Matchbox Monday celebrates the Mattel 80th Anniversary

This year saw Mattel celebrate its 80th Anniversary. Mattel actually started off as Mattel Creations, a name which it uses for its online purchasing arm nowadays. The company was formed on January 20th 1945 by Harold Matson, along with Ruth and Elliot Handler, in Los Angeles. Harold Matson was often known by Matt, and they took the name as a portmanteau of Matt and El from Elliot. They tried to figure out how to get something from Ruth in there, but in the end, they just went with the 2 names. Over the 80 years that followed, Mattel grew to, at one time, the largest toy company in the world. As of 2025, it currently sits at number 4 behind The Lego Group (started 1932), Bandai Namco (started 1950) and Hasbro (started 1923). So it is good company. However, number 5 on the list is Funko, and that only began in 1998! Anyway, enough about Mattel. As we know, they ended up with the Matchbox brand when they purchased Tyco in November 1996. Over the years since, many have often referred to the Matchbox brand as the red-headed step-child of the company. There have been numerous products released this year from many of the Mattel brands. Matchbox? It got 1. And that 1 has not exactly been the easiest to obtain. Those in the USA have found it on some shippers in some Walmart stores. The Mattel shop has it. Apart from that? Hmm! I have barely heard a peep from anybody about finding it in other countries. It has been tough to get. I had to work hard to get mine, as I don't think any hobby stores were able to order it. I know Wheel Collectors did not get it. To be honest, I am very upset about how the Matchbox brand has been largely ignored again. A single offering, only to be found in limited quantities in limited places, and tough to track down. And they didn't even have any models in the basic range with the Mattel 80th logo in special packages to help. And, it is a real shame. Because the Matchbox team has done a beautiful job with what limited resources they had. 

Because what they have done is to create a gift set that is something that could have been found in the 1960s. Don't believe me?

This is a Matchbox Motorway set from the 1960s. The inspiration for the artwork. The current team, which I believe was done a lot by Abe Lugo at the time, have done a phenomenal job in recreating this artwork, but using modern vehicles. 

We have a little write-up in the box telling us what they did. 

And what we get inside are 4 Moving Parts models, all in premium guises, and all featuring a box.

So, let's open this box up and get the models out. 

As you can see, there is a plastic insert formed around the 4 models and boxes. As these are all numbered from 1 through 4, I think I will simply do them in number order. 

The first model is the MB1369 '69 Ford Mustang Boss 302. It comes in a lovely matte tan look in the number 1 slot. 

As you can see, the boxes themselves feature yellow front and rear, with blue top and bottom, and pictures on the side flap. Not too dissimilar to how they would have been in the 1960s. Obviously, those boxes would have a little legal stuff on them, which is not needed this time. But, again, they have done lovely work. It is a shame that this is not something that is easy to find. I really hope the film next year boosts awareness for the brand. 

This is pretty close to an official Mustang colour option from that year. Meadowlark Yellow. And it looks stunning. The side striping it true Boss style, and the burgundy interior is really fetching, matching the look of the model. 

The rear has wonderful tampo printing, and you can see they chromed the base to give us the shiny bumpers. This is a lovely model.

The front end is also detailed, as is the engine when you open it up. But, as I said, this is a premium level model, so why would this all not be detailed. This is one of the nicest looks, if not THE nicest look on this casting to date. I would give it a perfect 10. It is my favourite in the batch. Yes, including the Porsche!

The 2023 Moving Parts debut in blue was nice. Could the new one have had a black hood? No, I stand by it being perfect as is. I did see a shade to the debut. I doubt I will see one here. I mean, how many did they make? 150? Honestly, I have no idea, but I don't think it is a very large amount. 

2024 saw a black Moving Parts release. 

And then we saw its first premium outing in the last batch of Collectors at the end of the year. 

And because this year saw the Moving Parts release as a Super Chase, it was also given the premium treatment. 

Which means that, 3 years in, this model has seen 5 different outings, and the last 3 in premium guises. Sweet! And, yes, this is the nicest. Super chase 2, 2024 Moving Parts 3, 2024 Collectors 4 and 2023 debut 5. That is my order on this one. It is mainly getting better with each outing. 

The next model is the MB1384 '63 Ford F-100. It is in a lovely pale red in the number 2 slot.

Now, as you can see, there are some legalities on boxes. They slipped them in on the bottom. And, in this case, it is all about Ford. Which is what they put on the last one. Because the Mustang is also Ford. Now, don't get me wrong, I am very happy to see this one again. It debuted in 2023 and this is the first time since that year we have seen it. Which is good. But, it's 2 Fords in a set of 4. Shouldn't they have gone with another? Perhaps the MB1143 '63 Chevy C10 (used 2019 through 2021) or MB1267 '64 Chevy C10 Longbed (2022 through 2023). Both are similar to this, are also from a similar time frame, but are a different manufacturer. After all, this is not technically replicating a specific model. 

However, when you look at the model itself, there are a few subtle details in the design. For starters, at the rear, we see a license plate that has 4 SAM W. Is that a nod to Sam Walton, who started Walmart? 

As you can see, there is tampo all round. White flashes and silver pin striping. There is a small silver "M" at the rear of one side of the white. I didn't get a close up shot, but it is the Mattel logo that was in use between 1955 and 1969. A clever addition, but could have appeared on a Chevy Pickup. Sam Walton was known for driving Ford, so that could have been done on a different release. 

With full detailing and an engine bay detailed as well, this is a beautiful release. As a model, this is fantastic. The wheel wheels are a lovely addition as well. They suit it extremely well. I would give the finished look a perfect 10, but if I was to have chosen models for the set, I would have gone Chevy, because we already had a Ford. 

As I said, it was only used in 2023 before this. It debuted in tan in an early 2023 batch. 

But did come back in a dark red in a late batch. I think it was originally going to be a 2024 release, but with a certain Lamborghini getting delayed, this got switched in and appeared early. 

Which means this has seen 3 outings across the 3 years of existence. I wonder when the next one will appear?

Yes. The MB1224 '55 Porsche 550 Spyder is back. It takes the number 3 slot in the set in light blue.

I was wondering where this model had gone. It debuted in 2020, and has not been seen since 2022. Now, you may be wondering why there is a 53 on the model. Easy. When did Lesney start selling Matchbox? 1953! This may be a celebration of Mattel's 80th anniversary, but they have done a fantastic job of recreating the Lesney past with certain items, and this has a nod to when they started on it.

The striping goes all the way over the top, and we also see front and rear detailing. I am loving the blue, and the disc wheels suit it so well. I am a sucker for stripes. 

We also get 53 on the rear license plate. This is a lovely model, paying homage to the Lesney brand that started the company. 

This is another model where the engine bay opens, showing a detailed engine. Again, this is a place where, perhaps, they could have looked at a different model? Three models in, and all 3 have the same opening feature. I know this sounds sacrilegious, but I would have looked at bringing back the MB1136 '62 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Coupe. It was an original Lesney model. I know it debuted as a nod to its Lesney past, which means we should have a different look. But, I think a classic that Lesney made, which was made by Mattel as well, could have been better. In fact, when you think about it, they could have put the MB1313 Ford GT in the first slot. A classic Lesney model. Made it bronze with the 6 striping. A nod to the later colour. Or the MB1374 '57 Ford Country Sedan, as there was a yellow Ford Station Wagon in the 1957 basic range. The '64 Chevy might have been a better choice, as there was a Jeep Gladiator in the 1964 basic range in red. It could have been red with a green interior. So, don't get me wrong, I love all 3 models that I have looked at so far. And again, I am giving this a 10 out of 10. But, had I been in charge of the options for the set, I would have gone with the '57 Ford Country Sedan in yellow, '64 Chevy C10 in red with green interior, and '62 Mercedes-Benz 230SE Coupe, and then come up with a new look for it. But, something that could feel like it was a classic Lesney look. 

Now, before I get to the last model, a quick dive. 2020, this debuted in a silver blue look in the Moving Parts series. 

2021 saw the model move to the Collectors series, where it appeared in silver.

Before moving back to the Moving Parts series in 2022, where it was sold in plain black.

Which means this is only the 4th outing for the model. They have lots of Moving Parts castings, and not enough slots to fit them in. Expand the range. 

And, talking of 4, we move to the 4th and final model in the batch. Finally, they nailed one. The MB1222 DIVCO Milk Truck has returned. And it has a milk livery!!!!

I have been waiting for them to do a milk livery since the model debuted. But, this is not just any Milk livery. 

I have had to shamelessly steal a photo to provide further context. This is because in 1961, they launched the 21-c Commer Bottle Float casting to the basic range. It ran until 1967, but after the first 2 years when the green model had a milk bottle on the door, it changed to show a cow instead from 1963 onwards. This is the design that has been replicated for this release of the DIVCO. 

Talk about saving the best until last. This is how I feel they should have done the whole pack. Create some classic castings, which is what they have done, but make all 4 of them nods to the past of Lesney in some way. That way, they would have sat with the artwork better. Because, this one is just awesome!

And the milk crates in the back have meaning now. Had I not said the Mustang was my favourite in the pack, this would have been close, due to the nostalgia factor. Yes, the poor Porsche is in 3rd place! I know, me, putting a Porsche 3rd out of 4. That's almost unheard of. But, as with the others, I am giving this a 10 out of 10. It even has a little 80 over the rear doors as a nod to the 80th Anniversary.

One final dive, as it is nice seeing the DIVCO again. Just like the Porsche and F-100, this has not had a lot of recent action. Only the Mustang was a regularly used model. This began in the 2020 Moving Parts series in the showroom white look. 

In 2021, it was given a brown Speed Shop outing in the Moving Parts series.

And we also had an iconic Gulf liveried model in the Collectors series. 

Plus, it was the dinner model for the 2021 Matchbox Gathering in Albuquerque. The first 75 Early Bird models had additional roof tampo.

2022 only saw a Moving Parts release. This was also in green, but had a Skippers Shaved Ice livery.

2023 was the last time we saw it in Moving Parts, where it came in this lovely retro Shell look.

But, we did also see a Mattel Creations outing in brown with a Tootsie Roll look.

So, this model does have the most outings out of the 4 chosen. But, it still feels as if it is underused. Maybe because it hasn't been seen since 2023. But, at least we finally got what it was destined for. A milk outing!!!!

Well, that is it for this article. Individually, the 4 models are fantastic. I love them all. Every one got a 10 out of 10. But, as models chosen for this set, only the DIVCO was really suitable. Did they have to go back as far as the '60s to begin? I would have loved the MB1193 '74 Dodge Challenger to have been given another outing, this time in a similar blue to the Porsche. Could the MB1135 '65 VW Type 4 Fastback or MB1138 '64 Pontiac Grand Prix have been given an outing? MB1145 '59 VW Microbus? MB1268 '72 Custom VW Beetle? So many options for others that could have been given classic looks. Plus, 2 Fords out of 4 models. Meh! 3 with opening engine bays? Meh! Could have been better variety. The idea was brilliant. The end result? So-so. And, why did Matchbox only get this as an 80th Anniversary nod? Why nothing basic range worthy? Not even a 5-pack. We have had Retro 5-packs, so this could have been an 80th Anniversary in red. Something. I feel Matchbox was very under-represented in the celebrations. 

But, enough about that. As these head off, I guess I should return to basics next week. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.