Matchbox Monday wells up at an awesome Walmart batch

When I was a child, my parents used to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. "Toy cars". I was easy to please. Well, this year, for those who know from me from the annual Gathering in Albuquerque NM, they will know that I usually bring Tayla along for the trip. Well, she asked me what I wanted for Christmas. "toys cars". I am still easy to please. Well, as I live in the UK, I am not able to get the Walmart exclusive releases. Luckily, if you know where to go, you can get them shipped over, and Tayla got the first Walmart batch of 2026 shipped over for me. That was her gift to me. And it was a lovely gift. In fact, I am stunned by just how good it is, when I started looking closer at the models. There are only 5 models in the batch, as they reduced the count last year. But, aside from the fact that the batches have been increased from 4 per year into 6 per year for this year, they have also eliminated the carry forwards. Everything is unique. Finally! We did see a random batch in 2023 where everything was unique. It was a 1-off 70th Anniversary set. Weirdly enough, we did not see things hanging about. Other batches saw the carry forwards hanging around, as people already had them. Only the card art collectors really showed interest. I have to say, this is a hell of an improvement. But, then I looked at the models, and I was even more impressed. Why? Well, let's get into it.

As has been the case for the last few years, they no longer make mention of the series name for each set of models. Luckily, they did have them listed at the line preview in Albuquerque. This first batch is called European Cars. Funnily enough, 4 of them are German, and there is a British car in addition. I do wonder if perhaps it might have been easier to just have called it German cars? Switch the Brit for a Mercedes-Benz or something? Mind you, the last batch is currently planned on being a BMW batch, so maybe they felt it was too much German. Then why have 4 German cars here? Surely a French car and/or an Italian car could have been shoe-horned in? A 2CV and Alfa Romeo 4C? Anyway, that is by and by. This is the batch we have, and I do admit that the 5 models are exceptional. First up, number 1 in the set is the MB1298 '75 Opel Kadett C Coupe. It comes in green. 

So, why am I saying these are exceptional? Well, let's check this out. As you can see, this is sporting a lovely bright green look, which does appear to be something that Kadetts came in at the time. It takes the GT/E side design that we have seen in the past, with a large black side section, with window trim and rear vent. But, do you notice the front headlights and grille are also detailed. 3 passes?

Err! No. The rear is fully detailed as well. There is a possibility that it is still 3 passes. With front and rear multi-colours, and the sides being just black, they could have managed a switch mid-tampo. Take out some of the pads, print one side with pad 1, take the model and flip it before reaching the final pad. Either way, this is a really impressive release. Because, when you look at the model, for what is still essentially a core release, the model has full wraparound tampo printing. It looks fantastic. I think this particular green looks stunning, and the black works well alongside it. Sure, you could argue over how the tampo doesn't really reach into the crevices of the doors. It is a limitation of the tampo printing process. It requires a relatively flat surface to work with. When you do a model with a large area receiving a hit like this, when you have the casting details like doors involved, the tampo printing pad won't fill the gaps. It never has. Likely never will. I am used to that. I mean, I got used to it when the MB010 Plymouth Gran Fury debuted back in 1979. Tampo printing is tampo printing. It doesn't really evolve much. It does not bother me at all. Yes, there is also a little smudge on the front corner, where it slightly went over. It is probably unique to the one I have. Again, no issue. It is what it is. I am looking at the overall look of the car. And I am blown away. This is definitely one of the best looks it has received, and gets an easy 10 from me. 

This model was created by Abe Lugo, and debuted back in 2022 in the basic range in white. The first release did not see any front detailing. We saw a similar side design, albeit with 2 colours that time. 

Dirk Schleuer chose the Opel to be the Leipzig model, and the best buddy release was also in green. As you can see, this was a different shade of green. That one saw a premium level of detailing, far beyond anything in a core range issue. 

It was 1 of 4 releases for the event that year. We also had a show model, regular convention model and a special helper model.

It then appeared in the 2023 basic range in orange. This time, it just sported front and rear tampo detailing. I did notice it was good for a little shading. 

It then saw a pale pastel green outing in the 2024 basic range. This was also sporting some nice shade work. 

And we also saw it used as a Super Chase that year, in a brownish orange look, with a high level of detailing. 

The model was not seen last year (unless you include a carry forward in a European series), which makes this the next one in the line of Kadetts. 3 greeny ones, 3 orangey ones, and a yellow, white and pink. We seem to be opting for a lot of green and orange with this one. Not that I mind when it looks as cool as this one does. However, I do hope we get to see a red one and a blue one at some point soon. 

The next model in the batch, taking the number 2 slot in the series of 5, is the MB1491 '23 BMW i4 Police Sedan. This casting only debuted late last year, and already gets a second outing. Again, it is a Polizei themed model. I do wonder why they chose this one now. After all, it is tentatively due to appear in the last batch as well, if the BMW themed batch goes ahead as planned. 

I have to say, this model looks better than the debut one did. I don't know if the additional tampo printing on this one helps to set it apart. But, with sides, front and hood all getting detailed (you can see the blue on the hood is smooth, as the hood is pretty smooth itself). And this blue and red look appears to be reminiscent of the look they tend to use in Austria, rather than Germany (which tends to see more blue and yellow). I like that they are utilizing different country looks on the BMW. 

Sure, we didn't get a tampo hit on the rear this time. But, with sides, front and hood, it definitely feels like it got more than we are used to. I think it is really good. And I hope this is their way of rotating the model around different countries. I am scoring this a 10. 

German and Austrian Polizei Autos. Next up, try New Zealand. They use them. Sadly, I think the UK no longer used BMW as police vehicles. They stopped making the police variant available in the UK around the time that the i4 was launched. The German look arrived late 2025, and Austrian look early 2026. We might have 2 more coming, if the basic range gets another outing and the last Walmart set of the year goes as planned. 

I look forward to seeing what liveries they come up with for the next ones. 

Porsche! Number 3 in the set of 5 is the MB979 Porsche Cayman. This Miguel López designed model has not seen a lot of action, which I am rather sad to see. But, they have made a lovely new release in pink.

As we know, you can have a Porsche in any colour you want. Using their "paint to sample" guide, you can come up with whatever colour you desire for your Porsche to be painted in. This does look fairly similar to a colour they call Rubystar. It is just a tad darker in hue. But, I think it is the one they were going for. And, although I am not a fan of a non-Cadillac in real life being pink, for some reason, I do love getting models of them. Perhaps it is because I grew up in the 1970s, with a number of models coming in pink. Maybe this helps to give me the nostalgia feel. But, look at this one? We get the lights and badge depicted on the front. But, then we get the Porsche side stripe as well. Woohoo! I love it when they add a Porsche side stripe. The white really goes wll on the pink, and making the wheel hubs white as well? Wow! Perfect. But, there's more. 

Because, yet again, we are seeing extra tampo. They are seriously going to town on this series. Tampo hits on all sides of this model. Having Porsche Cayman S on the back is something we have not seen before. And the Rosa 718 license plate is lovely. I am getting more and more impressed with this series as time goes on. Each model is just blowing me away more and more. I love it! Another perfect 10.

And, as I do a dive back, I have to start with my little prototype. It was fairly early in development. Note there is no fuel tank detailed on the side just behind the front wheel. 

When it debuted in the 2015 basic range in yellow, it had simple front and rear detailing. Note, no name badge tampo printed on the back.

It was also not included in the 2016 basic range release in red either. 

It was not used in 2017, but returned in 2018 in iridescent white. A colour which I noticed was good for a shade or 2. But, still not name badge on the rear. 

Then, after another year in the wilderness in 2019, it returned for another outing in 2020, in the MBX Highway 5-pack in brown. I noticed this was also good for a little shade. But, again, it just had front and rear tampos with no name badge. 

This is the first new look since 2020, although it did pop back in the 2023 Walmart exclusive Porsche series, as a carry forward of the 2018 issue. The major difference when you compare them was how the license plate looked. The yellow tampo was quite different. 

But, it does mean that this is only the model's 5th new look in 12 years of usage. That is seriously underused. I don't know why this one does not get the love. 

Next up is the only non-German vehicle in the batch. The MB1083 '63 Austin Healey 3000 MK2. it takes the number 4 slot in the set in red. 

Wow! That is all I can say when I look at this one. Another core release with so many passes through the tampo machine. What strikes me even more is the amount of colours. We have a tan panel on the side, and on top of that, a white roundel, with black writing, and silver and yellow in the colours as well. Wait, that's 5 colours. I know Garry mentioned at the Gathering that the factory was getting some upgrades. Is one of those the fact that they now have a tampo machine that does more than 4 colours in one go? When you check online you can find manufacturers of tampo machines now do 5 or 6 pad machines. I think this is an important development. Having a capability to increase the colours just fractionally can make things much better. We have been going with a 4-colour tampo for so long. I will see if I can find out whether this is true. It definitely looks so. I am also guessing that Michael Heralda had a hand in this. Lyons Bros? One of this original designs, that has been seen on a number of models over the year. Although, it doesn't have the usual "8" on the roundel. It has 63, denoting the year of the car. 

But, look at what else we have. Front detailed, a 63 roundel on the front and rear going over the top. That equates to 4 passes. And it gets a chrome base. This is close to premium level! As I keep saying, the more I look at the these, the more impressed I am with the models. I think that the brown interior and black wheel hubs set it off perfectly. It also has a clear (well, very lightly smoked) window. Blown away is an understatement. Again with a perfect 10. And very happy to see this model return. It has been a hot minute. 

As this one debuted in the 2018 basic range. Again it was red, but this was just getting simple front and rear detailing. And a grey base. No chroming. Did you notice the 2 here have different interior colours?

For 2019, it turned metallic light blue for a basic range outing, with the same front and rear tampo, with grey base. 

In 2020, we saw the last of the model in the basic range. But, we saw it twice. There was a cream outing, which saw shades of cream and again, different hues to the interior. 

Where I never saw anything of note with the other release in British Racing Green. 

However, this did get one more outing after 2020. In 2021, the Blue highways II 5-pack saw a lighter green model with a white side print. Still no chroming to the base. I did spot a little shading to the green. But, that has been all we have seen of that casting until now. 

I have to say, this latest release blows all of the other 5 out of the water. I just hope this means we will start seeing more of this one again. It has been underused. Just like the Cayman. 

And I am already on to the last model in the batch. The MB1422 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet in blue. This is obviously number 5 of 5. 

Now, this might completely floor you. It almost floored me just typing it. Was this one necessary? Huh? What? Me asking if a Porsche was necessary? Let me clarify. This was a European series. As such, we see 5 vehicles. They had a lot to choose from. They went with 4 German vehicles, and 2 of them Porsches. Sure, if I had my way, we would have another all-Porsche set. But it would be called a Porsche set. They could have not used the Austin Healey, and gave us a 5th German vehicle. Perhaps a VW? But, I think my earlier 2CV (France) and Alfa 4C (Italy) might have been better choices for more variety than a second Porsche and a BMW Police vehicle. Sure, both of these are awesome. But, the BMW could have been the one in the BMW themed set at the end of the year, and this used elsewhere. Because the Cayman hasn't been used in a while, and this is a current casting that has been used in both the last 2 years (and last year, the debut was carried forward to a 5-pack). Mind you, have you noticed something? A little extra that has not been put on a core range issue in a long time. Convertibles have not seen the window frame tampo printed since the early 2000s. With limited passes through tampo machines, most tend to see the usual front and rear, and the window left plain. I am shocked. But, in a happy way. So cool! I don't know how they have managed to get all of these 5 models so well detailed. Take away carry forwards and increase the tampo printing? This set is just next level for a core range. In fact, as I have been saying how Moving Parts is my favourite range within the Matchbox portfolio. I am starting to ponder whether the Walmart exclusives could end up being my second favourite range. They are coming up fast. Make way for the Walmart stuff!

And this model is fantastic. We have seen a number of Porsches in this sort of shade of bright blue in recent years. It fits in so well with those one. And with front, rear and window printing, this has also nudged the bar up further. Again, a perfect 10. 

As you can see, the 2024 debut in red just had the front and rear prints. The window was left clear.

The same with last year's charcoal one. No window detailing. 

This is also the first 911 Carrera to see a new license plate detail. Blau 911, as it is German. And do you also notice the extra red blob, that last year's charcoal didn't get at the back? This Walmart set has really set a precedent. 

And with that, I am done. As I said, 2 of the castings used are recent castings, which we have seen releases for already. I think they could have looked at other countries for a European series. That is my only complaint. The models themselves are all top notch. Every single one! A full set of 10s for the models, but had I scored on the decision for what to include in the set, I would have gone lower. Either make it a German only set and switch the Austin Healey out for another German vehicle. My choice would be the MB1394 '62 VW Karmann Ghia. you know, the casting that debuted as a Walmart exclusive in 2023, and has not been given a new look since. Hello. It exists. I am still waiting! Or, switch out the police vehicle and second Porsche and add in a French and Italian car to better represent different countries. 

And I chose the 911 to drop purely because the Cayman has been underused, and had not seen a new look since 2020.Had the Opel not beein given a Leipzig release, this would also not have been used too much. And that was the latest out of the castings that were not seen in 2025. I do like seeing some castings used in these Walmart sets that have not been in the basic range for a year or 2. It's like we are extending the basic range to include more vehicles. Well, if you are in Walmart, or another store in another country that might happen to sell them. 

So, thank you again to Tayla for my lovely Christmas present. It is awesome! Next week, I return to the usual offerings that we get, and more from Wheel Collectors that were sent my way. Until then, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.