Matchbox Monday goes a little sporty

Have these actually appeared at Walmart stores in the USA? I have not seen much in the way of people from the USA talking about them. Not being there myself, I have no idea what their stores are currently like. I will find out soon, as I will be heading out for this year's Albuquerque Convention in late July. But, outside the USA itself, Mattel does allow other stores in other countries to order them. And some countries do. Not the UK (where I live). We barely order anything. It's depressing. But, that is a tale for another time. But, I source mine from other places. Which gives me a chance to check out the 5 models in this batch. As you may remember, Mattel reduced the count from 6 to 5 for 2005. The best part is that the reduction was 1 of the carry forwards. Honestly, I think this may work better with just the 3 exclusives. Ha ha! Anyway, let's get stuck in to these ones.

What you may notice with the packaging is that there is absolutely no mention of the series. Just Matchbox. I took the Sports Cars name from Abe Lugo's presentation from last year's convention. As I always stated when I run through the presentations, items may change. But, in this case, we got exactly what he showed on the slide. The next batch does see quite a few changes to the original plan. The first model in the set is a lovely new look for the MB761 '72 Lotus Europa Special. One of the late, great, Ryu Asada's models. It comes in white, which is a first for this casting. 

Plus, we get a stripe! And a 6 roundel. I do love a stripe, and these roundel designs looks so classy. I think this is a great release. We see a red interior, which also forms a little of the side, and the bumpers. Red rimmed tri-spoke wheels really suit the overall look, and the smoke windows work here as well. 

We don't appear to have any detailing to the rear. I think, especially with a model like this (being so flat), that this simply saw a single pass through the tampo machine. Is that a major issue? Not really. But, why was the headlight not detailed at the time of the one pass? We saw a little Lotus badge added to the front. But, I think there was enough scope to add a touch to the lights as well. It is an awesome look. I love it. One of my favourite looks for this model so far. It was perhaps just a little short of perfection. I do think it was just a little mean with the tampo details. I could have accepted no rear, but skipping the headlights while doing the front just seems wrong. Had the stripe and roundel appeared on the sides, I would not have had an issue. 2 passes. I know the limit. I would have accepted that. But, a single pass going over the front/top and skipping headlights was a little too far. But, because I do really like this, I am knocking a half point off. I did contemplate a whole point, but didn't. So, a 9.5 out of 10. A very cool model. 

Which brings me to my first dive back. Well, any excuse to bring out my prepro again. This is an early prototype of the casting from before it debuted back in 2009. The base has no writing, and the matte black paint is quite rough to the touch. It also has an unpolished window piece. That is why it looks a little cloudy. 

And then it debuted in the 2009 basic range in blue, just as the older Lesney Europa casting had debuted 40 years earlier. 

And then it was given a premium promotional release. I mention the Albuquerque convention again here, as that was where it came from. At that time, when it came to the Sunday toy show, they used to make a special model that could be purchased simply by heading in. Unrelated to the dealer model, which was for traders selling at the show. I miss the days of show models.

And, at the end of the year, we used to see a First Editions all-exclusive 10-pack as well. Each of the 10 models in the set was a new casting from that year in an exclusive colour. I miss those as well. This one appeared in yellow. No, wait, greeny yellow. Actually, it was both. I don't know which it was supposed to be, but we saw quite a variation in that one.

Then, for the 2010 basic range, we saw a much darker yellow release. Again, I did see shades to the model, although all were yellow.

We also saw 2 further releases that year. A Classic Rides 5-pack saw a lovely green release. Then we had a purple in Lesney Edition, which was fitted with a metal base. This was also a model with a roundel. Again, this was a 6 roundel.

In 2011, it turned pink for the basic range. Again, I saw a shade to the pink. And, this featured a very similar livery to the latest release, with striping and a 6 roundel. However, this did see headlights depicted. See, it can be done.

For 2012, it turned orange in the basic range.

And, finally on its first run, we saw an extremely dark burgundy issue in the 2013 basic range. 

After that, the model saw a hiatus, before finally returning in the 2019 basic range. This time it was in a metallic black with gold pin striping. Very nice.

2 years later (2021), it popped up in the Coffee Cruisers II 5-pack in yellow. Again, this was good for a shade or 2. And again, we saw a 6 roundel. 

After that, it popped back up in the basic range in 2024 in pink again, This time with a little gold pin striping, which wasn't as noticeable as it was on metallic black. I do think this design is one of my favourites. 

But, I have to ask, what is it about always using the number 6 for the roundel?

The second model in the batch is also a British vehicle. Except, this time is a more modern vehicle. The MB975 '15 Jaguar F-type. This time, it appears in dark red.

During the mid-2010s, Matchbox were still creating models using the slot-in method. Miguel Lopez created this model using the rear licence plate as an area where the base would slot into the body. Amazingly, it has never been altered. Most vehicles have been adjusted to the drop method, but this one plugs away. It sees simple front and rear tampo prints.

Which is the same thing we have seen on every core release of this casting. I mean, if it ain't broke.... Right! And this is a lovely dark red hue. Jaguar would refer to it as Caldera Red. Which means it is a real colour for the model. And it looks amazing. I am giving this one a 10. This is exactly the sort of thing I want from Matchbox. 

As we know, Jaguar ceased production of the F-type in 2024. Well, they ceased production on absolutely everything except the F-pace. I don't expect that to last much longer, with JLR completely changing how Jaguars will be marketed in the future. Mind you, I believe dealers still have a few leftovers to buy. I wonder whether they have them in the colours Matchbox made? Like the 2015 debut in black. Santorini Black to be precise. The Matchbox one did see a window tint shade. 

2016 saw it in Sanguinello Orange. And then it went on a hiatus. Is that a recurring theme?

This also returned in 2019, much like the Europa. However, this was as a 9-pack exclusive. In British Racing Green!

And then it returned to the basic range for 1 more outing (to date) in a dark blue. Portofino Blue was the official name. 

2021 saw it in the Best of UK series in a much brighter blue. I believe this was based on the Ultra Blue look, which was exclusive to British dealers. 

The only non-core release for this one was in 2022, when it was a part of the Collectors series, to experience an uptick in the amount of tampo detail (and real riders). I did see shades from red to orangey red on these. Technically, this was known as Salsa Red. The additional pin striping was not a factory original. Ha ha!

It wasn't seen in 2023, but returned in 2024 in Carpathian Grey in the British Roadways 5-pack. 

Can you believe this is only the model's 8th outing? And we haven't seen Fuji White or Sorrento Yellow yet! Or Tormaline Brown. There are some really nice colours that need to be done. I hope we get a chance to see them.

Wow! This is a stunner. It's not British this time. It's also a convertible. This is the MB1012 '15 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Created by Abe Lugo this time. and another that doesn't get many outings. It comes in a lovely green as number 3 in the set of 5.

This is gorgeous! A deep, stunning, dark metallic green with a tan interior, and front/rear tampos. I have no idea if this is supposed to be Highland Green or Nordic Green. Both colurs appear to be very similar. It's one of them. The tan interior resembled the light tan leather interior of the real vehicle. They have done this model proud.

Again, sporting front and rear tampo prints and a light smoke window, they have absolutely nailed this one. I love the Lotus, but this is my personal star of the batch. I have always liked this little Mazda casting, and again, been annoyed it hasn't been used enough. But, they keep coming up with some great looks. This is my new favourite. An easy 10 from me.

And at least they didn't carry forward the debut red again. The 2016 debut returned in 2022 and 2023! 

Whoa! Albuquerque again. This was the 2016 dinner model, appearing in a green look, that was reminiscent of the racing vehicles from Mazda's past. We also had an early bird with additional printing on the rear.

For 2017, we saw a charcoal model with some really cool details going over the top. 

In 2018, it was then moved to 9-packs as an exclusive in blue, with a side design and 6 roundel. 

Wait? What? It seems the Europa is not the only "6" roundel specialist.

After taking 2020 off, it returned in 2021 in metallic orange in the basic range.

And in 2021, we saw it in black in the basic range as well.

With 2022 seeing 2 releases. Both in white, with a lot of red detailing in the Collectors series, and a simpler side design in the basic range. 

After not seeing anything in 2023, it popped up as a Target Red in 2024.

Which means the model has seen slightly more outings than the F-type. 9, plus the promotional issue(s). Which still works out at less than 1 per year, if I discount the promotional stuff. Again, there are some lovely colours out there. Radiant Ebony (which is a deep, dark purple) and Icy Blue are both lovely colours. We also have not had a yellow one yet. I can still go for a few more outings on this one.

Which brings me to the last 2. Which, as we know, are the carry forwards thrown in to bolster numbers. Are they needed? Both are USA modern vehicles. The first (number 4 of 5) is the MB1036 '16 Chevy Camaro Convertible, which is a carry forward of the 2019 Blue Highways 5-pack release.

Being a 5-pack release originally means the model does see a longer production run than a basic range release. More chances for shades to appear, and during the initial run, I did find 3 different shades of orange. So, I was not expecting too much. 

However, me being me, I do check things closely to see if there is something different. And there is. For the completist (unless, by some bizarre reason, you like keeping them in packages and enjoy the artwork), I spotted something. 

I bring in the darkest shade of my original run models to compare.

The shade is slightly out. But, not a major talking point for this report. No, we need to turn these around.

It's subtle, but the new run is sporting a much lighter red rear tampo print for the lights. So, if you do like to get a variation, this is unique to the 2025 run. Regardless of the shade of orange, all the original ones had a dark red rear light. It's enough for me to keep it.

But the last model? No. Number 5 of 5 is a dud. The MB1221 '20 Chevy Corvette C8 has returned yet again in its debut blue.

This is how the model looked in 2020. When it debuted. 

And I did find shades of blue at the time. 

Then, they carried it forward to the 2022 Walmart exclusive Local Cruisers series. Again, this did see a different shade of blue. But, 3rd time, it is definitely not lucky. This appears to be just how the 2020 release was. Well, 1 of them. No shade variation, not even in the tampo. But, this begs the question, this series is called Sports Cars. That is a very wide-reaching range of models to choose from. 

As I don't think any of the other core releases for this casting warranted a carry forward. And, let's face it. The other carry forward was a modern US vehicle. Why didn't they go with a classic US?

Just imagine if they brought back this 2009 10-pack exclusive release of the '70 Plymouth Cuda in purple. A totally different colour to everything else in the set. But, it is another classic. And, at the time, it was MB616. It was later modified into MB1088. Instant variation. 

Or they could have gone for a mid-point classic, with a carry forward of the 2009 basic range version 2 of the MB517 Dodge Viper GTSR. This tool is still around, last used in 2022. This mustard gold is also another that is nothing like the other 4 in the mix. They had options (many options), and they went with a 3rd outing for a recent Corvette. Boring. And being Plymouth or Dodge, these are different to Chevy, so we would have also seen different brands represented. Sometimes I do feel like they phone the carry forwards in. 

And, on that downer, I am done with another report. We saw 3 awesome new looks on models. Although, finding them is still proving elusive for some. They are definitely worth it.

Then we get the carry forwards. If you like artwork, you are sorted. The artwork for these packages do look nice. I will still rip them apart at my first opportunity. But, they do put more effort into them than they do with which carry forwards to use. 

So, it is time for these to make way, as my next batch of models to look at is a bit bigger. In fact, it was at the limit I instilled in myself. Until next time, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.