The blue/yellow/zinc colour scheme of the earlier 1970s was replaced by a striking one of dark blue Strips and Girders with mustard yellow Plates in 1978. Six new sets (A, and 1 to 5) bearing no relationship to the earlier series, were introduced. Sets 2 to 5 included the Crane kit motor. Only the No. 9 and 10 Sets, in the new colours, were retained from the earlier series, the No. 10 Set now being housed in a three-drawer cabinet fitted with vacuum formed trays.

In 1979 the Space 2501 Set was introduced. This made use of several new plastic parts for space-age models, the metal parts and plastic plates being white. No motor was included in this set.. The Meccanoids Set, introduced later in the year, included the Crane motor to power a number of imaginative creatures from outer space.

Then, without warning, on Friday, 30 November, 1979 Meccano workers were informed that the factory would be closing down as from that day - the incredulity with which this news was received can be imagined. A sit-in by some of the workforce was maintained until 12 March 1980. But by this time the futility of the situation had become clear, and after the machinery and stock had been sold and removed, most of the buildings were demolished.

A basic range of one-model Action Packs was introduced in 1980, and revised and augmented in 1981 by the inclusion of three clockwork motorised Action Packs. Limited Meccano production had been revived briefly elsewhere, but by the end of 1981 all UK Meccano production finally ceased.