Matchbox Monday checks out the 2024 Gathering & Golf promos

I have returned back home to the UK from the USA with lots of new Matchbox models. If you follow my Instagram page (@davidjtilley) expect a lot of photos of old models being opened in the (maybe not quite) near future. I am a few months behind on showcasing things, so it may be October or November before these are being put up.  But, when it comes to the newer stuff, I am able to do things much quicker. And this week, as I don't have a lot of spare time, am coping with jet lag, and will be returning to work, I am not doing too long a report. I hope you don't mind.  Just the 4 new promotional issues from this year in the USA.  We don't get many nowadays, and this year it is even less, as Mattel have reduced the content for both the Gathering in the USA and Leipzig in Germany later on. Where we were getting 4 promos, we now only have 2. I have one thing to say about that. Boooooooo! But, anyway, enough booing, the models we do get are freaking awesome. So, I could not wait to get to showcasing these. First, of all, I start with the Gathering.

For many years, the annual dinner model for the Gathering in Albuquerque would be of one casting, but there would be a special 75 piece run "early bird". Sometimes the tampo would be different. Sometimes, it would be in an alternate colour. Sadly, this year, there was no early bird. I really miss the fun of the waiting until midnight on January 1, and then rushing to get my application in on the first batch.  But, that is the way things have gone. I hope they go back. This means that all attendees received the same model. The MB1297 '57 Ford Custom 300. I would never have guessed on this model being chosen to be the dinner model, but it is exceptionally nice.

As is the case with these items, the plexibox that this comes in has the details printed on the roof. However, due to the nature of the model's design....

The little logos that often appear on the model have now appeared on the side of the plexibox.

The model itself is in a lovely dark red, with a white roof, and a Fire Dept theme. It also receives full detailing to lights, pin stripes and window edges.You may be thinking this is a nice look, but there is more.

Looking closer, we find that this is marked down as Corrales Fire Dept. Corrales is officially classified as a village, although it is a part of the greater Albuquerque Metropolitan area, just before Rio Rancho. It is located on the Rio Grande, and although documented in the 1500s, so it is a very old village, the population still stands at less than 10,000.

The Fire Chief is Anthony Martinez, and his name is emblazoned on the sides of the model. I think Michael Heralda has done an amazing job with this one.  Anthony (as well as his predecessor) were in attendance at the Gathering, and received some special items in the Saturday dinner speech time.

The model also features the new(ish) 2-part disk wheels, with real rider rubber edges. I think this is a great addition to the Gathering ranks.

If I had taken a guess on the dinner model, I would never have thought of this one. It was a 2022 debut after all. Usually a dinner model comes from the current year, or perhaps a previous one. Not always, but that is where my mind tends to think. Not that I am complaining about that. It is a classic car, and whether it came out this year, 2022, or even a decade or so ago, it is still a classic and looks amazing in these clothes. The 2022 debut was black.

And 2023 was in red. Obviously a much brighter red than this new one. There is another coming in the basic range, which I will be showcasing shortly.

But, for now, I have these 3 in the collection. This is a cool model, and I think this new one is the best. But, then it is fully detailed. It is hard to match that as a basic.

The dealer model is the MB1375 '68 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser in gold and white.

It is only recently that Matchbox have been adding a limited version of dealer models, mainly for those who help out with the general workings of the Gathering.  But, again, it has been stripped back to the single release. And, again, they have added the logos to the side of the box, rather than try to squeeze them on the model.

I love the fun stuff. Mountain Apes Rule! Ha ha! This dealer model has been lots of fun. Did you remember the cake I showed in last week's report?

Help support your local search and rescue. Get lost! I don't know where they come up with these wacky things, but I love them. Keep them coming.

Just as was the case with the dinner model, this one is locally themed. The Sandia Mountains are the mountains we see directly east of us when we make the journey to Albuquerque.  They have themed the model in a mountain rescue livery, which I believe in this case is fictional. From what I can tell, it is the Albuquerque Mountain rescue team that deal with these mountains.

Being a Moving Parts model, this features opening doors, which have been painted white, to match the roof. They have a unit 22 moniker, as this is the 22nd annual Gathering.  

I love the work that Michael puts into these.  Putting chevrons on the front and rear, and a fun little licence plate. Although I think it translates to "Stay Life". Again, we get the real riders added to this one.  Just an all-round amazing job.  

Funnily enough, this is also my third addition of this casting. It debuted in the 2023 Moving Parts series in teal.

And the 2024 release has already come out in tan.

Both the original 2 had simple front and rear detailing. Perfect for the Moving Parts, but this is a special issue. Therefore, it needed a special livery. And it got one.

Alongside what Jim brings to the table, we also get the annual Golf Tournament models from Everett Marshall III. Everett has been doing these almost as long as Jim has been doing the Gathering, and each year since 2015, we have been getting 2 colours for the model. His first 2 tournaments had code 2 issues, and since 2008, Mattel have been providing code 1s. We are now up to the 19th annual tournament. This is why there are 19s on the model.

The plexicase for these are identical, and simply have the charity logo on the top. No side extras.  

There is a theme to all of his models. After all, when he started the charity tournament, all proceeds would be donated to the Burns Foundation. So, he always chose a vehicle with a fire theme to it. Whether it be a fire engine, an ambulance with a fire department theme, or a fire chief car. This would always be something fire related. Of course, the foundation is called Everett Marshall Charities. It now also includes the Moss Rehab Hospital in Elkins Park, PA. But, the model stays true to form. Fire related. This year he has gone with the MB1374 '57 Ford Country Sedan.  It comes in a very similar shade of red to Jim's dinner Ford Custom 300. Although this one does state Fire Chief, whereas Jim's was Fire Dept. This is a unique look created for the model, along with a black roof.

Again, we are seeing complete tampo printing, with front, rear, sides and top all being detailed. I love this little subset, and always make a point of donating the $50 minimum to Everett for these. It is not all about the model, but also supporting the charities as well.

This is another Moving Parts model, so again we have something opening. This being the hood, they have detailed the engine inside.  

This is an absolute stunner, and a fantastic addition to my Everett set. But, wait, there is more....

This is because, as I noted, since 2015 there has been a second pink version as well. This is because Everett set up a second promotional model in aid of Breast Cancer Research. Being breast cancer, this is always in pink.

Usually, the only difference is the original paint colour. Everything being applied will be identical between the 2.

However, in this case, they have switched the roof from black to white as well. A small difference, but I think a good choice.

We don't get that many pink models, although when I was growing up in the 1970s, we would get quite a few. Lately, I have seen a few more pinks coming in.  

So there is actually a part of me that prefers the pink to the red, purely because it is a little more unique.

This is another stunner. All 4 have been, to be honest. I have not done my usual grading, as these are promotional issues, and a little different to what I usually review. If I was, I would give them all 10s. Easy. This is one of the highlights of my USA trip each year. I am already planning next year's outing.  I can't book the time off work yet. They are not letting me book a year in advance. Ha ha!

It's weird. Both of Jim's models have ended up being my 3rd from that casting. With this?  2nd and 3rd.

Because, before this pair arrived, the only time we have seen this was when it debuted in the 2023 Moving Parts series. Well, some people did. This was an extremely popular casting.

Is it me, or is a lot of stuff from the 1950s and 1960s popular? Because all 3 of these castings have proven to be a hit when they are in the regular ranges.  I do wonder as well.

Did Everett or Jim know the models the other was choosing? I did notice before how similar the '57 Ford Custom 300 is to the '57 Ford Country Sedan. The front end is almost the same, and it is mainly down to the rear that makes them different. This also makes the dark red models as a pair even more special. They are both pretty similar, with their fire themes.  

Poor old Toyota. Not a part of the Ford group.

So, this brings me to the end of another, not so stacked, report. A little shorter than normal, as time was a bit limited for me after returning home. I hope you still enjoyed it anyway.

As these 4 head off into my collection, thoughts start turning to next week. I will be back to my usual routine again, and not venturing so far "off-road".  Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.