Model of the Day: Matchbox 2010 Lesney Edition '70 Volkswagen T2 Classic Bus...

One of the more enjoyable elements of doing this blog is having to jump back into the collection to pick a model to feature.  Sometimes you just want to move away from the new models for just a minute and feature a model from a few years earlier.

When you do jump into the collection, you will note that some opinions on models will change over time.  Some models you really liked don't impress you as much, others you never appreciated as much as you do now.  And even others just look different.

That is the case with the Matchbox VW T2 Bus.  I committed awhile back to collecting only the versions of this casting that were without any logo.  Just street versions.  That means I have four.  An orange, a red, an olive, and this Lesney Edition in baby blue.

So after my only exposure to a VW Bus lately being Hot Wheels' super tooned Kool Kombi, the Matchbox T2's realism just looks fantastic.  And especially fantastic in two-toned white and blue.



The Lesney Edition lineup didn't perform the way Matchbox and Mattel had hoped, and I think it further pushed Mattel towards making the brand less collector-oriented and more kid-focused, as it always has had to be.  We have seen the 60th Anniversary line this year, but unlike the Lesney, it still has more current kid-centric models and decos to keep the brand more consistent throughout all its products.

Looking back at the Lesney Editions, it is clear that while a vocal few clamor for diecast chassis, a full metal body doesn't matter much to the general public.  Some of the models were a bit bland, and tended to sit on the pegs.  But, thankfully, others were drop-dead gorgeous.  Those lookers would go fast, and none went faster than the T2.  From the moment it hit the pegs, it was as highly a desired model as I have seen in a retail Matchbox line.  I was lucky to find this one, and it is has been in my collection ever since.

They do pop up on ebay, but usually with a $15 to $30 price tag.  Probably worth it for those that want one of the best-looking Matchbox models of the last few years, but I am glad I found mine on the pegs.

(Here are the Lesney Edition T2's we found on ebay, along with this poorly listed cheaply-priced straggler...)


Matchbox '70 Volkswagen T2 Classic Bus (2010 Lesney Edition):

First Look: Matchbox International MXT-MVA (driven by The Rock in Fast & Furious 6) and Two-Story London Bus...

I have had my share of embarrassing moments throughout my life, somehow associated with my lack of knowledge pertaining to a certain way of life.  I have always been pegged a city boy.  That is what happens when you are born in the Bay Area and the most rural area you have lived is the urban center of Boise, Idaho.

While I am a pretty good hiker, and grew up visiting many beautiful areas in the Western US, I am a complete fish out of water when it comes to certain walks of life like farming, hunting, off-roading, and other activities.  One of my most infamous stories comes from my time in Brazil, when I was walking with a friend near a rural farm and noted that I had never seen a horse sleeping, and didn't know they slept on their side with their legs sticking straight out.  And come to think of it, that is sure a fat horse!  My friend, who grew up on a farm, stopped dead in his tracks and asked if I was serious.  The surprised look on his face made me think that it was common sense that horses slept like that.  So I asked him that, and he laughed even more.  He then pointed out that what I was looking at was a bloated dead horse, and then proceeded to NEVER let me live my city boy moment down.



Why do I bring this up?  Because I am very near having another of those moments.  I know NOTHING about military life, other than what I hear from friends and watch in movies and documentaries.  I think I have a decent appreciation for what our friends in the military deal with, but when it comes to all things pertaining to the military, I am horrifically uneducated.

Which brings me to the brand new Matchbox MXT-MVA.  Is it sad that the only association I have with this vehicle is that The Rock drove it in Fast & Furious 6?  This is a legit military vehicle, and I can only think of the version driven by a pro wrestler in a movie about cars, glossy muscles, and bikinis.  Shame on me, city boy.

But how awesome is that!?!  The Rock drove it in FF6!!  Matchbox did not create the MXT casting to be part of the Fast and Furious promotional machine that has worked its way through Mattel and Hot Wheels, but I am sure they are not complaining about the timing.  Call it a fortunate set of circumstances.  Of course that is if consumers realize what they are looking at.  That is why I put FF6 in the title of this post.  Might as well try and help folks make the connection.

The model is well done.  Some will note it has painted-on side windows.  My guess is that affords them some flexibility with future versions, but it also appears there is no interior.  I guess we will find that out when someone opens one up.

Today we are showing two new models, and the only way to connect them is to mention that Fast & Furious 6 was set in London, and so is the new Matchbox Two Story Bus.  Sense a theme?

I don't have much to say about the new Bus, as it is nicely cast, it has a plastic body, which will annoy some collectors, and will obviously take its place in the mainline while the classic Routemaster reserves itself for premiere lines like 60th Anniversary.

It does lack the charm of the Routemaster, but it is a very well done rendering.  It will be interesting to see how this model performs once it hits the pegs...

All in all, two models that aren't down the Lamley Alley, but interesting enough to join the collection.

(You can find both models, along with all the latest Matchbox, here on ebay...)


Matchbox International MXT-MVA & Two-Story Bus (2013 New Models):

Matchbox Monday: "Up close with apparently a 2-tale bus" by David Tilley...

It is still Matchbox Monday, and we thought it would be appropriate to borrow from Mr. Tilley, who completed another of his "Up Close" features, this time on the just-hitting-stores Matchbox Two Story Bus.  

As always, Matchbox Monday is brought to you by MVE Collectibles.  Be sure to check out their store for the latest Matchbox, along with many other models from various brands like M2, Greenlight, and Johnny Lightning.  Very much worth a perusal...

On with DT's review:


"A 2-Tale Bus"

I am saying that because of the spelling on the naming of the bus. They have called this bus a "Two Story Bus". A story is a tale that you tell. In USA a story can mean something on 2 levels, but as this is supposedly a depiction of a British Double Decker Bus, I would have given this the British spelling too. In Britain something on 2 levels would be a "Two Storey" with an added "e" in the word. Am I being picky? Yup! It is not incorrect per se, but if you depict something British you should go with the British spelling I think. After all, it has the steering wheel on the right, as they do in Britain, so they were obviously going for something British with it. Plus, the ROW packaging is classing it as a London Bus rather than the baseplate name. So everything is pointing to something very British with it, yet they use the US spelling. But anyway, that aside, I actually quite like this.




It fits in well with the older London Busses we have seen from Matchbox in the past. Of course had the wheels been smaller they would have suited better. 




The front end shows a good representation of the types of busses we see around the UK nowadays. It is a modern design with the large window area. It also looks pretty realistic, and I would not be able to tell you any bus names, and I am sure many will not either. It also contains an interior, which the Routemaster before it did not. That only had a spiral staircase at the back.




Again from the rear, the detailing is very good. This does look like the type of vehicle you would see on the roads nowadays.




They included a window in the roof. I am not sure why. Normal busses don't have them, and it is not to reduce weight as both parts are plastic anyway, so that is a little unnecessary. Perhaps they were just trying to break up the sparce roof area. 




The only part that is metal is the base. It is also unpainted (well zamac coated as they do nowadays). Had this model been done the other way round with the body parts made of metal and the base plastic I am sure many would have commented that it was a decent model. I am sure that more will dislike it purely because of the reversal of materials used for body and base. But as you all know, the metal vs plastic debate does not interest me. I am fine with the model this way round. The thing I am a little sad to see though is that because this is the debut version of the model I would have expected it to debut in traditional red. I do like that the upper and lower halves are still separate and so you can get a color break if needed, as has been basically traditional on London Busses since at least the 1972 Londoner (I don't bother with earlier stuff so do not know if they also did split bodies), but we should have seen a red debut. Plus, I also feel the side design should have been a more traditional sign look and possibly hinted at the Matchbox 60th Anniversary, much like the chase Routemaster did in the Anniversary range. It would have made it look better. So for me, those are the weak points in what I think is not actually a bad model.

But while I am here, what about a comparison size-wise with the Routemaster. It was said that this is also a large vehicle, but just how large?




It is actually just as long as the Routemaster is, and therefore fits in with the largest vehicles in the range. 




Height-wise, it is slightly lower than the Routemaster was.




The width is about the same, although with the mirrors on the side it does make it ever so slightly wider in total.

So there you go. Let the plastic bashing begin....

Models of the Day: Matchbox Employee Transport Double Decker Buses...

We continue today's dedication to the Matchbox Routemaster with a showcase of my two favorite versions of the casting.  The new 2013 60th Anniversary Chase version gives these two a run for their money based on its simple beauty, but nothing can beat what the 2007 1-120 and 2007 Gathering model represent.

I am sure a great many of you have seen the 2007 basic range version.  The bus is blue with a vintage "Matchbox" Toys sign:

But the one not a lot of people have seen is the 2007 Matchbox Collectors Gathering of Friends Dealer Model.  It was produced only for table dealers at the show, and came in very low numbers.  It is in very classic Matchbox colors: white, yellow, orange, and red:

By themselves both models are quite stunning.  But they look even better when you look at these photos:

Both of these photos show the Matchbox employees transport bus, and it is easy to see where the Mattel got its inspiration.  The Lesney factory supplied these buses as a means to transport employees too and from work, especially since there were may shifts at the factory that maintained odd hours.  This must have been a very nice perk for Lesney employees, and probably decent advertising for Matchbox.

It is great to think that a fleet of these buses existed, and thank goodness these photos were taken.  The Lesney factory is now a memory, as are most of these buses.  I might seek out an expert on these vehicles to write an article about them for Lamley, but in the meantime, this site linked below should be able to fill you in a bit:

Lesney Staff Transport Index

Doesn't that make these two models that much cooler to collect?  The Gathering Dealer Model is near impossible to find, but does occasionally pop up on ebay for a pretty penny.  The 2007 Basic version in blue is much easier to find.  A few are available for sale now...

Matchbox 2007 Gathering of Friends Dealer Exclusive and 2007 1-120 Basic: