Wheel Collectors had a day.
The truck came, the pallets dropped, and all of a sudden Matt & Matt and the gang were digging through all kinds of Mattel goodies. And goodies they are.
From the first pallet, Hot Wheels Entertainment Batch K (the one not in stores) and Hot Wheels Heritage Batch F
.
From the second pallet, Matchbox 2016 Batch C. Sweet.
All of the stuff is available at the Wheel Collectors store if you want bypass all this and do some shopping. But if you want to stick around for a minute, here is a Case Report on the Matchbox C case.
Matchbox Basics now come in 24-count cases. This is a good thing. It means product moves faster, and new models will appear quicker. Yes, it means assortments are smaller, and some models might be gobbled up quicker. But your local store can just order two cases the next time if one case sells fast.
(This is probably where you wonder about Matchbox distribution, and the lack of basics at many Targets becomes your first thought. Remember, decisions are made well before the action happens. With the product improving so much, and collectors and others buying more, Matchbox basics will be back. Give the team time, buy what you see, and remember, Target as an Instagram page. Tag them in your matchbox-less peg photos and let them know what you think…)
Alright back to the task at hand. The C Case Report. This will be a little quicker than the Hot Wheels 72-count Case Reports. As always, pics are taken by Wheel Collectors from a randomly selected case:
BMW M5 new color
Tesla new color
Zamboni!
So the new castings are the only multiples in the case. The Wing Chiller and the Zomboni. Bad news if you want the Tesla or BMW, but good news when models like the MX-5 and Skyline hit later in the year.
I am very excited to see the Zamboni in person, and thrilled to have the Tesla and BMW recolors, which we have already previewed here on the blog. All of these are coming, and they will be sure to get covered here.
But there are Hot Wheels too.
Most of these you have seen, so no Case Report. But I can do a content report. Starting with Hot Wheels Entertainment Batch K. This was the final batch of 2015, and was exclusive to hobby dealers only. Wheel Collectors now has a few of this popular batch, and if it has eluded you before, now is the time to pounce.
The other batch is the final batch of Hot Wheels Heritage, Batch F. This is a Redline batch, and is highlighted most certainly by the Long Gone for most collectors, but I have my eye on the wagons. The Heritage line has been a good one, but it bows out to what will be the king of all Hot Wheels premium sets, Car Culture…
I thought Matchbox was changing/revolutionising in 2016… Hate to be a douche but that looks the exact same as always.
It's not like they are going to do a sudden change. Give it time.
I'm still trying to figure out in the Heritage case, which two vehicles are only 2 in the case. I was told the Long Gone was one, but what about the other?
LOVE the Zamboni. Shame it'll never arrive on any pegs near me.
Quote:
“Matchbox Basics now come in 24-count cases. This is a good thing. It means product moves faster, and new models will appear quicker. Yes, it means assortments are smaller, and some models might be gobbled up quicker. But your local store can just order two cases the next time if one case sells fast.”
Or the pegs will sit empty longer. I don't know which is worse, empty pegs or hangers.
I would be tempted to buy this case to get the ones I want. But the local hospitals no longer take toys from individuals. Grrr.
Jeff
Jeff why don't your hospitals take toys from individuals? I know the policy to only take packaged toys, but what is the reasoning?
yeah, lots of peg warmers by way of construction/offroad/maintenance vehicles…
“Buy what you see” lol what I see is what the majority of people that read diecast blogs avoid buying.
A pretty good batch. Everything ranges from excellent to horrible, Garbage Gulper and the Wing Chiller are the absolute worst of the batch.
I may just buy the whole darn case if sold for the $25 the models in it are worth. One good thing about this count–it's reasonably priced. $25 a month isn't bad.
The Wing chiller is awful! I hope this was designed by the old team and not the new Matchbox team.
When the time is right I may still want to purchase the 'Wind Chiller'(though I concur that it's a tacky name)and the Zamboni Ice Resurfacing Machine,also,I know I've previously asked so I'll ask again and that is is Matchbox still planning to devise the 2015 Chrysler 300 that is so far in its prototype stage (if anyone knows what I mean?).
Oh yeah I should mention that perhaps I may still want to purchase the white colored BMW cop car at some point.
The Corvette C6R is the other one that only comes with 2 in the case.
Usual scalping going on by wheelcollectors and lamley = 9 bucks for a $1 car ! shame shame shame
I still have never seen a red Tesla anywhere. With one per case, it looks like I won't get a blue one either. I guess it can join the recent history of mainline unicorns like the red M1 and the black and white Explorer.
Anywhere but ebay and lamley, that is.
Yep. Im tired of the work trucks and farm equipment and weird cars. When are we going to get more regular mainline cars? Where's the Audis, New Caddies, Volvos, Bentley Continental, Porsche? Sucks
Yep. Im tired of the work trucks and farm equipment and weird cars. When are we going to get more regular mainline cars? Where's the Audis, New Caddies, Volvos, Bentley Continental, Porsche? Sucks
I don't know about US stores, but Entertainment Batch K showed up at Canadian Toys R' Us stores and J showed up both at Toys R' Us and Walmart.
Almost makes up for my never having seen any Heritage cars beyond the very first case. Just before Christmas, my local Toys R' Us (Merivale Road, Ottawa) was loaded with the first wave of Heritage, so much so that one could buy at least quadruples of even the Datsun 510 Bluebird (although I didn't).