Matchbox Monday rallies around another Walmart set

Matchbox has been running a number of Walmart exclusive sets for many years now. We tend to mark these down as Walmart exclusives, even though some other countries do get these in, and at different stores. Without Walmart in the USA requesting them, we might not have them at all.  Talking of, a few years back, the Mattel gang decided to change from the older system of a set of 12 models split into 2 batches, with a few sets a year, into the current scenario of 4 batches or 6. As a rule, these batches will contain a 50/50 split between new and carry forward models. We also get a new casting in one of the batches. Well, as of 2025, the new casting will still pop up, but the batch count is being reduced to 5. However, the good news (I am sure for many) is that what is being removed is one of the carry forwards. I know some do not like them at all. I enjoy them. However, I do not like it when said carry forward is something that is extremely recent. I always go on a 5-year turnaround, as young children phase in and out vaguely on a 5-year basis, so new ones won't know some of the older liveries. Plus, when we have a big gap between production, things are more likely to throw up a variation. As we stand, this is the second to last batch with 3 carry forwards. I wonder how they fare compared to the originals. But first....

New stuff. Yes, it is quite common that the first numbered models in the set are the new ones. Number 1 of 6 here is the MB1078 '16 Chevy Colorado Xtreme.

I am very happy to see a new look to this model. It didn't seem to get much in the way of action, and has not been utilized that much. Still, it is way more than the MB1181 Nissan Titan Warrior. 2 releases in the show colour, with only a wheel change differentiating them. Such a shame as it was a really cool model. Anyway, back to the Chevy. This model is only the third one with a side design (not including Toy Fair). It appears that this is quite a recent change, as early issues were simply front and rear.

I think this is a very intelligent livery. The Colorado Xtreme was a show vehicle, which never officially went into production. However, recently, Chevy have added the ZR2 Bison variant to the Colorado range, which increases the height, adds a few more off-road things, and in a sense, sort of brings it roughly inline with what the Xtreme show vehicle was about. So, yeah, this is a great design. I love the ZR2 logo, and the many Chevy bow-ties. They snuck in a little MBX Rally moniker as well. So, yeah, I am giving this a 10 out of 10 for the look.

As I noted, there was a Toy Fair model. This was how it debuted. It came in September 2017, and was given out to prospective buyers looking at the 2018 range. This was a full-on tampo print, featuring detailing across all sides.

It then made its basic range debut in 2018 in orange, with front and rear detailing. This was such a good model for shades. It varied a lot during production.

It was then in the 2019 range in charcoal, with a similar front/rear tampo that the debut had.

With 2020 being its last basic range outing. This time it was in blue, and it was still sporting that simple front and rear tampo.

In 2021, it saw its first Walmart exclusive outing. The Truck Series that year saw this as one of the carry forwards, and it repeated the debut 2018 look. However, it was orange, and I was still finding further shades. Seriously!

And then, in 2022, we saw our first side design. This was in the MBX Service II Hitch & Haul set, on the back of a trailer. It was not seen in 2023.

Which has sort of been made up with this year's outings. For the first time, the model has seen 2 looks. Both sporting a side design. It was also in the MBX Construction V 5-pack in the recurring theme.  Which means, it has averaged 1 outing per year since debuting. How long will it continue? Who knows.

I hope it continues. I think it still has life in it. We have some cool designs, and I think there is still room for more. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I am always amazed whenever another of this MB878 Jeep 4x4 turns up. After all, this can trace it's history back to the Kenner brand, and an old Gravel Grinder, which debuted there in 1982. When Lesney went bust, Universal were a little worried about lack of new tooling, and after some quick hatchet jobs of old Lesney castings to top up 1983, they turned their attention to the Kenner ones that they owned, and made some hatchet jobs on those, and added them to the 1984 range. The MB131 Jeep 4x4 was one of them.  So, as a Matchbox, it has now just passed the 40-year mark! As a casting, this will be year 43. Wow!  That is quite staggering.

And this one is one of its coolest. Why? I love a recurring theme. And these "Team" ones has been picking up steam lately, only to go quiet again.  I am very happy to see it return.  

And they went with the lesser used green variant, rather than the more common orange. Brilliant. I was quite gutted. I was in the USA last month, and I visited many Walmart stores, and stumbled across a number of these, dated T08, T10 and T12. Yet, I never found a shade!  Green is another colour that works well for the shade nut. Like me! But, I did not luck out this time. Doh! But, that aside, this is an awesome look. I have to give this a 10. I do wonder if this Jeep 4x4 casting has been played to death, but when they come up with a new look like this, I think no, it has more. I am wondering if an orange variant will appear? Talking of "Team", I think I will run down those.

For that, I go back to 2008. The MB723 VW Beetle 4x4 had debuted the year before, and in year 2, the model was given this random orange look in the basic range.

However, as was common at the time, 25 of the models in the basic range would receive a version 2. Sometimes they came with a different look, but quite a few were simply the same design, but in an alternate colour. This one switched to green, with the same design. And that was how it stood.

Until 2020. The MB1058 Sonora Shredder was given this retro design as its last basic range outing.

It was also given a green outing. But, not in the basic range. This was in the 2020 Walmart exclusive Off Road Rally set. Yes, this whole series has been done before. Obviously, with different models, but the Off Road Rally moniker for the packaging is the same as the 2020 series. But, you may notice that the green version was number 7, not number 5.

We also saw a number 6. The MB788 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor was given an orange outing in the Off Road Rally as well.

The MB1183 '68 Dodge D200 Pickup was next to receive the look. This was in a 2021 Off Road Rally 5-pack.

The MB797 Baja Bullet was then given this look for the 2022 MBX Rally II 5-pack. With no new addition in 2023, I am very happy to see us getting another this year.

As you can see, this brings us to 3 of the green, with 5 oranges being seen already. I am happy to see the greens play catch up. However, I do want this Jeep in orange now. Plus, those other orange only ones deserve a green outing. Plus, Desert Thunder V16? '70 Datsun 510 Rally? '85 Porsche 911 Rally? Baja Bandit? Rock Shocker? Sahara Survivor? '97 Land Rover Defender 110? These are all great possible candidates. Plus, 2025 will see some cool new additions that could be given this look and not look out of place. I am really looking forward to seeing more "Team" models.

The third and last new look is the MB1038 '90 VW Golf Country. Another possible candidate for "Team"? I mean, we have an orange one now. It looks great.

This is a new look. I like the real logos on it. Falken, Bilstein. Brilliant. I love that they are now able to put these logos on models again. We used to have many in the 1980s, but they slowly faded away. Again, we have an MBX Rally note on the model itself. Nothing like a little self promotion.

It is a simple, but effective design. I really cannot fault this one either. I love it. So, again, I am scoring this a 10 out of 10.

And, of course, if you are a variation nut like me, you do need to obtain 2 of them.

As this was the first of 3 VW Golf castings created by Mattel that has an interior variation. As I call them, the fuel can or chainsaw interior. So, I had to chase both down.

Dive back. This was a 2017 debut. It came in green. No, wait, it came in teal. Yes, it was a fun start, as the model came out incorrect, and was given a running change after the initial production run.  They also decided to switch the wheels.

For 2018, it turned red in the basic range. But, if you happened to visit a Target store in the USA, you might have found a sapphire version which was celebrating the Matchbox 65th Anniversary.

After that, the model was no longer included in the basic range. It now moved into other areas. For 2019, it was in the Service Squad 5-pack.

And, this model is the one casting that was in the 2020 Walmart exclusive Off Road Rally series in a new look, and came back in the new series in a new look. You can't keep a good Golf down.

After this, the model had a lot of action in 2021. It was in the Target Retro series in orange, and was also in the Off Road Rally 5-pack in white.

It even came up with 2 carry forwards. The advent calendar saw the red 2018 basic return, and the Best of Germany saw the teal debut pop back.

After that, the model went off to relax for a few years. It did not return until earlier this year, which this MBX Retro 5-pack issue kick-started it again.  

This means that we have now hit double digits on the looks for this model (if you include the debut year green and teal). I think we will be seeing more of it again. So, with the new stuff done, let us check on the carry forwards.

So, if you have absolutely no interest in the carry forward at all, I guess you can scroll to the end. But, if you are in the least bit curious, stick around. I enjoyed these 3. First up is the MB864 '74 International Scout 4x4.

I have to admit, when I saw which model was being carried forward, I was a little upset. Why the purple?

But, after making a few comparisons, I was happy enough.  For that, I will do another dive back.

This is the model's 12th year of action. It debuted in 2013 in yellow. A look that has never been repeated.

It was also given a 60th Anniversary special series outing in white.This one has been repeated, with a tweak.

For 2014, it was given 2 looks for the basic range. Red and purple. Both have been seen again, with this model being a repeat of that purple one.

So why was I not happy at first with this repeat? It was 1 decade ago. The casting has been modified since. The new one no longer has a ribbed rear bed insert.  

It has nothing to do with the original sporting a wheel variation during production. No, my initial sadness is still to be unveiled. I will continue.

For 2015 this model was not in the basic range, but did see an outing as a 9/10-pack exclusive. This was a cool National Parks themed model, which would be great as a carry forward, but not suitable in this set.

2016 also saw the one version. This was in a Shark Week themed set.  It came in red with the Shark Week look on the side. I am not sure they can bring this one back.

For 2017, it returned to the basic range in blue.

After taking 2018 off, the first time we saw a carry forward appeared in the 2019 basic range. This was actually a repeat of the 2013 60th Anniversary model, so the additional front tampo was forgotten, but the 60 logo was switch to a 50 logo, as this was also given a sneaky additional 50th Anniversary Superfast logo in the tampo.

Then, 2020 saw a Rocky Peaks 5-pack outing in red with a Warn logo on it.

With nothing to talk about for 2021, 2022 saw the model return in the MBX Rally II 5-pack in silver, and then we saw both 2024 models carried forward. The advent calendar saw the red (now a much darker shade, not shown here), but the purple was also carried forward to the Target Retro series. Doh! This was why I was initially upset seeing it again. It was only 2 years ago.

This means that, when the Target model appeared, the casting had already been modified. But, as a shade fan, I am noticing the new one is darker. But, that is not the major difference.

Do you notice the changes? Wheels? Yep, it is the other of the modern 4x4 wheels on the new run. But, apart from that, do you notice anything missing? Where is the IH? The International Harvester logo has been removed from the model. So, after some initial scepticism, I am now very happy with this carry forward.

This means there are now 4 different variations to this one purple release. Phew!

It was also in the Walmart Local Cruisers set in 2022, which saw a new look to the model.

With its final new-look appearing last year in the Blue Highways III 5-pack in light blue.

Later in 2023, the Warn Industries 5-pack brought back the 2020 model for another go. This means that the Warn, 2022 advent calendar, plus the 2022 Target Retro and 2024 Off Road Rally set feature carry forwards with the updated casting, as it was altered for 2022.  I have a feeling that this will be it for the model. From what I am hearing, the new MBX Field Car II casting debuting in 2025, which is lifted, with a roof removed, is serving as a replacement.  

Number 5 in the set of 6 is the MB990 '68 Toyota FJ Land Cruiser.

It comes in a repeated look of tan.

This is a nice little model, and is a very good carry forward, as this model is an upgraded casting, and the original release was the earlier MB764 casting. Therefore, this was a definite popular carry forward. Rather than just the one model, let's go through them all again.

2009 saw the model debut in all the primary colours. Yellow, followed by blue were the basic range models, with red popping up at the end of the year in the 1st Editions 10-pack.

2010 saw 4 different releases. You would think this was a popular casting or something. Black was the first in an ongoing recurring Anaconda theme.  It was in the basic range, but was not sold in ROW markets. Only the US and LAAM markets. The orange one was in the Desert Adventure 5-pack. The white was in the Adventure all-exclusive 10-pack, and it even saw a Lesney Edition in green with a metal base.

2011 seemed so quiet in comparison. There was just a dark blue basic range release, although the good news was that all markets got it.

2012 saw a purple basic range, and the Mountain Adventure 5-pack saw a red model.

And then, it was 2013. Ooh, this looks familiar. Yes, this was the MB764 casting that was carried forward to this new MB990 release. Obviously, the casting was altered in between, with the front wheel arches and grille now being a part of the interior section.

So, to keep the wheel arches and grille matching, the black interior section is now also tan. You may also notice that the shade of tan is much more golden than it was before. I have to say, this was a brilliant choice for a carry forward. Well, any of the models seen so far are brilliant choices.

Well, any of them, plus this lovely 2014 basic range outing in brown. This was the last release of the original casting before it was altered into what we have now.

Because, when we saw the 2015 duo, many people were not happy with the alteration that had taken place. I think the Moving Parts casting has somewhat filled that gap. This now MB990 was in the basic range in orange, but also a part of the original Jurassic World licence in white. It was a made up model, as they had only just got the licence and simply threw things out to use it, before they worked hard at giving us some awesome issues for the later films (and new one next year).

It took 2016 off, before returning for 1 more basic range outing in 2017 in yellow.  

Plus a green camouflaged model in the Walmart exclusive Camouflage series later in the year. This was to prove to be the final outing for 5 years as the model went on hiatus after this. However, it went out in fun style, by giving us different looks to the camouflage.

After taking 5 years off, the model came back with a bang in 2022. Apart from a basic range outing in grey, the model was given 2 different National Parks looks. One was in the MBX Rally II 5-pack (the one with mint roof), while the other was in the Target Retro series. However, the white roof version has proven very difficult to find, as the final year of Target Retro was very hard to track down.

Since the tooling underwent a change, the model has been used 8 times. This is the first time as a carry forward. But, if they keep using the older casting to borrow from for future carry forwards, I would not say no.

The final model in the set is the MB716 Ridge Raider. This is in a returning white look from the 2012 Desert Adventure 5-pack.

I must admit, while I was travelling around the USA last month, I did go in numerous Walmarts. Some of them only had this model on the pegs. In one case, there were 3 full pegs of just this one model.  It has proven to be a massive, GIGANTIC, pegwarmer. Which is a shame. I don't like seeing so much of one model left. I tried my best to compare as many as I could, just in case I could find any sort of variation (shade of white, shade to the tampo), but I found nothing. Every one looked identical.

It is not a bad design, but perhaps they should have pulled out the originals from 2007. They were really cool.  But, we need a way to try and get rid of them. So, let's bring in the 2012 original and compare.

So, as I mentioned, this first appeared in the 2012 Desert Adventure 5-pack. After a 12 year gap, how do they compare?

If you like shade, as I do, then this is cool. It is now a much brighter shade of white, compared to the creamier shade of the original. Amazingly, the tampo and windows are identical. But....

Did you know that over the years, the model has seen minor alterations. One of them, in 2010, actually saw them re-copyright the model from 2006 to 2010. The 2012 model actually has the 2010 date on the base. However, when they tidied it up again, they corrected the year back to 2006, so this is now reverted to the correct year of copyright.

One of the biggest changes was with the interior section. The rear wheels sticking out the back were sharpened up a bit, but the floor to the interior no longer sports a corrugated look. It is now smooth.

The body was tidied up just a little. A few little details here and there sharpened up to keep it fresh. However, I mentioned at the Gathering that they should dig out the Quick Sander casting again. This one is being used a lot, but the Quick Sander, which is in the same vein, barely gets used. I think that a carried forward Quick Sander may not have peg-warmed as much. But, if you like a variation, please go out and help clear these out of Walmart store, by adding the updated casting release to the collection. No, I do not work for Mattel. As a collector, I hate peg warmers, so if I can think of a reason to move them, I will try to pass it on.

So, while the batch only saw 3 new looks, all looking amazing.

I have added all 3 of the carry forwards as well, as each one has seen modifications since their last release that has warranted me getting them again. Often, my only reason to keep one is I noticed a shade. But, not this time, although all 3 did give me shades anyway. Whether it be a deletion of tampo/wheel change, an updated casting, or even just a tidied up casting, they all were different. This is why I do enjoy checking out carry forwards.

That is it for this week. I hope you enjoyed my latest ramblings. Next week, I will be looking as a much more expensive set of Matchbox items.  But, it is not all what you think. Oh, no, I will be having a little fun along the way. Until then, I wish everybody a safe and happy week.