The Underappreciated Subaru Alcyone SVX and Legacy Touring Wagon, by Kyosho...

We are probably just as guilty for not appreciating these two models.  The fact is we took these photos several months ago, but never posted them.

And that is a shame because they are a very cool duo, lost in a sea of BRZ's and STi's, and, at least in my mountainous area, Outbacks, and are two models that need a little more love.  The Wagon because it isn't sold in the US, which is a shame, and the SVX because it is a model that never took off like many expected it would.

We like sporty wagons, and the Legacy certainly qualifies as such.  It really is too bad, as I would take a wagon over the sedan anytime.

The SVX?  We will let Ryu Asada, of Hot Wheels Design fame, who owns an 1996 SVX, and is also from Japan, tell you about this misunderstood gem:

It has a very unique and elegant body style (at least we think) done by the greatest Italian designer Giugiaro who had designed numbers of great cars in the past including Lotus Esprit, Delorean, BMW M1, etc..(you can research).. A lot of us probably like SVX because of its look...even after 25 years, never gets old!
It was super unusual for Subaru to outsourse the exterior design as well. You can tell Subaru was very serious to make thier flagship GT car that doesn't look like any other Japanese cars. In order to capture his original concept/idea of "jet fighter canopy" look roof, the engineers never compromised to achive it depite of extreme difficuties they're facing.
Back in the day Subaru engineers had very strong motto of "never compromise".  Some say it was over engineered.  It was good times.  If you looked around, many car manufacutures were making cars like NSX, R32 GTR, Toyota Soarer, Mitsu GTO, Eunos Cosmo.  So it was Subaru's attempt to step up, join the game and make their own flagship, their own GT car.  Well the timing was bad.  Economy crashed soon after SVX finally came out, and those Subaru engineers hope & dream didn't last long.  And that made the car so rare and hard to find, some even say failure.  But I believe the SVX really deserves a 2nd chance!
There were certain diffrerences between JDM and US versions, but JDM SVX came with VTD 4WD transmission which I believe you can thank SVX for today's Subarus.  I've never driven JDM SVX unfortunately, but I heard it was very nice.  (US version carried over old XT tranny..?)  Also the EG33 flat 6 is very smooth and very reliable.  It was going to be 3.0 turbo but since it was supposed to be all round GT car for enthusiasts or grown ups, so they decided to drop that idea and grew engine by 10%, hence 3.3L.  It could've been interesting if they did make 3.0L turbo and manual gearbox. SVX never came with 5spd.  My SVX is basically trouble free for about 8 years... (excluding sensors or those small things, you know..)  JDM also came with a 4WS system..must be nice.  The interior design is bit dated but the wrap-round suade pads are very nice touch and that's what everybody notice when they got inside of my car.  The ride is very comfortable and smooth, yet delivers decent power if you shift to lower gears.  Cornering is very neautral thanks to its 4WD.  Feel safe as well in any weather condition.
Forgot to mention but I heard SVX was great on snow too!  That's something I've never experienced here in Cali.  Also great on LA traffic too...very comfortable..when I'm stuck in S2K, I just get really frustrated.. 

That is automotive love.

So here they both are, as done by Kyosho for the Subaru series that was out last year.  Enjoy...

(You can find the Kyosho Subaru models at Curitiba Customs and on eBay...)

The Last Golden Age of Matchbox: The best Mattel Camaro is a Matchbox...

Just a minute ago that title did say "The best Mattel '69 Camaro is a Matchbox", but come one, that's easy.  The Hot Wheels '69 Camaro is...uh...okaaaayyyy, so the competition isn't that fierce.

Expand it out to all Mattel Camaros, and it is on.  That Hot Wheels '70 Camaro is really nice, and there is a '67 Camaro some people seem to like.  Even the '85 Iroc is pretty darn nice.

But our vote goes to the Matchbox '69 Camaro.  Not the dreadful convertible, but the awesome hardtop.  For a lot of reasons.  For one, it goes stock.  At least as stock as a standard Matchbox can go.  No large rear wheels, no lowered stance, and even an RS option (more on that later).  It is solid, it is big, and it looks really damn good.

And when you look at what castings Matchbox has chosen the last 10 years, you think more Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint and Austin Mini Van than you do a '69 Camaro.  '69 Camaros are about as commonplace in diecast as anything else, and that is not what Matchbox seemed to be about.

But back in 2003, there was a sliver of time when the powers that be thought taking Matchbox in a premium direction was the way to go.  Matchbox had been producing the Premiere line for awhile, and there was thought continuing that direction with models like the '69 Camaro, or 1970 Plymouth Cuda, or Mercury Cougar, or other signature muscle cars.  Realism would be the goal, and the castings were made.

And all was set until the idea was killed.  So Mattel had all these fantastic castings and nothing to do with them.  Enter the New Superfast line in 2004.  It was an ambitious plan, and one that worked for a few years, where Matchbox would do a separate 1-75 line of realistic models with realistic decos, and those muscle cars would be the series' anchor.

The '69 Camaro was used twice in the first Superfast line.   There was an RS version with concealed headlights, and one with exposed headlights:

Yeah, the wheels on the first issue of Superfast left quite a bit to be desired, but we miss that line a ton now.  The model selection and execution was fantastic.  And the '69 Camaro was always part of it.  In fact, this casting has never been part of the standard mainline.  We have seen it in premium lines, 5-packs, and 10-packs, but nowhere else.

And that makes collecting the '69 Camaro somewhat difficult.  Actually you can find most models on eBay, but if you are a completist and want all versions, there are some variations to look for.  Variations like the wheel change on the Muscle Car 5-pack model:

Or the most difficult of all, the two headlight variations on the 2005 Burger Zone 5-pack in black:

(The RS version is the hardest of the two, but it is to the point now that finding either is difficult.  Unless of course there is a 5-pack for sale right now.  Which there is.)

Nonetheless, have a look at the photos.  You may still have your Mattel Camaro preference, but there is no denying this one is a looker...

Matchbox '69 Camaro:

2004 Superfast

2004 Superfast RS

2005 Burger Zone 5-pack

2005 Superfast US

2005 Superfast ROW

2006 Superfast 5-pack

2007 Superfast

2009 Superfast America

2010 5-pack

2013 9/10-pack