Benbros Zebra Toys
(20) Bedford Cattle Transporter
Variation 1: beige body, umw
Variation 1: beige body, umw
Variation 3: yellow plastic wheels
Variation 1: beige body, umw
For the Cattle Transporter Benbros returned to a scale similar to the first Zebra Toys models and based it on the versatile Bedford 'S' type lorry. It was a neat model with good play value.
Benbros may have designed the Cattle Transporter with a plan to make more models using the Bedford because the cab and chassis section was a single casting onto which a variety of different bodies could have been fitted. As it turned out, the Cattle Transporter was the only Bedford Zebra Toy.
There was no base to the open cab and no windows but it was a good likeness to the real Bedford vehicle. The chassis had a smooth floor because the body was cast without one. The two parts fitted together by a rear tab and a clip-fit clamp behind the cab. A third section provided a three-quarter height metal ramp at the rear which was hinged at the base.
The first issue of the Cattle Truck had a red cab & chassis with silver trim on the grille, front bumper, and on this variation, the right hand fuel tank. As with all Zebra Toys, there were jewelled headlights, and underneath the chassis 'Cattle Transporter', 'Zebra Toys' and 'Made in England' were cast but no number. The wheels on this first variaton were unpainted metal with black treaded tyres.
The first issue body & ramp was coloured pale beige with red 'Cattle Transporter' decals on each side. Later this colour was changed to a darker tan on both body and ramp, and this continued for the remaining life of the model. The wheels were switched to blue or yellow plastic.
The Cattle Transporter had the usual black & white Zebra Toys box with an illustration of the vehicle on both faces. The orange end-flaps carried the number '20'.
Most of the Zebra Toys are scarce or rare but the Cattle Transporter is perhaps one of the less difficult models to find.
Variation 1: red cab/chassis, beige body/ramp, unpainted metal wheels
Benbros Zebra Toys Cattle Transporter
Variations
1) RED cab/chassis, BEIGE body & ramp, unpainted METAL wheels
2) RED cab/chassis, TAN body & ramp, BLUE plastic wheels
3) RED cab/chassis, TAN body & ramp, YELLOW plastic wheels
Variation 2: red cab/chassis. tan body/ramp, blue plastic wheels
Variation 3: tan body, yellow plastic wheels