In 1984 Matchbox started a Special Free Offer with the purchase of a Convoy, Superking or Racing Special model with the "Free Matchbox Bus Offer" sticker attached. On the back of the box was an application form whereby the purchaser had a choice of either of two number 17 buses. They were the "Milky Bar Bus in blue or the "Rowntree's Fruit Gums bus in dark green. To chose either bus the purchaser ticked the box beside the appropriate colour on the application form (shown below).

According to "Collecting Matchbox Toys - The first 40 Years", there were around 60,000 of these models posted out. Matchbox Toys UK ordered a further 20,000 models from Macau but due to a mix up the labels were applied to red buses.