Matchbox Monday does a few Mattel Creations dives

Last week was a relatively shorter report from me as I only had 4 models to go through. This week, I am only looking at a pair of issues, and somehow my report is about twice as long. Who? Me? Waffle on? I don't know what you are talking about. Let me tell you a story about me not waffling. Wait, I am supposed to be looking at the models. Right, time to begin.

The first of them is the MB1023 '70 Datsun 510. This is a casting that has been around for 7 years to date, and was created by Abe Lugo for the 2017 range. This is also a casting that has a habit of name checking many (many) former Matchbox ambassadors, multiple times. As is often the case, this model arrives in a standard orange box that houses the usual large plexicase.

You know, I have always been in such a rush to open things, I never show how models usually arrive inside the box. As a rule, we usually have a sheet of tracing paper wrapping the plexicase. That takes all of 1 second to rip apart.

Tracing paper removed, and the usual scenic plexicase. We have seen these multiple times. The model is encased, with the name across the bottom.

With the rear sporting a little blurb about the model and its history, both in real life and as a Matchbox. Hmm! One came before that sported a textured plinth? I know which one they are talking about. I will get to that later.

As is also the case with these, the background is actually printed on the cardboard. 

The case itself is totally plain. Only the textured base remains. 

Although that will not hang around for long with me around. Where's my screwdriver?

As I have said, this is a casting that often sees the old ambassadors noted, and this is no different. This one has Shabbir Malik, the 7th ambassador, all over it. Congratulations to Shabbir for getting his name on a Mattel Creations. I have spent many years visiting with Shabbir in the USA. Daft fact, when he used to live in New Jersey and worked in Lower Manhattan, I would usually fly over and meet him at work, and he would head back to his house. Those were the days. I would spend a lot of time with him and his collection. It is impressive. He loves Matchbox. And when I say Matchbox, I mean all Matchbox. If it has the name or logo, he will go for it. He is a Matchbox nerd, just like me. So, I feel mightily happy that he gets this model.

And boy, did they go to town on the detailing. Every single surface on the body section has been touched. They really went nuts with all the detailing. When you see models receive this amount of detailing, it makes you understand more the efforts that are put into creating the models.

Everywhere you look, there is more to see. The Japanese logo on the back, the Matchbox logo in English written on the back of the roof rack. Catches detailed in red. And, the most incredible part.

Just look at the detailing to the roof items. This is amazing. I bet Shabbir is really proud of the effort. I have a feeling that this could be one of Michael Heralda's creations. I see no sign of his moniker, or 58 somewhere. But, this does have his tell tale signs on it.

I love the large Datsun badge on the door as well. That brings back memories. I have to say, this is the best I have ever seen this casting. There have been some cool issues (he says, as his name has appeared), but this is top of the lot. An easy 10 out of 10 from me. Sure, we know these are expensive, but I am happy to get them. My bank balance might say otherwise. 

Time for a dive back. As noted, this model first arrived in 2017. It debuted in orange, with details going over the top, but this did not mean the sides were nothing to keep an eye on. Especially as the wheels were found in 2 different styles. Disks or 6-spokes

And then there was my favourite, the shade. Different shades of orange could be found, and you might also see slight shades to the roof items as well. But, we did note there was something on a plinth?

There was a small run of models made for JCCS that September, and these few hundred were placed in plexicases on a rugged plinth. What? You wanted to see the plinth? Err, this is me, I cannot accommodate that request. Ha ha!

And, then it began. The ambassador nods. 2018 saw the first ambassador on the door. John Yanouzas was the first person to be chosen as a Matchbox ambassador. Another daft fact, I am full of them, it was set about in July 2005 after the 2004 convention saw the new Matchbox team hand out cards to literally everybody walking through the door. Then, they were inundated with people asking them questions, often the same question. So, this is why they came up with the ambassador programme. They drew up a shortlist of people who they were looking at, and took them all out for a meal in Albuquerque, NM in July, shortly before it was announced who was number 1. That meal was on my birthday. So, they brought out a lovely chocolate cake. And everybody signed my menu, which I still have.Good times! This model was the 2018 basic range issue.

The model was also chosen to be the dealer model at the 2018 convention in Albuquerque. This one featured Jim Gallegos in the design. He runs the convention, but was also the 2nd ambassador.

2019 saw the last basic range outing for the model. Yeah, it has not been in the basic range this decade. Again, this blue model saw ambassador nods. Not 1, but 4 of them were on this one. Wiersma Safety Equipment (this was Chuck Wiersma, the 6th ambassador), Shabbir Oil, as Shabbir Malik (ambassador number 7) was included, along with Ozima Tires (Terry Ozima was ambassador number 4) and Nigel Shocks (Nigel Cooper was ambassador number 9).

For 2020, the model was a 9-pack exclusive. That year saw each batch using the same casting for both packs, but in a different colour. A white one and a black one were on offer, and these had the same design, with one side stating Tilley (yay, me, ambassador number 3), and the other side denoting Scaduto (Larry Scaduto, ambassador number 10).

It was also in the Off Road Rally series at Walmart. This green model had a little logo towards the rear with an "S" and Schleuer circling it. Yes, Dirk Schleuer, the 11 and final ambassador. The ambassadorship was ceased after this due to the changes in the way information was going out (Matchboxworld on Instagram etc).

2022 did see a few carry forwards. The 2018 basic was again out in the Target Retro series, although the base was notably darker.

And the debut returned in the MBX Japan Tourers 5-pack, now with lighter roof elements.

But, we did get a new one as well. This sported the Lamley logo (which technically is half John Lambert, LAM-bert, and half myself, Til-LEY), but there was Lambert written over the top, so I will give that to John (the 8th ambassador). Nigel Cooper also had his name return.

And in 2023, the model was a part of the Collectors series, and John Yanouzas was back on the side of the model. Yes, apart from the debut, every single release of this car has featured at least one ambassador in the design. How cool is that?

That is a heck of a lot of ambassador nods. Okay, as a former ambassador, I may be biased, but I absolutely love them! Long may they continue.

Now, the other model is a bit of an awkward one. This was officially ordered in 2023. It was part of the 70th Anniversary celebrations. But, because of all that went into it (and, yes, it did see a slightly higher price than even the other Mattel Creations), it did not arrive until about a month or 2 ago. Was it worth it? I think it was. It came in this fancy outer box.

Inside is another box, with a lot of artwork. This was done by Mr Brainwash. Mr Brainwash was born in France in 1966, but now lives in LA. He is one of the well known street artists of the modern era, with Invader being (supposedly) related, and still in France, and Banksy being a UK equivalent. 

Mr Brainwash is not new to the Matchbox brand. He has created Matchbox-related concepts in the past. Like this taxi themed offering over a decade ago.

And a later masterpiece with a Porsche 911 Carrera. Yes, he knows about Matchbox.

So, in 2023, as part of the 70th Anniversary celebrations, he was given a Mini and went nuts. 

The real vehicle was on display, and a model was offered through Mattel Creations. Granted, as a 2023 issue, it did take the best part of a year to get to us, but I think it was definitely worth the wait. 

The box that this came in is massive. The biggest we have seen to date from Mattel Creations, and much larger than a regular package. 

Inside, you will find some blurb about Mr Brainwash, as well as the model in a smaller plexicase, and a large iconic "vintage" Matchbox box to pop it in. 

Of course, this box also sees a little Mr Brainwash magic.

I mean, if you wanted, you could put the plexicase inside this other box. You could....

But, let's be honest, no matter how cool this package is, it is wasted on me. I am still opening this and getting that Mini out. Now, where did I put that screwdriver? I need to buy more, so they are with me whenever I need them.

There we go. Free to go nuts. Just like Mr Brainwash did with the design. If you know his stuff, you know this is typical of the type of artwork he often deals with. Some go back to the 2000s, as he was the designer of Madonna's Celebration Greatest Hits album in 2009. As well as the singles from it. 

As I said, this was originally a part of the 70th Anniversary celebrations for the brand, so the model has a 70 roundel on it, and 70 on the number plate (I am saying it the British way as it is a British car). 

Plus, we have the British flag on the roof, along with much more in the way of sayings and expressions, all with a positive outlook on things.

You could spend quite a while looking at all he did to the real vehicle, which has been shrunk down to miniature scale perfectly. And, did anybody notice?

There is nothing repeated.

The 2 sides are completely different. 

I think it is brilliant what he did. And also just as brilliant the way that Matchbox have managed to shrink it down to such a small scale, but keep it just as it was. I am in awe of this one. One of the most amazing looks we have ever seen on a Matchbox model, and I am sure one that will never see anything like it in the future. Unless Mr Brainwash wants to do something for the 75th Anniversary? Ha ha!  Of course, I am giving this a 10 out of 10 as well. I love it!

So, as I am about to do one of my dive backs again, I just wanted to double check. Yes, copyrighted in 2008. As I thought, this is the exact same model that debuted back in 2009. Why?

Do you notice a small blooper on the back of the box? Debut in 2022 in Moving Parts? Err, no. Oops! They have been making a few little bloopers lately. Manufacturing numbers being accidentally duplicated, and this as well. Still, it is a packaging thing, so does not affect me. 

So, here is the 2022 Moving Parts deb...  I mean, the 2009 basic range debut. Red, followed by green as a version 2.  Plain 1-colour roof? Yeah, the early ones were quite simple.

But, it was given a special outing for the Albuquerque Gathering that year. This featured a special 50th Anniversary look. Not for Matchbox, but for the Mini itself, as it had debuted in 1959. 

2010 was a blooper year. Matchbox is good with bloopers. The plan was, Walmart had requested something unique. So, before we got to the stage we are now with special sets appearing quarterly, their first attempt was to do a quarterly exclusive model. It was simple. Come up with an alternate design for 4 different models in the basic range, and sell them through Walmart stores in the USA only. 3 of them were just that. A Walmart exclusive. The last one? The Mini. Well, this went a little awry. The supposed version to be sold in every non-Walmart USA store was to be the white version. Something I did find some nice shading to. However, there was a small mix up. Only large card markets got the white one. 

What was supposed to be exclusive to Walmart stores in the USA was actually the one that was put in ROW short cards for international markets. Oops! So, they were a little easier to find, and I also found a shade to the blue.

2010 was also the year that Mattel launched the Lesney Edition series. It only lasted 2 years, and featured models with a diecast body and base. The Mini was in the first year, and this heavy all-metal car was in black with a Lyons Bros livery.

For 2011, the model saw a single outing in the basic range in blue with dual white stripes down the front. After this, the model was not used in 2012.

But, they made up for it in 2013, as they released 3 different versions. The basic range outing was in red, with a very '60s feeling record side design. It also saw a black model with a roof design only as part of the 60th Anniversary 10-pack exclusives. 

And it was also a part of a special 60th Anniversary series in gold. Something I again found some nice shading on.

After that, the model went on a small hiatus, before returning in the 2017 basic range in green with a black bonnet (sticking with the British way of saying it). Some were quick to point out that this was Mr Bean's car. Well, not quite. Very close, but this was definitely more green than what he had. Even with a shade variation.

After taking another year off, it was back in 2019 as a taxi! Yep, they were coming up with some very unique looks for this one. Again, I saw a shade.

Plus, as part of a second outing, it was included in the Happy Holidays 5-pack that appeared for a short while towards the end of the year. 

But, as they had so many people saying they did Mr Bean's car, they only went and got the license to actually do his car. This was a yellowy green with black bonnet model, and also included his car's number plate.

See, when you put it next to the earlier issue from 2017, the difference in colour is massive.  Okay, as a shade person, it is massive to me. Others are rolling their eyes saying it is fractionally lighter. Big whoop!

They went one step further in 2021 by adding the armchair on the roof in a Best of British release. So cool. 

As well as the 2010 white coming back multiple times this decade, we have seen a steady stream of new releases. The 2021 basic range was in pastel blue with a checkered roof.

And 2022 gave us a pastel pink as well. This was another I found was good for a shade.

Even on the base!

Funnily enough, the 2023 issue ran late, and did not arrive until the start of 2024. This was a part of the last 2023 Convoy batch, and was the last of the platinum looking 70th Anniversary models. 

And 2024 has also given us 2 other Mini outings. The Mini set from Walmart gave us an exclusive olive issue, and a Candy Set II appeared with a yellow Charleston Chew release.

That is a lot of Minis. This is an iconic vehicle. One of the most iconic of all time. Which is why it often gets chosen for anniversary issues. Technically, there have been 2 for the 60th Anniversary and 2 for the 70th Anniversary (and both 70th ran late). I love it. I wonder if we will see 2 for the 80th Anniversary?

Can you believe it. I am done. 2 models. 2 awesome models (in my eyes). I know some don't like spending a lot on the Mattel Creations stuff. But, some models are more worthy of a Mattel Creations release than others. I think these are 2 great additions.  

Now it is time to say goodbye to these 2, and look forward to next week. I will be back to my regular outings, as I am looking at a bunch of basics. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.