The History Channel and eBay sets Online Auction for an Original Matchbox Car - 1966 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Coupe

    NEW YORK, March 15 Matchbox(R) cars have been a delight
for kids and collectors for nearly half a century.  Now you have the
opportunity to bid on, and perhaps own, an original Matchbox die-cast car --
1966 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Coupe -- plus three original engineering
drawings from the Matchbox archives, through a special online auction from The
History Channel(R), Butterfields and eBay.  All proceeds from the auction will
be donated to the National Safe Kids Campaign.
    The early Matchbox Car and schematics will be featured on History's Lost &
Found Auction Block, airing during the last two minutes of History's Lost &
Found, from 7:00-7:30 pm ET, on The History Channel.   Bidding opens on
Friday, March 16 and runs until 9:00 pm ET on Thursday, March 22.  Potential
bidders can view this unique set at http://www.ebay.com/history or
http://www.HistoryChannel.com.  The final bid will be announced on Friday,
March 23, when the following week's auction item will be revealed.
    Matchbox die-cast cars have enjoyed worldwide popularity since 1952.
Although the company was started by two British schoolmates in 1947, it was in
1952 that Jack Odell created the first Matchbox car for his young daughter.
In fact, the size of the model is true to its name: the young girl was allowed
to bring to school only toys that could fit inside a matchbox.  Odell gladly
complied, and his daughter was the owner of the first Matchbox model car!
Ever since, millions of Matchbox cars have been sold worldwide.  And they're
not just for kids, in fact, fathers and grandfathers all over will boast, "My
first car was a Matchbox!"
    "For nearly 50 years, Matchbox has been making quality die-cast cars that
have attracted a vast following of collectors of all ages," says Dave Bryla,
Vice President of Marketing for Matchbox.  "This Silver Shadow Coupe along
with its original schematic drawings is a rare find and a valuable addition to
any collection.  We're excited to see how high the bidding will go and how
much it will raise for the National Safe Kids Campaign."
    The miniature car offered in this special auction is a 1966 Rolls Royce
Silver Shadow Coupe.  A set of three original drawings for this model, dated
December 1967 and rendered in ink on drafter's vellum, skillfully display the
detailed designs for this car, Matchbox model number 69C.  The Silver Shadow
is an original model, complete with a trunk that opens, a red plastic
interior, and a windshield, and is still in the original box.  It was
manufactured in 1969 and features Superfast(R) wheels. The model is in good
condition, with a small puncture on the side.
    In addition to the auction, visitors to http://www.HistoryChannel.com have
the chance to win one of three Matchbox Wrecker Trucks in the History's Lost
and Found's Weekly Sweepstakes.  Only 3,000 Wrecker Trucks were produced; each
features shiny metallic windows, "rubber" like tires, a tow lift with moving
parts and the new Matchbox logo on the hood and doors.  There is no cost to
enter, just visit the History's Lost and Found page and register to win.