Matchbox Monday keeps up with basics by starting batch K

I move into the final quarter of Matchbox 2025 now. This means 3 batches of basics, 2 batches of Moving Parts, 1 of Collectors, 1 Working Rigs and 1 Walmart exclusive are still to come. Each of the basics are split into 2, plus there is a special Mattel 80th Anniversary set on my future blog list. By my calculations, I will be finishing 2025 off at the beginning of February. Yes, I know I am a little behind when they are actually released, but I do have to wait for them to arrive, and then get them home, photograph and write things up. I don't have an inside line to have things in hand before they are out in stores (or in a lot of cases, Wheel Collectors for me). So, yes, I will rarely be talking about items as they arrive. The only exceptions tend to be convention models. So, as 2026 items are starting to appear, I am beginning my trawl through the last quarter of 2025. And with that, let's begin.

With the MB1444 '64 Jeep Wagoneer. It was 1 of 2 Wagoneer castings that debuted last year, and both are back for year 2. The other was in the last batch. This appears in tan as MB2 for 2025.

Abe Lugo was the mastermind behind this creation. He does like doing Jeeps. I like that. Well, I should say did, as Abe is sadly no longer with Mattel. His last Jeep creation will be out in early 2026. For now, we get one of his recent castings in its sophomore run. At the time of this casting, the company was known as Kaiser-Jeep, and this particular colour was known as Amber Poly. It is a real Jeep option in 1964. And it looks great. They did the real vehicle justice. Don't believe me?

That's the real one. It has the same interior as well. Sure, the one thing that they could have done, which is a little sad, it chroming the base, which would have given us the lovely chrome bumpers as well. But I do know that they are limited with the amount of chrome bases they can do in the basic range. They are only allowed to do so many as they are not cheap. So we are not going to get every model we want with a chrome base getting one. It is a shame, and when they got this close, it is a shame that it was not chosen this year. 

That is the only thing I can find remotely bad about this one. It is a realistic look on a very real model. I know that rear rivet running down just inside the rear window is off-putting. A victim of their 'drop' construction method in the factory. Although, I do wonder if a model like this could have had the rear rivet formed from the inside of the tailgate? Build it inwards, and create a rivet from that? But, would that hold up to the stress test? I don't know the answer to that. But, with the lack of a chrome base this time on the model, I am going to knock a point off. 9 out of 10. 

Especially as last year's debut in white did get the chrome base section. I think the grey base looks a little bland against the tan metallic paint. Chrome would have been much better.

I am not saying I expect every release to have a chrome base. Some colours will blend better with grey bases. And there will be times when I am happy enough without the chrome. I do prefer this having a light tint window rather than the blue ones the debut had. Swings and roundabouts. Let's see what the next one will look like.

I thought I would point out that Wheel Collectors did send me both large blistercards and power grab models for batch K. And I thought I would open the power grab box on this brand new MB1496 '95 BMW 318ti that Abe Lugo created for the 2025 range. It debuts in red in the MB5 slot.

I am not expecting much, to be honest. Both do have the same batch date. U24. That means that both were made in the 24th week of 2025. Mid June. However, one could be Monday, the other could be Saturday. That could be long enough to give a shade.

It wasn't. But, I tried. I have not seen a shade to this at all. Anyway, the BMW 318ti. Exactly what is it? Well, back in 1990, BMW released the 3rd generation of the 3-series model, codenamed E36. Originally created as either a 4-door saloon/sedan or 2-door coupe, in 1993, they added a cabriolet variant and in 1994 a wagon. However, also in 1994, they added a hatchback. But, this was on a shortened floorplan. It is around 20cm or 8" shorter than a regular E36, and is often dubbed the E36/5, but is more commonly simply called the 3-series Compact. The front half up to the A-pillar are identical to the regular E36, but the back half is totally unique. So, that makes this quite the different model to include. Kudos for thinking up this one.

The Matchbox model states it is the 318ti. As we know, the 3-series sees the next 2 number equate to the engine size. It has a 1.8 litre engine inside. The 'ti' moniker at the end was how it was sold in the US market. It stands for turismo internazionale. It is actually Italian, translating to international touring in English, but BMW did like to use it on their sporty models. Now, why is this marked down as a 1995 BMW, not a 1994 BMW? Do you notice what is on the roof? Yes, a sunroof. I think Abe did his homework here. The sunroof was not available at launch. It only started appearing on 1995 models. Well done on a very small, but very clever little feature. 

And it has been put together extremely smoothly. The sunroof aligns with the metal body section in the roof perfectly. That is tremendous work, right there. 

When it comes to the rear, we do see the license plate has E36CMPCT on it. A nod to what this model is known as. And that tampo printing is exactly what I would expect to see there. I love the way the rear window wiper is cast as well. 

The front sees headlights, grille and badge depicted. Yep, nothing else is required. This is beautiful. 

The colour for the model is known as Brilliant Red. Hellrot in German. It was a known variant beginning in the mid-1990s. So, it fits perfectly. Yes, this is one of the biggest highlights of the basic range year. 

I can see or think of nothing that could have improved this. So, scoring is easy. Inclusion. A big fat 10. This is a quite unique model, and I love that they have added it. Casting. Again, a 10. Abe has absolutely nailed this. I can't see any way he could have done it any better. Design. Err, 10. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. This really looks the part. How's that for a fabulous 30 out of 30. This is a contender for new casting of the year methinks. 

And being a new casting, it does receive the obligatory base shot to finish. 

Next up we get the MB1346 '24 Fiat Topolino. This model takes the MB25 slot for 2025 and appears in a dark green shade.

Okay, both blister and power grab are from the same week, but I am seeing a small shade between them. See, it does happen. 

This does appear to be quite a dull looking model when sitting in a package. A dull green blog with a dark smoke upper half. I don't know if others are getting similar visions, but where I am, this is a bit of a pegwarmer. I don't recall the debut being such a warmer. I do wonder if the dull matte green effect is making it a little bland. The front and rear detail is all there, and it cannot be faulted for that, but I think small vehicles like this need a littler brighter colours to them. The real one is only available in 1 colour. Verde Vita, or mint green as it appears. They should have gone with something bright. Orange, yellow, lilac. You know, something eye-catching as a second outing. Not a dull matte dark green. So, for this, I am going to score low. I am giving it a 3 out of 10. Harsh, I know. But, a funky little vehicle like this needs bright, jazzy looks. They could even match the wheel rims to the body colour as well. Jazz.... it.... up!

Last year's model, being much brighter, just looks better. I did spot a small shade to that as well. 

I'm not saying get rid of the model. I am just saying make it bright and funky. These small vehicles are always cooler when they look funky. Yellow, orange, pink, purple, etc.

Okay, now I am really going to get a little crazy. So, Wheel Collectors have large blisters and power grabs for batch K. Well, where I am in the UK, we get short blisters. Yes, there are 3 different packaging styles for models in the basic range. No other range has this, just basics. And, what does that mean? Well, I went a little nuts with the MB1435 '23 Toyota GR Supra. 

It takes the MB43 slot in the 2025 range in yellow. But, what yellow? Light, medium, dark? Yes, I am crazy, but this model is coming in a variety of hues. I love it. Toyota has a yellow called Lightning Yellow. It's one of those! Ha ha! I am a sucker for finding shades, and that has made this a lot more fun for me. Coupled with the regular front and rear tampo prints, this model is great fun. Even the dark windows seem to work this time. 

I am definitely giving this a 10. I hear that Toyota are stopping production of the real vehicle very soon. It didn't last long, did it? Still, they are planning another Supra in the near future. I hope Matchbox makes a model of that one. 

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing more basics with shade variations. Ha ha! Last year's white also saw shades.

As 2 years in the basic range is not long enough for this one. 

Hmm! I am seeing a lot of these on my travels. The MB856 MBX Load Lifter, which takes the MB48 slot in the basic range. 

I honestly don't know why they decided to bring this one back to the basic range. It debuted back in 2012, and has seen sporadic basic range outings since, and each one tends to be a pegwarmer. Even in really cool recurring themes. I do enjoy a recurring theme. CarGo Couriers has been around for a long time. It only sees sporadic outings itself. And the white, blue and yellow look is one of the more common colour combinations. I see the logic behind it. After all, cargo may come in large boxes that need a forklift to remove them. Yes, it works. 

And the casting does feature a moving part in the basic range. Sadly, it just doesn't seem to gel with kids. These are being left behind. I have never been a fan of this casting being in the basic range. Sure, multipack use works. Put it in a 5-pack with other similarly themed models, and it will not slow sales. But, on its own. No. It shouldn't be left alone. Because the pegs will find it there alone as well. So, top marks for a lovely design, but overall, I am scoring this a 2. They really should not have this as a single. 

Now, me, personally, I do collect everything, so I have them all. So, let's do a dive. As I mentioned, it debuted in 2012. It was green in the basic range that year. I do remember it being a peg warmer that year. [Shudder].

2013 saw the first of 4 outings for this yellow look. This was also in the basic range. It returned unchanged in the 2018 basic range, and again as part of the 2020 Convoy series, which in turn was repeated in 2023. You might find fractional shades between releases. 

The 2014 basic range release was another one in a recurring theme. This was also a white model, but featured the Ranec look.

2015 was also a recurring themed model. The blue INC model was part of the Construction Zone 5-pack that year. However, this was when Power Grabs were just starting, and they were not simply basic range models, with this appearing as one of them.

2016 also saw a Construction Zone 5-pack, and this was again a part of it. It was dark charcoal with a Toybox Construction theme.

With 2017 seeing it in the City Service 5-pack in orangey yellow.

As I mentioned, 2018 saw it return to the basic range in the same look as 2013. For 2019, it was still there, but was now in red. 

And while the 2013 model was seeing new runs in Convoy, the 2020 basic range saw another look, this time in blue.

Apart from the 2013 Convoy carry forward seeing the 2013 model yet again, we did not get a new look until last year, when it returned to the basic range in the new recurring Matchbox Construction design. 

So, in total, this model has seen 10 unique looks. It does feel like more. Maybe because they hang around so much. Ha ha! Seriously, stop putting this one in the basic range. Multipack use is fine, but singles are not good for it.

Can I do an impression of The Rock? Back from his WWE days, when he would start his promos with.... Finally.... If you are not familiar, check You Tube. There are likely thousands of them there. But, anyway, 'Finally, the UPS license has appeared on this Express Delivery Truck'. The MB813 Express Delivery is in brown as MB68.

I would like to think that Ryu Asada is smiling down from heaven with this release. He created the Express Delivery back in 2009 when he was a part of the Matchbox team, and it debuted under the MB787 MAN number in the 2010 basic range. As soon as we saw the initial casting, everybody was saying this needs a UPS look. It is the UPS truck. Ryu knew it. We all knew it. But, it has taken 15 long years for them to finally do it. Hallelujah! Has it been worth the wait? Definitely. 

They even managed to get the rear tampo printed. This has been the look that this casting has been needing since day 1. And, you know what? I have only seen odd ones for sale in the UK. And that is because I have managed to hit a few stores just after a restock. Because this one sold fast. I don't know if other countries are seeing similar scenarios, but where I am, this is a huge deal. The UPS Truck is finally here. Ryu, I hope you are happy up there. We finally got it! A perfect 10 out of 10. 

So, let's rewind to show them all. Back in 2010, the casting was created with a metal body and plastic base. I remember Ryu telling me at the time that he had to include a window in the roof to keep the weight under the limit. It arrived in white, and was also given a green outing in the First Editions 10-pack at the end of the year. 

However, it didn't last. The bean counters decided it was still too heavy, so the metal body and plastic base sections were reversed in 2011. From hereon, it was changed from MB787 to MB813. And the basic range model was in blue. It was also used in a Police 5-pack in black. 

In 2012, they gave it a food theme for the basic range outing, as they realized that there was no food truck available. This inspired them to actually create a food truck for 2013.

But, that was not all for 2012. It had a busy year. Two different 5-packs. Airport Ground Crew and Batman. I will leave you to guess which was which.

And it was also a part of a Mission Force Space Crew Set in orange, with opening rear and black base. Important notes.

2013 saw just the 2 looks. Again a basic, this time in orange, and a white model in the Mission Force Airport Crew set. 

In 2014, it was not in the basic range, but was found in blue in the City Works 5-pack. It underwent a running change during production as early examples came out with white writing, which wasn't really standing out against a grey background. So it was switched to red for later runs. It also saw yet another Mission Force outing, this time in the Space set.

With 2015 seeing it in the EMT 5-pack in red.

2016 saw it pop back up in the basic range. This black release saw the wheels having gold in the middle on some, and only a ring on others. 

It took a couple of years off after that, before returning in 2019 in the basic range in another really cool look. NASA! 

2020 saw them attempt to relaunch Mission Force. It only ran the 1 year, possibly down to nothing really being new. But, the Lunar Team set did see this from the 2013 series, but now with an unpainted base. 

2021 saw it return to the basic range in blue. However, at this point, it saw another retool. The MB813 number was retained, but the opening rear door was now sealed. 

It also had 2 other blue outings. It was part of a special Thank You Heroes set that came out at the start of the year, although people had registered interest in mid-2020. It was also part of the Target Retro series. 

2022 saw another blue basic. This was in the recurring CarGo theme, that the Load Lifter in this batch is in. 

And in 2023, it was given a FedEx livery in both the basic range, and as part of a FedEx playset. Early examples had the logo in slightly irregular colours. 

and, because I told you the 2013 Mission Force model was one to remember, the look made its third outing in 2023, as part of a Convoy set this time. However, you might notice that this is different. The rear no longer opens. So, it went from black base/opening rear, to unpainted base/opening rear to unpainted base/closed rear.

And last year saw the Agave Acres recurring theme in the basic range release.

And this brings me to the last model I am looking at this week. Am I allowed to use Hallelujah? I have already used it once on the UPS Truck. But, now we finally see the MB1340 '41 Dodge V-series Pickup Truck in the basic range. It appears in tan as MB115.

3 years this has finally taken from debuting as a Walmart exclusive in 2022 to finally taking up a slot in the basic range (or any range). I honestly thought they had forgotten about it. Dodge did have this sort of colour in 1941. It was known as Tropical Tan. So, this is period correct, and comes with beautiful front detailing. Now, remember, we usually get a 2-pass rule for basic range models, and if you look closely, you will see that the tampo printed headlights are on the bumper section, which is a different section to the rest of the front. This means that to do this, they have done 2 passes across the front for the 2 sections. 

Which is why the rest of the model is left tampo-free. I understand. I am not going to complain over this. It is what it is. The rear doesn't really need a lot anyway. Sure, we might see a premium release, and that will see a very detailed look. But, for a basic, I am happy enough with this one, and am very happy to finally see one in the basic range. The tan body goes with the beige wheel arches and running boards extremely well. The wheels are simple disc ones. This is beautiful. I am going to score this a 10. Why did it take them 3 long years to do a second version? Mind you, do you remember my fun with the Toyota? Hee hee!

Lighter and darker shade. Yep!

Wait, the Toyota had 3 shades. Okay, 3 shades. 

But, what if I can do a 4th? Yes, this one is even crazier than the Toyota. I have 4 different shades. The yellowish one on the left is actually from a later run as it rolls over into batch L. I get crazier and crazier. 

And that later run from batch L is really significant. It goes from a pinkish hue to a yellowish hue. 

Does it make up for the fact that this is the first release since it debuted back in 2022 as a Walmart exclusive in the Dodge series. No. 

But it helps. I hope we don't have to wait another 3 years for the next one. 

So, I do believe I am done with the first half of batch K. The other half will be finished up in a few weeks. This time I only looked at one new casting. 

As well as 2 Matchbox originals that have been around for many years.

We also saw 2 US classics.

And 2 non-US modern cars.

So, as these "cruise" into the collection, I start mapping out the report for next week. I gave a little hint there. Until next week, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.