Matchbox Monday wallops us with another Walmart exclusive set

2026 saw Matchbox change the way they sold the Walmart exclusive series again. When they first started, they saw a mix of repeated and new items, and batches were random at first, until soon settling into a 4-per-year release, with 2 batches of 2 different themes. They did briefly move up to 6 batches, with 3 of each, but was straight back to 4 again. A few years later, it was changed to 4 batches, with each batch being a different theme. But, the general rule (not 100%) was half new, half repeated in a batch of 6 models. For 2025, they changed this very slightly, by releasing only 5 models in each batch. However, they would still do 3 new models, with only 2 being repeated. But, this still doesn't quite work out well, as many of the repeated items end up pegwarmers. Very few of the new ones do. So, after this batch runs through, things will be changed again. Each batch will consist of 5 new looks. No repeats. This is the last one with repeats. And, what's more, 2026 will again up it to 6 batches throughout the year. Which means Walmart stores in the USA will see 30 models that won't be seen anywhere else in the USA. However, that is a USA thing. These exclusives are allowed to be sold in other countries. But, as is the usual case, we tend to still refer to them as the Walmart exclusives, simply because it was Walmart that originally asked. So, give Walmart credit, they are helping to increase the brand allotment. Anyway, enough waffling on about the Walmart stuff. I should start looking at the models.

So, number 1 of 5 is new. In fact, the whole thing is new. As we know, Matchbox does like to debut a new casting exclusively in the Walmart series each year. Quite often they appear in the final batch. Let's see. Last year was a '63 Corvette. The year before, a '62 VW Karmann Ghia. 2022 was a '41 Dodge V-series Pickup Truck. 2021 was a '75 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. 2020 was the '19 Ford Mustang. That was the last time they had a modern vehicle as an exclusive. They do like the classics as Walmart exclusives, and this whole series features classic vehicles. It was inevitable. This year it is the MB1526 '58 Chevy Impala. It debuts as number 1 in the series in blue.

Back in the day, Lesney sold a 2nd generation 1959-60 Impala between 1961 and 1965 in blue. They then replaced it with a 3rd generation which ran from 1965 through 1968, but marketed as a taxi. It was yellow, and it had Taxi sprawled across the front. We then saw an 8th generation Impala debut in 2000, but this time as a police unit. Plus, it also spawned a feature model variant. This ran across a variety of ranges until 2012. The Impala itself ran for 10 generations, so there are 7 that Matchbox never made. But, going with the classics, they have gone with the 1st generation. Weirdly, it was only made in 1958. When Chevy debuted the car, it was a top of the range Bel Air model. A little over 180,000 were produced, around 15% of total Chevys that year. Seeing a market, they spun it off into its own segment for 1959 with a new look. So, this look, it only appears for 1 year. 

I love seeing models that don't have a long shelf life in real life. This is a 1-year model, and I think it is great to include. And this has been beautifully crafter. The attention to the casting details in the side are evident. Sadly, they decided to forego the side tampo detailing, which would have really enhanced these details, by giving us a white roof. 

Don't get me wrong. I do like the white roof. But, with front and rear detailing being added to the casting, if they were able to sneak a little more in, I would have preferred some silver pin striping added to the sides. 

They have given the front end some tampo printing, but as they went with the whole lower half being part of the base section, and chromed, only the upper half gets it. Of course, this would have been a case of passing the chromed section through the tampo machine, but as has been seen before, the details don't come out that well on chrome. Lights in particular tend to blend in. So, in my opinion, the front end is as good as they could make it. I am happy with it. 

However, and I know this may not be everybody's opinion, quite often we see side pin striping and no rear print. What there is on the rear is minimal. Personally, I would have left the roof plain, and given the sides some pin stripes. But, if that was proving too much, I would have then looked at removing the rear print to do the side striping. I do honeslty think that the sides should have seen a little more action. The casting was really well done, but the side details are getting a little lost in the lack of tampo.

The rest is well done. This colour is known as Silver Blue Poly. A real Chevy Impala option at the time. The interior is pale tan. Quite often, the real ones would have two-tone interiors. Quite often they would match the exterior, so that would be blue and white here? Obviously, we are not getting two-tone interiors on a core range model. So, they went in-between. That is fine for me.  And the wheels are brilliant here. Disc ones work very well. And that chrome. Perfect. 

So, let's score this one. Inclusion. Brilliant. I love having the 1st generation created, especially as it was only around 1 year. It is quite iconic as well. Casting. Again, I cannot fault what has been done here. This looks just like the real vehicle. I cannot fault that. So, again a 10. Design. Well, I guess you know I am not giving it top marks. I would have preferred the sides detailed. Whether it be at the expense of the roof or the rear is not important to me. I know they have a limit. If they could have done without the white roof, and given silver pin stripes down the side, it would have been a 10. But, I am dipping down to a 9. So close, in my eyes. Others may disagree with my choice on this one. We are all different. Others may be liking this as is. Others may think the Impala was not needed. Nobody will be 100% happy with everything. But, 29 out of 30 is still a very good score for a new casting. I love adding 1950s and 1960s models. 

And being a new casting, I do provide the base shot. 

On to the second model in the batch. We have the MB1226 '19 Ford Mustang GT in purple. 

I have to say, this does look gorgeous. It is not an official look for the model. There was a special SEMA release in purple that year, on a modified body. A 'Mischievous Purple' was issued late in 2022 into 2023 as an option, although that is darker. So, this does appear to be a Matchbox original colour option. But, as I always say, that is not a bad thing. Especially when it does look really cool. And this one does. I love the gold wheels and the usual front and rear tampo prints.

So, I cannot argue how this looks. It does receive a perfect 10 from me. However, just as an aside, as this is a part of the Local Cruisers series, I know a modern muscle car can fit the theme, but I could have happily gone with a classic. Could you imagine if they had dug out the MB368 '99 Ford Mustang for a new look? That could have been awesome. Same purple? Yeah, definitely. I think it was a missed opportunity.

And I said that, even though this is one of my favourite castings. Which is why I did go a little nuts with variations. It debuted in the 2020 Mustang series, exclusively at Walmart in the USA (other countries could have sold it as well). It was initially in green, which I found shades on.

Turning orange in the second batch of the year, and again, good for shade. Hey, that is all 3 secondary colours between year 1 and now. 

The model was also a part of the Top Gun Maverick 5-packs as well, which ran through 2021, as the film was being delayed. I spotted some serious shading to that grey one. 

It then debuted in the basic range in 2021, not once, but twice. The first release was in white, with a second outing in blue later.

It was also given a lovely burgundy outing as a semi-exclusive in the 4th batch of 9-packs that year.

In 2022, it was only used as a carry forward in the 2022 Local Cruisers series, which leads us to 2023. 2 red outings, one with a Shell livery as part of a Convoy set, and the other with white stripes being a Target exclusive. 

And it was also chosen to be an exclusive new look in a Walmart series that year as well. White was a part of the Muscle series. 

2024 saw only the second year it has seen action in the basic range, appearing in black. It was also a part of the Candy series that year (again this year as well) in blue with Razzles on the side.

Considering this model only debuted in 2020, the equivalent of 6 model years has passed, and it has had 12 different looks. Yes, it is brilliant. I am a big fan of the casting, and love getting new ones. But, I still would have loved for a left-field choice by giving us an older Mustang casting. This does appear quite often as a Walmart exclusive. 

The last of the new looks in the series goes to the MB1174 '35 Ford Pickup which comes in orange in the number 3 slot.

Matchbox Construction Co? Why does that feel familiar? Shall I bring in the 2019 debut release of this casting?

Ooh! They have revisited the tampo design on this one. I am a big fan of seeing the same design, but in different colours. Just like seeing repeated and recurring themes, when they release a model in the same livery as a previous one, but in an alternate colour, I do smile. And they even snuck in a little change with the number. It went from 7 to 1. Does this mean we can expect to see at least 5 other alternate colours from 2-6? I am down for it. 

We see plenty of construction themed models in this particular colour, which also makes it feel so right. I am very happy to score this a perfect 10. 

Now, as I dive back, I did mention it debuted in green in 2019 in the same livery. Brilliant!

With 2020 giving us a Kingson Pop liveried basic range release in blue, which I did spot a little shading on. 

For 2021, the model was given a rustic look in the basic range, and if you opened the model, you discovered the far side had a blue door. Brilliant! It was also a Walmart exclusive that year as well, coming in red in the Truck series. 

2022 saw the model dropped from the basic range, but that didn't slow it down. In fact, it sped it up. 3 releases. A Coffee Cruisers III 5-pack issue in dark green was joined by a Target Retro outing in dark blue, featuring a throwback look to a 1980s release of a Model A Van, and Collectors saw a matte black Mooneyes model. 

2023 saw it return to the basic range again. This time, it was in a yellow Mooneyes theme, which I did spot more shading on. 

And 2024 saw it appear as a Super Chase in the basic range, in a very similar shade of orange to the new one. 

Which means that this model has also now hit double digits in terms of releases. The debut did reappear in a 2024 5-pack, MBX Road Cruisers. I wonder where it will appear next?

Right, with the new stuff all done and dusted, it's time to check out the carry forwards. Hopefully, this will be the last time. With 2026 seeing everything as a new model in the Walmart assortments, I hope it is not short-lived. The MB1046 '51 Hudson Hornet makes another appearance in its debut black and white scheme as the number 4 model in the set.

For some reason, they do like repeating liveries on this one. And this is the 4th time we have seen this one. It was the debut release back in 2017, and then was added to a Police 5-pack in 2018. It was then seen again in 2022, in another 5-pack, MBX Highway II. And now here. 

1 look, 4 outings. Am I getting a little tired of seeing it repeated? Yes. Am I spotting something new here? Also, yes. 

Let's bring in the original to find out. 

The new one is sitting on top of the original. I think it is clear to see. The gold in the tampo printing is quite different. So, yeah I am keeping the new one. But, I have to say, I wish they would come up with a new look on this. 

Because the 2nd outing in the 2018 basic range in red was also utilized again, as part of the 2021 Advent Calendar.

2019 saw a final basic range outing in blue. This was joined by a gold Superfast special, exclusively in Target stores that year. 

And then it was a part of the 2020 MBX Countryside 5-pack in white. It has not been given a new look since then. 

Plodding along as re-releases. I really would love to see them giving this model a new outing. In a new colour. Something different. 

The last model in the set is the MB810 '71 Pontiac Firebird Formula. It repeats its 2014 basic range look as number 5 in the set.

11 years is definitely long enough to re-hash a model. Us collectors may be in it for the long haul, but a lot of kids will phase in and out of toy cars in 5-6 years. So, anything over 5 years old, in my opinion, is okay to carry forward, if they have to carry forward. As I said, next year is looking up, with no carry forwards in the Walmart stuff. So, this was a decent outing then, and still looks the part now. Remember, back in 2014, Matchbox was trying to move away from certain realistic looks, and create a variety of vehicles from a child's perspective. They didn't go down well, both with us collectors, or with the kids they are really targeting them at. The venture was scrapped after a few years, and the realism returned. However, considering most classic vehicles were also dropped, we still had odd ones. And the Firebird slipped in the range, in this lovely green design with a black design down the sides. 

It also saw some rear tampo, which returns this time out. As a carry forward, this is a good choice. Much better than the Hudson. So, having opened it, you know it has a variation to the original. However, I will get to that in a second, as I will run through its history year by year.

It debuted back in 2011 as a worldwide basic range release. It first appeared in blue, which I noticed shaded a little during production. But, was also chosen to have 2 outings that year. 

It then returned later in the year in a look that many felt reminded them of 'The Rockford Files', as Jim Rockford would drive a Firebird in this colour in the TV show in the 1970s. I also noticed it was good for shades.

For 2012, it was again chosen to receive 2 outings during the year. It started in black with a side design, and then moved to green with front and rear prints. 

It was also chosen to be the dinner model at the 10th Matchbox Gathering in Albuquerque. Depending on whether you were an early bird or not, would designate whether it had a screaming eagle on the hood.

2013 saw the aforementioned change of direction, and reduction of classics in the basic range. However, the guys at Matchbox did something unique with the 10-packs. Each pack would contain an exclusive, and each of these would be a classic car, with a single pass over the top that featured the 60th Anniversary logo in the tampo design. The Firebird was one of the chosen models. 

Then, we arrive at 2014. When this look originally appeared. At the time, I did spot some shading to the green. Lighter or darker shades. So, how does this compare?

It sits to the right here. A much duller shade of green than any I saw originally. That is good. Worth me keeping. However, some may want more. 

The base of the new run is noticeably lighter than it was back in 2014. So, darker on top, lighter on bottom. A definite variation. 

Time to continue. In 2015, it was a part of a Classic Ride 5-pack in red.

And then, after taking 2016 off, it popped back up in the basic range in orange with a screaming eagle hood print, which again was good for a little shade.

It then saw no action until 2021, when it was used twice in 2 ranges. A blue release was a 9-pack exclusive and a red one was in the Target Retro series. 

This is the 3rd carry forward, as it saw 2 of them in 2022. The debut blue reappeared in the MBX Highway II 5-pack, which did see a few different hues on the blue to the original run. And the 2012 black basic popped back up in the Walmart 2022 Local Cruisers series, with tampos being a little brighter than originally found. So, it is a little sad that it has been used as a carry forward in both Local Cruisers sets. The Mustang GT was in the 2022 Local Cruisers set as well. Which does beg the question, can they not look further afield for models to bring back? Or is that now redundant if they are able to keep up with all-new models in Walmart batches?

So, that's me done for another week. A Walmart batch with the customary new casting for the year. 

Along with 2 more models in new looks. 

And what will hopefully be for the last time in a Walmart set, 2 carry forwards. Even if both, this time, did yield a variation. I will take them, but I do prefer a new model than a carry forward. More reasons to look forward to 2026 (alongside a movie, with lots of merch alongside it). 

As these head off, I guess I should return to where I was last week. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.