Matchbox Monday says hello to half of batch H

Batch H of the 2025 basic range is another fairly hefty batch. 11 models arrived in the assortment, although if you were to visit a Target store in the USA, you might be able to find a 12th. So, with a total of 12 models to talk about, I have again split the report into 2 halves. The first lot come up now, with the other lot coming in a few weeks. Without further ado, let's get on with the first half.

Which begins with the huge one. Huge? Well, you know, the one that has 4 variants to hunt down. Thanks Abe Lugo, for giving us a headache with this one. The MB1240 '84 Toyota MR2 appears in black as MB8 this year.

As we know, the model comes in LHD or RHD configurations. 

Plus, the headlights appear either up or down, so we get 4 different configurations in total to track down. That is, if you are like me, and try to get them all. 

Now, when it comes to this latest release, I do like the black.This was simply known as Metallic Black, a real option between 1986 and 1988. I understand they can't just do the debut colour options. The MR2 changed very little during the production run in real life, so I can see them coming up with later colour options, and still basically be correct. And, I have to say, this one is one of the nicest of the lot. There's something about a black car that just looks cool.

What is that saying? Ah, yes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This model, just like every release to date, sees simple front and rear tampo detailing, replicating the real car's looks. You cannot argue with that. So, as this colour is so cool, I am easily scoring this a 10 out of 10. I do wonder if they have plans for an orange one? Or, is it too much to think of a premium outing in the Collectors series in jade over light beige? It was a real option that I think looks awesome, but can't see it ever being replicated as a core release. It would need to be given a premium treatment to accommodate. But, then, we would have to get 4 of it. Mind you, the later MR2 Mk2 debuted in Collectors, and that also had 4 variations. So, I say go for it. They would make more money by doing that. 

I think this is great next to the 2021 debut in white. The opposites. 

In 2022, we saw a red release in the basic range. 

With Target stores in the USA seeing a light blue version in the last year of the Retro series. 

2023 gave us a dark blue release in the basic range.

And last year was a champagne look for the basic range. 

Which gives us 6 different releases. Although, if you are like me, you will now have 24 of them! I do wonder how the Target Red next year will look? We already have a red. Will this be the first one that breaks with the usual simple front and rear print pattern? It might have stripes. I am up for that. I am also up for the challenge of trying to obtain 4 different variations of a Target Red. That is going to be a challenge.

The next model on my docket for this week is the MB1178 International TerraStar Ambulance. Another of Abe Lugo's models, although this one has no unusual variants to hunt down. It is white for 2025, and takes the MB24 slot in the range.

This particular design is a Matchbox original look. The Matchbox City logo on the door has appeared in a number of models over recent years, and the rear logo matches that is a few others as well. So, it feels very familiar already, which is something I like, as it is akin to being a recurring theme. 

I also feel that the look is very realistic as well. Sure, we do like a real side design, but the guys at Matchbox do know a thing or 2 about creating their own. And this is a very clean look. I do like a simple white ambulance. I cannot think of a reason to not score this a 10 as well. 

This casting did have a bit of a false start. It debuted in 2019 in red. 

And was also chosen by Everett Marshall to be his Annual Golf Tournament promotional vehicle. At that time, he was getting 2. One was in pink for Breast Cancer Research, the other in red for the Burns Foundation. 

We did not see any outing in 2020, although during the year, they created a promotion to order a Thank You Heroes set, which included a red one. However, this did not come out until 2021, so I classify it as a 2021 model. Note, it has the same Matchbox City logo on the door. We also saw another in the MBX Rescue (or MBX Recue as the package stated) set in the Boone County recurring theme.

Before it returned to the basic range in 2022 for its second outing there. This was also in white, and was a recurring Peel Paramedic look.

2023 saw 2 different outings. The basic range saw a yellow model, and Convoy saw a red one as an extra model to the Convoy vehicle.

And 2024 also saw 2 outings. The basic range was a Boeing red, and the National Parks recurring theme was used as a 9-pack exclusive.

So, it might have been a little slow to get going, but is making up for lost time in a good way. These have been some fantastic looks. 9 core outings and a pair of promotionals to date. I am sure there are still more to come, even with another ambulance due in the basic range next year.

I have to admit, I am a bit of a fan of the MB1247 '21 Ford Bronco (4-door). Abe Lugo created this casting back in 2020, and it debuted in the 2021 basic range. Here we are, 5 years in, and I am still very happy to see a new one. Especially in this lovely metallic green shade as MB30.

It is even better, as it skipped last year. I love this particular shade of green. The metallic look feels so classy, and as we saw on early releases, this is simply receiving front and rear end tampo prints. And you cannot go wrong with detailing the front and rear of a model like this.

A very light smoke window and some golden cog wheels complete the ensemble for this one. I cannot fault this. I think it is the nicest one they have done to date. Therefore, I am giving this a perfect 10. Way to go, Matchbox.

Plus, cherry on top. I noticed a shade to this metallic green as well. I love me a shade.

Which is what I also found on the 2021 debut. Although I think the green shades better than red.

In 2022, the model was sold in blue in the basic range in plentiful supply, but also in white with high-end detail as a Super Chase.

The last basic release was in 2023, as I stated earlier. However, this mint green National Parks release was in the very first batch of the year, so it has been about 2 and a half years since we saw it in the range. Mint green is often good for shades, too.

Although it has been just under 2 years since we actually last saw it. This is because it was part of the WARN Industries 75th Anniversary 5-pack late in the year.

This now means that, with 6 releases to date, we have had 3 with simple front and rear detailing, and 3 with front and sides (one with rear as well, because it was premium). I wonder which way they will go for release number 7?

The little MB1361 Renault Twizy is up next. This is a casting created by Lindsey Lee. She was actually a casting designer for another of Mattel's brands, but did do the little Twizy for Matchbox on the side. This is the model's third outing in the basic range, and for 2025, MB33 comes in metallic copper. 

Now, metallic copper is not technically a Renault colour. But, Renault will allow people to come up with a variety of wraps for the small electric city quadricycle. And, as such, they can create a dizzying array of unique looks. So, I think that means Matchbox can have free reign to come up with many of their own. I like this copper colour, and the model is seeing the same tampo printing that all previous outings have seen.

I cannot argue the detailing. And Lindsey did a great job in recreating the real vehicle in miniature. I think this is selling better than last year, but I still find plenty of them hanging around in stores long after other models have left. It is one of the slower selling vehicles. I do sometimes think, Matchbox tries a little too hard in finding non-traditional vehicles. But, when you look for the lesser known types of vehicle, you tend to find less people are interested in getting them. I am scoring this a 7. Yes, I did say it was nice. But, not wow nice. And when I see lots of them hanging around, I do think it may be better to consign this to multipack use. However, if they want more modern Renaults, I would like to suggest the 4 E-Tech or 5 E-Tech. These are new electric vehicles, and both have a retro vibe to them, giving us a nod to the 4 and 5 respectively. I think either (or both) would be a fantastic fit to the Matchbox brand. And, let's not ignore the fact they have not done any classic Renault yet. I would love the Fuego. I have wanted a Matchbox one ever since the real one debuted in 1980. 

I did have a lot of chances to compare and contrast the latest Twizy. So, it was inevitable I would find a shade.

As a reminder, the model debuted in the 2023 range in blue.

With 2024 seeing the model in white in the basic range.

Plus, we saw a yellow release as part of the Electric Drivers 5-pack that year.

It's different, it's unusual, but I do think it is not selling well enough to warrant continuing as a single issue. Multipacks are best for this one.

I remember last year, when this MB1462 Porsche 911 Targa debuted, I was a little critical. It is the targa variant, and should have been created with the roof off. Just that roof piece itself. It could have had side windows up, so that when the window element was inserted, it would still be a single piece that is being put in. Well, actually, as things are constructed upside down, it would be the first piece used. But, you know what I mean. So, year 2, and the model appears in the MB34 slot in red.

And it still has the dome on top. I am still critical. It makes it look a little cheap. The convertible is expected. But, with the whole roof in place on this one, the detailing that Garry Gopinath has put into the window element is not overly clear. You do have to look closely to see them. And it still doesn't scream targa to me. 

Where the rear tampo printing was spot on, the front is a little patchy. The large black area does appear to be a little rough. I love red. A 911 in red just looks amazing. But, this one is leaving me a little disappointed. Aside from the casting issue with the roof, I don't feel the end result has come out perfectly well. I hate saying it on a 911, but I am scoring this an 8. That is purely for the design itself. It doesn't include the casting in this score (I only do that for a debut, unless there is something significant that has changed).

It still doesn't stop me finding shades. Yes, I saw darker red and orangey red shades to this. Both have a slightly patchy front end. It seems to be recurring through production. 

This was the blue issue that debuted last year. 

If they were to cut the roof off, and have a gap in there, I would be so much more enthusiastic about getting further releases. Still, Garry has more than made up for things with a certain Porsche he has created for next year's Moving Parts series. Now, that is one I am seriously looking forward to.

Now I move on to the final model I am looking at this week, and the only new casting in this batch. With 12 batches, and a few dozen new castings, I guess there will be batches with hardly any. This batch has this one. The MB1513 '04 Maserati MC12. Abe Lugo was the mastermind behind this casting, which debuts in the MB86 slot in white.

The Maserati Brothers started their company in Italy in 1914. They sold it on to the Orsi family in 1937, who sold it on to Citroën in 1968. They, in turn, sold it to De Tomaso in 1976, who passed it over to Fiat in 1993 (after an initial part sale in 1989). This means, as of 2021, it is now part of the Stellantis portfolio. The MC12 was created in 2004 as a racing vehicle for the FIA GT Championship. To allow it to be homologated, 25 examples were created for the road. Funnily enough, the FIA changed the rules for 2005, and the racing car had to be shortened, so they had to homologate another 25 for road use. So, in total, 50 of these MC12s were made in 2004 and 2005. Matchbox have gone with the longer 2004 version. 

I have to admit, I am happy to see Maserati being used in the Matchbox portfolio again. It has been a long time in the making. They released their first Maserati, a 4CLT Formula 1 racing car, that was raced in the early F1 years (1950 through 1952). It ran from 1958 until 1964 in either red or yellow. After this, they created the Maserati Bora in 1972, which ran from 1972 until 1977, again in 1979 as a twin pack issue for 3 more years, then as a US exclusive in 1982-83. It was then cost reduced in the mid-1980s for use in the Super GT range. When that faded away at the end of the decade, that was it for Maserati. Until now. However, hasn't the MC12 been made by many model manufacturers? Including inside the Mattel umbrella? 

For me, personally, I am liking this. I only collect Matchbox, so when a model is made by many companies except Matchbox, I am not getting them. So, in my case, this is awesome. But, I do think it might have been a little late in coming? After all, this was big in the mid 2000s. By the mid 2020s, not so much. If they were looking at doing an older Maserati (alongside a new model that is coming in Moving Parts later this year), why did they choose this one? Why didn't they do a Khamsin? Made between 1974 and 1982, this model has a very unique look, and as far as I can tell, has never been done as a regular toy in this size. Only high-end premium models in 1/64 scale. It would have felt to me to be a better classic to go with to complement the new vehicle. 

So, that's my thoughts for inclusion. Casting? Abe Lugo made this, and he has done exceptional work again. For the price point, I think it has been very well done. I see how the rear is part of the base section, which appears to mirror how real vehicles look. So, this was a logical choice. However, as this looks like a road vehicle, why didn't he add the wing mirrors? I do wonder if it was felt that perhaps they were too thin to recreate properly? They come out like little stalks from the doors. Although, could we have just had the usual lumps popped out? Would they have worked as well? Hmm! I am not sure.  

The model comes complete with front and rear tampo printing, which I think is about as much as I would expect from the model. 

How to score this? Inclusion? Meh! I was not overly fussed now to see this. I would have preferred a slightly older Maserati to dive back to. So, I will give it a 6. Casting? Those wing mirrors do bug me. Which is why I am scoring a 9 here. Design? That can't be faulted. This white and blue look appears to be the poster child for the real vehicle, and there was nothing else they could have added to improve it. So, for this, it will get a 10. 

But, as I show a base shot to finish, I do wonder how such a cool model does only score a 25 out of 30 for a debut? Yeah, a bit too late to really make it a power statement, and a little too early to get all nostalgic about it. I will still enjoy getting them. It is a nice car, and I am very happy to see Maserati back in the Matchbox portfolio. 

So, as I close out another report that features 1 new casting.

As well as 5 other vehicles from around the world.

I do start looking ahead to next week's new batch. The next report will be extra large, as I look to the long distant past for an extra bout of new stuff. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.