Matchbox Monday sweetens up the day again

Earlier this year, we saw Matchbox bring back the 2020 series of Candy models for another outing. Back in 2019, they released their first set of models, all using designs from Ferrero Group brands, many of which had just been purchased from Nestlé. For 2020, they came out with another set of sweets, but this time they took their choices from the Tootsie Roll Industries portfolio. For 2024, they came up with a plan to do another set, and again have chosen the Tootsie Roll Industries portfolio for 6 more models.  We saw them whet our appetites by repeating the 2020 set, and now we get an all-new batch of models.  This time, they are not numbered on the models themselves. I am very happy with that, because the model numbers and package numbers were all different.  It was so confusing.

So, this time, it is purely down to the packaging to put them in order. This makes it so much easier. And that means, we start with number 1. For that, we see another outing for the MB741 VW Caddy. This model is proving popular in the candy world.  

It comes in white, with a green lower half, and sports a Caramel Apple Pops design. Caramel Apple Pops are a relatively recent addition to the Toostie Roll Industries portfolio, as they were only launched in 1995. However, they have proven to be a popular addition, as these are simply apple flavoured lollipops with a caramel covering. Apart from a recent change to make them properly round (they were a little jagged at first), they are pretty much as they started.  

The model really does give an apple feel to it. The apple green base, the apple green tinted windows. I think they have nailed the look, as the packaging for these is white, has the logo on the front, and a purple wavy stripe with the details written on it. This has been very well replicated on the model, and I don't think it was worth putting the writing in the purple stripe here. Plus, being a van, I think the overall look for the model suits it as well. I like it.  I am giving this a 10 out of 10.

I was being a little curious.  Recently, Matchbox finally got the nod to put VW ID4 on the base of that model, finally getting rid of the silly VW Electric Vehicle 4 name it originally sported. But, no luck with the Caddy. It still says Licenced by Volkswagen on the base.

I am not going to do a dive back on this one, as I only did it with the batch A model. The Tootsie Roll Pop issue in white and orange.

Did anybody catch that both batches have seen a "Pops" model?  I thought it was a cool little bonus as they match up so well.  

The MB765 '64 Austin Mini Cooper 1275S is number 2 in the set, and comes in yellow with a Charleston Chew design.  

The Charleston Chew is one of the older candy products, and was not originally a Tootsie product. It was launched in 1922, and was given the name to help profit from a really popular dance at the time.  I am betting that when some people hear this name, they get the Charleston dance in their head.  It was very 1920s. However, I get Richard Nixon, President of Earth in Futurama, as he often mentions it.  It was a marshmallow nougat covered in chocolate when first launched by the Fox-Cross Candy Company.  It was sold to Nathan Sloane in 1957, who changed it to a vanilla nougat instead of marshmallow nougat.  Nabisco purchased this in 1980, with Warner-Lambert buying it from Nabisco in 1988. Tootsie came along in 1993, and purchased it from Warner-Lambert. Phew, this has been through a few owners.

Again, the model has done a simple job of replicating the wrapper design on the model. A plain yellow look, and a simple logo on the side. I know some do not like vehicles like this, but I enjoy something a little different from time to time. I would not want this to be the norm, but for the occasional side range like this, I love it.  I think this one looks fantastic as well. Simple and elegant. The model still has clear windows, a grey base and disk wheels. It just has a logo on the side, and to be honest, this is not totally far-fetched. Screw it, I am giving it a 10 as well.   

A modern muscle car. The MB1226 '19 Ford Mustang GT is up next, taking the number 3 slot in blue with a Razzles design.

Razzles have been around since 1966. They are a hard candy, but when you start chewing it, it turns to gum.  Designed for people who don't know if they want a hard candy or to chew gum, you get both.  They were launched by a company called Fleer, based out of Philadelphia. They were based on a fictional razzleberry, which they were going to use in their slogans, but they didn't. Originally they were raspberry, orange, grape and lemon flavoured, but over time, other fruits joined in.  Fleer was sold to Concord Confections, which was then snapped up by Tootsie.

The Mustang sports the current packaging design logo for the candy on the side. The package is blue, and so is the Mustang. It also has blue tinted windows. I think it is really cool that they used the Mustang casting, but this one doesn't pop to me the way the other 2 have. Yes, you can get away with no front detailing, but that bare area at the back is not as nice. I am giving this an 8. It is not the worst it has looked. For that, I think I am due a dive back.

Because, this model has had a rather peculiar timeline. It was launched in 2020 as a Walmart exclusive in the Mustang series. Since 2018, Matchbox have been adding a brand-new casting exclusively into the Walmart series each year, and this was the Mustang one.  It came in green, which I did notice was good for a shade.

A second Mustang batch appeared later in the year, and again, they added this casting to it. It was now in orange, and again, I found a cool shade.

As well as these, later in the year, we saw a worldwide release. This was a part of a Top Gun Maverick 5-pack, and came in charcoal. Again, I cannot help myself, I found a very noticeable shade to this one.

After that amazing start, 2021 finally saw the model added to the basic range. This still stands as the only year the model was a part of the basic range, but we had 2 outings. One was a beautiful blue with front and rear details. The other?  Well, this was not as well received. It was white, and the windows were blacked out, and there was no interior. People were worried that this was a bad sign, but luckily, this has still been a one-off (although it was repeated in a Walmart Local Cruisers batch unchanged, so you could say a two-off, but one look).  I prefer Razzles to this.  I told you it was not my least popular one. And that has nothing to do with not having front and rear detailing.

2021 also saw the model added to a batch of 9-packs as a semi-exclusive in red.  This was one of the nicest looks I have seen for it. In 2022, we saw nothing new. However, the Walmart Local Cruisers series actually saw both the blue and white basic range issues repeated.

It returned in 2023.  However, it was so random. Walmart. It was a part of the Muscle series and came in white. Target. It was one of the Target Red models. Convoy.  It was added to a Shell Convoy set in red with Shell logos all over (which is one I absolutely love, as it was the winner of my 2023 new looks Top 10 list). This is why I said, it was not down to the model being one with a side design that lost it for me. I just felt it was a little bit bland. On the Mini, it worked. The Charleston Chew logo is simple.  The model brings that simplicity to it. But, Razzles are a little funkier. The packaging design is a brighter look. Because they have a 4-colour tampo machine, I can see how they would be unable to actually put the 5 different brightly coloured items from the package on the model, but I think the yellow writing of "First It's Candy..." top left, and "...Then It's Gum" bottom should have been added. Just to jazz it up a bit.  

It's not the best. But, it is not the worst. This model has seen various outings across numerous ranges. I am hoping to see another basic range outing soon. Especially if they do it in green, with a black stripe going over it. And where is the yellow one?  Surely we must have a yellow one coming at some point.

Number 4 of 6 is the return of the barely used MB405 VW Delivery Van. It sports the Fluffy Stuff look on a yellow and blue model.

As you would likely guess, Fluffy Stuff is a cotton candy (as they call it in the USA). Where I am in the UK, we know this as candy floss.  This is also the term in a number of English-speaking countries, although Australia tends to call it fairy floss (its original name when it was first shown at the 1904 World's Trade Fair).  Some country translations are pretty funny. France's translation would literally call it "Daddy's Beard" and United Arab Emirates would be "Girl's Hair".  Fluffy Stuff has been sold by Tootsie since 2000.

The Matchbox team make good use of the colour spread with this model, as their 2019 retooling allows for 2 significant colours already. Traditional packs of Fluffy Stuff come in blue packs with a large yellow area, with Fluffy Stuff written on it. I love that they managed to add the little smiley icons on top of the logo on the side of this one.  I think this classic vehicle really suits this look. This one? Yes, I am giving it a 10 again. And I am very happy to see it again. I mean....

The casting originally debuted in 2000, and saw sporadic use until 2007, where it was deemed to be too bad. The roofline in particular was really struggling to stay straight and sharp. It was all over the place. They decided at the time to retire the casting. But, as things change, they revisited the model in 2018 and decided to give it another go. It was shrunk slightly, and the roof was retooled, and the body changed with the interior now forming about half of the sides. They put a lot of effort into this, and I thought that meant we would be seeing quite a lot of it.

It re-debuted in the 2019 MBX Service Crew 5-pack in all-blue. It had a really cool retro look, inspired by a classic Lesney 34-a VW Microvan from 1957-61. That was the very first VW that Matchbox ever made. I thought that was brilliant.

And then we saw a Candy release in the first series back in 2019. This was in pink and blue and featured the SweetArts design. And then....

Well, this one. Yes, this is only the model's third outing since they spent all that time and effort in getting it back to us. And it was 5 years after the last one.  Surely we are not going to wait another 5 years to see it again. And, funnily enough, that roof? Always blue.  Will it ever get another colour roof?  I live in hope.

Next up is another modern muscle car. The MB1036 '16 Chevy Camaro Convertible is seen in blue here, and features the Cry Baby design on the side.

I do notice that we have a lot of blue and yellow in these models. However, when you see some of the products that are sold by Tootsie, you discover many do use a blue and yellow design.  Which is a shame.  Maybe the team could have looked a little more at the types of products they sell for more variety in colours. As to Cry Baby, this was launched in 1991 by the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Company, with the chewing gum being available in a variety of "sour" flavours. Hence the "cry baby" moniker, as these may make your eyes water. Tootsie later purchased this company, bringing Cry Baby into their portfoliio.

So, when it comes to the model, again we have blue and yellow. As I said, this does appear to be an overwhelming colour choice for this batch of models. Maybe they could have done Andes Chocolate Mints (green) or Cella's Cherries (red). What was wrong with Nik L Nip? Purple!  Or how about Cry Baby?  They are green. Wait a sec.... This is Cry Baby.  Why is this not green?  The only Cry Baby packaging is the Cry Baby Sour Chews. The model doesn't have any reference to it being Sour Chews. Just the Cry baby logo. Sour Gum, Sour Drinks, Sour Mix, Sour Tears. All are green.  Literally, the only blue is the Chews. Am I just thinking too far out of the box?  This really should have been a green car. This was a huge-missed opportunity to mix the colour palette up a bit. The only green we had was a little bit on the VW Caddy at the bottom. The interior being yellow, yeah.  I can see that. I am reminded of the old licensed 5-pack models of the 2000s.  The MB302 '69 Chevy Camaro came in green with a yellow interior in a licensed single in 2004. It was a Looney Tunes model.  Green and yellow works.  In fact, as we had a modern Mustang, we should have gone with a classic Camaro. You know, the MB302.  I would have instantly made the comparison with this and that 2004. It would have been so cool. As much as I don't really mind this model as an individual model, I am really disappointed with the overall finish.  Wrong generation of Camaro, and wrong colour. The '69 in green!  That's what we shoud have had. So, I am scoring this a 2. That was a shock result.

This is the first time this Camaro has not seen front and rear detailing. It debuted in the 2017 basic range in red (which was carried forward to a 2022 MBX Highways II 5-pack).  

2018 saw the model turn blue for the basic range. Although, as you can see, this is a much darker blue than this model.

In 2019, the model was dropped from the basic range, but Target Stores in the USA did see a special 50th Anniversary Superfast special mixed in with one batch.  We did see the model's first 5-pack outing, as it was in the Blue Highways pack in orange.

2020 continued the 5-pack run with a silver model appearing in the MBX Highway pack.

Year 3 of 4 in 5-packs (with year 4 being that red carry forward previously mentioned) saw a black model in the Blue Highways II pack.

After this, the model returned to basic range action, as this yellow was in the 2023 series.

With this set seeing the first non-front and rear print, and a look that is reminiscent of the old Licensed 5-packs, it is a bit of a departure. I honestly do not mind the departures. I like a little variety at times. They should not stop with the realism.  We all know, this is what does best. But, I do think it was just realism, realism, realism, eventually people will get a little bored. We are a fickle bunch.  And, as a solo model, without looking at any of the other 5 models in this batch, it is not that bad. Looking at the batch as a whole, this is the one that could have gone a different way.  Model choice and colour. Oh well, Swing and a miss.

Which brings me to the last model. Number 6 of 6 is the MB927 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.  It comes in the Candy Blox livery, which makes sense using a rather square looking Pickup Truck. But, it's blue again. Snore!

Candy Blox are pretty much as they sound. It is fruit flavoured candy pieces that are created sort of like Lego. This means that you can play with them. Build them. Construct them. Then destroy and eat them. These came over to Tootsie when they purchased the Concord Confections commpany, just like the Razzles did.

I really understand the logic behind adding a Pickup to the series for this one. It is a different type of vehicle to all the rest. Plus, with these being a block style, a Pickup Truck is about the most block-like of vehicles.  A perfect choice. But, blue again? With a yellow window? Again, this is so much of the same. Three of the model are blue and yellow. One is blue. One is yellow. The VW Caddy is the only really different model. I do like this one. I like the wall-like design on the side. It does make it a bit different. This is from the Candy Blox packaging.  They have done a great job with the look of the model. Had there been less blue, I would have loved this. But, by now, I am getting a little weary of all the blue.  It is a little sad. As I mentioned, this could have been so much better as a group if we had a few more colours.  The last batch of 6, all from Tootsie, were in a variety of colours. That set had 2 white vehicles, as well as a brown, yellow, green and pink vehicle. No blue! I do like this one. I am going to give it a 9. Loses a point for being blue. I mean, this is not Smurf Village!  Overall, I like the idea of the set. I just felt they should have looked a little more at the different products that Tootsie have, and come up with a few alternate products to create a wider range of colours to the models. Because, this has really made me feel blue. Ha! That perked me up. Right, time for a final dive.

I really like this casting, so any excuse to dig them all out.  Which actually begins with a pre-production sample. I told you I liked this. I was determined to get a cool prepro, and this dark red one is just that. It even has a blank chrome base.

This model dates back to 2010. It is now in its 15th year of action.  It was originally MB788.  It debuted worldwide in a year that the range was split 3 ways. It was sold as MB85 in the US range, but as the LAAM and ROW range only ran to 75, those that had been taken out of their range under 75, were replaced by those above 75 that were still being sold. So the Raptor moved to the MB45 slot for the LAAM range and to MB54 for the ROW range. It debuted in a lighter red, but the first run was mistakenly made in orange. This was swiftly altered after that first small run, and the orange ones are pretty tough to find.

At that time, 25 models in the series would be given 2 looks during the year, and this was one. Later on, it turned blue for another run.

It was also chosen to be in the end of year All Exclusive 10-pack. This was where 10 brand-new castings were given a new look, and packaged together. It was white in this set.

For 2011, they decided that any model in the US range for 2010 and still in it for 2011 would keep its number. However, with different items being pulled out for the LAAM and ROW ranges, there was no guarantee this would filter down. MB85 for the US range was still MB54 for the ROW range. But, the LAAM market moved it to MB39. During production, the standard cog wheels were temporarily switched for some large 6-spokes.

It was also added to the Off Road Adventure 5-pack in matte black. The side "tyre" design was very good for shades.

For 2012, the basic range merged into 1 again, and this was in white with a De-Construction design. Is that what you do with the Candy Blox? The green model was in a Battle Mission 5-pack that year.

2013 only saw a basic range release in black.

2014 also saw a single basic range outing. However, with this model coming in yellow, this was another that was perfect for the shade nut. It ranged from a bright yellow to a very pale pastel yellow.

2015 continued the trend. It was just a basic range model, and this was a dark metallic orange.

2016 was a final basic range outing, and possibly one of the best. Who? Me? Biased? Just because I am the "Ley" in Lamley.  That had nothing to do with loving the Lamley Leaks model.  

In 2017, you would only find it (if you hunted hard enough, think about it, you will get the reason) in a Walmart exclusive Camouflage series. Get it?  Why do I bother?  As with the rest of the models in the batch, the camouflage pattern would move around. So you could technically find a few different patterns. We also discovered a change to the brown wheel hubs, as the dark brown hubs became a noticeably lighter brown in a late run.

For 2018, it was back in the basic range for another outing. This was a really cool Gulf liveried model. Plus, there was another blue, as the Target assortments saw some random 65th Anniversary models in blue sprinkled in, and the Raptor was one of them.

After this, the model went on a small hiatus, to give the Matchbox team a chance to tinker with the casting. It turned from MB788 into MB927, although I have to be honest. I have no idea what changed. It must be an internal alteration. It returned in 2020 in huge fashion.  We saw a white Superfast outing (its first and only premium release to date), as well as a Top Gun Maverick 5-pack release in black and in orange in the Walmart exclusive Off Road Rally series.

In 2021, the model was added as a 9-pack exclusive in batch D, and sported a really cool retro look, reminiscent of the classic 4x4 Chevy Van from the 1980s.

2022 saw a City Adventure III 5-pack issue in black. It doesn't really show in the picture, but this Anaconda Tours look comes with either a matte or satin black finish.

With 2023 seeing this also released as a Target Red model (just like the Mustang I showed earlier). This means that it saw action every year since 2010, except 2019 while it was being renovated.

And with the latest release being blue, this now puts blue in first place as the most commonly used colour option for this casting. It was tied with black before this.

And with that, I am done with another batch. As I said, I do not mind them doing stuff like this. Obviously these are aimed more towards the kids, as Collectors and Mattel Creations are aimed squarely at collectors. But, some collectors, like me, will still lap these up. But, apart from noting there was too much blue, there is another pattern that they missed out on. We had 2 vans. Both VWs. One classic, one modern.

We also saw a modern and classic, when it comes to iconic vehicles. A modern pickup truck, and a classic Mini.

Finally, we have 2 muscle cars. Both are modern. I see one is a hardtop, the other a convertible. But, they missed a trick by not going with the '69 Camaro and keeping the modern/classic vibe going. And it should have been green. I am not letting up on that.

Next week, I will be taking a look at a 5-pack and asking, is it worth it? I hope you will enjoy that, I am hoping you still enjoyed this week's report. Until next time, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.