Matchbox Monday takes a bite out of some Christmas Candy

It's my last report of the year. I can't believe we are only a matter of days away from 2026. I hope everybody had a lovely Christmas time. So, as the year is drawing to close, my reports about 2025 items are also drawing to a close. There is not an awful lot left for me to go through now. A final batch of basics (split into 2), some Working Rigs, a batch of Moving Parts and a final Collectors batch. By my calculation, in early February time I will be starting my journey through the 2026 items. But, before I get to those, I thought I would run through some candy offerings. Hopefully, people have not been pigging out too much on sweets and chocolates over the festive period. 

This is the last batch that will contain 6 models, as these are also being reduced to assortments of 5 models for 2026. As has been the case in the past, the "new" items come up numbered first, followed by carry forwards. So, the first model is new. It is the MB629 '69 Chevy Camaro in the number 1 slot. 

The model comes in white, featuring the Tootsie Roll logo on the side. Now, if you have recollection of previous Matchbox issues, we have seen Tootsie Roll a few times. Once on a Hummer, and the other on a DIVCO. And both were brown. This is because, as a rule, Tootsie Rolls are in a brown wrapper. However, they do a miniature roll, known as the Tootsie Roll Midgees, and these can come in a US flag inspired package. In fact, there were a couple of Midgees in the packaging artwork. I was wondering what other Tootsie Roll Industries candy options could be created as a Matchbox model. I know some people are not overly keen on these types of models. But, I have always quite liked them. They remind me of the Licensed 5-packs (later 3-packs) that were done between 2001 and 2013. I like seeing something a little different at times. And, I have to admit, this one looks really cool. Yeah, it has Tootsie Roll on the side, but then we have some cool red stripes and a blue "stars" section to the tampo printing on the side of the Camaro. 

The blue tinted window works with this colour combination, and we also see a chrome base section, which forms bumpers. I really like this. No, I do not want to see all releases like this, but occasional ones as something a bit different. Yeah, sure. I have to say, out of all the candy releases done so far, the 2019 Ferrera based candies, followed by the 2020, 2024 and 2025 Tootsie Roll Industry based candies, this is my favourite one to date. I think it looks fantastic, and gives me a vibe of a classic drag type vehicle. I am giving this a perfect 10. Honestly. They have done wonders with their choice of vehicle and tampo design. 

So, let's do our first dive back of the report. This casting is one that was a little confusing. The year was 2003. Matchbox was being developed in Mt Laurel, in New Jersey, the old Tyco HQ. At that time, they had a clear plan for how the brand was being marketed. Modern vehicles and utility vehicles were part of what was, at the time, Hero City. I shudder whenever I think of that time in the core range. But, then there were a number of "classic" castings that were going to be exclusively used in the Collectables premium market, aimed more at adults. A new '69 Camaro casting was created with a plan to launch it in a 2004 Collectables series. But, with sales dwindling across the Matchbox portfolio, they changed tactics, and decided to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Superfast era instead. This coincided with the Mattel decision to close Mt Laurel, and move all the ex-Tyco brands in-house in El Segundo. 2004 saw a lot of upheaval, and this created a few tiny issues with things. One of those was a very minor fact. The '69 Camaro was created in 2 configurations. MB608 and MB629. The difference? MB608 was created with hidden headlights, and MB629 was created with exposed headlights. This was all done by the guys in Mt Laurel, and when it was launched in the Superfast series in 2004, the MB608 was sold in orange with a side stripe, and MB629 in blue with dual white hood stripes. The design of the models was also done in Mt Laurel. However, there was a small hiccup. As they both had the same base, the factory only marked down MB608 on it. 

When R&D was moved to El Segundo, the new team took over, and immediately scrapped the rule about premium vs core castings. Their first look on the Camaro was as part of a Burger Zone 5-pack. A move to the core ranges. However, the El Segundo team had no idea that there were actually 2 Camaro castings. They started scrolling back through the list, saw MB629 and just went with it. To make things worse, the factory got the tooling in the storage a bit mixed up. However, the factory were a little confused, as they had MB608. They started running the hidden headlight.

When they realized, they corrected it. But, in another twist (they just keep coming with this one)....

These were being made in China. But, Mattel had decided in 2005 to move production back to Thailand, where it had been during the early to mid 1990s. And when they sent the casting over, the factory in Thailand sorted out the tooling, saw 2 lots of what they thought were MB608, and chucked one away. This means that the hidden headlight MB608 variant would never see any further action, as they happened to keep the exposed headlight tooling.

Now, obviously, the base said MB608, but Mattel were referring to it as MB629. So, the factory altered the base to the correct number later. There was a little breakdown in communications over this casting. So, at first, bases said MB608, but everything from hereon was denoted as being MB629 regardless, because every single release had exposed headlights. 

So, after the 2005 Burger Zone 5-pack issue, which technically has 3 variants (China base/hidden headlights, China base/exposed headlights and Thailand base/exposed headlights), we saw another Superfast outing. 

Just with the 1 release. Although, 2005 Superfast was the year of 2 markets. The USA market, with 15,000 pea green models sold, and every other market outside USA seeing 7,500 silver ones between them. Target stores in the USA also saw a unique 6-pack tin, which featured a bronze variant. 

For 2006, the Superfast series was back to just the 1 set, and this year saw another blue one, but with a lovely matte black tampo printed roof. 

After this, the Superfast range was shrunk down to a small set as a Walmart exclusive. It was renamed Superfast America, and featured a selection of 18 classic American cars. It was supposed to be 20, but the last 2 never arrived. The Camaro was one of the classics, and came in off-white with dual red stripes. 

Then, in 2008, it was given its second core outing. It was part of a Classic Cars 5-pack in yellow with dual black stripes. For the variation hunters, it could be found with either tri-spoke or disc wheels. After this, the model went on a little hiatus. 

Returning 5 years later as a 10-pack exclusive, celebrating the 60th Anniversary. Matchbox was on another trek off track with a view to make things from a child's point of view, and reduce the amount of classics in the range. However, they used 10-packs as a classic car avenue, with each pack seeing a classic car as an exclusive. However, each one saw the 60th Anniversary logo over the top, as each model was given just 1 pass through the tampo machine. The mid 2010s were a little unusual. I did see a shade to that one. And then it was back on hiatus. 

When it finally returned as a 9-pack exclusive 8 years later in 2021, the maroon model was noted for having quite a bit of cosmetic surgery. The front grille and rear light strip were now a part of the interior, and the bumper section as part of the base had been increased.

Another blue outing followed, this time with flames, as part of the 2022 Walmart Local Cruisers series. 

And then it was chosen to be one of the Target Red models in 2023. 

And, there is one thing you might have noticed. This model has never, EVER, been in the basic range. The Target Red is the closest, as this technically came in a box that had basic range in it. But, I am still waiting on Matchbox to release this casting as a worldwide basic range issue. Shall I start a petition?

Next up, we see the second of the new releases in the batch. The MB1130 '47 Chevy AD Truck takes the number 2 slot in Andes green. 

As I have noted already, since 2020, Matchbox has been making Candy models based on products from the Tootsie Roll Industries portfolio. Andes Chocolate Mints has been a part of Tootsie since 2000, but as seen on the truck, it says delivery since 1950. That is because, this was when these mints were launched. However, the name goes back to 1921. A gentleman by the name of Andrew Kanelos opened a store in Chicago, Illinois selling candy. He called it Andy's Candies, but after a while noticed that, in those days, men would often buy them for wives and girlfriends, but were not keen on buying candies with another man's name on them. So, he tweaked the name slightly to Andes Candies. And, yes, Chicago Illinois is also on the model. It has been researched properly. Andes are sort of similar to After Eight Mints, which are sold in a number of countries around the world. 

So, a metallic green model, with proper nods to the history of the candy on the side. Plus, more chrome, and the front end is also detailed. Wow! This batch is producing the sweetest (pun intended) models. I am extremely impressed with this one, and let's be honest, it does not look at all gimmicky. This does feel as it could legitimately be selling Andes Candies. It looks realistic. And, if it weren't for that Camaro, this would be my favourite Candy release to date. This is another stunner. In fact, one of the nicest liveries on this casting to date. This gets another easy 10 from me. 

This model started life as a 2018 Walmart exclusive new casting, when it debuted in the Chevy Trucks 100 years set. It came in red for the debut.

It was then in the basic range in blue for 2019, and was also chosen for the inaugural Candy series as well. 2019 saw them choosing 6 different Ferrara brand candies. This one was given the Butterfinger treatment. 

For 2020, it was given a recurring National Parks livery in the basic range, which I did notice was good for a shade. 

And in 2021, I saw another small shade with the Coffee Cruisers II 5-pack release in olive. 

It was not seen in 2022, but came back for another Coffee Cruisers outing, in the Coffee Cruisers IV 5-pack in blue. 

Which means that we are currently on only its 7th outing since debuting in 2018. That equates to slightly less then 1 per year. I wonder when it will pop up next?

The last of the new items is the MB1194 '61 Ford Falcon Ranchero. Taking the number 3 slot, it comes in Sugar Babies yellow. 

Sugar Babies were originally created back in 1935 by Charles Vaughan, who was working for the James O Welch Co candy company at the time. Sugar Babies are an offshoot of the Sugar Daddy, which Matchbox has sold previously in the Candy series on the MB995 Ford GT40. Charles also created Junior Mints, which we have seen on the MB713 '65 Austin Minivan. Through various acquisitions, these are now also a part of Tootsie. They are a small, soft, chewy milk caramel. Very popular for movie goers in the USA. And now, adorning the side of the Ranchero. I think it looks good. They used the logo, but behind it, we see a simple white stripe, and lower red and white strips, which match the Sugar Babies logo. The interior is the colour of the actual sweet itself. This is good. 

Some may not be keen on models like this, but I am seriously impressed with all 3 of the new releases. Each one looks good. I am giving this a 10 as well. I notice it has the tow hook on the rear. I guess the modification is a permanent addition. 

One more dive back, as this is the last of the new stuff. This one debuted at the end of the 2018 basic range in a pale mauve colour, which I noticed was good for a shade or 2. 

That was nothing compared to its second outing at the beginning of the 2020 basic range. It came in white. We saw wheel variations. 6-spoke or disk.

And we saw some serious shading, as some came out with a very thin white layer of paint. Others were much thicker, giving us a huge variation in the end result.

It then saw a final basic range outing in 2021, where it appeared in blue. I never found anything on that one. 

After that, it appeared twice in 2022. At first, it was orange in an early 9-pack outing. Then later in the year, it was added to the MBX Surfing II Hitch & Haul set, where it was given a tooling alteration to the base to add the rear tow hook. 

You can see quite a while passed between the 2 outings, from late in 2021 (P48) to shortly after mid-2022 (R31). Of course, there were other weeks of production as well, but still a long way apart for what it technically the same year. The modification has made no change to the MAN number. And I guess it is here to stay.

So, the Chevy AD Truck has had 7 outings since 2018. This has only had 6. And with the Camaro only seeing 4 since its retooling, we are definitely seeing some castings that do not get much action. Talking of which.

The other 3 models in the batch are repeats from earlier assortments. And the first of those is one that has seen a grand total of 3 outings since being retooled for 2019. The MB405 VW Delivery Van. It takes the number 4 slot in Fluffy Stuff blue. 

This model first appeared in the 2024 series, and I checked very carefully. I can see absolutely no difference between the new one and the previous run from last year. So, my collection of these still stands at 3. I hope they do something new with it soon. 

Number 5 in the set is another Camaro. The MB1036 '16 Chevy Camaro Convertible. This Cry Baby blue was originally also a part of the 2024 series. 

But, I have opened this one. I did see a little difference between the new run and the previous one. 

It's not a big one, but, let's bring in the original. 

It looks very familiar. So what did I notice?

If you were thinking a shade of blue, it's minimal. Not enough for me to really worry about. 

But, what I did notice is that the pink in the Cry Baby logo is lighter on the new run. As I said, it is not a big change, but enough for me to keep this as an extra in my collection. 

This one is a bit of a confusing one. The MB982 Hummer H2 SUV Concept returns for a third outing. Plus, this is a Tootsie Roll model, and the Camaro is a Tootsie Roll model. Yet, that one is based on the Midgees, but this one has Midgees added to the artwork on the package. That is a bit confusing for me. Why put Midgees here? And why use this a third time in this batch? Is it because it is the prime product in the Tootsie Roll Industries? I don't know. 

But, what I do know is that I did see a shade of brown between the 2020 and 2024 runs. This one is not yielding another shade. So, I stick with the 2. If you like artwork, then you will want all 6. Some will just go for the initial 3 as they are new. Others may be like me and will want a variation of a model out of a package. Others may also be wondering why these are marked up as 14+ on the packaging? Are they worried younger children may try and eat them, due to the candy branding on them? I have no idea. 

But, I do know I am done for another report. The final one of 2025. It features 3 new looks on vehicles that don't get much action, and all 3 look really cool to me. 

And 3 more that have been seen already. 

So, as these head off, I would like to wish everybody a very Happy New Year. Have a safe celebration, and hopefully a safe and happy week.