Matchbox Monday heads over to Japan twice more

This week is another doubled up week for me, as I carry on zooming back up to date.  

Because I have 2 different sets of Japanese Matchbox models to work my way through, I thought it was a good idea to combine into another blog report again.  Fairly long, but not as long as the Jurassic one from a few weeks ago, so I am doing a couple of dive backs at the end.  But for now, I am beginning with the Japanese exclusive Moving Parts set.  This is batch B, numbered J-7 through J-12.

The shipping boxes for these are tiny.  They contain 2 of each model in an outer box, with an inner sleeve inside.  I didn't do the inner sleeve inside, as I completely forgot, then got rid of it.  As I do.  But I am all about the models anyway, so I am just going to dive in.

I will simply work through in order of these, which means I start with J-7.  This is the MB1321 '94 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV.  Another thing I don't think I showed when I worked through batch A was how the boxes work.  One side is in English, and shows models sporting their opening feature.

The other side is in Japanese, and features the models in their closed positions.  

Now, technically, this is actually just a repeat of the Moving Parts number 12 of 2022, which arrived in batch G.  But, I haven't got the batch yet.  I live in the UK and we don't sell them.  I mean, we get older ones pop up occasionally, and there is a possibility that batch G of 2022 could appear in 2024 or 2025, but I am not prepared to wait that long.  I will get the batch shortly, as I am still to finish off a lot of Moving Parts models from 2022. Furthermore, I still have batches E and F to showcase too.  Yeah, I am way behind.  

The casting itself looks fantastic, and I think has captured the shape of the real vehicle extremely well.  The rear spoiler is a plastic attachment clicked into place (I guess likely riveted in).  It is probably a good thing, as it helps to ensure the shape of this spoiler is captured well, and when you look at real ones, many look like they were added on afterwards too.  

The front end has been captured extremely well.  I love the tampo detailing to the engine.  Especially how you can clearly see the Mitsubishi writing on there.  Amazing work by the team.  

Although, when you close the engine hood/bonnet, I do wonder if this hasn't had a good paint job.  It almost looks zamac compared to the rest of the body.  This may just be mine.  I will wait to see the batch G model to make sure.  

The rear has all the detailing for the name badges.  But being silver on a silver car, they don't really come out too well.  You can barely see them.  I know technically it will be wrong, but I do wonder if they should tampo print them in white, just to make it stand out a little more.  The spoiler is a little light, but again, being metal vs plastic, it is not always easy to colour match.  

This is a good casting overall. It is also quite a large casting as well.  Definitely on the higher end of the size range.  I like it, and I am looking forward to seeing more unique colours. I think the Evo has quite a cool range of colours to choose from.  

Base shot.  Well, this is the norm for a new casting on its first time from me.  You might notice no year date for the model.  I think that is definitely just a packaging thing.  

Now we move on to the MB1146 '92 Datsun 280ZX.  Taking the J-8 slot in the set, this is a carry forward issue of the 2021 Moving Parts release.  

I take photos of both sides of the boxes again because, well, I started a routine with this blog, and I like to stay consistent.  

So we will all have seen this model before.  Brown with a dual brown over the top print.  

Plus a rear print detail too.  I do usually enjoy a carry forward, but this was a little underwhelming for me.  Why?  Let me explain.

This is the 2021 Moving Parts release.  The same brown in general, but of course it is always good to compare side by side.

Well, what do you know.  The new release is a noticeably darker brown.  But I was expecting that.  This is because the model has already been carried forward once.  In 2022, Matchbox have started a little "mainly" online deal to sell some multipacks.  You may be able to get these from a few dealers.  I showcased a couple of basics 12-packs a while ago on the blog, but alongside those, they have also done some other packs.  There is a Working Rigs 4-pack, a Skybusters 4-pack and a pair of Moving Parts 6-packs.  None were named, and the first 2 are simply known by what they are.  The Moving Parts are just being referred to as the Sports Car set and the Truck set. This is because that is roughly what is in them.  The Sports Car set had this too.  

This is the 2022 Sports Car set model, up front in this picture.  

Okay, admittedly, the new run is actually even darker than that was.  I had noticed it was darker than the 2021 run.  So I have ended up with 3 of this one.  But, this casting debuted in 2019 and was used in 2020, both in the Moving Parts series.  Both could have easily been carried forward too.  They had a choice of 3 to pull out again, and simply used the same one both times within months of each other.  Personally, yes, I have now 3 examples.  But for many, seeing the same version turn up multiple times and other versions being ignored is a little disappointing.  I really feel that they would have been better doing either the black or blue one in either of these sets as a carry forward, just to add more variety.  

Now I move on to the MB1269 Nissan Z Proto.  Ooh, this is nice.  

It takes the J-9 slot in the set, and is the first all-new design for it.  

And it is a stunner!  I really like the blue.  Such a lovely look for it.  And I am amazed at all the detailing it is still sporting as well.  

Because this received front, rear, and roof printing.  I am trying to work out how they manipulated the "Z" logo on the side, too.  I can't imagine a 5-pass through the tampo machine for this, but to get this end look, I do believe they have been extremely clever in their positioning of the model to achieve it.  

This is the second time that a Japan series model has appeared as a core range issue, and I have thought to myself "hmm, this is better than the premium".  The other was the Nissan GT-R in the last batch.  That red was so cool compared to the white.  But this is outdoing a Mattel Creations look.

That's next level.  Both of these are sporting the same tampo detailing, with the only major difference being the wheels used on the Mattel Creations issue in gold.

Don't get me wrong.  I like the Mattel Creations release.  But I love the core range release.  Sometimes less is more.  That's a saying.  

Even the window being a lighter smoke makes it look better too.  As I said, I am more than happy getting that Mattel Creations release, but this blue one has put an even bigger smile on my face.  I wonder what the next one will look like?

Another new look for this set.  The MB1252 '63 Honda T-360 in dark green.  

I love this little casting.  Out of the whole set, this was the one that caught my attention first, and the one I was most anticipating.  

And it is not disappointing!  I love it!  This dark green looks so good, and the detailing is exactly the same as the light blue debut from 2021.  

With the large white H being a different pass through the machine to the rest of the front end.  The front opens to unveil the spare wheel inside and the fact the lights are not a part of the bonnet/hood.  

With the rear also receiving a nice simple print too.  

Which I really like, as I do enjoy consistency.  The light blue has the same printing as the new dark green one does.  

And as I came this far, I may as well show the rest of this one again.  

The original light blue was carried forward to the first batch of this series.  But, if you remember, this did come out in a darker shade.  

And we did see a Collectors release in batch A too.  This was in yellow with a more detailed design all over the model.  

So this is officially the third release of this casting.  

But is the fourth time it has been produced.  

This, just like the Mitsubishi at the start, is actually just a repeat of the Moving Parts issue that debuted this year.  

Taking the J-11 slot is the MB1323 '75 Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste.  Yes, 2 Mitsubishi classics, both debuting in the 2022 Moving Parts series, and both simply being duplicated for this series.  But I have to say, at this time, there aren't an awful lot of Japanese castings in then Moving Parts toolbank to create a set.  Both the Datsun and Honda were also in batch A.  We didn't see a Subaru BRAT or Nissan Xterra, but those were specifically built by these companies for sale in the USA, and I don't think either were actually sold in Japan.  So, unfortunately, with little to pull from, we have a few duplicates.  At least 3 more Moving Part castings will arrive in 2023 (A Mazda RX7, Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser and Lexus LFA confirmed so far, there may be more).  This does mean the toolbank is slowly swelling with Japanese vehicles.  

So this is simply a duplicate of the Batch E Moving Parts release in yellow.  But, again, I have yet to showcase batch E, so this is the first time I am previewing it.  

And I have to say, WOW!  When this was announced for 2022, it was in my "meh" pile.  I wasn't overly fussed about a 1975 Lancer.  I admit it.  But now I have it, I am blown away.  Now I can clearly see why they chose to do it.  This thing is gorgeous!  The Celeste is the coupe version of the vehicle. The first generation of Lancer had arrived in 1973 as either a saloon/sedan or as a wagon/van.  The Celeste coupe was not introduced until 1975.  In Australia, it was sold as a Chrysler, and in the USA as a Dodge Colt or Plymouth Arrow.  Canada combined the 2 by calling it a Dodge Arrow.  But this is the original Japanese look, so gets the original Japanese name.  And it looks stunning.  I love the yellow, and the simple little pin stripe going down the sides.  Plus, front and rear printing too.  

Again, the engine compartment is sporting a detailed print too.  A lot of detailing attached to this casting.  They have done a phenomenal job with it.  

So now I actually have this in hand, my opinion of it has shot up.  I am really looking forward to getting many more of these in the future.  

Because this casting is definitely one of my highlights of 2022.  If you saw my Top 10 list of the year, you would have seen it already at number 7.  It surprised me so much.  And that is another of the really aspects of this hobby, getting a big surprise like this.  

Before I finish, I would like to point out something else too.  This is another of those fun castings that Matchbox is throwing out for us to chase down.  Yes, they created a LHD and RHD drive variant.

It is just a single interior piece that runs through the model.  For a little added fun, they changed the rear parcel shelf area between the 2 moulds, too.  One has a smooth bed, the other a rippled bed.  It is just a single interior piece.  You are just viewing the 2 options from 2 ends.  Before anybody thinks that we have 4 variations of this one.  

Ooh, base.  Oh look, this one does specify this Mitsubishi as a 1975.  Not like the Evo IV!  

Which brings us to the last model in this batch.  The J-12 MB1162 '04 Honda S2000.  

Yes, this too was a part of batch A.  This means that 3 of the 6 castings in each batch were the same castings.  Each one got a carry forward and a new look.  As this was a carry forward in batch A, it gets a new look for batch B.

And, if you hadn't already guessed from the box, it's green.  Unlike the dark green of the Honda, this is more of a metallic lime green look.  And official choice for the real Honda.  

The model sports a simple front and rear tampo print, as is the norm with all previous issues.  And I think this is another home run with this.  I am sure Ryu Asada would be very proud of how his little casting is being looked after.  

And again, just like with the Evo IV, the engine detail is second to none.  The V TEC detailing and Honda badge just set this apart in terms of realism.  I do wish more models were made like this, with front lights being formed from the window section.  This is a great way to finish off this set.  But, before I move on to the other one, I think it deserves a dive back, just to show how this has been so consistent across both Moving Parts and premium runs.  

Because this model debuted as a Superfast release in 2019. Ergo, a premium look.  This was in yellow, and aside from the same tampo print we saw on the new one, it did get a small touch of side printing on top.  

Although, a small 65th Anniversary logo that was adorning all the Superfast models that year did disappear during production of this one.  All the others in the set kept it for their entire run.  Just this Honda dropped it.  

The model was not seen in 2020, but returned in 2021 as a Moving Parts release in white.  

We also got a Collectors series release on top.  This was in red, and again was simply sporting the front and rear detailing.  No side detailing at all.  

And as I pointed out, earlier in this series, the 2021 Moving Parts release returned for another run.  However, that was a duller white look compared to the bright white of the 2021 run.

Which means, this is actually the only new 2022 look for the casting, and only its fourth different look in the 4 years it has been around.  

Although, if you are anything like me, you have either 5 or 6 of them.  

And with that, I am done with this batch.  But, I am doubling up.  So what was the most logical item to double up with?  

Why the Japan Origins batch B assortment of course.  In the USA, these are a Walmart exclusive, but in other markets, people can find them in a variety of other stores.  

Again, I will simply work through in number order.  So, I start at number 7 of 12, with the return of the MB1090 '17 Honda Civic in red.  

This is a carry forward of a 2019 basic range issue, and again comes in a fairly dark red.  

The Honda Civic has always seen a simple front and rear print across every release.  So we know what to expect here, and it looks extremely realistic.  But how does it stack up compared to the original 2019 run?  For that, I think I need a little dive back.

2019 was not the debut.  It actually arrived in 2018 in blue, which I remember seeing a lot of this MB7 in the USA on my trip over in 2019.  It was a bit of a pegwarmer at the time.  I think it was just the colour though.  I have not noticed later issues hanging around in the same way.  

Now we move on to the 2019 MB8.  The tampo appears to be pretty much identical, and the window tint is almost the exact shade.  

I did say it was a fairly dark red, didn't I.  Quite a lot darker than it was back in 2019.  

Is it me, or does the word "Civic" on the rear licence plate look wider on the new run? It definitely feels that way.  

In 2020, it was not a part of the basic range, but did feature in the City Adventure 5-pack.  It came in a metallic black, but I noticed that the metal flake varied quite a bit.  

In 2021, it returned to the basic range for an outing in white as MB98.  

It also saw a 5-pack release as well.  This blue one was in the MBX City Drivers pack, and I noticed the shade of blue was really good for shades too.  

2022 has not seen any new issue.  This was not the only carry forward, though.  It was also a part of the MBX Japan Tourers 5-pack, and this simply re-ran the 2021 version.  Which means that in this case, for 2022, we had 2 different carry forwards, and both have used a different previous look to run again.  To me, this is a much better option.  Don't just keep bringing the same one back up again.  Mix them up.  BTW this was a more creamy looking paint than 2021, and the rear licence plate was a lighter shade.

Number 8 in the set is a brand-new look for the MB1041 '62 Nissan Junior.  This time it appears in a plain orange scheme.  

I do like the simple looks.  Front detailing.  

Rear detailing.  That's all this one got.  That's all it needed.  I like the plain ones.  I know when it comes to pickup trucks, we do get a number of side designs on them.  But I like the odd plain looks mixed in as well. This is the first in a while.

And if you look carefully, you might find a shade or 2.  I live in the UK, we don't get these, and I still managed to find a shade. I am relentless!  

Well, this casting is pretty good for variations.  The 2017 MB7 debut in a lovely simple blue, this had a variation.  Only this time, it was the interior that was throwing up shades.  You can see clearly, as it also forms the rear bed of the casting, just how much the tan varied between production runs.  

The 2018 MB18was also good for a variation.  Another plain release, and until now, the last plain look, and it sported disk wheels for the majority of production, but a run was made with 6-spkes.  

2019 was, to date, its last outing in the basic range.  It was also the debut of the side design releases.  It came as a Sriracha themed model, joining an earlier Food Truck.  I did notice that MB89 that year was also good for variations.  This time it was the good old-fashioned shade.  

In 2020, after moving out of the basic range, we saw this DLM themed release in the 2020 MBX Wild II 5-pack.  

In 2021, it was a part of the MBX Road Crew 5-pack in white, featuring the recurring Ranec theme.  

And was also chosen to be a Walmart exclusive that year too.  It lives on in Walmarts!  I was a part of the second batch of the Truck series that year. This is the next official outing for the model.

Although we have seen it 2 other times as well.  It was a carry forward to the same MBX Japan Tourers 5-pack that the white Honda appeared in, and was also carried forward to a 2022 Convoy release.  

Another carry forward in the way of the MB1012 Mazda MX5/Miata in the number 9 slot.  

It was originally the 2016 basic range release in red.  So, again, this is another we have seen before, but comes in a very nice look with simple front and rear printing.  

So how does it compare to how it was 6 years prior?  I guess I need to pull out the original for a side by side comparison.

This is the original 2016 MB3 release.  At first glance, it does look the same.  But with 6 years between them, I was sure there would be some sort of change.  

This time, the shade of red is the same.  The differences are elsewhere.  The window is a lighter tint that it was back in 2016.  the fog lights are also shaped a little differently.  

At the rear, you notice that the lower lights are a different size. The main lights are also a little less colourful.  

The base has also been re-written.  There is a reason for that.  The casting had a very minor retool done to it.  

Almost missable, this casting had the body section altered slightly to move the placement of the front rivet.  As it does not affect the window or interior, they never changed. And for the body itself, this is all inside, so again you would not notice it.  But, because the base had to be rebuilt to accommodate the new placement of the front hole, they re-wrote the details at the same time. My theory is that the rivet was too close to the front axle, and was slowing production while they were fiddling about making sure not to whack it whenever they were building them.  Just a small movement like that cane make things much easier for fast production.  

The number 10 slot in the set is the 2021 MB3 release of the MB1229 '94 Lexus LS400 repeated.  It was actually only released in batch B of 2022, running a little late, so has a short time between production runs.  Especially as it appeared in batch E of the 2022 9-packs as well.  So we saw a lot of it.  Plus, for some bizarre reason, they threw it back out in the last batch of the 2022 basic range too.  All the while, we are still waiting on the black 2022 release.  I have a feeling that is not coming now.  I checked and cannot see any difference between it and any I have already.  So I move on.

With another new one.  This is so cool.  The MB611 Nissan Z is getting a new lease of life since they tidied up the tool recently. It appears as number 11 in the set in a lovely black Police theme.  

This is definitely a highlight of the batch.  I mentioned how the Nissan Junior was superb, as it was a simple front and rear tampo design.  Well, the opposite does ring true too.  You come out with a really cool side design, and it works.  It just works!  

Especially as this is now turning in to a bit of a recurring theme.  I love it!

For those trying to remember, this is what was in batch A of Japan Origins earlier in 2022.  Yes, the MB945 Subaru Impreza Police sported the same design.  

Which, you may also remember, was actually originally added to the MB1049 '15 Subaru WRX STi Police back in 2018 as MB67.  What exactly is happening with that casting?  That was the second of only 3 appearances it has ever made.  

So we are now up to 3 appearances for this Japanese inspired police livery.  

I hope we get to see it on another model (or 2, or 3 etc) in the future.  I think this is a cool theme, and deserves to continue.  

Which brings us to the last model.  A repeat of the 2021 basic range release of the MB1240 '84 Toyota MR2 in white.  The 2021 MB14 came in 4 different configurations.  Lights up, lights down, LHD and RHD.  I looked.  There is no difference between this and that 2021 release.  Phew!  I didn't have to panic and try to obtain all the other 3 alternates again.  

Which brings me to the end of that set too.  Featuring 2 brand-new looks, 2 carry forwards with variations, and 2 dead-on repeats.  Which means I am done.  Except, not quite.  I am going to throw in a little dive back into my collection just to finish off as well.

And as this is all-Japanese, I have to keep the momentum going.  And what better way to start than with the original Japanese exclusives.  Back in 1977, Lesney were trying to diversify a little, and set up a deal with Japan to sell some exclusive models just for that market.  For the first 2 years, these were simply older castings brought back for additional runs.  But with a view to saving some money, they set up a deal with a Japanese subcontractor to create a set of 4 exclusive Japanese castings.  R&D and production would take place in Japan, but all the rights would still be owned by Lesney.  They started appearing in late 1978.  This was the J-21 Toyota Celica XX. It was a brand-new vehicle that Toyota had just launched in 1978 for the Japanese market, and the Japanese company set about making a model of it.   Toyota rolled the model out of Japan in 1979 and called it Supra for export markets.  But, with this being sold exclusively in Japan, they went with the Celica XX name.  It debuted in late 1978 in cream.  

It had Japan as the country of origin, and Lesney KK on the base, which was the name of the subcontracted company that Lesney had set up there.  

It also featured opening doors.  It ran into 1979 and switched to red later on.

I also spotted a nice shade to the cream on the model.  

Sadly, this was where things went south very fast.  Lesney did not get samples of the 4 models until 1979, and were not happy with the end result.  I did not think these were too bad, except for the wheels, which were quite poor.  But the models themselves, I always thought they were quite nice.  But Lesney did not.  They cancelled the contract, and with it, the entire Japanese exclusive market models.  Back at the factory in England, they had started production on some that were going to appear in variations not seen yet, and as such, created some MP-1 multipacks and dumped them in those and sold them off (mainly in the UK). The castings were still the property of Lesney, so they retrieved them, and sent them to a new subcontracted company in Hong Kong. They were tasked with doing what they could.  

Which, to be honest, wasn't a lot.  A small tidy up of a few details on the castings, and a change to the base, was about as far as this got.  There really wasn't an awful lot they could do.  The Hong Kong factory ran this in red again, and sold it in Australia as MB77 in 1980, but also as a part of a Speedsticks 4-pack in the USA.  

The Speedsticks pack contained a sheet of stickers for you to apply to the 4 models inside.  This is how the card art was showing the Toyota to be.  

The only change they made to the base was to knock off J-21, and changed the country of origin to Hong Kong.  

The USA also saw another limited edition model, as a part of a series of 10.  In 1978 they had run a Roman Numeral set of 10 models exclusively in the USA, and for 1980 they did another set.  Only this time they didn't bother with any name changes or Roman Numeral figures.  6 of the models were made in England, the other 4 in Hong Kong.  When they saw how much shipping was from Hong Kong to the USA, they hit on an idea.  

They were struggling financially, and in 1981, came up with a brand split.  Some models would be sold in the ROW market only, and others in the US market only.  Hong Kong were given more time to work on these castings, and Lesney started to send over additional tooling for some vehicles that were now going to be sold in the US market only.  Many older castings that had been dropped from the ROW range were now US exclusives, but were produced at this subcontracted factory in Hong Kong.  This also meant that additional parts were also sent, including wheels.  So the Toyota Celica was being added exclusively in the US range as MB25.  But Celica XX?  That doesn't sound good.  Not for the US market.  So they changed it to Celica GT.  They didn't know it was known as Supra in the US.  Of course, production began before all the parts were there.  So early MB25s still had the old interior and wheels from the 1980s.  

When the wheels arrived, they started switching out to ones that looked a lot more like the ones we were used to.  They also used up the ivory interior and Celica XX bases, and switched to a new blue interior and Celica GT base.  

The base was switched before interiors were.  I am not worrying over that.  You may just about read that it now states Lesney Products & Co Ltd.  The official Lesney details.  It was also re-copyrighted in 1979 after the initial Lesney KK 1978 copyright.  You might also find maltese cross wheels on this, as they were dabbling with the new wheels they had received from England.  

Later on in the year, they decided to stop adding black tampo down the sides of the model. It was just easier that way.

For 1982, Lesney were hoping to get a brand new Toyota Supra casting up and running.  But time was not on their side.  Issues with the casting were forcing it to get later and later into the year, and was stopped when they went bust.  But in 1982, they started the MAN number system that is still in use now.  After assigning the first 75 slots to the ROW range, they gave 3 brand-new castings they hoped would replace 3 of the 4 Japanese ones (the MB001 Dodge Challenger was just modified and was off straight away) were assigned the nest 3 slots.  After that, anything that was a US exclusive would be assigned the next batch of slots.  The Celica, still in the US range, would be assigned MB092.  They turned it yellow, but also decided to jack up the rear too.  

This did warrant a change to the casting.  As such, they did re-copyright it again in 1981. So the casting was copyrighted 3 times in total.  

It ran just the one year.  The Toyota Supra was good to go in 1983, and the Japanese castings (now made in Hong Kong) were all dropped for 1983.  I did find a small shade to the yellow on this one.  

My other dive back this week is the MB167 Nissan 300ZX Turbo.  I don't know what it was about Japanese models, but Matchbox were not good at giving these much of an outing.  The Nissan 300ZX Turbo was, in effect, a 4th run at a Z-series model.  The longest run was the first.  The Datsun 260Z 2+2.  It debuted in 1978 and ran until 1982.  Lesney KK had attempted a newer Fairlady Z in 1979, which also ran until 1982.  By then, Matchbox had created their own Datsun 280ZX casting, launching it in 1983.  But that only ran 3 years.  Why?  Well, Nissan had replaced it with the 300ZX.  In fact, the Z31 had launched in Japan in late 1983 as a 1984 model, so Matchbox decided their new 280ZX was already dated, and set about designing the new one.  It arrived in 1986 as MB24.  It literally just switched out the number with the older casting.  

Unlike all 3 of the Datsun, all sporting opening doors, this had an opening bonnet/hood.  

The debut year was in silver, with black and gold detailing.  Most came with concave 8-sot wheels, but some were found with 5-arch wheels instead.

For 1987, they decided to give it a rally makeover.  This was a Universal trait.  Take a car, any car, slap a rally design on it and throw it in the range.  I don't know why.  I guess somebody there was really into rallying.  This white with a green and red Fuji design ran for 2 years.  During production, you might find small shades to the tampo, and even the white paint itself.  After 1988, this was also dropped from the basic range.  They really weren't all that happy with the Z-series models.  Production in the basic range was getting shorter and shorter.  Luckily, when Tyco took over, they nixed that idea.  

Outside of the basic range, 1986 had seen the launch of Superfast in the US market.  Most models appeared in 1986, but the last few arrived in 1987, with SF-21 arriving in 1987.  It ran until 1990 unchanged.  

1987 had also seen a spin-off of Superfast launched worldwide.  Most models were turned metallic, and the wheels were switched from starburst into laser wheels.  The series was appropriately called Laser Wheels.  SF-20 had been skipped, but for Laser Wheels, they just shifted all the models up 1 slot, so SF-21 became LW-20.  

This Laser Wheels version saw a production run where they accidentally painted the base a very dark green instead of black.  Superfast did not get this treatment.  

These are quite noticeable around the sides, as the base does come up a little.  Both Superfast and Laser Wheels lasted longer than the basic range.  The basic ran 3 years, but these lasted 4, from 1987 through 1990.  

Apart from those major issues, the casting also saw 2 promotional issues.  In 1987, it was sold in The Netherlands through a BP promotion.  It came in white with a BP Racing Team livery.  

And in 1988, a Hong Kong promotion was created, utilizing vehicles featuring each of the 12 animals that formed the Chinese Zodiac.  The Nissan was number 4, Monkey. Apart from those 2, this was it for the casting.  It really did not get a big shelf life.  Which was a real shame.  I always like this one.  

I mean, we know that Nissan does do a little better with longevity now.  I mean, the Z has been going since 2004!  The Junior since 2017, the 280ZX since 2019, and I am thinking the Z Proto might not be a flash in the pan.  

Honda are doing a lot better, considering we never even saw a 4-wheeled Honda until Mattel took the reins.  

And did you know that Mitsubishi was almost doubled by Matchbox in 2022?  3 new castings, taking us to 8 in total.

Both Mazda and Toyota have been fairly well represented, but Lexus is now on casting number 2.  

But I am done now for another week.  3 vehicles that I didn't actually keep.

4 that I did keep for shades, although the Evo IV may not last, depending on how the Moving Parts standard run looks next to. it.

And of course, the 5 newbies, exclusive to the batches.  The ones that, for many, are the most important.  Next week, I plan on doing another double up.  But it is 2 small batches, so not as much.  You will see when it gets here.  Until then, I hope you all have a lovely week.