So has Matchbox caught your attention?

If you are on Instagram, you probably know that Matchbox has set the collecting world abuzz with some work-in-progress pics of the upcoming 1971 Nissan Skyline.  What they posted last night really got people talking:

This is the third photo they have posted of the Skyline in various stages of development, and they have promised that more are coming.  That means you need to be following @matchboxworld on Instagram ASAP.

It is a blast to see the reaction to the photos.  Tons of exclamation points, lots of sharing, and a great deal of excitement.  There is no doubt the Matchbox Skyline will be a hit.

We will get into the Skyline in much more detail soon, but what is most important is that collectors are talking about Matchbox.  And the Skyline is only part.

There is no doubt you have seen my excitement about Matchbox as well.  I have done quite a few Matchbox-focused posts on the blog lately, and that won't stop.  There is just a ton, new and old, to show.  Plus, with the new regime at Matchbox focused on keeping collectors in the loop, there will always be news to share.

And then there are the models.  When I was shooting the Jaguar F-Type for last week's feature, I gathered the other recent sports car releases from Matchbox and shot them together.  As great as it was to see these good-looking cars together, all with realistic decos and colors, it was even better knowing that all were released with the last year.

We haven't seen an output like that from Matchbox in years, and all indications are that it will get even better.  That is exciting.

So the question is, are you taking notice?  Are you finding yourself moseying on over to the Matchbox pegs more often?  Are your eBay searches starting to include a little more orange?  If Instagram and Facebook are indicators, the answer for many of you is yes.

That doesn't mean we are out of the woods.  There are still a lot of improvements to be made to make Matchbox as relevant as it once was.  That starts with more frequent releases and MUCH better distribution.  It also means better models, whether real or generic.

Matchbox seems to be figuring out again that realism sells, whether to kids or collectors, and that is definitely evident in the models below.  It is so nice to have Orange back in the game...

First Look: 2016 Matchbox BMW M5 Police...

Authorized sneaks!

It seems appropriate that the day after announcing that Lamley would from here on out be unauthorized-sneak-peek-free, I run with an authorized sneak.  Even better, I sneak a model that is as good-looking as this one.

Since its release a couple of months ago, it seems the Matchbox BMW M5 Police has been a hit.  And why wouldn't it be?  The casting is great, the livery is great, and even without the front and rear tampos the model looks great.  And it was a perfect choice.  I would never complain about a civilian M5, but the police car is more interesting.

And we now know it will return in 2016, and to mix it up by going "Police" instead of "Polizei".  When I think of a BMW Police Car, especially an M5, I think Europe or Dubai, but I have no problem with this livery.  I would have preferred licensed of course, but this style looks really good, especially over white.

Which leads to something I hope to see soon.  It is a sad fact that we can't see a full tampo print on these models, but it is what it is.  (Of course raising the price a tad might be the solution, but that is a topic for another day.)  But we do know that on a premium model there is a good chance we could see a nice 4-sided print.

That means we need to see this model in a premium Matchbox line.  Which means we need to give Mattel incentive to make another.  We have Best of the World coming out, and when it does, let's buy those models.  The better they sell, the more we could compel Mattel to make more.  That could mean a premium M5, Skyline, Miata, and on and on.  I like that idea.

So when Best of the World comes out, buy the models!  This badass BMW is counting on it!

In the meantime, this beauty should be able to hold you over...

September 2nd Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Dirk Schleuer...

Ambassador Update 02 September 2015

Hello Matchbox friends,

Summer time is vintage car time...at least for me...several smaller and bigger meetings, rallys and lots of fun.

Beginning in August, I went to a small place near the river Rhein called Hitdorf and did that with a very special car – see pic below.

Sorry – pic is from a local newspaper so you normally do get a better quality from me! You know that Matchbox sold a model of that vehicle only some years ago?

(Check: http://www.mbxforum.com/11-Catalogs/00-Software/jnmb75nds.php?uSeries=ClassicEuropean Economy Cars&uCatalog=3002)

With the special protection the trips to follow will surely be safe!

Having fun with our Messerschmitt KR200 Convertible – my Mom and me!

But know show you some new stuff coming:

New models from the 1-120 series:

New color for the very sought after Tesla:

And a new layout for the police Dodge Charger:

Even better from this angle?

All these pics will surely also turn up on Johns and David's Lamley Group (http://lamleydlm.blogspot.de/).  My friend John Nijhuis has devoted an extra page for my updates and report – check: http://www.mbxforum.com/01-News/900-Ambassador/jnambassador11.php

Rather sad news is that the supreme heroes series has been canceled. Only wave A with four models was produced and the other models shown from coming waves were just samples and not produced. But don’t be too sad – the best of world series is coming and surely fill the gap – check pics of three more models coming:

Lets start with the bike – surely special even in this very special set:

 

Printing on the seat proves that it is still before production and the pic came in really hot from the design team at the ToyBox at Mattel.  I include big pics so you don’t miss a detail...

And it surely would be wrong to miss a detail on this Land Rover with emergency layout!

One more pic to enjoy!

Also we need a Cadillac – check out this beauty:

But we are not finished yet – highlight surely is Michaels 5.000 design – the bus:

And the other chocolate side...

But also the front view is nice and shouldn’t be missed:

Last time I did ask you about new Matchbox Originals to do and I still keep that question alive. I do get several ideas of licensed vehicles to be produced and surely everybody can name on the point 5- 10 castings never done before and surely worth doing. But I think these ideas will help the design team even more!

Oil field pipe truck:

Timberjack log skidder:

And on my lunchbreak a had one of these on my pedestrian way: Nilfisk City Ranger – surely a great challenge to create:

Because it bends in the middle to turn quicker:

Sometimes you find funny things on the way/road. This time a plane pulling kind of car...

If you know the wheels – yes – it is a duck (Citroen 2CV). At least the most useful and needed parts of it and surely it pulls a plane – prove picture!

I did take the picture on my rallye last weekend – the rallye was called “GoldRace” and took us from Jülich near Aachen (Aken) into the Netherlands and back home. Good weather and lots of fun:

Every team do get a Matchbox model Duesenberg with their own race number on it – so ours was number 2...

From time to time I play with the little explore the world model ;) You surely can guess its purpose?!

We had lots of fun at the rallye and I wish you also lots of fun with the best hobby in the world... 

Dirk 

August Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Dirk Schleuer...

Ambassador Update 01 August 2015

Hello Matchbox friends,

As said, I will send you frequent updates, rather than waiting to post the information until a next report is due to be issued. With the new team in charge, we do get pics and info at a stage that is way before we used to get them in previous years. Some info is spread direct thru Instagram “@matchboxworld” and some is coming thru our channels like my reports or the blogs like John and David's Lamley Group (http://lamleydlm.blogspot.de/). To cover you with the information in time as well I will use these updates.

You might have seen this pic from the new licensed GHE-O Toy Fair model already:

Surely a beauty and a must have for me!  Note that this will not be available at retail, so the secondary market is the only way to get one if you are interested.

We are proud that we can also show you the backside of the model:

Always nice to see what the boys can do to the design and details when they aren’t limited to create a $1 toy!!!

That brings us to the “next step up” models – the Best of World series is surely a home run. Also not tied up in the $1 problem the range, shows 12 super models to collect. My favorite so far is surely this Lambo LM002 with these perfect fitting tires and a nice deco:

But also the design for the standard model corvette to come is worth having a look at.  Especially if you check it against some weird decos from the last years:

And yes – I really want to collect your ideas of future models to come … the team is working on 2017 at the moment. As always around 25 new castings are in line. It is just a fact that being a $1 toy not every casting can be a licensed car, even if we only suggest licensed models. I'm pretty sure that we can still name hundreds of good alternatives to do as a Matchbox, but we might help the team more if we also find ideas for “Matchbox originals” (non licensed/generic), models like the glass truck from Larry’s report. So lets make an agreement: you send me your idea of a model, and it is licensed, you also include a Matchbox original idea, or a decoration for an existing casting.

Ok – I will start:

Being German and liking sport cars, I'm really a fan for this unique sports car: Wiesmann (www.wiesmann.com) – you rarely see them on the street, but if you see one you take a second to enjoy it!

Ok – I will keep my promise to submit an idea for a Matchbox original model. Just passed one of these today – we see them in different versions around, and we all need them to get the road we want to drive on – a street building machine – picture is one version, but I guess we can all live with this being a nice addition to our “INC” company vehicles:

The other idea is a design for an existing casting. You all know we do get the BMW M1 (1M) last years in a very special livery for the Leipzig show. But the car was also used as a safety car – check this:

So far so good … Have fun


Dirk