Your chance to acquire a one-of-a-kind Hot Wheels Datsun Wagon Super Treasure Hunt, and all for charity...

It is Matchbox Gathering Month!

We are less than two weeks away from my favorite July tradition, the Matchbox Collectors Gathering of Friends in New Mexico.  If you read Lamley, you know this is the one diecast-related event I look forward to more than any every year.  It is low-key, full of cool people, littered with unique stuff to acquire, and always interesting.

But why am I talking about this when there are two Hot Wheels cars pictured above?

There is a good reason.  One of the biggest highlights of the Gathering is the Charity Auction held after the Saturday night dinner.  A plethora of items are donated, including some fantastic prepros by Mattel, and all are auctioned off.  All the money raised in the auction is donated to Rachel's Courtyard at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Rachel's Courtyard is an outdoor area at the hospital where severely ill children and their families can go to get fresh air, hang out, and play, all while staying close to the care they need.  Knowing how tough hospitals can be, especially on children, this is a fantastic service the hospital provides.

Richard Borkovetz Landscape Architects

I have donated a decent amount through auction wins in the past, but this year I thought it was appropriate to donate items as well.  As I went through my stuff, these two Hot Wheels Datsun Wagons stuck out:

These two Datsuns, one a Super TH and one basic, were donated by Eric Bizek at JDM Legends to Lamley for any future charitable effort, and Rachel's Courtyard most certainly qualifies.  I had Eric, whose logo dons the side of the model, sign the card, along with others whose logos are there: Ben Hsu of Japanese Nostalgic Car, and Terry Yamaguchi of the world-famous JCCS, the Japanese Classic Car Show.  Lastly, the model's designer, Jun Imai, was gracious enough to sign as well.

It is now time to put these two models to good use, so we decided to use them to help raise funds for Rachel's Courtyard.  The one problem?  How well would these do at an auction where most attendees are more interested in classic Matchbox?  Not well.

So we decided to make these available to all of our Lamley readers instead.  Both are up on eBay right now, open for bidding, and they are available to all, no matter where you live.  You can find the two listings here:

Lamley Charities Datsun 510 Wagon Super TH Auction

The auction started yesterday (there has already been a good deal of action on the Super), and expires next Sunday.  Every penny will be added to the total raised at the Saturday night auction at the Gathering.  I will make sure the winners get documentation for their records, and that there is complete transparency in regards to the full donation.

We hope you all participate.  The winners will get very unique versions of an immensely popular model, but most importantly, we will be able to help enhance the lives of some children that really need it.  Lamley readers have come through time and time again, and now is our chance to do it again.  Let's raise a few dollars...