Details and packaging
Early Spot-On models stated "Made in the United Kingdom" on the base, but later models, like the MG PB Midget altered that to "Made in Northern Ireland". Most had solid colour paint jobs, simple silver metal wheel hubs and rubber tyres. Usually, lights were painted on the bodies in silver (except on the models with working lights). Similar to a few other earlier diecast makers, joints between bonnets and doors and other body panels were represented on Spot-On Models as raised ridges instead of indentations. Later Spot-On models had a few more lively wheel styles and tyres were sometimes a harder plastic. Whereas early models had metal bases, later ones were often black plastic.
The earliest packaging for typical Spot-On models was a box in light blue with a draughting compass 'dividers' and 'graph paper'-like grid overprinted with the typical yellow and black lettering. The feel of the graphics was that of not simply being toys, rather finely engineered pieces. The second series of boxes was similar but the 'dividers' were greatly reduced and an illustration of the car (absent on the first boxes) was added. The last boxes in the late 1960s were black and blue with cellophane window – and were possibly some of the earliest window boxes offered by any brand. Gift sets, usually of two vehicles in a diorama, featured the company's own character "Tommy Spot". He appeared with a variety of friends as family man, policeman, mechanic, sailor, fireman, and even as a member of the royal family. Some of the rarest Spot-On models today command high prices among serious collectors. Spot-On models were supplied with number plates in transfer form on virtually all of its range and these were prone to cracking and flaking as the years advanced, also the adhesion technique and brittle paintwork formula all contributed towards paint-flaking and wear from box-rubbing as the years passed. As such, complete, unchipped models with all accessories, paperwork and undamaged boxes are rare, for example the 1964 Wadham Ambulance with patient on stretcher and 1966 Jaguar 3.4 with roof 'police' sign (undamaged) command very high prices in A1 condition as does the Tourist Caravan of 1962 and highly prized Routemaster Bus of 1963. All commercial Spot-On vehicles are today highly collectible and commonly command prices of US$100 to $200.
The Ford Zodiac of 1959, though Spot-On's first model, is widely available even though it is one of the oldest of the series. Many Zodiacs survive with their boxes intact. There still exist, however, rare colour combinations such as salmon pink over grey, pale lemon, and the slightly more garish bright pink. This was one of the first models Spot-On offered with or without working lights. Despite the model's ubiquity, it is rare to find one now with all of its original battery box, bulbs, and switches in full working order – not surprising considering the model now being at least 50 years old!
