Time for a quick look at the few gaps in the Matchbox castings 1-800 collection that I’ve been able to fill this year. In case you’ve missed previous updates on my ‘Mission 800’ (you can catch up here, here, here, here and here), it refers to my goal of collecting one each of the first 800 numbered Matchbox castings, beginning with the MB001 Dodge Challenger of 1982 and ending with the MB800 Road Roller from 2010.
Progress has slowed to a glacial pace as I near my target – 14 months have passed since my last update! Realistically now there are only three more I’ll be able to find one day – and two of those are prototypes that didn’t make full production – but that’s still half the number it was at the start of 2023! Here’s a quick look at what I picked up this year.
MB105 Boss Mustang
Not for the first time on my journey to 800, this one was a relatively late addition to the list after I realized it had its own MB casting number. Not to be confused with the original Lesney Superfast #44 Boss Mustang in yellow, the Lesney #19 Roman Numeral model in green, or even the MB104 Sunkist Mustang Piston Popper, this orange Boss appeared as a 1982 US exclusive (#11) and was given MB105 under the new absolute numbering scheme. Mine has white side lettering but it was issued with black, too.
This mint loose example appeared on eBay just in time for a work trip to the USA, so I paid up and had it sent to my hotel. I timed its arrival a little too closely for comfort, but was just able to pick it up from the mail desk after checkout before leaving for the airport!
(find Matchbox Boss Mustang on eBay)
MB717 Farm Trailer
I’d been looking for a couple of 2007 Hitch ’n Haul two-packs for years and as luck would have it, they popped up on eBay earlier this year from the same vendor.
The first was Bull Ride, containing the MB703 Tractor (which I already had) and the MB717 Farm Trailer (which I didn’t). This is the original version of a trailer that has subsequently been modified and reissued as MB829. This model is one for the completists (that’ll be me then!) but the Bull Ride set has great play value, with a farmer, dog, hay bales and (of course) a bull!
(find the Matchbox Bull Ride set on eBay)
MB718 Travel Trailer
The second 2007 Hitch ’n Haul I bought was Vacation Day. This set is particularly in demand because the vehicle doing the hauling is an exclusive colour of the popular MB672 Chevy Silverado SS. The pickup looks great in red but I already had it in other colours so it went to the Chevy truck collection of my friend Jon @calgarycollector.
The Travel Trailer came in two variations, with or without stripe. Mine has it. This casting was also modified and reissued a couple of times, first as MB747 (I had that one already) and later as MB868. It’s a cool model in all its forms and again, the Vacation Day set is very playable, with a couple of holidaymakers and a passing cow. Honda fans will want to look for a later version of this set that features a Ridgeline in place of the Chevy!
(find Matchbox Vacation Day on eBay)
That’s all for now. Mission 800 isn’t over yet but if I fill any more gaps from here, it’ll be cause for celebration. Until next time!
(follow me on Instagram @diecast215 or search the hashtag #MBMission800 for updates)
(check out my children’s book 20 Great Race Cars)