(As always, Matchbox Monday is sponsored by our good friends at MVE Collectibles.)
I have been hanging around Matchbox geeks for several years now, so it is hard to gauge general interest in Matchbox. I would be interested to know what collectors in general think about when they hear the word “Matchbox”. Among the Matchbox collectors, the word “realism” comes up a lot, and I wonder if that is the case with everyone. To Matchbox collectors, “realism” not only applies to choice of vehicle, but actual execution of the casting and design.
I guess I probably fall into that camp a bit. I gravitated to Matchbox as a kid, and later as a collector, because it brought the most realism to the world of $1 minicars. The sports cars, the realistic utility vehicles, and in the last few years, classic cars. Maybe not the muscle that we associate with Hot Wheels, but array of American land yachts, European cars, and many other classics.
And within those models, there are always a few that take me by surprise. The announcement back in 2009 that we would see a 50’s era GMC in the next year’s lineup didn’t generate much of a reaction from me. Cars from the 50’s don’t do much for me, and neither do most pickups (although my affinity for pickups is growing).
But it took upwards of 2.7 seconds for me to fall in love with the casting once I had it in hand. Sometimes I am a little embarrassed when it takes a toy car to help me appreciate the real thing it represents, but that is the case here. The 50’s really is a golden age of pickup trucks, and this is surely a truck my father drove multiple times while working at my grandfather’s GMC dealership in Ely, Nevada back in the day. So while the ’57 GMC is part of my vehicle heritage, how lame is it that I needed a toy version to help me appreciate it?
Well one way or the other, I am very glad Matchbox did this model, and frankly the casting has just not been used enough. I hope they find some capacity to use it again…
In case you are wondering, there is no way for me to pick a favorite. Maybe you can. All of them are charming for all kinds of different reasons. I like having them all.
(Find the ’57 GMC Pickup for sale, as well as the Lesney Edition at MVE…)
Matchbox 1957 GMC Stepside:
2010 New Model
2010 Walmart exclusive:
2010 First Editions 10-pack:
2011 Lesney Edition
2011 1-120
2011 Farm 5-pack
And with a GMC compatriot from the same era:
What you said about appreciating the real thing. That is what collecting is all about for me. I was not even around in that era but the die cast helped me identify with them even the 40s,30s and the 20s. It's all about the automobile the history our history. Cars are like music their universal. We may be different but car enthusiasts around the world may meet and just be like they known one another in another time.
So when Mattel puts out some of the stuff they put out that has nothing to do with the history or heritage of the auto it tends to diminish what it's all about. Tends to take away from our history and heritage for me. Yes I know Mattel has always put out some crazy castings but what do those crazy vintage castings mean today? Keep it real and what it's all about the auto.
Swifty's Philly Wheels
I think that you meant to type “GM compatriot” instead of “GMC.” Nice pairing, though.
-ThisDudeAbides
To each his own, but personally, i find it difficult for anybody not to appreciate much from the 1950's. Some of the greatest automotive designs came from that period. Yes, some were outrageous, even obnoxious, but most were, in my opinion, works of art.
My least favorite decade in terms of car design were the 80's. Don't get me wrong now, there were some diamonds in the rough (IROC-Z Camaros, Ferraris), but it was my least because everything was so boxy, as if cars were constructed with giant Lego blocks. But that's just me.
I like my cars like I like my women: streamlined with curves.