First Look: New 2015 Matchbox 10-packs in the UK at Tesco, by David Tilley...

Well, things are finally getting moving in the UK.  We still have not touched 2015 yet with singles, but after the first 2x 5-packs appeared last month, we now move into 2015 on the 10-packs too.

We get the Two Story Bus exclusive pack...

...and Caterham Superlight R500 pack.

I was wondering just how long it would take for these to appear.  The last batch was out long before Christmas, and these should have been quite early in January (I would have thought).  The packages are dated H03, with models produced in either H02 or H03, meaning it was all done in the factory during the second and third weeks of January.

 

So now to show the exclusives a little better (I mean, you can't see them properly boxed up).

First up, we get the Two Story Bus.  After the gold/white debut in 2013, we saw an all-red version in 2014 in the basic range.  Now with this appearing as a 10-pack exclusive, this could mean that there may not be a basic range version.  Usually, lately, Mattel make the 9/10-pack exclusives only available there, with no basic range version.  However, last year, the Ford Superlift was in both single and 9/10-packs so the rule may be a little more relaxed.  Only time will tell.

It is a very nice design, with simple lines and a banner going across it.  A rather classy and realistic look.

For those interested, the logo on the side says "City Tours Limited, Matchbox Exclusive".  

I have to admit, I really like the look of the Caterham.  It is black with a dark green dual stripe system.

Although I have to laugh.  On the alternate side, the dual stripes are hidden behind the side pipe.  They are there, but you have to really look to see them.

As is often the case, the front also receives a tampo hit too.  I like this one.  The wheels suit it really well.  I much prefer it to the last version from 2014, even though I liked that one too.

 

Me being me, I did find a couple of shades on models too.

The 2006 Utility Truck from the 2015 Construction Zone 5-pack is a much lighter shade of orange than it came with in the 5-pack.

And the Seed Shaker from 2014s basic range can be found in a more yellowy shade of orange than it was in the basic range.

 

The best part about all this?  Tesco are currently doing a "buy 1, get one half price" deal.  So I spent less than I needed to. 

Cool is Cool is Cool: Hot Wheels '70 Ford Torino 2010 multipack exclusives...

Time to another Cool is Cool is Cool, which we haven't done in awhile.  There are a lot of reasons we do CiCiC, and one is to go back a few years to highlight a model that has been overlooked for awhile.

And the '70 Ford Torino definitely falls in that category, especially these 10-pack exclusives that were released five years ago.  The multipack exclusives seem to be generally forgotten pretty quickly after their initial release.  Whether that is because someone has to pay $10 to get them, so not as many have them, or because the designs don't stand out, who knows.  But there are many worth collecting.

For example, the '67 Mustang released this year is one of them.  Folks seem to like the simple design, and the colors are sharp.  That definitely is the case with the Torino.

The '70 Torino hasn't gotten as much play in the Hot Wheels mainline compared to the other Torinos, especially the '72 Gran Torino (one of my faves).  It debuted in the Modern Classics line, and has largely remained in the specialty lines since.  It's only mainline presence has been in the 2012 HW Racing subset.  Multipacks aren't considered the mainline, but they do share the same general properties as the mainline models, including plastic wheels, bases (in general), and mainline-type graphics.

The casting is a little odd, with the back window molded into the casting, as well as its exaggerated low stance, but the detail on the model is actually really nice.

But the main reason I like these three multipack models is simple.  The '70 Ford Torino is a fantastic-looking muscle car, and these three are the closest Hot Wheels has come to creating realistic graphics on the casting.  It may not specifically be the Gran casting, but the design is close.  All the rest of the versions are littered with kinds of different designs or unrealistic colors.

So we will take these three, and surely count them as Cool...

(Find the 10-pack models and other '70 Ford Torinos on eBay...)


Hot Wheels '70 Ford Torino (2010 10-pack exclusives):

Just Released: Two new multipack exclusives...

In our post about the Datsun Wagon wheel variation yesterday, you may have noticed the exclusive sitting next to the Wagon.

That is the just-released '70 Dodge Charger in green.  And released with it is the '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport, now in purple:

Yeah, those are two very nice-looking muscle cars.  Some of you won't want to pay $10 for one, but there are some other cars in the packs that might make it worth it, most notably that 510 variation.

These should be in most Walmarts within the next week or so...

First Look: 2015 Hot Wheels '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport 9-pack exclusive...

Somebody at Mattel with a little power is clearly a big fan of the '72 Gran Torino Sport casting.

And we don't blame him or her.  It is one of our favorites too.  Since its debut in 2011, it is been all over the place.  It has been in the mainline each year since, with recolors.  It has been a Super, an RLC exclusive, a Kroger Super Speeder, a Fast & Furious exclusive, and a Walmart exclusive.

For 2015, it looks like it will reside in 9-packs as an exclusive.  No complaints here.  That means 2-4 different versions.  For the Torino, the more the better.  We have said it before, but the Gran Torino Sport is a definite Lamley fave.  Along with the '70 Camaro Race and '69/'70 Mustang Boss, it is our favorite muscle car casting.

The 9-pack exclusive debuts in gold, with a probably-too-modern deco.  But it looks good, and we will happily add it to the Gran Torino collection, even if it cost $9 to get...


Hot Wheels '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport (2015 9-pack exclusive):

The family:

2011 New Models

2011 New Models

2011 New Models

2011 New Models (Walmart Exclusive)

Kroger Super Speeders Foil Packs

2012 Mainline

2012 Mainline white-spokes

2012 Mainline

2012 Mainline MC5 wheels

2012 Mainline

2013 Super TH

2013 Mainline

2013 Mainline

2014 Mainline

2014 Mainline

2013 RLC Exclusive

2014 Fast & Furious

2015 9-pack exclusive