View allAll Photos Tagged Matchbox
A bit of an enigma amongst many Matchbox collectors for its seemingly one and only appearance back in 2017. Due to various licensing issues with Toyota, their 2016 Toyota Tacoma has had no follow ups until now and thus prices rose sharply afterwards on the secondary market.
It returns for 2022 Case B in a brand new BFGoodrich livery which looks clean and smart despite its continued lack of interior. As before its plastic rear camping tent is removable should you wish to make it look a bit more factory stock. Mint and boxed.
A carryover from the previous Matchbox Moving Parts and one probably destined again to be a bit of a pegwarmer in whichever country its sold in. Mint and boxed.
With UK Tesco stores still stuck on Case A and indeed even most of that has now sold through, I was able to find a few more of the highly acclaimed 1962 Plymouth Savoy. Mint and boxed.
The Matchbox 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility has had quite the charmed life since its introduction. A far better proposition than the weird Ford Explorer it supplanted and one which has had several recolours.
This is its very latest and again benefits from using a real life licensed Police force, this time Kootenai County.
Part of 2023 Case G found recently at Action in France.
Mint and boxed.
It would be a great shame if this new Matchbox 1970 Ford Capri recolour doesn't make it to the UK, the real car has an almost iconic status here but Tesco have been useless handling the brand! This recolour is part of 2022 Case E yet Tesco continue to restock Case C and falling way behind.
For me this is probably its best release so far with chrome where its needed, detailed front and really intricate side detailing to badges and grilles.
Mint and boxed.
Latest 2022 Case E recolour of the Matchbox Mercedes-Benz 300 Wagon. Thankfully there were a few of these in the full 72 count case I had to order online due to the unreliability of Tesco.
Looking particularly smart in glossy black though still no chrome to be found on its bumpers and baseplate!
Mint and boxed.
With 2022 Matchbox Case E FINALLY arriving at Tesco its given me the chance to pick at some of the more enticing castings in this already months old assortment.
No doubt this 1984 Toyota MR2 will be eagerly snapped up by many collectors wanting to find all four variants mixing up LHD/RHD and lights up/lights down varieties.
Mint and boxed.
2022 Case E recolour of the Matchbox 1980 Mercedes-Benz S123 Wagon.
One of several scooped up from Tesco recently.
Mint and boxed.
Latest 2022 Case C recolour of the Matchbox 2019 Fiat 500 Turbo. I actually rather like this casting, its certainly far more appealing than the Hot Wheels equivalent though modelling the Turbo variant was an odd decision considering Fiat have already discontinued the real version. Well proportioned with a vivid metallic blue finish and full front and rear detailing. Mint and boxed.
3.99 for a basic Matchbox at Modelmatic, not their fault of course as they are only a small independent online retailer, meant none of my usual mass of duplicate purchases. The only 2019 Matchbox model they had which I couldn't bare only having one of was this 1969 BMW 2002. One to get the Molotow pen treatment and one to keep factory standard.
Obviously the unpainted non chrome grey bumpers shine out like a sore thumb and are totally unsuitable for such a classic vehicle, why do Mattel continue to do this when their Hot Wheels still get liberal doses of the shiny stuff!
The basic concept of this casting is spot on though and its easy to see why so many collectors still clamber to buy one. That classic BMW styling with neat and uncluttered boxy lines have been replicated beautifully. No complaints about its intricate front and rear detailing and of course using those chrome disc wheels was indeed the correct decision.
Such a huge shame these will never come to the U.K. unless Poundland pull something out of the hat and offer them later on this year!
Mint and boxed.
I was EXTREMELY pleased to recently hear that Matchbox will finally be returning to the UK this summer via our Tesco stores. Many collectors including myself thought this might finally be the end of this iconic brand here in its birthplace but at least one retailer has had the good sense to bring it back.
That means an unbroken continuation of their more recent releases in my collection and so I can now return back in time to ones I never found first time around as a child and an eager teenage collector.
This Jeep Cherokee dates from around 1996, the casting itself back to the mid 1980's and unbelievably is still in production in 2019! Being a pre Mattel release ensures none of the silly and short term cost savings are present here, you get a separate roof lightbar which isn't moulded in to the glazing!
Part of a five vehicle set sourced recently on Ebay. Mint and boxed.
The beautiful Matchbox 1969 BMW 2002 finally gets the recolour it deserves which basically means chrome bumpers and clear plastic glazing. For me it is definitely its best release yet. Part of a full 72 count case of Batch E I had to order from Europe due to Tesco continually failing to restock with ANYTHING Matchbox related at the moment! Mint and boxed.
Most Tesco stores in my area are now awash with Matchbox 2021 Case A which means ample opportunity in grabbing more of the latest German Polizei flavoured VW Golf. Crisp and neatly styled just like the real thing riding beautifully on chrome disc wheels and intricate front detailing. Mint and boxed.
Smart new Fire influenced livery for the Matchbox Ford Police Interceptor casting. A long running model which looks good in every livery its been given and a fine replacement for the ageing Crown Victoria. New for 2021 Case A. Mint and boxed.
A much delayed, much anticipated and thus much hyped new Matchbox release which when I first obtained one a few months back did disappoint somewhat. Ugly wheels and a dreary colour compared to the card artwork didn't help matters but after finding more from Tesco recently I'm actually beginning to appreciate it more.
Its U.S. one Dollar price point means it will never be as good as say a Tomica but what you do get is more than acceptable realism and detailing. Mint and boxed.
The Matchbox casting of this legendary 'Murican reappears in 2015, after a long pause of production, and some notable changes. Sadly the changes do not make the casting or the car any better, and cost cutting cheapo finish nearly ruins the car, which in itself is a quite decent casting. Quite a memorable catch for me, as this marks the entry of a Matchbox to my playpen after more than two decades =D
I still find it unbelievable in a good way that I can still walk into a U.K. chain store and buy off the pegs 2008 Matchbox models in 2015!! Thanks to WHSmiths I can step back in time to the last golden age of Matchbox and buy some stunners I missed first time around or get hold of more favourite castings. It isn't plentiful stock and it isn't always replenished quickly but when you can get hold of gems like this Brazos County liveried Dodge Magnum its worth the wait.
A great casting which although sadly misses the tampo treatment to the front, gets away with it with this excellent livery and realistic casting. Mint and boxed.
Another brand new recolour for 2025 Case D which strangely doesn't cross into Case E and thus another appealing release probably not destined to be found in the UK! I'm not sure why Matchbox go to the effort in giving a known to be popular casting a recolour which is only available in one batch!
Their 1968 Chevrolet C10 is perfection in miniature form, more so now its wearing a rather classy looking matte metallic gold finish. Impressive tampo detailing to both front and rear as well as a super crisp and boxy exterior styling are its main forte not to mention those lovely chrome disc wheels.
Mint and boxed.
Having already sourced one of these early 2018 editions of the Matchbox 1970 Plymouth Barracuda on AliExpress last year when it became clear this case wasnt going to ever hit ANY ASDA stores, I happily snapped up a second very recently.
No need to wait for it to be shipped all the way from China this time, a brief drive down to the motorway to a Toytown store was all that was needed :-)
Getting a second example meant I could now give this casting some much needed chrome detailing courtesy of a Molotow pen. Its still very disappointing we collectors have to do this ourselves but chrome is out at Matchbox and grey unpainted plastic is very much in and may well remain so until common sense prevails and that archaic one Dollar price point is FINALLY abolished in the U.S.
Chrome bumpers, chrome grille surround, chrome lights and chrome rear panel reinstate a tiny bit of that old Matchbox Magic making it more Matchbox and less Maisto! The casting remains neat, stock and well proportioned though in my opinion looks too close to the HW equivalent which begs the question why bother making two separate castings!
Mint and boxed.
Well well well well, I wasn't expecting this at all! The UK has been stuck on Case A since it first appeared back in January and with stores running extremely low we all knew a fresh assortment of Matchbox was coming. What nobody expected due to its newness was Case D, surely the best assortment of 2021 so far with just ONE generic casting in the mix.
Undoubtably this new first generation Toyota MR2 will prove extremely popular with collectors the World over. Its fairly pointless comparing it to the original 1980's casting as Mattel cost cutting in the modern era ensures this is smaller and lighter but perhaps better detailed. There are two light variations, one in the closed position and one raised yet oddly the full unopened case I found today has just this closed edition! Mint and boxed.
Ironically when the My First Matchbox range first appeared I actually thought they were too childish for my tastes even though I was still pretty young at the time! Bright colours, toy town liveries and toddler aimed packaging weren't to my tastes but now as an adult they seem quite charming.
Unbelievably the Matchbox Flareside is actually the first for my collection despite most of my friends having them when I was a youngster!
A recent charity shop found gift.
Another wonderful slice of 1970's futurism courtesy of the Matchbox Tow Joe. I uploaded one of these recently from my childhood collection in exactly the same colour though this particular one has a slight variation in that its baseplate and front panel use black coloured metal as opposed to the usual silver.
In loose and preloved condition and one which I believe was rescued from a tip recently!
Latest 2021 Case E recolour of the Matchbox 1969 BMW 2002. Finally getting all the ingredients right this casting enjoys the clear glazing and chrome bumpers it should have had from the start. Otherwise a very likeable budget casting of this elegant German saloon. Mint and boxed.
Yet another unashamed duplicate Matchbox purchase from Tesco recently who shocked us all by stocking 2020 Case A before anybody else on the planet which is virtually unheard of! Why we were singled out by Mattel heaven only knows but its about time UK MBX collectors had something to shout about :-)
I couldn't resist grabbing a few of these new 1974 VW Type 181's though I have now got to the stage where I leave them behind on the shelves. An interesting and well coordinated new recolour which happily didn't need any Molotow to detail its front end. Mint and boxed.
Some Tesco stores appear to be desperately low on stock of Matchbox singles in the lucrative festive period yet one near me is on a roll! I don't know whether the manager there is an enthusiast or just switched on but the for weeks now there has been an abundance!
It meant several of the latest Ford Capris came home with me, the first release never made it here in single guise and the recently defunct UK Series version has always been difficult in finding.
Mint and boxed.
As we enter 2017 you are still more likely to see the original yellow version of the Matchbox Lamborghini LM002 on the pegs of Poundland than this newer matte red one. They must buy in such huge numbers as their pegs are STILL filled with 2015 batches but slowly much newer stuff are finally appearing such as this and others in the same batch.
I've always liked this casting for its unusual subject choice but that alone doesn't make a model desirable, its its beautifully crafted bodywork which incorporates wonderful bits of detailing such as lights, badging and rear plates which make it special. Interestingly although some ASDA stores have some very recent batches of Matchbox in their baskets i've still visited plenty which still have stock of models which can now be found in Poundland! Mint and boxed.
Hot Wheels, you can keep your slammed equivalent, I much prefer this much more stock version by Matchbox of the 1995 Nissan Hardbody. In years gone by this type of Japanese pick-up would have been largely ignored by collectors but as 1990's vehicles are becoming rare and sometimes collectible, its now creating a big buzz in Matchbox circles.
Theres nothing too exciting about this new casting but neither was the real Nissan, just a plain and boxy casting thankfully given a pretty much plain exterior. Part of the very latest Case C which I sourced directly from the U.S. and happily they came in the much more attractive retro Power Grabs boxes. Mint and boxed.
Matchbox Dodge Viper RT/10 returning for the new Blue Highways III five vehicle set. I'd forgotten how sweet this casting actually is, certainly compared to any Hot Wheels equivalents!
Found in Tesco.
Mint and boxed.
One of my all time favourite Matchbox castings and the main reason I would have bought the MBX Wagons five vehicle set to death had it made it to the UK! Amazingly chrome comes as standard on this release and as ever it rides on traditional tri-spoke wheels. Found recently in a Spanish Toys R Us. Mint and boxed.
A huge buying splurge at various French Action stores meant lots and lots of 2023 Case G Matchbox came home with me and at the equivalent of just 1.00 who can blame me. Especially as Tesco have literally just raised their prices to 2.20, they were just 1.25 12 months ago!
For the same price as a nasty HTI Teamsterz generic you get a wonderful replica of a 1960 Chevrolet El Camino beautifully finished in metallic light green and ample amounts of chrome. Just why do UK retailers continue to rip off its loyal customers!
Mint and boxed.
With five of these new Matchbox 1970 Ford Capris per full case it was predictable I would give a few of them a little bit extra detailing. The most obvious being adding some chrome to its front and rear bumpers to replace its standard unpainted grey plastic! Otherwise a really nice casting clearly aimed 100% at the collectors market. Mint and boxed.