Matchbox Monday attempts Moving Parts batch A 2025

After last week's small blooper, leaving only half of my report up for the first half of the week, until we managed to get a second "copy" of it up to replace it, I am hoping this week runs more smoothly. As, just like last week, I am going through a batch of 5 models. However, this time, it is a full batch. Moving Parts batch A of 2025. They often seem to make the first batch small. I have no idea why. That just leads to more issues later again as they pile up into bigger batches that sometimes lose a model to accommodate a Super Chase. But, if you have been following me for a while, you know how I feel about Moving Parts being sold in boxes of 8 and a full range of only 50. I want boxes of 12 and a range of 75. But, sadly, they only upped the basic range for 2025. I am keeping fingers crossed that 2026 will finally see Moving Parts expanded.

So, let's get going on these 5. We start with the MB1465 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. Porsche's first wagon gets its second Matchbox outing in grey. Or, to be exact, Grigiocampovolo. One of many, MANY, Porsche colours. It is actually Italian for grey airfield. It takes the number 9 slot in the range for 2025.

And it looks stunning out of the package. As we come to expect from these vehicles, the Matchbox team have given the model simple detailing where needed. On this car it is at the front and the back. To be honest, there is precious little extra that could be detailed. Many vehicles like this are simply in need of the front and back doing, and they have done a tremendous job as usual.

And I am very happy that they are able to curve lights around corners again. That was something that was being ignored at one point, making some tampo prints look unusual. Not here. The curvature of the rear is covered in the light print beautifully.

And the doors are still opening smoothly. I think they definitely made the best choice by leaving the wheels plain black. I think it suits the model better than if they had put chrome, or even a gunmetal finish to it. I cannot fault this one in any way. A perfect start, and a perfect 10 for the Porsche. Ha! Who saw that coming?

After debuting in a lovely metallic red last year, we have this awesome stark difference. Next up, I think we should get a nice aubergine. Boy, this model has so many colour options. It could keep going for years.

Well, that's what I am hoping for anyway. Expand the series. Give us more of what we want?

Next up, taking the number 15 slot in the range, we have the return of the MB1254 '50 Chevy Suburban. It comes in red with a rather familiar looking Matchbox Fire Department look.

I am a big fan of these looks. And this, well, it is a simple one. Matchbox Fire Department. However, it is not quite a proper recurring theme, but more like a similar vein. I shall explain.

I am sure people will remember the 2024 Walmart exclusive County Rescue series. We saw 3 red and 3 yellow models, all sporting the MBX County livery, some of which were new for the set, and others, carried forward. With regards to red, the MB858 '56 Buick Century Police was a carry forward, and the MB1021 '15 Ram 1500 Police and MB986 '57 GMC Stepside Pickup being new. But, all had MBX County on the side, and featured a round crest on the side. However, back in 2014, the MB733 '55 Ford F-100 Panel Delivery saw a 10-pack outing with the MBX County name, but featuring the same crest that this new release has. It is a little thing, but it is not matching properly. National Parks has the same look for all models. INC does. The new MBX construction does. We have a number of recurring themes where they match. This is not quite matching properly. Considering they only did the MBX County set for Walmart last year, you would have thought they would have ensured it matched. That is how I am thinking.

The model itself is extremely well detailed. As well as the 2 sides of tampo, the front has headlights depicted. They even snuck in a little Unit 3 under one of the headlights. And....

The engine is detailed. However, I think this might have been done at the same time as the headlights, because it will be printed before the hood gets attached. And that sports the Matchbox and silver stripe portion of tampo. I believe it got 4 passes through the tampo machine. Plus a chrome base, which means the front grille looks awesome. If I was to score it on its own merits, it would have been top score. But, I can't help but think it was a wasted opportunity to sync this perfectly with last year's Walmart set. So, for that, I am giving this a 9.

This is a model that has seen a few recurring themes, which furthers my belief that this should have been a proper recurring theme. It debuted in the 2021 Moving Parts series in National Parks mint.

In 2022, Moving Parts saw 2 versions of this (ignoring many other castings by adding this twice), one of which was another recurring theme, with the Camp Arrow Flint look. The other was a simple dark red look.

And in 2023, it was given a simple green look, which I did find shades on.

It never had an outing in 2024, so it is good to see it return. I have noticed that when it gets simple front and rear detailing, the base is black, and when it gets side prints, the base is chromed. Coincidence? Or planned like that, to make the front match the wheel arches on plain ones? But, you might notice that this is the first time that a release with side print has managed to eke out a front hit as well. Baby steps. It is a good model. I so wish it matched the last lot.

Ooh! New stuff. Number 17 in the 2025 series is a brand new MB1530 '18 Jeep Grand Cherokee. And, just like the Chevy Suburban did that I just looked at, this one is debuting in the recurring National Parks theme. Awesome!

I am starting with the base shot, as the packaging simply said this was a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The base expands that as it is specifically a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. Which is a little unusual, as this does actually mean that they have chosen the previous generation of Grand Cherokee to make a model of. Back in 2000, we saw our first Grand Cherokee, which was a second generation. It was released shortly after the real one debuted. The third generation was ignored, sold between 2005 and 2010. This fourth generation model actually ran from 2011 until 2022, due to the 5th generation debuting in 2021 as a long wheelbase only, and the shorter wheelbase finally arriving in mid 2022. I am surprised they did not go with the new gen. I am also a little unsure on why they have specifically dated this as a 2018 model. I can't see any particular trims or details that could date this as 2018. I recently found out that the 2012 BMW 3-series Touring was created because somebody at Mattel has one, so they just went out to the car park to get all the detailing spot on. I wonder if somebody at Mattel has a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and they just wandered outside again. I say they, this is another of Garry Gopinath's creations.

I did a little research. Garry has created this casting in a way that the interior is forming the wheel arch edging. It appears that the Limited (the one this depicts, as noted on the base) does have that in real life. So, he has done this correctly.

And it has been created very well. Just look at the fuel cap. I think that is great. Hmm! Are those rear door windows partially down?

Yes, they are. I am trying my best to think whether we have had a model with a partially open window before? They are either open or closed. I remember a certain City Police Car that had one window up, the other down, as a unique feature, but never a partial window open. I think that is an awesome touch. A little creative thinking outside the box, and it does make it easier to open as well. Here's looking at you 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police. But, I notice that the one on the far side has no tampo. It is a plain mint door.

The other door had black and white dashes along the bottom, continuing the line from the front door, and a "Div 58" print. That leads me to believe Michael Heralda designed this. But, that blank door does look a little out of place. The mint matches between plastic and metal pieces well. Talking of well, the front is very well done. I like that this does get the black and white dashes continuing through it. This also has "Div 58" on the corner.

However, when looking at this angle, I see one wow, and one doh! Wow! Just look at the construction of the opening doors. That is actually a metal door, with a tiny partially open window riveted to it. x2! That is fiddly work. These are small pieces. I am seriously impressed with that. It makes the partially open window even more spectacular. They could have just left no window on the doors. But, no, they added them. Could it be because the rear windows don't go all the way down on a real Jeep, and Jeep asked them to match that? I have no idea. I don't own one. So, it leads them to pursue having rear opening doors an even bigger feat. I would have still liked that other door printed. Talking of which, doh! The rear is also blank. Unlike the Dodge Durango that arrived in the last batch with opening doors, this is actually a civilian model, so I can see them doing standard civilian releases with front and rear detailing down the line.

From what I can tell, the moon roof is an option, and as is often the case, Matchbox has replicated the moon roof. We know this saves a few grams in weight, so is something they do whenever they can. It is one of the things we often forget. They do have limitations for things. Hence, the limited tampo prints. But, also an overall weight limit to abide by. Whenever they can shave a few grams off a casting, if it gets them under the overall weight limit, they might be able to eke a few additional grams elsewhere to enhance something else. Swings and roundabouts.

So, what do I think overall? Inclusion. I love Jeeps, and it is about time the Grand Cherokee was looked at again. However, I would have preferred them to use the current generation. I can't lie. As nice as this is, it would have been even more awesome if it was the current look. Had it been a current generation that had launched in 2018 (like the Ford Focus RS last year was), I would not have been as bothered. I would simply have said about time. But, a 2011-2022 model launching in 2025? When a new 2022 model could have been? It just doesn't sit right with me. So, I am being cruel, but I am scoring it an 8 for inclusion. Casting. Garry nailed it. There is no debating that. And those opening doors with partially open windows are icing on the cake for this one. I think that is awesome. 10 out of 10. Design. National Parks. You can't go wrong with a National Parks release. Oh, wait, yes you can. You don't tampo print one of the doors. It looks weird. I don't know if they reached their limit on tampo hits due to the parts involved in this casting? But, they could have knocked off front hood detailing on the Chevy Suburban and given it to this model if that was the case. That knocks a point off here. 9 out of 10. Could that be my lowest ever score for a National Parks? Possibly. A National Parks model is usually an instant 10. I am actually quite sad about that. That gives this new casting an overall score of 27 out of 30. Close. But, current gen, and that other rear door printed, and this would have been top marks all round.

The Jeep wasn't the only new casting debuting in this batch. We also get the awesome MB1535 '24 Ford Mustang GT arriving in the same batch. I was sad to read about the poor sales of the new 7th generation this year. The 7th gen debuted in May 2023 as a 2024 car, and I was reading how January and February 2025 sales figures were down over a third from the equivalent figures for 2024. In fact, the Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle is now outselling the original for the first time. This does not bode well for its future. I am a huge Mustang fan, and was so happy to see the latest generation arriving. It takes the number 21 slot in red.

I don't think I need to go into the history of the Mustang. If you like cars, which I am sure you do if you are reading this, or collecting models of them, you know exactly what a Mustang is. And Matchbox have been making models of them since the first generation debuted under Lesney's ownership in 1967. And that casting is still plugging away, as it saw modifications numerous times, and is currently MB342, and is in a 2025 5-pack. But, alongside that, we have the newest 7th generation as well. Isn't it awesome!

Again, this is a Garry Gopinath creation. He is fairly new to the Matchbox scene, but has seriously made a name for himself already. His work is speaking for itself, and this is another incredible creation. That rear end is captured very well. It does go in like that in real life. And, this is the GT version, which means it has that little spoiler on the top of it as well.

On this model, they have opened the engine. Here's a daft fact. Out of the many Mustangs that Matchbox have made over the years, whenever one has an opening part, the engine is the go-to option. The 1972 Ford Boss Mustang was the first, which morphed into the 1983 IMSA Mustang. And the recent 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is also an engine opener. Only the 2019 Ford Mustang GT Convertible has something different that opens. On this one, the engine bay is a part of the interior piece, and is not tampo detailed.

The side of the model also sees no tampo hits. But, again, this is not a vehicle that has the need for any tampo on the side. With no tampo, you really see all the casting detail that Garry has added to this model. Again, fuel cap, doors, everything is so well crafted. I can not fault his handiwork at all.

So, is this a simple front and rear detailed model? Not quite. The 2024 Mustang GT has an air intake on the front of the hood, and this is also tampo detailed.

Which you notice when you open the hood. So, this is a 3-pass through the tampo machine model. About average for a Moving Parts model. Most tend to see more than the standard 2 that basic range models get.

And I am loving the way this is finished off. Just look at that front view. The grille is so well crafted, and even though it is quite a deep grille, it still gets perfectly printed. Of course, you could argue that the running Mustang in the grille should have been chromed. But, from what I can see, that is an option. And many have it in black as well. So, it fits in perfectly. Besides, the wheels being black, I think this works as well being black.

I am seriously loving this one. Inclusion. You could argue that there are too many Mustangs? Nonsense. We needed the newest generation. No doubt about it. A perfect 10. Casting. Garry absolutely nailed it. The hood fits perfectly, and raises and lowers smoothly, holding in place in the open position very easily. There is nothing I would change about what they did. 10 out of 10. Design. Ford calls this Race Red. One of their most popular colour options. And all the tampo needed is there. You cannot fault this one at all. 10 again. A perfect 30. This is seriously an early contender for my year-end new casting of the year. Although we do have a long, LONG way to go. Batch A? There are 7 more Moving Parts batches, 3 more Collectors, and as I am going through batch B basics, 10 more of those as well. But, don't be surprised to see this come up again in my Top 10 awards.

It is a new casting, so I will show the base. But, before I move on to my final model (yeah, almost done already), I had to pull out the 6th Gen GT for a little comparison.

I could have pulled out the Shell one, as it is also Race Red, but decided on the 2021 9-pack semi-exclusive in darker red. That has a similar tampo style. I notice that these are both almost identical in size. It looks like they kept the scale about the same. Which is another thing I like, as it feels like they are being consistent.

But, this is the main thing that is different. As I said, the grille is quite set back, but they still went with it in metal, and tampo printed it. Last time, it was a part of the base section, coming up behind the open gaps in the body section. To be honest, either way is fine with me. But, the fact that they went with the new way, I am seriously impressed with how well it has come out. As I said, that tampo printing needs to be aligned well to work correctly. And they have nailed it. Yes, I am fawning over this one. Justified!

I suppose I should the Mustang and get on with the last one. To be honest, I almost forgot we had this. Which is a shame. I am happy that we have new Alfa Romeos, as the brand has not been exactly represented that well. But, their current positioning within the Stellantis portfolio is a little meh! The MB1473 '22 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is back for year 2, and is number 42 in blue.

It appears that Alfa Romeo are also struggling lately. I see that they recently announced that different versions of their cars are no longer sold. Just one level, and you can add extra items as and how you feel fit. Plus, all their vehicles are becoming SUVs. Well, the Stelvio was the first, and Tonale slotting in underneath. The Junior has just arrived in an even smaller SUV shape. There is the Giulia. But, almost a decade in, this model is not long for produciton,. Alfa Romeo are close to showcasing its replacement, which is rumoured to be a DS8, Citroen C5X competitor. Not a fully fledged SUV, but a slightly higher liftback vehicle. Of course, there is their halo. The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. However, this is only going to be built 33 times. Yes, there will only be 33 of them made. It is a short-lived halo. I am very thankful that we are digging into Alfa's past for the next casting. They have some amazing cars in the past that I would love to see. But, we do have this SUV. It comes in Misano Blue. An official Alfa Romeo colour. And it does look nice.

And again, it comes with front and rear detailing. There is precious little they could have added to this. It's all it needs.

The doors open smooth. I can't fault it. I might forget about it in 5 minutes. But, I can't say anything bad about it. It is nice. It gets a 10. They did it perfectly. I must try and remember that is a Stelvio in the Matchbox range.

There it is. The debut in red. As I said, I almost forgot I had this. Which is a shame. I do think Alfa Romeo needs to do something to spark more life in their line-up. I hope they manage it. It is too cool a brand to lose. Still, there is a classic coming this year, and I am seriously looking forward to that one.

So, we have had red, and we have had blue. Both are part of the 6 official colour options for Alfa Romeo Stelvios. The others? Black, white and 2 shades of grey. Although they did go a dark green one. We could still see that arrive as a model. I hope so. It would match the Tonale that just appeared in the basic range.

And on that note, I am done for another week. We saw 2 new castings in the way of the Mustang and Grand Cherokee. Both more up-to-date versions of older Matchbox castings.

And when it came to the older castings, 2 are also modern. Actually more modern than the Jeep. Okay, that was the last dig at the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We did see one classic in the way of the Suburban.

Funnily enough, the oldest depicted model and newest depicted model were both red. We had a good spread of colours, but I still want a bigger Moving Parts range. Next week, I finish off the review of the basic range, batch B. Hopefully, that won't be cut short. And I hope this one wasn't. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.