42 Replies to “Here is the Matchbox 2019 New Models & Line Preview”
Wow wow wow!! Awesome preview! There’s fewer modern street cars this time than before, and no sports cars, but I’m happy with what they got. Most are good but the 5 that stand out for me are – Porsche 911, BMW 2002, Mercedes W123, Dodge Charger and Ford Mustang. I’m also looking forward to the premium models and the 5 packs (red Panamera!!). All in all, the 2019 is just as great as 2018 if not better. I can’t wait to get these models!
So much joy You brought, thank You for tremendous contribution 🙂 Anyway back on topic, the less generics the better, who needs ’em anyway ? They’re nothing but fillers right ? As for the 2019 is going to be awesome, heck even better than 2018, and i though it would be tough thing do… When You compare both, well, 2018 looks rather bland and boring, still better than biggest competition hint hint 🙂
p.s. What happend to the Nissan 300zx that was planed too ? Are they going to release it next year or so ?
No doubt these will be much appreciated. I’m happy to see the Matchbox name continue, but it seems to be still struggling to have it’s own identity. The lines between Matchbox and Hot Wheels continues to be blurry thanks to the introduction of more classic cars and hot rods. As much as I love these kinds of cars, I’d much rather see them exist in the Hot Wheels universe, leaving Matchbox to focus on real everyday cars and trucks. The best news is the $1.99 models with working features. This is where the entire basic line should be, leaving the $1 price point where it belongs – in the past.
Brilliant comment and 100% accurate Stephen. The $1.99 models are where basic Matchbox should be. Just need to fix the terrible distribution system which hasn’t worked for 10 years. Can’t wait to find that Caprice and Merc.
I agree that Matchbox’s identity seems to be in flux, but that doesn’t bother me a great deal…for the most part, MB seems to stick fairly closely to stock vehicles, while Hot Wheels tends to put their own custom-flavored spin on a lot of their product. The improving proportion of licensed versus generic castings is most welcome, and there are some really cool new castings coming up…being a wagon fanatic, the W123 Mercedes is going to be epic. I’m also continuing to love the left-field choices like the Subaru Sambar (and SVX for that matter) and the poop king.
As always, it will be a constant battle trying to find any of the desirable models amid Matchbox’s exhaustingly bad distribution. My fingers are crossed, but if past experience holds true, there will be quite a few gaps in my collection.
I’m very glad to see Matchbox finally trimming the fat and toning down on their unlicensed off road and construction vehicles that have been warming the pegs for years now! Seeing realistic street cars again along with classic Matchboxes being resurrected is most welcome! The opening features cars are gonna be a great hit and at $2, that’s a great deal! As for new basics, I can’t wait for the JL Jeep Wrangler, Subaru SVX, the civilian Dodge Charger, and the ’75 Chevy Caprice Classic! As for the Charger, it only makes sense to make the modern civilian equivalent since they made the 2005 version. Also, Chargers are typically released as police cars, so it’s nice to have the civilian counterpart for a change at a $1 price tag.
The second to last slide for the Anniversary Superfasts really got me exited! Once I saw that, I was in shock! I cannot wait to hopefully find these! I love every single one except for the fantasy Blue Shark, which is no brainer. Glad to see a return to form at the brand that I much rather preferred playing with when I was a kid!
Let’s face it some model cars in the 1970’s look like someone didn’t give you know what when they design it, and the finger mercilessly pointing at 1976 Dodge Challenger or BMW 3.0 CSI and such. Im hoping this new Dodge Challenger looks ten Times better than that abomination of 1976 (MB1 Dodge Challenger).
Matchbox 1970s was a hardship time. UK was on strike. Shortages and powercits. They still waved their flag proud. Mattel also on mbx back. Yes some good. The bad and the ugly. However with half the tech of today. Lesney was great at realism. Things we could relate to. Some could give today’s castings a run for the money. Also everywhere still stocked and proudly displayed! I
It’s a pretty good line up. I’m also glad the line is being pulled to 100. 2019 looks to be a good year. The only thing is, as mentioned above. “distribution”. I hope uk get a fair deal, as in more retailers can stock. Also inline of what usa are paying.
Watching the presentation one got the impression that Marketing at Mattel doesn’t really understand the Matchbox brand. They see it exclusively through the lens of appealing to little kids, and given the chance would no doubt reposition the brand and dumb-down the line-up to reflect this. We all remember what happened last time Marketing got their way…Hero City! Given this internal power struggle Abe has done remarkably well to get so many left-of-center model choices in the line-up. Kudos to him and his team.
The appeal to little kids is because these are targeted to little kids. They are toys, first and foremost; we collectors are the afterthought. We should be glad the Matchbox and Hot Wheels teams are acknowledging our existence.
You may remember Hero City. I’be been collecting since 1973, so I can take you back further.
1. Superfast (1969/1970). Yes, I started in 1973, but I was already aware of what was happening. HOt Wheels came onto the scene in 1968, and Matchbox and the other brands had to adapt to keep up. The arrival of the fantasy cars (Mod Rod, Tyre Fryer, Flying Bug, etc.) and hot-rodded vehicles (Mustang Wildcat Dragster, Mercury Cougar Rat Rod, Hot Rod Jeep) actually drove a lot of Matchbox fans away.Not a good time for Lesney.
2. Rolomatics (1973). Cars with parts that move when the car was moving(wilfife Truck, Mustang Piston Popper, ford Capri Hot Rocker) weren’t exactly big movers on the pegs.
3. The US/ROW Movement (1980). I still don’t know whose bright idea it was to seperate the US market from the rest of the world (ROW), but it was a real mixed bag, depending on where you stood. While the ROW got the real goodies, such as the Rover 3500, Leyland Tanker and Matra Rancho, the US got rehashed/recolored/rebranded MBXs from the past, including the GT350 (former Mustang Wildcat Dragster), and all sourced from Hong Kong. We got new, elcusive models from 1981 onward, but that also sped up the demise of Lesney in 1982. many collectors missed out on getting stuff the ROW was getting, and vice versa, but thanks to the strong trade connections that were established back then, as well as mail-order houses lick Harold’s Place in Lynn, MA, we were able to get what we wanted.
I’m not trying to anger or afffend you, but generally, kids are and always will be the main focus of matchbox and Hot Wheels. This mattel, the would’s largest toy company, and the kids will always be their first priority.
Colin makes a great point here. What is making Matchbox great now? The creative team and their leadership with Abe front and center. What’s not great about Matchbox? The corporate leadership and the aspects they handle (EG distribution!). To be fair, you have to look at it in context. This event is for adult collectors of the brand. Abe is up there talking to those types and what they like. Granted, Abe is one of them, so it is no stretch for him to see from their perspective. Still, the presentation is catered to one aspect of the brand. What is cool about something like Matchbox is that it works equally well as a toy for kids and a collectable/fun thing for adults. Both markets should be considered. I think the brand is doing a good job of quality control while appealing to both kids and collectors (thankfully both groups have a ton of overlap in what they like). All that said, it feels like Abe finds himself saying things like, ‘We put this vehicle in because we need to fill that kind of thing in the lineup’ without much enthusiasm. To which the the collector asks himself, where is there a default slot for that kind of thing in the lineup? I’m torn in some ways. Some folks come on places like this and tear into any casting that might be made with a kid in mind or any generic. I think some of the generics are great. Off the top of my head, an example is the skidster. Matchbox would be a duller world without things like that (and that’s tough and too expensive to license). But overall, the quality and money-making direction is realism and licensed models. It seems like Abe is always in a state of battle and compromise with corporate. Frankly, he’s been winning. His sense of fun, his attention to collectors and his feel for varied, realistic, fun vehicles is winning people over.
The one thing you keep hearing about here is distribution. It has to get better. Very few collectors are happy with it, and I suspect kids have their own irritation at seeing the same models over and over or clogged pegs when they need other cars to fill out their city. I hope that this was a topic at the gathering. Not to beat a dead horse, but distribution doesn’t just mean getting the cars to the store in a timely manner. It also means: cutting back on peg warmers using a variety of techniques, making sure retailers carry enough product for it to flow (TARGET!), finding more retail venues for Matchbox including temporary or one time displays, making sure our foreign friends get better distribution and fairer prices, esp the UK.
The lineup looks great. I wish, to be picky, there was crow eaten and Matchbox would have backed off the color changers, which were a nightmarish peg clogger and don’t provide good value. I’m actually a sucker for color change things and as a kid I had Hotwheels that color changed that were tastefully done and METAL. These aren’t worth the 4-something price point. But they really hit it out of the park with the $2 models with moving parts. From early indications these are all metal, tastefully done and with moving parts, and for all that $2 is a great value. I bristle at the suggestion that all Matchbox mainline should be moved to $2. This would have to be done in tandem at least with Hot Wheels in order to not crush the business model of the brand. Is not the quality in the $1 mainline impressive? What they can do is expand the $2 line so that it is a bigger and bigger chuck as a way to thoroughly test the market. This will allow them to experiment with that price point and test that market without a sudden upheaval of the brand. It might be a pretty tight margin business and I feel uncomfortable pushing them to double the price on everything. Real Working Rigs is another great (re)addition to the lineup. Cool how they tend to scale up pretty well with a 1:64ish scale car. Another random thought–the trickery with the multi-packs is getting a bit much. So much space is devoted to multi packs on the shelves with so few combos of cars. You can only sell so many multi packs to kids and collectors that want the unique ‘chase’ car they sneak in to sweeten them. If the brand is going to devote so much retail to them (I get the mathematical appeal) then there should be more variety. I’ve seen seven of the same 9 pack in a store for months at a time. Also see the same 1, 2, or if lucky 3 5 packs pretty much all year. Variety is the spice of Matchbox.
Pyrrol apply for a job! You make good sense. The only thing is that old skool people like ourselves know this brand. Coverage for years is getting worse. Something big has to happen to capture young minds to this brand. But i hope matchbox stick to the real theme. And not have great castings swamped with bad colour and deco. The price for uk should be re set. Hotwheels is much cheaper. Kids and parents will think with their wallet. Mattel has done a good job at strangling this brand! I hope 2019 uk also gets powergrabs, rwr and those colour changers also many more we don’t receive. It’s mbx 65th! Anything??! Well kids and collectors in the uk would have liked to have known that. And used heritage to promote. But………… No mattel didn’t. Poor show!
Well, we can knit pick, but really the only major problem with the brand is distribution/retailer relations and advertising. Whoever is in charge of those things at Matchbox isn’t doing an adequate job. It may be that the wrong people have been hired in those sectors of Matchbox or that Mattel simply doesn’t allocate enough resources to that aspect of the brand. If an effort to was made to improve distribution and retailer relations, plus a slight uptick in advertising the brand would really come into full potential because it is a fantastic product.
Matchbox is an acquired brand. Hot Wheels is a proprietory (in-house created) brand. This is no different from when matttel owned Corgi from 1987 to 1994. Hot Wheels will always get the most attention and larger budget. This is what nearly killed Corgi; matchbox had more brand awareness and was able to survive, thanks also to the dedicated staff of John Coyne and Felix Holst and company who came aboard in late 2003 to save the brand.
True bit of history. I hope that Matchbox has been owned long enough by Mattel and earned them enough money that they might be willing to get behind the brand a bit more. It has consistently offered equal or higher quality die cast to that of Hot Wheels other than during the dark millennium ‘Hero City’ days. As far as current mainline lineups go, Matchbox is ahead of Hot Wheels. Being the ‘fantasy brand’ might sound fun and cool, but often realistic cars tickle the imagination more. And Hot Wheels’ current idea of fantasy is pretty ugly and numbing.
As mentioned before, I think there is a bias toward Hot Wheels among collectors because of it’s pure American origin over here in the states. Personally, I like England a lot, know it was a hot bed of diecast and think it is cool that the Matchbox brand started there. But in the sometimes insecure culture over here, being an American original is endlessly important. I think that’s something Matchbox fights too.
A little context is also important. Like it or not, as with so many things in this dog days of globalization era, toys companies have become less diverse. Things have inched toward monopoly. This is also true of retail. The big boxes have taken over and done in specialists (toy stores) and local/regional retail. But there are a very small amount of toy carrying big box stores to choose from. So, there are not a diverse set of retail places for die cast to be sold, particularly if companies aren’t creative about it or are averse to slight risk. This is why I encourage Matchbox to try new strategies in retail–I don’t think they (or a lot of toy brands) have fully adjusted to new retail realities. They MUST have great relationships with the most important big boxes (Target relationship needs to improve). They must find ways to keep their product from ‘clogging’ so much. They must be more creative and aggressive about finding retail homes for their products. But so many of the issues with Matchbox, with Mattel owning everything, with retail venues being scarce is just the current economic landscape we live in. Given that reality, it seems Matchbox is currently doing a good job.
I agree with you 100% Matchbox does deserve better than what it’s getting from mattel, especially since it was Matchbox that revolutionized the 3-inch toy market. It has a better history background than Hot Wheels as well.
Matchbox was born from the mind of a metalworker who who was asked by his daughter to make a toy (a tractor) to bring to school, that could fit into a matchbox. Hot Wheels, was created when a toy executive gave a Matchbox vehicle to a designer and ordered him to “make it go faster.” A vehicle created by love versus a vehicle created by corporate decision.
Also worth noting, from my observations during that period because I tend to follow the corporate environment of the hobby (Universal Matchbox Group was one of the darlings of the stock market from 1986 to 1991), Mattel bought the bankrupt Mettoy (Corgi’s then-parent) in 1987 to help gain a stronger presence in the European market. I think their French made Hot Wheels experiment was a bust. Mattel got what wanted, but Corgi suffered tremendously until management bought it back from Mattel in 1994.
Is Matchbox really a fantastic product, especially when compared to Autoworld or TLV? Those are truly fantastic products. Matchbox is a decent product, but the last time they were fantastic was the moment before Hot Wheels came about in the late 1960s. From that point on, Matchbox was always on the defense until they were swallowed up by Mattel. From that point on, they were not much more than survivors with an identity crisis, and it continues today. The problem is that they are no longer in competition with Hot Wheels. They have been reduced to a victim of a price point. That’s not to say there are not very good moments within the brand (Real Working Rigs, for example), but what was once the premier diecast brand is now nearly indistinguishable from the Hot Wheels basic line in terms of quality (and often identity – some models like hot rods and classics are much better suited for the blue band. Likewise, HW has everyday cars belonging in the MBX range). I’ll add that the upcoming models with working features is welcome, but let’s not forget this was a standard thing with almost all diecast 1/64 models one half ago. I mean, it’s a little tough to get excited about that.
I am very enthused about some of these cars, as well as some of the remaining 2018 cars. But it doesn’t count if I can’t find them. Here’s hoping, because as a former SVX owner, I need several of those, and I really hope they get two tone paint, because IRL some colors had a black roof and trunk lid. Pearl white with black was especially striking. I also am very much looking forward to the i8 BMW.
But I do have to wonder about the comments the presenter was making about the Caprice Classic, and the Dodge Coronet police cruiser… saying people have to learn to like them… that seems pretty presumptuous. I don’t mind that those castings are included, but I am not itching to pick them up. A 75 Malibu Laguna, Grand Prix, or Olds Cutlass A-body Colonnade coupe make more sense as 70’s era classics than a full-sized Caprice. The 50s Coronet has interesting eyebrow details and such, but it is no Hudson Hornet or Tucker.
Yes, Matchbox is a fantastic product. For many reasons:
One, comparing Matchbox to Autoworld and TLV is silly. They fit totally different niches. In my parts, Autoworld is only at Wal-Mart, costs $5.37 and has a very very limited range of cars. TLV is not available to buy in person in any part of my state that I know of, so it is a non-player. But the main difference is focus/price point. Matchbox is looking to sell cheaper, yet still high quality models offering a wide, diverse range. Due to the low cost they can take risks and make unusual models (see the poop king coming out next year) as well as offer great diversity. The price allows huge access to kids and collectors in large numbers. In contrast, at over $5, there is a limit to how many Autoworlds people can afford (if they can find them). The range is cartoonishly limited, not only in actual cars but type. They are all stock cars from the early 60’s (excepting one 50’s casting I know of) to current times, with the majority from 1963-1978. No working vehicles, no trucks, no foreign cars, no emergency vehicles. I think Autoworld is the truest 1:64 scale car I can find in person, but even I get tired of their tiny range and focus. One can go many months without finding a new Autoworld.
Another thing that I like is that Matchbox is a toy. This puts it in the category of Hot Wheels etc and not Autoworld etc. Autoworlds are fragile and their wheels don’t roll smooth. They are purely a collector product. That’s cool, and I love to collect them, but Matchbox is a toy that you can handle with ease, diddle around with and they roll really nice. They also have a great toy price. As a collector, I also enjoy different brand’s styles. One of the things I enjoy about Matchbox is seeing what they can do in the limitations of a small budget per car. The ingenious ways Matchbox designs their product to fit budget and be hyper affordable is delightful.
Matchbox has a really independent voice from Hot Wheels. They are clearly the realism brand and even in the rare instance there is a Matchbox rod, it is much more realistic than a Hot Wheels counterpart. In all of the easy to find die cast cars on the market, really only Matchbox will tackle things such as fire trucks. If you want something like a decent, cheap licensed fire truck model who else is there? They also employ nice touches, like the canoe atop the ’59 Impala, or the willingness to make a car carrying flat bed for $1 or a trailer to hitch on to vehicles at that scale for $1. Matchbox has it’s own set of wheel hubcap designs (expect one overlap with Hot Wheels). They also use Tampos in a very different aesthetic and have their own touch with casting styles. The brands have strong aesthetic relations, though. They use the same equipment and systems mostly and so share some relation in how they look. Mostly this isn’t close, but at times the line can get foggy.
The return of moving parts, esp at the rock bottom price point of $2 IS something to get exited about. And it opens up things for the future of the brand. These models look to be oldschool in that they are all metal (base too) and have the retro interest in moving parts. It’s also worth pointing out that not all the basics in the classic days had moving parts and if that basic price was adjusted to inflation it would be more than $2. I’m a big fan of Lesney Matchbox of old as well as the Superfast era. But like comparing Matchbox directly to Autoworld, comparing Matchbox to Lesney is apples and oranges. That era was totally different. We can’t expect toys to look exactly like they were in 1960. In some ways old Matchbox before the superfast era was primitive. They had nice castings, but non-detailed wheels that were the same all the time. Cars had 1 to 2 colors from a limited palette of paints. Tampos didn’t exist. Many of those old castings are quite detailed, but that is often equaled by current Matchbox. The tools did have a bit of a sharper edge to them in the older toys and they have a wonderful utilitarian look. In the Superfast era, Matchbox had a very attractive but somewhat bold, simplified look to castings, new paint additions, still no tampos to speak of. Currently Matchbox has a large, diverse lineup full of crowd pleasers and oddballs. They have great ‘citizen vehicles’ as well as working vehicles, emergency vehicles and international cars. Their lineup has never been more adventurous. We are living in the golden age of tampos and Matchbox has consistently great decos. They sometimes use flashy chrome coated plastic bases unavailable in the early days. Current Matchbox has it’s own style and focus, but it competes well with the Lesney and Superfast eras. We are lucky to be collecting at this time.
I think you are missing my point. Let’s take Autoworld and TLV out of the equation and look at a new mainline Matchbox car. For now, there are no operating features. The base is plastic. The plastic used is often that cheap grey stuff. The box in Matchbox is gone unless you consider power grabs, and those have one-time flaps. Metal is being replaced with plastic to shed weight. The detail on a new Matchbox car is decent, but often not as crisp as the models from 50 years ago (particularly with the interior). The quality of a new Matchbox is pretty much the same as a new Hot wheels. Fit and finish is almost identical.
So, where is the “fantastic” in that?
Going further, prior to Hot Wheels in the 1960s, Lesney was constantly adding something innovative to the line. Autosteer or suspension, for example. Prior to Hot Wheels, that was kind of fantastic. Then, Hot Wheels comes along with all kinds of innovation, mostly the low friction bearings. THAT was fantastic. Current Matchbox models offer nothing new to diecast. They are bringing back old ideas, which is welcome but hardly fantastic considering they should have never lost those old things to begin with.
So let’s circle back to Autoworld and TLV. The comparison is not about the price points. It’s about the actual product. Both of these brands are fantastic in their superb quality. When AW came about, nobody was hitting the scale and realism of American cars this well. I suspect most collectors, when holding an AW model for the first time, felt they were truly fantastic models. TLV delivers the same feeling, and they keep getting better.
What I find most interesting about AW is that they represent what Matchbox might have been if Hot Wheels never came around. AW makes a robust product, but yeah – they don’t roll much better than a Lesney Regular Wheel car. TLVs, I agree, are a little more fragile and are an aduly collectible. You could say the Matchbox #45 Corsair had that fragile roof rack, but that was more of an exception.
You need to remember here, Lesney was more of an independent multi-line company (industrial and electrical supplies and equipment) that also made toys on the side. Since they created thsir own toolings and owned the factory that made them, they had the freedom to do whatever they pleased, and it worked. They even operated their own collectors club for dedicated fans (I was also a member). Mattel, on the other hand, is a multi-national corporation. They develop their own products, but they are mass-manufactured in different countries (Hot Wheels were first made in the USA, Mexico, Hong Kong; and briefly in India and Vietnam; nowadays they are made in China, Malaysia, Thailand and now Indonesia), and in factories via contract. Mass manufacturing and mass marketing means greater output, and that means cutting cost at every corner.
Lesney never flooded the market like Mattel does, but they did strive to offer as many features in a model at the lowest price possible. They didn’t exactly make a killing on Matchbox, especially since their product line was limited to 75 per year with annual model rotation.
As for Autoworld, I must debate on the quality. I’ve purchased a few AWs since their inception, ant yes, they are horrible. Same for Greenlight and M2 Machines. they look good, but I refuse to pay $5.00 or more for something with bent axles, warped wheels, parts the won’t close properly or stend to stick, or bodies that are not screwed or riveted properly. Same goes for the revived JLs. I also have two TLVs that really aren’t worth the money I paid for them. Kyoshos are much better.
If Matchbox listens to chatter on here…
Another quick idea on the distribution/marketing side. Perhaps produce more quick grab cases. These take up less retail space and for more cars, and may be a way to get around retailers who are stingy with peg space. They also are a nice throwback to the brand history. A way to sweeten them slightly would be to make the ends a recloseable hinge so cars can be stored in sealed boxes after purchase.
I think they do; they just keep it low-key. John Coyne and Felix Holst did have a regular presence on the MCCH Community during its heyday, and I think the new MBX staff visit LaLD from time to time.
With due respect, how many years have Mattel had so far to sort out the distribution, and failed miserably, ASDA has the models, occasionally, and very rarely anything new, usually three or four cases behind, which does little for anyone.
The models that are coming, look great, persoanlly i loath all things generic, but thats my personal choice, and i really cant see what the issue with the the MGB is, MG in the UK, are seriously wanting this model, and even they have no idea what the problem is, as permissions have been granted, and it isn’t if it is a difficult model to produce.
What i can not understand is, Mattel has a set up in most countries, and if they were really serious about selling the models, or any toys come to that, why do they not set up a sales site themselves, that way, the collector can get everything they want, at sensible pricing, and not the £2 ($3) for a basic model that we are ripped off over now, i hate to think how much the opening parts models will be, and as for ASDA, as they will be taken over by J.Sainsbury’s shortly, that will be the contract gone as Sainsbury’s really do not want to sell toys, and i have had that from store managers, they are just too much hassle, and on the bulk of the items % profit is not good.
So by setting up a sales stream themselves, like many many other brands do, they get the added advantage of regular orders, increases in revenue for themselves and happier collectors, it is a win win, they can even get the models that are generally not available like chase models, The UK can be a huge sales opportunity, but they have had a decade to sort out this poor, rubbish, distribution, and they have not bothered, plain and simple, so it is us, the ones that spend the most, that get the proverbial kick in the teeth yet again.
I have spoken at length with UK based companies like Jaguar Land Rover, MG, Nissan etc, and they all have said the same thing, “even we cant get them so you won’t have a hope in hells chance”, and if the companies that own the IP of the cars Mattel are reproducing cant get them, why should they bother in the future allowing then to make these models – in fact one company, is considering (gone to board level) of withdrawing from Mattel, and going to another company, that has already reproduced every car in their range (and more to come)
Pyrrol, the brands history and roots is why matchbox is great!thanks for saying that. Mattel can still use this to promote. Mr cook. You should have said siku!!! Isreal moore, the early 80s I wanted roman numeral line in the UK with cool models as maxi taxi etc….. And more to come?!?! Mr mower…… 🙂 this is how the brand has got to people. It shows what passion and following. UK coverage. It’s total sh*t!
Funny you mention Siku – I just returned from Germany, and made a point to buy a bunch of their toys. The king-size comparable Siku is a great example of what Matchbox might have been if they continued down the original path. They are well made and based on real vehicles, loaded with working parts. The smaller scale cars and trucks (in many cases) are not quite as nice and a little clunky in comparison. Siku makes toys, but they also a realistic enough to appeal to grown ups (er…if you can call us that).
I remember the roman numeral cars. I didn’t get the whole set, but I did get the Sleet-N-Snow (U.S. Mail Jeep), VW Pizza Van, and the 4X4 Rally Car (the Field Car painted orange with IH tampo, which confirmed my suspicions that the Field Car was actually a generic IH Scout.
I also got the Stickers cars from 1978, which were the Toyota Celica XX/Supra, Nissan 280ZG/2+2, Mazda Savanna RX-7 and Mitsubishi Galant Sigma/Plymouth Sapporo, all with thin Superfast transitional styled wheels, made in Hong Kong and labeled exclusively for the Japan consumer market. They also carried the model designations 76, 77, 78, and 79, the first time Matchbox broke that range. They were sold in the US as a 4-pack, with decals for each model. I threw the stickers away.
Lucky man, hope you enjoyed!mini heatwave here! Siku are a fantastic example for any die Cast to go by. The realism and details. I want those NZ issue of St John’s ambulances. Of which i personally can relate to. All the best and happy collecting! Do they still sell mbx in muller?
I did not see any Matchbox for sale in Germany, but I wasn’t not looking for them either. Siku was on my hit list, and I managed to bring home some 1:66 Shuccos as well. The Siku section at shops like Obletter are a childhood flashback! There were two 25′-ish aisles of the things, and everything was in stock. It was as if kids actually still cared about diecast.
I think Matchbox design time are doing a great job. So many great models I get to see only online.
Here in New Zealand the issue is distribution. No new Matchbox in the the main New Zealand retailer of Matchbox, the Warehouse stores since Christmas 2017 except for Jurassic Park series. This is based on regular visits two the Warehouse stores and occasional visits to others.
Seems a similar issue to ASDA UK where I read that until recently they did occasional bulk orders rather than regular smaller orders that support a higher turnover of stock because there are new models to buy.
Stephen: If you don’t like current Matchbox I won’t be able to convince you otherwise, but I wonder what you expect for a $1-2 (US) price point. Other companies fill the pure boutique/collector car segment for a much higher price point. Matchbox makes a great toy/highly affordable collectable. Obviously no diecast is ever perfect, and certainly not in the $1-2 range. Matchbox has committed many sins. They cut corners too much on certain models (but even the ones they clearly don’t put aside full budget for can turn out pretty neat). No collectors like plastic, but Matchbox has recently plateaued plastic in most models, watching to keep a decent amount of metal in there. Could be better, but could be way worse. Does seem that they are more careful of this in the last few years. As far as innovations in diecast, who has been innovative recently? No one in diecast has been. There are only so many gimmicks and innovations. Collectors mostly want solid, fun, realistic models, not ‘innovation.’
Israel: Good point about Lesney being a small independent type company. That business model is almost dead in this era of globalization. For better or for worse, most of the producers are big companies that produce in mass to make it worth their while. AW is high quality in that it is highly detailed and scaled very well at 1:64. But yes, there are some ‘craftsmanship issues’ with them and M2, Johnny Lightening, Greenlight etc. It is still a mass produced, get it in budget thing, but with models with so many parts put together there are more chances for craftsmanship issues (and fragility, bad rolling etc).
Jon: True, all indications are that Matchbox, ie Mattel doesn’t give a sh*t about distribution for the Matchbox brand. For whatever reason they seem happy with a poor, sloppy, outdated distribution system. Throw it and see if it sticks. I hope that the interest in the brand and comments will some day convince Mattel to make some improvements, if for no other reason than out of greed (they could make more money off the brand).
Stephen: Don’t know much about Siku. It’s basically a non-issue in this discussion for people from the US because we don’t get that brand here at all. I know very little about it, but it does seem their line in scale and style with Matchbox is nearly the same quality, with a slightly more plain aesthetic. It seems each have some strengths over the other. I tend to like what Matchbox does better, but Siku is very, very nice. I do suspect that their price point even for Matchbox-like cars is higher, even as some models are no better than their Matchbox counterparts. Siku is pretty darn different than Matchbox. I guess Matchbox could have turned out like them, but I for one am glad Siku does its thing and Matchbox is doing what it is doing. Helps broaden the styles and makes available in die cast vehicles.
I always respected Siku brand for theirs attention to the details, as much realism as possible, lest generics possible, in fact i do not recall if they ever sold generics ? I doubt it. They aim to offer higher quality products, also they want to please diverse collectors, Fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and truck, Cranes and such not to mention they even offer tram, can you imagine, who else does this magic ? I went shopping last year, and was lucky to see the entire line up or so Siku had last year (2017). I look at them closely and they give you impression of a higher quality product than the competition, definitely, also to me they’re quite expensive, but thats my fault as im very poor, if i had that money id buy all the stuff they had last year. To conclude, imho Siku is on the top, Tomica’s next, Matchbox is somewhere in the middle and there’s the rest. I would love to see Matchbox coming back on top.
If possible I may still want to purchase the Caprice Classic and perhaps the ’64 Pontiac GP (if I’m not mistaken with regards to that name) for they are the most appealing autos for the Matchbox 2019 line up. For the Ford Mustang I’m not enthusiastic about it in fact I feel that Mattel places unnecessary emphasis on the Ford Mustang and I finally I agree with those who wish Matchbox would resolve distribution issues.
People love Matchbox, they just need chance to buy one, distribution sucks badly and this need to be changed ASAP, otherwise it won’t matter what’s to come next year or another 🙁
Wow wow wow!! Awesome preview! There’s fewer modern street cars this time than before, and no sports cars, but I’m happy with what they got. Most are good but the 5 that stand out for me are – Porsche 911, BMW 2002, Mercedes W123, Dodge Charger and Ford Mustang. I’m also looking forward to the premium models and the 5 packs (red Panamera!!). All in all, the 2019 is just as great as 2018 if not better. I can’t wait to get these models!
Stunned by this lineup! Now get the distribution worked out!
So much joy You brought, thank You for tremendous contribution 🙂 Anyway back on topic, the less generics the better, who needs ’em anyway ? They’re nothing but fillers right ? As for the 2019 is going to be awesome, heck even better than 2018, and i though it would be tough thing do… When You compare both, well, 2018 looks rather bland and boring, still better than biggest competition hint hint 🙂
p.s. What happend to the Nissan 300zx that was planed too ? Are they going to release it next year or so ?
No doubt these will be much appreciated. I’m happy to see the Matchbox name continue, but it seems to be still struggling to have it’s own identity. The lines between Matchbox and Hot Wheels continues to be blurry thanks to the introduction of more classic cars and hot rods. As much as I love these kinds of cars, I’d much rather see them exist in the Hot Wheels universe, leaving Matchbox to focus on real everyday cars and trucks. The best news is the $1.99 models with working features. This is where the entire basic line should be, leaving the $1 price point where it belongs – in the past.
Brilliant comment and 100% accurate Stephen. The $1.99 models are where basic Matchbox should be. Just need to fix the terrible distribution system which hasn’t worked for 10 years. Can’t wait to find that Caprice and Merc.
I so. Happy .Be. New .Matchbox models 2019
I agree that Matchbox’s identity seems to be in flux, but that doesn’t bother me a great deal…for the most part, MB seems to stick fairly closely to stock vehicles, while Hot Wheels tends to put their own custom-flavored spin on a lot of their product. The improving proportion of licensed versus generic castings is most welcome, and there are some really cool new castings coming up…being a wagon fanatic, the W123 Mercedes is going to be epic. I’m also continuing to love the left-field choices like the Subaru Sambar (and SVX for that matter) and the poop king.
As always, it will be a constant battle trying to find any of the desirable models amid Matchbox’s exhaustingly bad distribution. My fingers are crossed, but if past experience holds true, there will be quite a few gaps in my collection.
I’m very glad to see Matchbox finally trimming the fat and toning down on their unlicensed off road and construction vehicles that have been warming the pegs for years now! Seeing realistic street cars again along with classic Matchboxes being resurrected is most welcome! The opening features cars are gonna be a great hit and at $2, that’s a great deal! As for new basics, I can’t wait for the JL Jeep Wrangler, Subaru SVX, the civilian Dodge Charger, and the ’75 Chevy Caprice Classic! As for the Charger, it only makes sense to make the modern civilian equivalent since they made the 2005 version. Also, Chargers are typically released as police cars, so it’s nice to have the civilian counterpart for a change at a $1 price tag.
The second to last slide for the Anniversary Superfasts really got me exited! Once I saw that, I was in shock! I cannot wait to hopefully find these! I love every single one except for the fantasy Blue Shark, which is no brainer. Glad to see a return to form at the brand that I much rather preferred playing with when I was a kid!
Let’s face it some model cars in the 1970’s look like someone didn’t give you know what when they design it, and the finger mercilessly pointing at 1976 Dodge Challenger or BMW 3.0 CSI and such. Im hoping this new Dodge Challenger looks ten Times better than that abomination of 1976 (MB1 Dodge Challenger).
Matchbox 1970s was a hardship time. UK was on strike. Shortages and powercits. They still waved their flag proud. Mattel also on mbx back. Yes some good. The bad and the ugly. However with half the tech of today. Lesney was great at realism. Things we could relate to. Some could give today’s castings a run for the money. Also everywhere still stocked and proudly displayed! I
It’s a pretty good line up. I’m also glad the line is being pulled to 100. 2019 looks to be a good year. The only thing is, as mentioned above. “distribution”. I hope uk get a fair deal, as in more retailers can stock. Also inline of what usa are paying.
Watching the presentation one got the impression that Marketing at Mattel doesn’t really understand the Matchbox brand. They see it exclusively through the lens of appealing to little kids, and given the chance would no doubt reposition the brand and dumb-down the line-up to reflect this. We all remember what happened last time Marketing got their way…Hero City! Given this internal power struggle Abe has done remarkably well to get so many left-of-center model choices in the line-up. Kudos to him and his team.
The appeal to little kids is because these are targeted to little kids. They are toys, first and foremost; we collectors are the afterthought. We should be glad the Matchbox and Hot Wheels teams are acknowledging our existence.
You may remember Hero City. I’be been collecting since 1973, so I can take you back further.
1. Superfast (1969/1970). Yes, I started in 1973, but I was already aware of what was happening. HOt Wheels came onto the scene in 1968, and Matchbox and the other brands had to adapt to keep up. The arrival of the fantasy cars (Mod Rod, Tyre Fryer, Flying Bug, etc.) and hot-rodded vehicles (Mustang Wildcat Dragster, Mercury Cougar Rat Rod, Hot Rod Jeep) actually drove a lot of Matchbox fans away.Not a good time for Lesney.
2. Rolomatics (1973). Cars with parts that move when the car was moving(wilfife Truck, Mustang Piston Popper, ford Capri Hot Rocker) weren’t exactly big movers on the pegs.
3. The US/ROW Movement (1980). I still don’t know whose bright idea it was to seperate the US market from the rest of the world (ROW), but it was a real mixed bag, depending on where you stood. While the ROW got the real goodies, such as the Rover 3500, Leyland Tanker and Matra Rancho, the US got rehashed/recolored/rebranded MBXs from the past, including the GT350 (former Mustang Wildcat Dragster), and all sourced from Hong Kong. We got new, elcusive models from 1981 onward, but that also sped up the demise of Lesney in 1982. many collectors missed out on getting stuff the ROW was getting, and vice versa, but thanks to the strong trade connections that were established back then, as well as mail-order houses lick Harold’s Place in Lynn, MA, we were able to get what we wanted.
I’m not trying to anger or afffend you, but generally, kids are and always will be the main focus of matchbox and Hot Wheels. This mattel, the would’s largest toy company, and the kids will always be their first priority.
😂hero city. Tuche
Colin makes a great point here. What is making Matchbox great now? The creative team and their leadership with Abe front and center. What’s not great about Matchbox? The corporate leadership and the aspects they handle (EG distribution!). To be fair, you have to look at it in context. This event is for adult collectors of the brand. Abe is up there talking to those types and what they like. Granted, Abe is one of them, so it is no stretch for him to see from their perspective. Still, the presentation is catered to one aspect of the brand. What is cool about something like Matchbox is that it works equally well as a toy for kids and a collectable/fun thing for adults. Both markets should be considered. I think the brand is doing a good job of quality control while appealing to both kids and collectors (thankfully both groups have a ton of overlap in what they like). All that said, it feels like Abe finds himself saying things like, ‘We put this vehicle in because we need to fill that kind of thing in the lineup’ without much enthusiasm. To which the the collector asks himself, where is there a default slot for that kind of thing in the lineup? I’m torn in some ways. Some folks come on places like this and tear into any casting that might be made with a kid in mind or any generic. I think some of the generics are great. Off the top of my head, an example is the skidster. Matchbox would be a duller world without things like that (and that’s tough and too expensive to license). But overall, the quality and money-making direction is realism and licensed models. It seems like Abe is always in a state of battle and compromise with corporate. Frankly, he’s been winning. His sense of fun, his attention to collectors and his feel for varied, realistic, fun vehicles is winning people over.
The one thing you keep hearing about here is distribution. It has to get better. Very few collectors are happy with it, and I suspect kids have their own irritation at seeing the same models over and over or clogged pegs when they need other cars to fill out their city. I hope that this was a topic at the gathering. Not to beat a dead horse, but distribution doesn’t just mean getting the cars to the store in a timely manner. It also means: cutting back on peg warmers using a variety of techniques, making sure retailers carry enough product for it to flow (TARGET!), finding more retail venues for Matchbox including temporary or one time displays, making sure our foreign friends get better distribution and fairer prices, esp the UK.
The lineup looks great. I wish, to be picky, there was crow eaten and Matchbox would have backed off the color changers, which were a nightmarish peg clogger and don’t provide good value. I’m actually a sucker for color change things and as a kid I had Hotwheels that color changed that were tastefully done and METAL. These aren’t worth the 4-something price point. But they really hit it out of the park with the $2 models with moving parts. From early indications these are all metal, tastefully done and with moving parts, and for all that $2 is a great value. I bristle at the suggestion that all Matchbox mainline should be moved to $2. This would have to be done in tandem at least with Hot Wheels in order to not crush the business model of the brand. Is not the quality in the $1 mainline impressive? What they can do is expand the $2 line so that it is a bigger and bigger chuck as a way to thoroughly test the market. This will allow them to experiment with that price point and test that market without a sudden upheaval of the brand. It might be a pretty tight margin business and I feel uncomfortable pushing them to double the price on everything. Real Working Rigs is another great (re)addition to the lineup. Cool how they tend to scale up pretty well with a 1:64ish scale car. Another random thought–the trickery with the multi-packs is getting a bit much. So much space is devoted to multi packs on the shelves with so few combos of cars. You can only sell so many multi packs to kids and collectors that want the unique ‘chase’ car they sneak in to sweeten them. If the brand is going to devote so much retail to them (I get the mathematical appeal) then there should be more variety. I’ve seen seven of the same 9 pack in a store for months at a time. Also see the same 1, 2, or if lucky 3 5 packs pretty much all year. Variety is the spice of Matchbox.
Pyrrol apply for a job! You make good sense. The only thing is that old skool people like ourselves know this brand. Coverage for years is getting worse. Something big has to happen to capture young minds to this brand. But i hope matchbox stick to the real theme. And not have great castings swamped with bad colour and deco. The price for uk should be re set. Hotwheels is much cheaper. Kids and parents will think with their wallet. Mattel has done a good job at strangling this brand! I hope 2019 uk also gets powergrabs, rwr and those colour changers also many more we don’t receive. It’s mbx 65th! Anything??! Well kids and collectors in the uk would have liked to have known that. And used heritage to promote. But………… No mattel didn’t. Poor show!
Well, we can knit pick, but really the only major problem with the brand is distribution/retailer relations and advertising. Whoever is in charge of those things at Matchbox isn’t doing an adequate job. It may be that the wrong people have been hired in those sectors of Matchbox or that Mattel simply doesn’t allocate enough resources to that aspect of the brand. If an effort to was made to improve distribution and retailer relations, plus a slight uptick in advertising the brand would really come into full potential because it is a fantastic product.
Matchbox is an acquired brand. Hot Wheels is a proprietory (in-house created) brand. This is no different from when matttel owned Corgi from 1987 to 1994. Hot Wheels will always get the most attention and larger budget. This is what nearly killed Corgi; matchbox had more brand awareness and was able to survive, thanks also to the dedicated staff of John Coyne and Felix Holst and company who came aboard in late 2003 to save the brand.
True bit of history. I hope that Matchbox has been owned long enough by Mattel and earned them enough money that they might be willing to get behind the brand a bit more. It has consistently offered equal or higher quality die cast to that of Hot Wheels other than during the dark millennium ‘Hero City’ days. As far as current mainline lineups go, Matchbox is ahead of Hot Wheels. Being the ‘fantasy brand’ might sound fun and cool, but often realistic cars tickle the imagination more. And Hot Wheels’ current idea of fantasy is pretty ugly and numbing.
As mentioned before, I think there is a bias toward Hot Wheels among collectors because of it’s pure American origin over here in the states. Personally, I like England a lot, know it was a hot bed of diecast and think it is cool that the Matchbox brand started there. But in the sometimes insecure culture over here, being an American original is endlessly important. I think that’s something Matchbox fights too.
A little context is also important. Like it or not, as with so many things in this dog days of globalization era, toys companies have become less diverse. Things have inched toward monopoly. This is also true of retail. The big boxes have taken over and done in specialists (toy stores) and local/regional retail. But there are a very small amount of toy carrying big box stores to choose from. So, there are not a diverse set of retail places for die cast to be sold, particularly if companies aren’t creative about it or are averse to slight risk. This is why I encourage Matchbox to try new strategies in retail–I don’t think they (or a lot of toy brands) have fully adjusted to new retail realities. They MUST have great relationships with the most important big boxes (Target relationship needs to improve). They must find ways to keep their product from ‘clogging’ so much. They must be more creative and aggressive about finding retail homes for their products. But so many of the issues with Matchbox, with Mattel owning everything, with retail venues being scarce is just the current economic landscape we live in. Given that reality, it seems Matchbox is currently doing a good job.
I agree with you 100% Matchbox does deserve better than what it’s getting from mattel, especially since it was Matchbox that revolutionized the 3-inch toy market. It has a better history background than Hot Wheels as well.
Matchbox was born from the mind of a metalworker who who was asked by his daughter to make a toy (a tractor) to bring to school, that could fit into a matchbox. Hot Wheels, was created when a toy executive gave a Matchbox vehicle to a designer and ordered him to “make it go faster.” A vehicle created by love versus a vehicle created by corporate decision.
Also worth noting, from my observations during that period because I tend to follow the corporate environment of the hobby (Universal Matchbox Group was one of the darlings of the stock market from 1986 to 1991), Mattel bought the bankrupt Mettoy (Corgi’s then-parent) in 1987 to help gain a stronger presence in the European market. I think their French made Hot Wheels experiment was a bust. Mattel got what wanted, but Corgi suffered tremendously until management bought it back from Mattel in 1994.
Is Matchbox really a fantastic product, especially when compared to Autoworld or TLV? Those are truly fantastic products. Matchbox is a decent product, but the last time they were fantastic was the moment before Hot Wheels came about in the late 1960s. From that point on, Matchbox was always on the defense until they were swallowed up by Mattel. From that point on, they were not much more than survivors with an identity crisis, and it continues today. The problem is that they are no longer in competition with Hot Wheels. They have been reduced to a victim of a price point. That’s not to say there are not very good moments within the brand (Real Working Rigs, for example), but what was once the premier diecast brand is now nearly indistinguishable from the Hot Wheels basic line in terms of quality (and often identity – some models like hot rods and classics are much better suited for the blue band. Likewise, HW has everyday cars belonging in the MBX range). I’ll add that the upcoming models with working features is welcome, but let’s not forget this was a standard thing with almost all diecast 1/64 models one half ago. I mean, it’s a little tough to get excited about that.
I am very enthused about some of these cars, as well as some of the remaining 2018 cars. But it doesn’t count if I can’t find them. Here’s hoping, because as a former SVX owner, I need several of those, and I really hope they get two tone paint, because IRL some colors had a black roof and trunk lid. Pearl white with black was especially striking. I also am very much looking forward to the i8 BMW.
But I do have to wonder about the comments the presenter was making about the Caprice Classic, and the Dodge Coronet police cruiser… saying people have to learn to like them… that seems pretty presumptuous. I don’t mind that those castings are included, but I am not itching to pick them up. A 75 Malibu Laguna, Grand Prix, or Olds Cutlass A-body Colonnade coupe make more sense as 70’s era classics than a full-sized Caprice. The 50s Coronet has interesting eyebrow details and such, but it is no Hudson Hornet or Tucker.
Alot of nice models
Charger SWAT truck ambulance Nissan truck are very good and well done
Cant wait to see the rest of emergencey models
Yes, Matchbox is a fantastic product. For many reasons:
One, comparing Matchbox to Autoworld and TLV is silly. They fit totally different niches. In my parts, Autoworld is only at Wal-Mart, costs $5.37 and has a very very limited range of cars. TLV is not available to buy in person in any part of my state that I know of, so it is a non-player. But the main difference is focus/price point. Matchbox is looking to sell cheaper, yet still high quality models offering a wide, diverse range. Due to the low cost they can take risks and make unusual models (see the poop king coming out next year) as well as offer great diversity. The price allows huge access to kids and collectors in large numbers. In contrast, at over $5, there is a limit to how many Autoworlds people can afford (if they can find them). The range is cartoonishly limited, not only in actual cars but type. They are all stock cars from the early 60’s (excepting one 50’s casting I know of) to current times, with the majority from 1963-1978. No working vehicles, no trucks, no foreign cars, no emergency vehicles. I think Autoworld is the truest 1:64 scale car I can find in person, but even I get tired of their tiny range and focus. One can go many months without finding a new Autoworld.
Another thing that I like is that Matchbox is a toy. This puts it in the category of Hot Wheels etc and not Autoworld etc. Autoworlds are fragile and their wheels don’t roll smooth. They are purely a collector product. That’s cool, and I love to collect them, but Matchbox is a toy that you can handle with ease, diddle around with and they roll really nice. They also have a great toy price. As a collector, I also enjoy different brand’s styles. One of the things I enjoy about Matchbox is seeing what they can do in the limitations of a small budget per car. The ingenious ways Matchbox designs their product to fit budget and be hyper affordable is delightful.
Matchbox has a really independent voice from Hot Wheels. They are clearly the realism brand and even in the rare instance there is a Matchbox rod, it is much more realistic than a Hot Wheels counterpart. In all of the easy to find die cast cars on the market, really only Matchbox will tackle things such as fire trucks. If you want something like a decent, cheap licensed fire truck model who else is there? They also employ nice touches, like the canoe atop the ’59 Impala, or the willingness to make a car carrying flat bed for $1 or a trailer to hitch on to vehicles at that scale for $1. Matchbox has it’s own set of wheel hubcap designs (expect one overlap with Hot Wheels). They also use Tampos in a very different aesthetic and have their own touch with casting styles. The brands have strong aesthetic relations, though. They use the same equipment and systems mostly and so share some relation in how they look. Mostly this isn’t close, but at times the line can get foggy.
The return of moving parts, esp at the rock bottom price point of $2 IS something to get exited about. And it opens up things for the future of the brand. These models look to be oldschool in that they are all metal (base too) and have the retro interest in moving parts. It’s also worth pointing out that not all the basics in the classic days had moving parts and if that basic price was adjusted to inflation it would be more than $2. I’m a big fan of Lesney Matchbox of old as well as the Superfast era. But like comparing Matchbox directly to Autoworld, comparing Matchbox to Lesney is apples and oranges. That era was totally different. We can’t expect toys to look exactly like they were in 1960. In some ways old Matchbox before the superfast era was primitive. They had nice castings, but non-detailed wheels that were the same all the time. Cars had 1 to 2 colors from a limited palette of paints. Tampos didn’t exist. Many of those old castings are quite detailed, but that is often equaled by current Matchbox. The tools did have a bit of a sharper edge to them in the older toys and they have a wonderful utilitarian look. In the Superfast era, Matchbox had a very attractive but somewhat bold, simplified look to castings, new paint additions, still no tampos to speak of. Currently Matchbox has a large, diverse lineup full of crowd pleasers and oddballs. They have great ‘citizen vehicles’ as well as working vehicles, emergency vehicles and international cars. Their lineup has never been more adventurous. We are living in the golden age of tampos and Matchbox has consistently great decos. They sometimes use flashy chrome coated plastic bases unavailable in the early days. Current Matchbox has it’s own style and focus, but it competes well with the Lesney and Superfast eras. We are lucky to be collecting at this time.
I think you are missing my point. Let’s take Autoworld and TLV out of the equation and look at a new mainline Matchbox car. For now, there are no operating features. The base is plastic. The plastic used is often that cheap grey stuff. The box in Matchbox is gone unless you consider power grabs, and those have one-time flaps. Metal is being replaced with plastic to shed weight. The detail on a new Matchbox car is decent, but often not as crisp as the models from 50 years ago (particularly with the interior). The quality of a new Matchbox is pretty much the same as a new Hot wheels. Fit and finish is almost identical.
So, where is the “fantastic” in that?
Going further, prior to Hot Wheels in the 1960s, Lesney was constantly adding something innovative to the line. Autosteer or suspension, for example. Prior to Hot Wheels, that was kind of fantastic. Then, Hot Wheels comes along with all kinds of innovation, mostly the low friction bearings. THAT was fantastic. Current Matchbox models offer nothing new to diecast. They are bringing back old ideas, which is welcome but hardly fantastic considering they should have never lost those old things to begin with.
So let’s circle back to Autoworld and TLV. The comparison is not about the price points. It’s about the actual product. Both of these brands are fantastic in their superb quality. When AW came about, nobody was hitting the scale and realism of American cars this well. I suspect most collectors, when holding an AW model for the first time, felt they were truly fantastic models. TLV delivers the same feeling, and they keep getting better.
What I find most interesting about AW is that they represent what Matchbox might have been if Hot Wheels never came around. AW makes a robust product, but yeah – they don’t roll much better than a Lesney Regular Wheel car. TLVs, I agree, are a little more fragile and are an aduly collectible. You could say the Matchbox #45 Corsair had that fragile roof rack, but that was more of an exception.
You need to remember here, Lesney was more of an independent multi-line company (industrial and electrical supplies and equipment) that also made toys on the side. Since they created thsir own toolings and owned the factory that made them, they had the freedom to do whatever they pleased, and it worked. They even operated their own collectors club for dedicated fans (I was also a member). Mattel, on the other hand, is a multi-national corporation. They develop their own products, but they are mass-manufactured in different countries (Hot Wheels were first made in the USA, Mexico, Hong Kong; and briefly in India and Vietnam; nowadays they are made in China, Malaysia, Thailand and now Indonesia), and in factories via contract. Mass manufacturing and mass marketing means greater output, and that means cutting cost at every corner.
Lesney never flooded the market like Mattel does, but they did strive to offer as many features in a model at the lowest price possible. They didn’t exactly make a killing on Matchbox, especially since their product line was limited to 75 per year with annual model rotation.
As for Autoworld, I must debate on the quality. I’ve purchased a few AWs since their inception, ant yes, they are horrible. Same for Greenlight and M2 Machines. they look good, but I refuse to pay $5.00 or more for something with bent axles, warped wheels, parts the won’t close properly or stend to stick, or bodies that are not screwed or riveted properly. Same goes for the revived JLs. I also have two TLVs that really aren’t worth the money I paid for them. Kyoshos are much better.
If Matchbox listens to chatter on here…
Another quick idea on the distribution/marketing side. Perhaps produce more quick grab cases. These take up less retail space and for more cars, and may be a way to get around retailers who are stingy with peg space. They also are a nice throwback to the brand history. A way to sweeten them slightly would be to make the ends a recloseable hinge so cars can be stored in sealed boxes after purchase.
I think they do; they just keep it low-key. John Coyne and Felix Holst did have a regular presence on the MCCH Community during its heyday, and I think the new MBX staff visit LaLD from time to time.
With due respect, how many years have Mattel had so far to sort out the distribution, and failed miserably, ASDA has the models, occasionally, and very rarely anything new, usually three or four cases behind, which does little for anyone.
The models that are coming, look great, persoanlly i loath all things generic, but thats my personal choice, and i really cant see what the issue with the the MGB is, MG in the UK, are seriously wanting this model, and even they have no idea what the problem is, as permissions have been granted, and it isn’t if it is a difficult model to produce.
What i can not understand is, Mattel has a set up in most countries, and if they were really serious about selling the models, or any toys come to that, why do they not set up a sales site themselves, that way, the collector can get everything they want, at sensible pricing, and not the £2 ($3) for a basic model that we are ripped off over now, i hate to think how much the opening parts models will be, and as for ASDA, as they will be taken over by J.Sainsbury’s shortly, that will be the contract gone as Sainsbury’s really do not want to sell toys, and i have had that from store managers, they are just too much hassle, and on the bulk of the items % profit is not good.
So by setting up a sales stream themselves, like many many other brands do, they get the added advantage of regular orders, increases in revenue for themselves and happier collectors, it is a win win, they can even get the models that are generally not available like chase models, The UK can be a huge sales opportunity, but they have had a decade to sort out this poor, rubbish, distribution, and they have not bothered, plain and simple, so it is us, the ones that spend the most, that get the proverbial kick in the teeth yet again.
I have spoken at length with UK based companies like Jaguar Land Rover, MG, Nissan etc, and they all have said the same thing, “even we cant get them so you won’t have a hope in hells chance”, and if the companies that own the IP of the cars Mattel are reproducing cant get them, why should they bother in the future allowing then to make these models – in fact one company, is considering (gone to board level) of withdrawing from Mattel, and going to another company, that has already reproduced every car in their range (and more to come)
Withdrawing from Mattel? Sounds like JLR. It wouldn’t surprise me if that happens.
Subaru, Daimler, Holden and BMW have done it before – mainly because of Hot Wheels. You can take creative liberty so far.
Pyrrol, the brands history and roots is why matchbox is great!thanks for saying that. Mattel can still use this to promote. Mr cook. You should have said siku!!! Isreal moore, the early 80s I wanted roman numeral line in the UK with cool models as maxi taxi etc….. And more to come?!?! Mr mower…… 🙂 this is how the brand has got to people. It shows what passion and following. UK coverage. It’s total sh*t!
Signal went,.. Also do something now mattel. UK deserve such more!!! Also alienating the wrong people
Funny you mention Siku – I just returned from Germany, and made a point to buy a bunch of their toys. The king-size comparable Siku is a great example of what Matchbox might have been if they continued down the original path. They are well made and based on real vehicles, loaded with working parts. The smaller scale cars and trucks (in many cases) are not quite as nice and a little clunky in comparison. Siku makes toys, but they also a realistic enough to appeal to grown ups (er…if you can call us that).
I remember the roman numeral cars. I didn’t get the whole set, but I did get the Sleet-N-Snow (U.S. Mail Jeep), VW Pizza Van, and the 4X4 Rally Car (the Field Car painted orange with IH tampo, which confirmed my suspicions that the Field Car was actually a generic IH Scout.
I also got the Stickers cars from 1978, which were the Toyota Celica XX/Supra, Nissan 280ZG/2+2, Mazda Savanna RX-7 and Mitsubishi Galant Sigma/Plymouth Sapporo, all with thin Superfast transitional styled wheels, made in Hong Kong and labeled exclusively for the Japan consumer market. They also carried the model designations 76, 77, 78, and 79, the first time Matchbox broke that range. They were sold in the US as a 4-pack, with decals for each model. I threw the stickers away.
Lucky man, hope you enjoyed!mini heatwave here! Siku are a fantastic example for any die Cast to go by. The realism and details. I want those NZ issue of St John’s ambulances. Of which i personally can relate to. All the best and happy collecting! Do they still sell mbx in muller?
I did not see any Matchbox for sale in Germany, but I wasn’t not looking for them either. Siku was on my hit list, and I managed to bring home some 1:66 Shuccos as well. The Siku section at shops like Obletter are a childhood flashback! There were two 25′-ish aisles of the things, and everything was in stock. It was as if kids actually still cared about diecast.
I think Matchbox design time are doing a great job. So many great models I get to see only online.
Here in New Zealand the issue is distribution. No new Matchbox in the the main New Zealand retailer of Matchbox, the Warehouse stores since Christmas 2017 except for Jurassic Park series. This is based on regular visits two the Warehouse stores and occasional visits to others.
Seems a similar issue to ASDA UK where I read that until recently they did occasional bulk orders rather than regular smaller orders that support a higher turnover of stock because there are new models to buy.
W123 W123 W123. Nothing else matters just give me that W123. And then make a sedan.
Stephen: If you don’t like current Matchbox I won’t be able to convince you otherwise, but I wonder what you expect for a $1-2 (US) price point. Other companies fill the pure boutique/collector car segment for a much higher price point. Matchbox makes a great toy/highly affordable collectable. Obviously no diecast is ever perfect, and certainly not in the $1-2 range. Matchbox has committed many sins. They cut corners too much on certain models (but even the ones they clearly don’t put aside full budget for can turn out pretty neat). No collectors like plastic, but Matchbox has recently plateaued plastic in most models, watching to keep a decent amount of metal in there. Could be better, but could be way worse. Does seem that they are more careful of this in the last few years. As far as innovations in diecast, who has been innovative recently? No one in diecast has been. There are only so many gimmicks and innovations. Collectors mostly want solid, fun, realistic models, not ‘innovation.’
Israel: Good point about Lesney being a small independent type company. That business model is almost dead in this era of globalization. For better or for worse, most of the producers are big companies that produce in mass to make it worth their while. AW is high quality in that it is highly detailed and scaled very well at 1:64. But yes, there are some ‘craftsmanship issues’ with them and M2, Johnny Lightening, Greenlight etc. It is still a mass produced, get it in budget thing, but with models with so many parts put together there are more chances for craftsmanship issues (and fragility, bad rolling etc).
Jon: True, all indications are that Matchbox, ie Mattel doesn’t give a sh*t about distribution for the Matchbox brand. For whatever reason they seem happy with a poor, sloppy, outdated distribution system. Throw it and see if it sticks. I hope that the interest in the brand and comments will some day convince Mattel to make some improvements, if for no other reason than out of greed (they could make more money off the brand).
Stephen: Don’t know much about Siku. It’s basically a non-issue in this discussion for people from the US because we don’t get that brand here at all. I know very little about it, but it does seem their line in scale and style with Matchbox is nearly the same quality, with a slightly more plain aesthetic. It seems each have some strengths over the other. I tend to like what Matchbox does better, but Siku is very, very nice. I do suspect that their price point even for Matchbox-like cars is higher, even as some models are no better than their Matchbox counterparts. Siku is pretty darn different than Matchbox. I guess Matchbox could have turned out like them, but I for one am glad Siku does its thing and Matchbox is doing what it is doing. Helps broaden the styles and makes available in die cast vehicles.
I always respected Siku brand for theirs attention to the details, as much realism as possible, lest generics possible, in fact i do not recall if they ever sold generics ? I doubt it. They aim to offer higher quality products, also they want to please diverse collectors, Fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and truck, Cranes and such not to mention they even offer tram, can you imagine, who else does this magic ? I went shopping last year, and was lucky to see the entire line up or so Siku had last year (2017). I look at them closely and they give you impression of a higher quality product than the competition, definitely, also to me they’re quite expensive, but thats my fault as im very poor, if i had that money id buy all the stuff they had last year. To conclude, imho Siku is on the top, Tomica’s next, Matchbox is somewhere in the middle and there’s the rest. I would love to see Matchbox coming back on top.
If possible I may still want to purchase the Caprice Classic and perhaps the ’64 Pontiac GP (if I’m not mistaken with regards to that name) for they are the most appealing autos for the Matchbox 2019 line up. For the Ford Mustang I’m not enthusiastic about it in fact I feel that Mattel places unnecessary emphasis on the Ford Mustang and I finally I agree with those who wish Matchbox would resolve distribution issues.
People love Matchbox, they just need chance to buy one, distribution sucks badly and this need to be changed ASAP, otherwise it won’t matter what’s to come next year or another 🙁