2015 in Review: The most popular and my favorite Lamley posts of 2015…

The end is here.  2015 is coming to a close, and what a year it has been.

I thought I could do a year-in-review type post, but there are a million directions I can go.  I could talk about the Best and Worst of the year, but the Lamley Awards tackled most of that.  Sadly I am still finding a way to incorporate Tomica Limited Vintage, Kyosho, Greenlight, and Auto World into the Lamley Awards, but those models are on a whole different level.  Trying to pick a favorite TLV is near impossible.  I still choose the Crown Wagon.

But I thought this was a good way to rehash the year.  Lamley grew quite a bit this year, and almost all of the most popular posts of all time on the blog came in the last 12 months.  So I thought I would link you to the most-read posts on the Lamley Group Blog from 2015.  Some are predictable, others a little surprising.

Here are the 5 most-read, starting with the most popular of all.  You can click on the link to read the story:

1. Ever encountered a Hot Wheels 72-count case full of Supers? Someone just did…

Zachary Bradshaw’s 72-Super find in Florida remains one of the craziest peg finds we have ever heard about, and one that garnered a lot of comments and opinions.  How it happened remains a mystery.  I still think it is totally fine that Zach bought them all.  This post remains the most-read and most-shared story in the history of the Lamley Group.

2. Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Porsche Series Exclusive 8-car set…

When we were still showing sneaks, this new 8-car Porsche Series garnered quite a bit of attention.  Much better than other special sets like Tom & Jerry.

3. An Early Look at the upcoming 2016 Matchbox New Models…

I have been clamoring for awhile now that Matchbox is returning to form, and many of you agree.  The best evidence so far is this special sneak peek of all the 2016 New Models that the team at Matchbox allowed us to see following the Gathering in July.  Most of these still haven’t been seen in their final forms, but there is a lot to be excited about.

4. Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels ’96 Nissan 180SX Type X…

Easily the most talked-about model in 2015, these were the first images of the 180SX.

5. Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels 1990 Acura NSX…

Another of the most-discussed models of the 2015.  There was a lot of excitement about this one, and most of you disagreed with me when I said I didn’t like it that much.  My opinion has softened a bit, but it still isn’t at the top of my list.

So there is your Top 5 most-read.  It is not a surprise that the sneak peeks dominated, but as I have moved away from the unauthorized sneaks, I am happy to report that you keep coming back to the blog, and I am thankful for that.  I agree that it is always interesting to see what is coming, and there are a million places to find that info, but Lamley isn’t one of them anymore.  Plus, hopefully you have noticed that Hot Wheels and Matchbox have been far more transparent with the info of late, and that is bound to get better and better.  They even throw an authorized bone my way occasionally.

Outside of the most popular, there are others that I enjoyed writing and posting, so here are my favorite posts of 2015, starting with this one:

Breaking News: Kids still love Hot Wheels like no other toy…

Incidentally, Ethan is now almost 100% recovered, thanks in part to so many of you.  Thinking about those events last spring is still overwhelming.  Collectors are awesome, toy cars are cool, and donate them any time you can.

Why is the 2016 Hot Wheels Ford Fiesta so special? You have to go back in time with Michael Heralda to 1998…

Recently retired Mattel graphic designer Michael Heralda wrote this piece for the blog explaining the significance of the white Ford Fiesta that was just released in the Hot Wheels line, and how it is linked to his first ever design.  Incidentally, the Matchbox equivalent has just been released.

Lamley Readers, time for your feedback. Should Matchbox do Treasure Hunts? And if so, how should they do it?

No post has garnered more comments than this one.  There are some passionate feelings among many of you about whether or not Matchbox should do chase cars.  Still no word if Matchbox is even considering chase cars.

The 2016 Toy Fair Porsche 934 Turbo RSR: The most mesmerizing model Hot Wheels has ever done…

If this model was available to the public, it would have been my choice for Model of the Year hands down.

Preview: Oh my, the Matchbox 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-X is coming along very nicely…

The coolest sneak peek I have ever done.  It was so nice of Matchbox to let me showcase this VERY early stage prototype of the upcoming ’71 Skyline.  This may be the most anticipated new model of 2016 from any brand.

My Five Favorite Matchbox Castings

I enjoyed showcasing my favorite Matchbox castings in this 5-part feature.  

The Hot Wheels Heritage Ford Transit Supervan: The best premium debut since the Datsun Wagon…

The buzz blossomed with this one when we explained its significance.  It ended up our Model of the Year for 2015.

Friends, I’m out. It is time to move away from unauthorized sneaks on Lamley…

One of the most significant posts on Lamley this year.  No one compelled me to do it, but after a lot of consideration I decided to stop showing unauthorized sneaks.  Those images pop up all over the place, and seem to cause more problems than anything else.  It was time for Lamley to get out of that business and continue to focus on better features, videos, and photography.  

Collectors pushing change! The #mymatchboxpegs Project is working, and Mattel is noticing…

This little project we did on Instagram definitely got the attention of the powers-that-be at Mattel.  Distribution has since become a major issue for the Matchbox team, and we will see how it plays out in the next year.

The Tomica Limited Vintage Toyota Crown Custom, and the art of the TLV Wagon…

My favorite TLV of 2015.

The creation of a shop truck: The work of JDM Legends & Luke Baumstark…

The 2013 Boulevard ’71 Datsun 510 Wagon, the godfather of the Hot Wheels JDM craze…

I think I enjoyed writing this one more than any in 2015.  The story of how this model created a new craze in the Hot Wheels world is an interesting one to say the least.

There are errors, then there are crazy nuts bonkers errors…