyland and all hopes for innovation had dissipated. In 1970, Citroën released their uncannily similar GS which was hailed for its design well ahead of its time. What could have been for BMC and BL?
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
Quattro
youtube.com/watch?v=SsEaNRF21B0
Solara
youtube.com/watch?v=kEwnE3nH5jY
Image credit:
Austin 1800 (ADO17):
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Austin_1800_%2815920336512%29.jpg/2560px-Austin_1800_%2815920336512%29.jpg
Austin 1100 (ADO16):
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Austin_1100_registered_June_1971_1098cc.jpg/2560px-Austin_1100_registered_June_1971_1098cc.jpg
Austin A40 Farina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Austin_A40_Farina_%2815905214680%29.jpg/2560px-Austin_A40_Farina_%2815905214680%29.jpg
Austin A55 Cambridge Mk II:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Austin_A55_mkII_Cambridge_1959_front.jpg
Morris Oxford Farina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/1963_Morris_Oxford_%2815521598639%29.jpg/2560px-1963_Morris_Oxford_%2815521598639%29.jpg
Ford Cortina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Ford_Cortina_%2814232372555%29.jpg
Hillman Hunter:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Hillman_Hunter_%2815145913082%29.jpg/1280px-Hillman_Hunter_%2815145913082%29.jpg
Innocenti IM3:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Innocenti_IM3_%281965%29_%2830939290456%29.jpg/1280px-Innocenti_IM3_%281965%29_%2830939290456%29.jpg
Citroën GS:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/1974_Citro%C3%ABn_GS_1220_Club_fastback_%2819121105974%29.jpg/2560px-1974_Citro%C3%ABn_GS_1220_Club_fastback_%2819121105974%29.jpg
Dino 246 GT
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Ferrari_Dino_4.jpg/2560px-Ferrari_Dino_4.jpg
Ferrari Daytona:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Ferrari_365_GTB-4_%27Daytona%27_at_Schaffen-Diest_2013.JPG/1280px-Ferrari_365_GTB-4_%27Daytona%27_at_Schaffen-Diest_2013.JPG
Ferrari 308 GTB:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/1985_Ferrari_GTB_Berlinetta_%286322045917%29.jpg/2560px-1985_Ferrari_GTB_Berlinetta_%286322045917%29.jpg
Ferrari 512 BB:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/FERRARI_512_BB_%281978%29.jpg/2560px-FERRARI_512_BB_%281978%29.jpg
Ferrari 288 GTO:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Ferrari_288_GTO_%281%29.JPG/2560px-Ferrari_288_GTO_%281%29.JPG
Ferrari Testarossa:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Ferrari_Testarossa_IAA_2019_JM_0399.jpg/1280px-Ferrari_Testarossa_IAA_2019_JM_0399.jpg
Outro footage credit:
youtube.com/watch?v=qv3rHceG2QI
#Matchbox #Diecast #Restoration
Restoring a Lesney Matchbox Superfast No. 56C BMC 1800 Pininfarina, in the Superfast range from 1969 until 1974.
Believe it or not, the basis of this BMC 1800 Pininfarina is BMC's ADO17, otherwise known as the Austin/Morris 1800, otherwise known as the "Landcrab." This Pininfarina study however is a thing of beauty. Sadly, it would never reach production but its design certainly influenced cars that followed in its footsteps.
Matchbox released this concept car as one of it's new Superfast series launch cars in 1969, by which time the Pininfarina project was dead in the water, making it a bit of a curious release. The casting lasted for five years in the mainline with a couple of colour variations and a body modification that allowed it to have larger wheels fitted.
The Pininfarina concept was built in just three months ahead of the 1967 Turin Motor Show. Designer Leonardo Fioravanti reported on his creation directly to BMC the month after the show. Less than two months after that, BMC had merged with British Leyland and all hopes for innovation had dissipated. In 1970, Citroën released their uncannily similar GS which was hailed for its design well ahead of its time. What could have been for BMC and BL?
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
Quattro
youtube.com/watch?v=SsEaNRF21B0
Solara
youtube.com/watch?v=kEwnE3nH5jY
Image credit:
Austin 1800 (ADO17):
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Austin_1800_%2815920336512%29.jpg/2560px-Austin_1800_%2815920336512%29.jpg
Austin 1100 (ADO16):
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Austin_1100_registered_June_1971_1098cc.jpg/2560px-Austin_1100_registered_June_1971_1098cc.jpg
Austin A40 Farina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Austin_A40_Farina_%2815905214680%29.jpg/2560px-Austin_A40_Farina_%2815905214680%29.jpg
Austin A55 Cambridge Mk II:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Austin_A55_mkII_Cambridge_1959_front.jpg
Morris Oxford Farina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/1963_Morris_Oxford_%2815521598639%29.jpg/2560px-1963_Morris_Oxford_%2815521598639%29.jpg
Ford Cortina:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Ford_Cortina_%2814232372555%29.jpg
Hillman Hunter:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Hillman_Hunter_%2815145913082%29.jpg/1280px-Hillman_Hunter_%2815145913082%29.jpg
Innocenti IM3:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Innocenti_IM3_%281965%29_%2830939290456%29.jpg/1280px-Innocenti_IM3_%281965%29_%2830939290456%29.jpg
Citroën GS:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/1974_Citro%C3%ABn_GS_1220_Club_fastback_%2819121105974%29.jpg/2560px-1974_Citro%C3%ABn_GS_1220_Club_fastback_%2819121105974%29.jpg
Dino 246 GT
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Ferrari_Dino_4.jpg/2560px-Ferrari_Dino_4.jpg
Ferrari Daytona:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Ferrari_365_GTB-4_%27Daytona%27_at_Schaffen-Diest_2013.JPG/1280px-Ferrari_365_GTB-4_%27Daytona%27_at_Schaffen-Diest_2013.JPG
Ferrari 308 GTB:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/1985_Ferrari_GTB_Berlinetta_%286322045917%29.jpg/2560px-1985_Ferrari_GTB_Berlinetta_%286322045917%29.jpg
Ferrari 512 BB:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/FERRARI_512_BB_%281978%29.jpg/2560px-FERRARI_512_BB_%281978%29.jpg
Ferrari 288 GTO:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Ferrari_288_GTO_%281%29.JPG/2560px-Ferrari_288_GTO_%281%29.JPG
Ferrari Testarossa:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Ferrari_Testarossa_IAA_2019_JM_0399.jpg/1280px-Ferrari_Testarossa_IAA_2019_JM_0399.jpg
Outro footage credit:
youtube.com/watch?v=qv3rHceG2QI
#Matchbox #Diecast #Restoration
