Matchbox Monday electrifies us with some quiet 5-packs

I thought I would tackle this week's blog report in a slightly different way. I don't know if people have been noticing, but every year for the last 5 years, Matchbox have sold an electric based 5-pack alongside the other items, with this pack being sold with the models in a Paperfoam insert, not the usual plastic insert. I am surprised that they have not moved all 5-pack and 8-pack releases into this insert, as it is now on Moving Parts.

I spoke about the plan from Mattel for the future of Matchbox back in 2021 on The Lamley Group.

https://lamleygroup.com/2021/05/02/matchbox-monday-maps-out-a-sustainable-future/ 

At this time, they had created a limited run of 200 of the MB1230 '20 Tesla Roadster in white. It had been constructed of recycled materials, and even the fancy packaging it was in was fully recycled.

A later run was created and sold through Mattel Creations in 2022. This was a more creamier looking finish, and the windows were much lighter than on the 200-piece promotional.

Both were made of recycled materials, and both had additional tampo printing added to their bases.

As this was happening, they released their first 5-pack in Paperfoam based packaging. As their electric inventory was still being stocked, the first pack was actually called MBX EV & Hybrid. It was also older models carried forward into the new package. We saw The MB1025 Toyota Prius Taxi in yellow, which has already been sold in the 2017 basic range. However, I did note that the 2021 run was a darker yellow.

We also saw the MB1039 '15 BMW i3 in white. This was the same as the 2018 basic range, although I did see that this was a little bit of a brighter white shade.

We also had the MB1093 '15 BMW i8 as well in black. Again, a 2018 issue brought forward, with this one seeing the window tint in a darker smoke than the original run.

The best one was the MB1091 eStar Electric Van (later renamed '09 International eStar), as this was not just a carry forward of the 2018 debut release, but was also released after the casting had been altered to remove the (2 different variations) interior. This gave us an instant variation.

With the final model being another off-white instead of creamier white look to a model. This one being the 2019 debut of the MB1079 '18 Nissan Leaf carried forward.

This meant that the pack was quite white heavy. Just one black and one yellow splitting the colours up. And no Tesla in sight.

For 2022, the Paperfoam insert was found to be just on this particular 5-pack release, and the pack itself was now named what it is from this point forward. MBX Electric Drivers.We even saw an exclusive in the pack for the first time. The MB1025 Toyota Prius Taxi was given an exclusive NYC look for this pack. That was a really cool model.

However, a few models in the pack were taken up by carry forward models. And, if you were to compare, you would see that 4 of the 5 models included in the pack were the same as the previous year. The exclusive look Toyota for 2022 was in the previous pack as a carry forward. And this MB1039 BMW i3 was again included. This time, it was a carry forward for the 2017 debut release in black. This was, similar to the BMW i8 in the previous year, slightly different due to window tint.

However, that BMW i8 was not in this year's pack. In place was the MB790 '10 Honda Insight in blue. This was a repeat of the 2011 basic range issue, but the shade of blue was quite noticeably different.

The MB1091 eStar Electric Van was again included. However, this time, it was also in an exclusive livery (although, if you went on Amazon at the time, they were selling a 12-pack which also included it).

The MB1079 '18 Nissan Leaf was also an exclusive. Again, it could also be found in the Amazon exclusive 12-pack online, and was found in red this time.

So, the pack was improving. 3 out of the 5 were exclusive, and this time, there were 5 different manufacturers represented. Still no Tesla.

So, as more electric vehicle castings were being added, there was a bigger pool of vehicles to choose from. And a wider variety of exclusive. For 2023, they upped the exclusive content to 4 out of 5. The package also stated MBX Electric Drivers. Other 5-packs have been getting Roman Numeral endings to denote later packs. MBX Electric Drivers is not following that route. We saw the MB1303 '21 Ford Mustang Mach-E appear in orange exclusively in this pack.

The MB1227 '20 Honda E was also exclusively sold in black in this pack.

The only carry forward was the first Tesla. The MB1286 Tesla Model X had debuted in blue in the 2022 basic range, and returned for another identical outing in this pack.

We also saw the MB1091 eStar Electric Van for a 3rd consecutive year in the pack, and this was the second exclusive look. This was in orange.

We also saw a second Tesla in the pack. The MB1280 Tesla Model Y was sold in this pack in dark grey. This is a different dark grey to a 2024 Tesla themed 5-pack's dark grey, as the wheels were chrome here, and the licence plate on the rear was different.

So, after debuting with 3 white vehicles in 2021 (as well as a certain Tesla promotional kickstarting it), we no longer see any of the vehicles in white in the pack. However, daft fact, every MBX Electric Drivers pack contains 1 black model. We also see the Tesla addition (doubled up for this one).

For 2024, the Tesla gets the black addition. The MB1230 '20 Tesla Roadster is now a part of the 5-pack, rather than simply promoting their long-term plans.

In addition, we see a number of newer castings, all in exclusive looks now. The 5-pack is now completely original. The MB1361 '22 Renault Twizy gets a yellow outing here.

We also have an MB1300 Porsche 918 Spyder in the pack in blue. Yes, it has an engine in the back, but the vehicle is officially a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Although Matchbox dropped the "& Hybrid" part for 2022, it appears that these are still included. Technically, there are 2 electric motors in a 918 Spyder, so they are not lying.

The MB1295 '22 Ford F-150 Lightning is definitely all-electric. And this red look was a lovely release.

With the pack rounded out with the MB1345 Karma GS-6 (now known as Revero) in a light green.

Which makes that pack the brightest overall to date (even with a black car).

And now we have the latest 5-pack. The MB1227 '20 Honda E makes its second 5-pack appearance in these packs. And it finally comes in the promotional yellow that the real vehicle was being shown off in when it first launched. I always wondered when it would appear as a Matchbox.

And, just like with all the other releases (bar the Toy Fair one), this comes with the same front and rear tampo print that it did before. I love this look, and am giving it a 10. Oh yes, as I get to the scoring at the end of the report.

As an added bonus, the model seems to sport a little shading as well between production runs. Some appear to have a mild greenish tint to them. I do wonder if this might be the last we see of it. The real vehicle is no longer in production. Replaced by the Honda e:Ny1. Especially as it appears that they have now exhausted all official colours for the real vehicle.

We also see a Jeep in this pack. The MB1350 '23 Jeep Avenger appears in a sort of champagne colour. Although, Jeep actually calls this Stone. It is an official colour for the real vehicle, which is only sold as an electric vehicle in most markets they sell it in. North America and China are not markets for this. It is Jeep's smallest model, and is closely linked to the Peugeot 2008, which shares the same floor plan. It is actually made in Poland, which makes it a European vehicle in a way.

As we expect from Matchbox, this is adorned with simple front and rear prints, just like the other Avengers they have created to date. Do you notice that little "e" on the back denoting the electric vehicle. The roof doesn't look too bad here. This shade of tint to the window section, which also incorporates the roof, I would say is about the best they could do. Not too light to make the roof almost see through (silly), and not too dark to make the windows black (also silly). I have often stated I am not the biggest fan of this "window and roof all in one" construction of a model, but if we have to have them, I think this is about the best compromise on the colour it comes in. A 9 out of 10.

We have another Tesla in the pack. This time it is the MB1355 Tesla Model S. Which, if you know Tesla, is one of the few official colours they come in. It is the darker of the greys, and has been done in many other Matchbox Tesla castings as well. It was known as Midnight Silver, but in 2024, Tesla changed it to Stealth Grey. Why? I have no idea. It still pretty much looks the same to me. Maybe a small shade in real life. Ha ha!

I am not sure if the windows are a little dark on this. I know it is an official colour for the real vehicle, but this does feel a little dull. The tampo print is faultless, as expected. I just don't think wow when I see it. So, I am scoring this a 7 out of 10. Nice, but meh!

The obligatory black car. Or pickup truck in this case. The MB1357 '24 Chevy Silverado EV. It only debuted towards the end of 2024 in blue, and this appears fairly soon after. I have to admit, if you remember my discussion on the debut, the "E" in the Silverado side logo being blue was basically invisible in that model. On a black background, it stands out much better. So, that is a positive. I am still not a fan of the roof/window combo, just like with the Jeep. It appears to be becoming more common on modern vehicles. The only classic they made with it was the Subaru SVX.

But, I have to say, this looks nicer in black than it did in blue. The detailing looks better here, so I am happy to give this a 9 out of 10. I would have preferred a black metal roof, and clearer windows.

Which brings us to the last model in the pack. The MB1431 '22 Opel Astra. After debuting in the 2024 basic range in yellow, I was not even thinking of it being in this pack. This is the thing. When Opel (and Vauxhall) debuted the Astra in 2021, it came as an ICE vehicle or hybrid, and in 2022, a full electric version became available. However, the Vauxhall/Opel duo, as well as Peugeot (all part of Stellantis) make no waves about their vehicles being electric. To anybody who sees one, it will look just like a fuel car, but without an exhaust sticking out the rear.

And, there is no exhaust on the back. Well, I never even noticed. This model, along with the Honda E, are a hybrid construction between having the body form the roof and window forming the roof. It's weird. But, is it as bad as a full window and roof part? This does mean that they have to keep tampo printing the roof to make it black. But, it does still manage to get full front and rear detailing as well. But, it also means that the window is pretty dark again. That is one of the issues with these unusual builds. But, I like the colour. Even though Crimson Red on real Astras are metallic. I am a sucker for red. Let's face it, last year's debut was a solid yellow, not metallic. I am scoring this a 9 as I just feel the window is a tad dark.

So, that is the latest MBX Electric Drivers pack. I wonder what 2026 will give us? Will we see further 5-packs (and 8-packs) change the packaging? So many questions to ask.

That's it for me on a slightly different style of reviewing this week. Next week, I will be back to my usual way of doing things, as I return to more basics. Well, with many being split into 2 halves (spoiler alert, batch D is as well), I will be pretty much doing a basics talk every 2-3 weeks. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.