September 30 Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Nigel Cooper...

Ambassador Report 6

I previously showed a Helicopter from the 2014 Dino Adventure 5 pack. Here are three more models from that set.

Shown below are some new decos for 2014 singles. The Ground Grinder will also be used in the construction 5 pack for 2014.

MATTEL RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS ON MESSAGE BOARDS

• I know this is just me, but we are getting Mission Force moving next year to incorporate 2 Skybusters and 3 miniatures in a set. So why are the standard 5-packs also getting flying models? Is it just me, or is that just making the standard 5-packs more like the Mission Force 5-packs? Maybe I just have a weird sense of logic.

We sometimes need helicopters in our 5 packs to help support the themes. This does not detract from the use of aircraft in Mission Force packs since these aircraft are Sky Buster Models which are a larger scale and have a larger range of aircraft beyond just helicopters.

• Why not create a VF Commodore? Opens up UAE, Australia and SA markets. Go one better and get a Caprice done - re-tool and you have the new Police car for the US.

We are not doing Holden models at this time.

• The Mound Mover looks like it will be a lot of fun to play with. Do you know if the body is articulated (like the scraper)?  It looks like a possibility based on the picture. I'm glad the Sport SUV is back in the line; it's got a nice look as far as generics go. I like the Mercedes-Benz line-up you shared. My favourites among Matchbox Mercedes-Benz, however, were the Unimogs. I would put silver holographic stickers on the packaging myself if they would only bring back the Unimogs.

The body is not articulated like the scraper. This would have caused assembly issues.

• The Buick police car is great, I agree with chrome it would be better but the different base does bring a bit of variation over the first two regular versions. Now if only it wasn't burdened by 4 horrible other models in that 5 pack?! Along the same lines the Morgan and Aston Martin look amazing, but as exclusives in a 9-pack they are sure to be laden with c..p generic models?

This question does not merit a response.

• I can work with 1 generic model in a 5 pack and perhaps 2 in a 9-pack (if I must) but the deluge of poorly colored and poorly designed generics in multi-packs is sad. The Matchbox 914 for example, the mustard yellow variation came in a GREAT exclusive editions 10-pack (no complaints even with the well designed generic delivery van, bobcat, etc.) and the bright yellow variation came in a classic rides 5-pack everyone seemed to enjoy, kids and collectors alike. The red Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser from the pack is even on a currently broadcast insurance commercial in the US! But then... we reach 2013 and the 9-pack with the exclusive '60th' blue 914 and it's half full of generic trucks? I suppose it's a pipe dream that we'll see exclusive 10-packs again in the future?

NO exclusive 10 packs (consisting of 10 cars with exclusive deco per pack) are planned for the future.

• Referring to 2014 there are so many models available in the market it is not worth continuing to invent cars, like: Jaguar, Aston, new Range Rover (normal and sport version), the new Land Rover DC100, Mercedes, Audis, Volkswagen, Abarth, etc .... etc ... Why not the new Routemaster and new London Taxis?

For every real car made in the world, royalties are required these days. The team has to carefully select the numbers of licensed models to use each year. This process is complicated and time consuming. We like inventing new car styles and it is well worth doing. We enjoy doing this because any toy company can do straight replication. It takes greater skill to create something new engaging and fun. Keep in mind that we must also ask permission from each licensor to replicate their models. They can say yes or no. We may not select your favorite models this year, but you might get lucky the following year.

• And why not the topic Le Mans? Audi e-tron and the Toyota TS030 Hybrid. 

Matchbox cannot do racing. The others are subjective.

• If the target set for 2014 is Unstoppable Vehicles for Heroic Adventures so why not carry the concept to one of the most mythical races? The Dakar!! Schlesser buggy, Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, Mini Countryman (done through existing model WRC) etc . . .are great models for this theme.

You keep mentioning Racing which we cannot do. Hot Wheels does racing. We can do exploration, endurance, discovery , rescue and mission based experiences which includes military. We have not completely abandoned city vehicles which will still include sports cars, hatchbacks, luxury cars, delivery & service vehicles. These will still be included in the "Adventure City Segment".

• Speaking of vehicles Unstoppable how about trucks? Kamaz, Iveco, M.A.N., Scania, new Mercedes Unimog U4000 or the Zetros?

Remember, no Mercedes Models. The other European manufacturers are good unstoppable choices. Thanks for the suggestions.

• Retool the Desert Thunder (my favourite matchbox in recent years) to become a 6x6!

We cannot afford the 3rd axle unfortunately. It is a good suggestion, however.

LOOKING BACK

Technology moves on so quickly so that it now easy for us to use the internet to find out what will soon be released by Matchbox. In the 1950s and 1960s, shopkeepers and collectors had to rely on the printed word. The next two photos showed what was available. Today we have to look behind pegs, rummage in bins and delve into plastic boxes on the bottom shelf. How much better were the displays fifty years ago! It was so much easier to see what you wanted.

I believe that the flyer shown below was given to shopkeepers to indicate what was to be released. I think it was produced in the Autumn (Fall) of 1957, indicating that neither a red Vauxhall or a tan Morris Minor had ever been planned. Jack Odell told me that he had no recollection of these colour schemes and it was probably they were just mistakes that no-one cared about. He was of the opinion that the painting of models was still being completed elsewhere but he could not remember when painting started in the Matchbox factories, but it was probably around this time. These errors sometimes happened and as these were just toys for children they were boxed and sent for distribution. He said that Berger paints, the main paint supplier for Matchbox, had produced the new colour of primrose yellow and the Victor looked splendid in that livery.

 

I wondered which other models might have been included in the Dino Adventure set. Here are two examples of colour schemes that were rejected. In the case of the Caravan, it could not be towed properly because of the height of the tow hole. The blue cab Volvo has the shark tank load that was transparent originally. Which other models might have been considered?

MATTEL NEWS

Our Mattel North American Division held a contest this year in the US called: Matchbox Heroes Wanted, which was part of the 60th Anniversary program.
Parents submitted photos of their kids dressed in Heroic gear along with a unique caption and we had a winner. His name is Jacob Carrick who is 7 years old. This lucky winner won a $60,000 Scholarship and a visit with his family to the Handler Team Center (Design center) in El Segundo , CA on Sept 13th.

We hosted the Carrick Family at the design center and they got to meet the design team and visit the Matchbox design area. Jacob's mom and dad were there along with his two younger brothers Jonah & Joshua.

The Carrick family had a fun time visiting California and the Mattel Design center and received their $60,000 scholarship award.

Attached is a collage sent by the Carrick family showing their fun time in California and thanking the Mattel team for their visit. Please share this image and the announcement above about our contest winner with the collector community.

                        

I do have something to announce that should be of interest regarding the 60th Anniversary in the near future.

Nigel Cooper
September 30th 2013