Fakes and Frauds

Number 64b MG 1100 - Teal

This model was auctioned on ebay in February 2008 and sold for only US$10.95, but it is well worth a mention here due to the misleading way it was described.

 

Here is the title of the auction

The title bar reads "RARE MATCHBOX/LESNEY MG 1100 TEAL COLOUR". This is implying that it is genuine and not a repaint.

The description is also very misleading.

Up for bid is this very usual teal color Matchbox MG 1100. I bought this car the way you see it. I can't tell if it has been repainted or not.

To me it doesn't look like the rivets have been tampered with. I know that's there's no listings in all of my Matchbox guides with this color, but that's not to say that it could pre-production model. Look at the pictures and you decide.

 

The seller does a wonderful job of covering himself and at the same time being very misleading, especially trying to indicate provenance with the "pre-production" suggestion.

Further down in the auction someone has asked the seller a question.

does this little car show any sign of being repainted?

 

The sellers answer to this is

Hi, I can't tell, it looks like there might be as small amount of green over spray underneath inside the body.

I'm no expert if it is a repaint it was a very, very good job because there's no indication of paint on the windows,grill or tires.

There is some scuffing around the rivet but it doesn't look as if it was pryed on.

I've had this model for quite awhile and it interests me every time I look at it. I found another one on ebay that is not in very good condition with the same color variation with the same green over spray in the same place.

That's why I said look and you decide. So bid accordingly. Thanks for you interest.

Sellers like this are very good at covering their tracks. He obviously knows the item is fake, however, he is trying to indicate that it may well be genuine.

 

He does suggest "there might be as small amount of green over spray underneath inside the body" but he's no expert and can't tell if it's a repaint! How about the comment about the "rivet" "There is some scuffing around the rivet but it doesn't look as if it was pryed on".

Now for the providence part - "I've had this model for quite awhile and it interests me every time I look at it. I found another one on ebay that is not in very good condition with the same color variation with the same green over spray in the same place".

Yeah, sure he saw another one on ebay! It was probably this very same toy that he listed earlier and got no suckers to put their hard earned money on the line for it!

Another interesting point about this auction is the sellers id. Legally I can not show what it is so here is part of it along with some X's.

XwhopperXX

Yep, he sure is good at telling some "whoppers"!

   
   

Okay, I have made the photo of the base quite large so you can see the "rivet". I have also included a photo of the "rivet" from a normal MG 1100 so you can see the difference. It is obvious that the teal version has had the rivet drilled, so the base can be removed.

Also, note as I have stated before on previous pages about fakes, the photos are all blurred. this is a common practice of sellers trying to rip us off.

Here's the part I don't understand. This seller had a few items for sale. A couple are unusual and harder to find. By trying to mislead and be greedy he has blown his credibility. How genuine is the 61b Alvis with yellow hubs? I certainly wouldn't take a punt and risk my money by bidding on it after seeing the misleading description on this auction. In my opinion, his credibility has been blown for a $10 item!

I was going to bid on this MG (but didn't), so I could demonstrate with better photos what has been done to this model. The seller is based in USA. He wanted just under $9 to ship this model throughout USA! Normally that would cost about $4. So, to be cautious, I asked the seller how much to airmail the item to Australia. Guess what? I got no reply! Oh well, at least I still have my $10!


 

© 2008 Moko Lesney Matchbox