March 10 Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Nigel Cooper...

Ambassador Report 29

INTRODUCTION

The new listing for 2014 prompted more hits and messages on notice-boards than usual. There were plenty of comments proving that collectors still care passionately about the brand and feel moved sufficiently to “put pen to paper”. Many collectors outside of the US have enquired about the BMW 1M. All that I can do is to include an image of the BMW 1M as it seems this car, which would surely be the most popular vehicle in the range were it to be released here, may not actually appear in Europe. We can but hope that the missing wave may find its way to these shores eventually.

The Ambassador Report last week was so long that I had to remove the last section on Bulgarian Mark IV Cortinas and so at the end of this Report I have included some photos to pacify those people who requested a viewing. 

MATCHBOX ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

1.  With the success of the INC construction series, is there a possibility of seeing the Street Cleaner in INC Construction colors? It would be great to have a 5 pack in this livery next year. Is there any chance? 

The Street Cleaner could have INC markings in the future but we normally use INC on vehicles in the construction segments.  The Street Cleaner is usually in the Adventure City segment. We will take your suggestion into consideration however.  Thanks.

2. My most depressing part about the 2014 list is the reduction in cars. When it was increased from 100 to 120 the other year, it was purely to add cars in to the mix. The range had been set up with 100 non-cars, and they decided last minute to sprinkle in 20 cars. Last year, they kept it at 20 cars in the series. But this year it has been reduced to a paltry 9. I felt 20 was too little as they make up the majority of what you see out and about. I understand they are trying to get variety, but cars are important.  Will 2015 see a larger intake of actual road cars in the range?  

Yes.

3. #9 is listed as MB807 Caterham Superlight R500, is it the MB802 Caterham or is this in fact meant to be MB807 Holden VE Ute? Please say it’s the Ute. 

Sorry but there was a typo. The correct number should be MB802. You have a keen eye. Thank you for pointing out the error. It should not be the MB number for the Holden.

4. I hope it is the model name they got wrong (I know you’re most likely right though) that way we would get the MB868 Travel Trailer at #26 instead of the MB865 : Torque Titan but again I think it’s the MAN they have incorrect, the trailer would be a far better inclusion into the main line than that hideous Torque Titan. Can you please comment? 

Thanks for pointing out yet another typo on our part. The correct MB# should be 865 for the fantastic Torque Titan. You will be happy to know that the Travel Trailer will be included in this year’s 5 pack.  

5. Regarding the Mini Dozer I feel compelled to remind you it is a "bucket" or a "loader". A "DOZER" is a blade, of which I learned at a very early age BECAUSE of Matchbox. Actually a single arm skid steer loader is a real machine. If you google 1110t JCB you can see some pictures. I say skid steer, but this is really a compact track loader. The MB track layout is not the same as JCB, but they probably cannot do an exact copy. I do agree the radiator out front is way off.....as in it should be in the back. I also agree that it is not a dozer. This always bugs me when the news cannot get this right either. Any comment? 

You are overthinking this. Sorry if it keeps you up at night. At Matchbox we reserve the right to call our vehicles whatever we want. We designed it so we get to choose the name even if folks aren’t happy with it. Sorry about that. 

6. I'd rather see either of the two new Fiats, the Mini Clubman, a modern Corvette Stingray, a Koenig's Egg, a modern Ford Fiesta, a 2014 Dodge Challenger Shaker, the new Dodge Dart or any number of another 20 or so vehicles before seeing some of the generic creations.  I just miss the regular cars and more than that, I miss newer regular cars. I like the heritage cars we see from the '50s, '60s, '70s and even '80s in terms of the Toyota 4Runner, but the type of "modern" cars MBX is running out there right now are a 2007 GT500, a 2008 ZR1…...come on, MBX. Get back up to speed on some of the daily drivers, lower-end (i.e. semi-affordable in real life) sports cars and add a few eye-catching exotics. I appreciate where you're coming from, but I think that is the Matchbox brand of the past... A Skoda Octavia isn't a bad choice for an "international" police car. A quick image search shows it in liveries from Iceland, Switzerland, Holland, Portugal, Egypt, Israel, Hungary and, of course, the Czech Republic. It's also on sale in China and India so you just about justify liveries for there as well.  Are you able to act on our suggestions?

 Not at the moment. You have some good suggestions but we can only acquire a certain number of licensed vehicles each year. We have a limit.  As the team has stated before, just because we want to do certain licensed vehicles does not mean we can. We have to get permission from licensors first. Sometimes they say no.  Sometimes it can take a very, very long time to receive information about new vehicles which can delay development. Much effort is required to develop any vehicle especially licensed ones. Licensing is complex these days.  Finally, there can often be language barriers. Obtaining international licenses can often be challenging because of translation issues. If you can find someone that can speak 16 different languages please let us know. Cheers.

7. Did Matchbox base their model on an existing real vehicle

http://jalopnik.com/the-local-motors...ium=socialflow

The Matchbox team always scours the world of vehicles for inspiration. We were influenced by many innovative vehicles when we created the MBX Coupe not just the Local Motors machine.

8. Is it possible to fit in your plans for 2015 Ford S-Max, any new Audi, Mini Countryman Dakar or Paceman, any Lamborghini, Mclaren, or Rolls Royce in your city adventure segment? Or how about the MG B Coupe, Ford Transit MK1, Fiat, Lancia and others would be good .... 

Thanks for the suggestions.

9. Anyways, I got another question, one that the people at Matchbox are probably tired to hear, but I still have to ask... Are there any plans to bring the brand back to Brazil? Or rather, were there ever any attempts at bringing Matchbox back to Brazil, or it was settled that the brand would not be coming back once it was removed? It's unfortunate that the collecting landscape in Brazil probably wouldn't be able to support both Matchbox and Hot Wheels when only HW is a good seller among kids, but I've started seeing MBX playsets in stores recently and became curious. 

For the moment Brazil appears to be Hot Wheels territory. Perhaps in the future this will change in terms of the availability of Matchbox vehicles. 

NEW RELEASES

There are no new images available to show this week. I hope to have more in my next report. The Matchbox team wanted to make a comment about the Torque Titan. It appears that our collectors are giving our Torque Titan truck a bad rap thinking it is an over the top version of a big rig from our fertile imaginations.  While it is over the top, it may surprise these folks to learn that it is actually inspired by real trucks that are used in oil fields today. Attached are images that inspired the team to create the Torque Titan.  Love it or hate it, it does have real world relevance and it is over the top. 

A Little More History

As the miniature range expanded during the 1950s and sales were increasing at an amazing rate around the world, it was natural that some countries would request specific models. It was not usually Lesney’s policy to respond to such demands. New models were generally at Jack Odell’s discretion, although he sometimes listened to suggestions and France was a major market at this time. As I have mentioned before, there was no committee or “think tank”; if Odell thought that the idea was a good one, the model would be made. The Citroen DS19 followed the pattern of previous saloons in the range in that it consisted of a separate body and base which were attached to the wheels. There were no specific features at this time. All the models were painted yellow with earlier examples in a darker shade than later versions. The baseplates were painted gloss black whilst the silver trim to the headlights and bumpers were applied by spray machines.

Shortly before the Citroen was withdrawn from in October 1962, a few models were fitted with silver plastic wheels. This version is quite rare. A picture box of the Citroen must have been produced shortly before it was replaced as it is one of the rarest Matchbox boxes and has been known to fetch over £1000 at auction if in perfect condition and containing the silver wheeled car. 

The 1959 range showed the Citroen DS for the first time.

The Citroen probably did not sell well and its deletion from the range after a period of just over three years confirms this. It was not until the Citroen SM was introduced in 1973 that another French car was to make its mark. The body colour was different from any previous colour used and could best be described as metallic orange or bronze. The first issue was fitted with an orange interior but this unlikely combination was quickly changed when the interior was altered to cream.

In 1975 ten of the models in the range were given a more colourful treatment and termed “Streakers”. (This was before Erica Roe appeared at Twickenham!!). Previously decals or labels had been used to improve the decoration. These models were the first to benefit from a tampo printing process, whereby a rubber pad transferred ink from a plate directly on to the model. The roof design included a Number 8 whilst the familiar Citroen chevrons adorned the bonnet. During the production of the Citroen Streaker it was found that the tampo printing could be blemished when the base was riveted to the body. To overcome this, the design on the boot was adapted to a “V” shape, usually referred to as a “fish-tail”. A few models were found without any tampo print.

Although the Citroen was replaced in 1978 by a Combine Harvester, it reappeared in TP-21 towing a trailer carrying three plastic motor-cycles. To avoid confusion with the new number 51, the model number was removed from the baseplate. The model continued to be painted in metallic blue but in a darker shade. It included a black plastic roof rack into which had been moulded two shovels and two tyres. This was not a new component. It had been used in different colours as early as 1968 on the Ford Cortina Mk II and the Volkswagen 1600 TL. Interestingly, instead of tampo printing, Lesney reverted back to a bonnet label. The glue was not of the best quality and today it shows signs of weeping.

  

In 1984 the Citroen became one of the first five models produced under an annual licence in Bulgaria. It was produced in many different body and interior colours. In 1987 the mould was leased to Hungary under a similar agreement. Production was limited to a matter of months before all production was stopped, though not before a variety of body colours had been manufactured. A selection of Bulgarian and then Hungarian models are shown below.

Recently the 1968 Citroen DS was reintroduced into the range and two examples are shown here. This model certainly had an appeal in Europe.

Next week I will cover two unissued Citroens and two which did find their way into the line. Here are the 150 different Bulgarian Mark IV Cortinas with a close up of just a few.

Nigel Cooper      10^th March 2014