Best Motorcycle 2014: Gift Packs

Showing posts with label Gift Packs. Show all posts

First Look: Matchbox Gift-pack Exclusive Opel Frogster (plus the whole Frogster family), by David Tilley...

Lamley cofounder and Matchbox guru David Tilley is back, with a look at the curious 9-pack exclusive just released by Matchbox, the Opel Speedster:

I do like a surprise now and then. Matchbox on occasion do like to pull out a casting from the vault and throw it in the mix again. This year is no exception as the first batch of 9/10-packs has surfaced and one of the 2 exclusive models being used is the Opel Frogster.

Believe it or not, this is the first time we have seen this model since 2005. That was 9 years ago. And what is more amazing is that it was only ever used for 3 years. It only debuted in 2003. However in 2004, when the current Matchbox team based in El Segundo took over the reigns from the old team who were in Mt Laurel New Jersey, they decided that one of the things that Matchbox was to move away from was the concept vehicles. So although this was a relatively new vehicle, as it was a concept they quickly phased it out. Over the years we have seen odd concepts still come and go, but sadly this one sat in a corner, gathering dust and left unloved. So to finally see another example came as a bit of a surprise.

One thing that is startlingly obvious is just how crisp and clean the lines still are. With so little usage there has not been much of a chance to start showing signs of wear and tear.

Another thing I notice is how close they kept to the original concept vehicle with this latest addition.

It is the first time that the rear hatch has received the logo that the concept vehicle did. The shade is a little lighter, but we have seen a closer shade in the past, so I am fine with that. It is a shame we could not get more tampo printing, as I would love to see a fully tampo-printed example with all the detailing picked out. The old Matchbox team in Mt Laurel did do a fantastic job of recreating the real vehicle in miniature, but due to the low price point and limited tampo passes, we have never seen a fully detailed example in miniature. But I digress.

I am happy to see a new version of this model again. It was a pleasant surprise.

So this is the third version of a green with red interior example, and although much lighter than previous examples, it has the best detailing of all of them.

The family:

2003 basic range MB74.

2003 basic range MB74 with additional Hero City logo (first 10,000 examples).

2003 licensed 5-pack Looney Tunes.

2004 basic range MB19 ROW only (not available in USA).

2004 5-pack Team Players.

2004 licensed 5-pack Jimmy Neutron.

2005 basic range MB17.

2005 licensed 5-pack SpongeBob Squarepants.

2014 9/10-pack exclusive.

All 9 versions together in a single picture for the first time.

First Look: Matchbox '68 Lamborghini Miura P400 S Gift Pack Exclusive...

Well we know Matchbox has moved away a bit from the classic car models. They throw us a bone occasionally, but the classic car models are not nearly as common in the lineup as they were a few years ago.

But the Matchbox team knows we collectors love our classics, so they decided to make the gift pack exclusives all classic cars to celebrate Matchbox's 60th Anniversary. The models are a little different. In place of full tampos, there is a 60th logo along with the carmaker's logo, placed in prominent spots like the hood.

The hood is where all the action is on the Miura. That is fine with me, as long as we see more versions in the future. And I think we will. This casting, one of current Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada's favorites when he was designing for Matchbox, is too pretty to ignore. Obviously, because it is a common belief that the 1:1 Miura is one of the most beautiful cars ever made (I completely agree), and any 1:64 that even somewhat resembles the real thing is bound to be a looker.

So it is nice to have an excuse to photograph all four versions of the Matchbox Lamborghini Miura together.

(If you don't have one or all of these models, you should. Go to ebay to find them

and you can even pick up the old Lesney version as well...)

Matchbox '68 Lamborghini Miura P400 S (2013 Gift Pack exclusive):

With the green 2011 10-pack exclusive:

The family:

2011 yellow

2011 orange

2011 green (First Editions 10-pack)

Matchbox Monday First Look: Gift Pack Exclusive Austin Mini Cooper, VW Karmann Ghia, and Porsche 914...

Happy Matchbox Monday...

When we jump into Matchbox Monday, we like to look at what is new to the shelves, and if there is nothing significant, we run over to the collection to see what might be nice to show off. This time we pulled out the severely underused Porsche Panamera, and had it all ready to go. But then I remembered that some new gift packs were recently released. Alas, the Panamera will have to wait.

Matchbox has taken a specific direction with the gift pack exclusives this year. Each model used is a classic car casting, most introduced in the last 6-7 years. Classic cars not called Mustang took a back seat when Matchbox shifted its direction a couple of years ago. Not something collectors, including us, wanted to hear, but sadly many of these castings did warm the pegs.

Matchbox seems to be slowly returning to more realistic liveries, and maybe some of the model choices will follow in 2014 and beyond. Models like the Olds Vista Cruiser, Volvo P1800 (we need to feature that model soon), and GMC Stepside need a little more attention, and we hope it comes soon.

In the meantime, we have these gift pack exclusives. They aren't necessarily what you would call realistic, as the deco is more oriented to Matchbox's 60th Anniversary than the design of the actual car. But the idea is a good one. Some collectors don't like, and we totally get why. Matchbox collectors like their models realistic looking. We do too. But these models add a nice variety to those that collect them, and easily signify what they represent. My guess is these models would be much better received if there were other more realistic versions being released in the mainline. Maybe those basic versions come, and in turn makes these gift pack exclusives more desirable in the future.

So here are with #4, #5, and #6. We have already seen the Cadillac Sedan Deville, Corvette T-Top, and '69 Camaro packs shelfwarming at a big box near you. Still to come, a Lamborghini Miura and '71 Firebird (which will be previewed in next week's Ambassador Update). This current batch of three looks good. I would put the Karmann Ghia at the top in its bright green and chrome-rimmed disk wheels, followed by the Mini and 914, which is a bit drab (but it has never been a favorite personally). Matchbox collectors may not be into these now, but there may come a time when they wished they picked them up. Who knows...

(As always, Matchbox Monday is brought to us by our friends at MVE Collectibles. Be sure to check out their store for the latest Matchbox and other brands, as well as older models that you may have missed...)

Matchbox 1964 Austin Mini Cooper, Type 14 VW Karmann Ghia Convertible, and VW-Porsche 914 (2013 Gift Pack Exclusives):

Canadian Exclusive? 2012 Matchbox Gift Pack exclusive Chevy Silverado (and other National Parks models...)

We have enjoyed profiling rare models of the Mattel era here at Lamley, whether they meant to be rare or not. Models like the Line Preview Hazard Squad were produced in extremely small numbers (essentially 25-30) and were meant to be very exclusive. Others remain a mystery. The Chilean Mini was supposed be distributed in 3-packs extensively, but only ended up being found in very small number in Chile and some small areas of Europe.

We potentially have another mystery rarity on our hands from the 2012 Matchbox lineup. And if it does stay rare, there will be a lot of unhappy collectors. And I am not talking about completists (who will obviously be unhappy there is a model they can't find. I am talking about those collectors that love the National Parks Series that Matchbox is building piece by piece.

The National Parks Series I speak of is not an official series. It is a non-licensed livery made up by Mattel to look close to the actual National Parks vehicles here in the United States. Every year since 2006, Matchbox has put at least one (more likely two) models in this simple livery. There will always be slight changes in the design from one model to the next, but the look and color is the same. And it is not to be confused with the Forest Service vehicles that look very similar.

In 2012, two Matchbox models were dressed up in this livery: The Ford F-550 (a logical choice), and the modified high-rising Chevy Silverado. The F-550 appeared in the basic range, and the Silverado was to appear in the final gift pack of 2012.

There is one problem though. The 2013 gift packs are already on the shelves at most stores, and the Silverado pack appeared to have been skipped. It still might show up somewhere, but in the meantime the National Parks version has only been found in Canada. So to be on the safe side, I contacted a fellow collector in Canada, and after an extensive search he was able to find one to send.

It arrived last week, and I finally found some time to photograph it. Collectors around the world, keep your eye open for this pack. If you see it, let me know. I have a lot of friends without it and maybe we as part of the Lamley community can help out...

(If you want expand your collection of this livery, find your National Parks models here