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Matchbox

Matchbox
Collectibles Brand

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Official Site: Matchbox.com Wikipedia: Matchbox (brand) Page Sections History Merchandise

A brand of collectible cars produced by Mattel.

History

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Matchbox (brand) page on 16 September 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Matchbox is a popular toy brand which was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953, and is now owned by Mattel, Inc. The brand was given its name because the original die-cast Matchbox toys were sold in boxes similar in style and size to those in which matches were sold. Subsequently, the brand would encompass a broad range of toys including larger scale die-cast models and various other lines of toys, such as plastic model kits and action figures.

During the 1980s, Matchbox began to switch to the more conventional plastic and cardboard "blister packs", that were used by other die-cast toy brands such as Hot Wheels. The box style packaging was re-introduced for the collectors' market in recent years, particularly with the release of the "35th Anniversary of Superfast" series in 2004.

The Matchbox name originated in 1953 as a brand name of the British die-casting company, Lesney Products, whose reputation would be moulded by John W. "Jack" Odell (1920–2007), Leslie Charles Smith (1918–2005), and Rodney Smith (hence the name Lesney, a portmanteau of Leslie and Rodney Smith's first names). Their first major sales success was the popular model of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation coach, which sold more than a million models. Shortly thereafter, Lesney co-owner Jack Odell created a toy that effectively paved the way for the company's future success. It was designed for his daughter: her school only allowed children to bring toys that could fit inside a matchbox, so Odell crafted a scaled-down version of the Lesney green and red road roller. This toy ultimately became the first of the 1-75 miniature range. A dump truck and a cement mixer completed the original three-model release that marked the starting point for the mass-market success of the Matchbox series. As a result of the inspiration for the toys' size, the idea was born to sell the models in replica matchboxes — thus yielding the name of the series. It also resulted in the description of the models' scales being "1:box" (as opposed to more mathematical scales such as 1:87, 1:64, or 1:43).

Additional models – mostly British at first – continued to be added to the line throughout the decade, including cars such as an MG Midget TD, a Vauxhall Cresta, a Ford Zodiac, and many others. As the collection grew, it also gradually became more international, including models of Volkswagens, a Citroën, and American makes. To make such miniatures, the designers took detailed photographs of the real models, even obtaining some original blueprints. This enabled them to make models with surprisingly high levels of detail, despite the small scale. The size of the models (and their clever packaging) allowed Matchbox to occupy a market niche barely touched by the competition (and certainly not by Dinky); the associated price advantage made Matchbox models affordable for every child, and helped establish Matchbox as a household word for small toy cars, whatever the brand. Although used generically, "MATCHBOX" (in capital letters and quotation marks) was registered as a worldwide trademark to protect the Matchbox brand from competition.

Merchandise

Type & Item #	Name	Details
Die Cast - 33867-1910-G2	Mazda RX-7	Street Cruisers, 1:58 scale, orange & black
Die Cast - 34366-4	Toyota Supra	Premiere Collection Series 1, small scale, gold, production: 25,000
Die Cast x2 - 37531	First Production 1970 Chevy El Camino	Premiere First Edition, Small scale, One red, one unpainted, Production: 25,000
Die Cast - 95227-0910	BMW X5	Cool Rides, small scale, dark blue
Die Cast - 95262-0910	Chevrolet SSR	Kids' Cars of the Year, small scale, dark blue
Die Cast - 96089-0910	1957 Thunderbird	Great Drivers, 1:63 scale, Yellow
Die Cast - 96331-0910	Audi TT	1:57 scale; Show Cars; Blue w/"TT Coupé"
Die Cast - 96379-0910	Ford Focus	Worldwide Wheels, 1:57 scale, metallic dark orange
Die Cast - 97669-0718	Pontiac Vibe	Hero City Collection, small scale, silver
Die Cast - H1851	Volvo XC90	MBX Metal, 1:74 scale, silver
Die Cast - H1825-0910		Toyota SCION XB	Treasure Inside!, small scale, silver
Die Cast - H1848	Ford GT	MBX Metal, 1:62 scale, red w/white stripes
Die Cast - H1861	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	MBX Metal, 1:66 scale, brown
Die Cast - J2371-0910	1963 Cadillac Hearse	MBX Metal, 1:81 scale, black
Die Cast - J2388-0814	1956 Ford Pick-Up	MBX Metal, 1:56 scale, Metallic Light Blue
Die Cast - K947-0910	Chevrolet Corvette C6	MBX Metal, small scale dark blue
Die Cast - K9470-0910		Scion xB	MBX Metal, small scale, metallic orange
Die Cast - K9474-0910	2005 Ford GT	MBX Metal, 1:62 scale, gold w/black stripes
Die Cast - K9479-0910	Ford Mustang GT Concept	MBX Metal, 1:62 scale, yellow w/gray stripes
Die Cast - K9483-0910	1957 Thunderbird	MBX Metal, 1:63 scale, Yellow
Die Cast - K7489-0910	Lexus GS430	MBX Metal, 1:64 scale, tan
Die Cast - K9480-0910	Chevy SSR	MBX Metal, small scale, lime green
Die Cast - L5037-0910	Chevy SSR	MBX Metal, small scale, metallic orange
Die Cast - M2627-0910	Mazda 2	Metro Rides, 1:59 scale, green
Die Cast - M5302-0910	'71 Chevelle SS Convertible	Heritage Classics, 1:64 scale, teal w/white stripes
Die Cast - M5315-0910	TVR Tuscan S	Sports Cars, 1:57 scale, green
Die Cast - P2935-0910	Bentley Continental GT	VIP Rides, 1:64 scale, bronze
Die Cast - V1168-0910	'57 GMC Pickup	Construction #38, 1:66 scale, white w/"Sam's Deliveries - Bentonville, Arkansas" (Walmart)

Die Cast Cars

Item #	© Year	Series	#	Name	Scale	Paint	Notes
MB096	1993		30	Peterbilt	1:80	Yellow & Red
MB280	1994	Super Fast	34	Plymouth Prowler	1:56	Purple
MB280	1996	SuperFast	34	Plymouth Prowler	1:56	Dark Red
MB773	1993	New Model	70	Military Tank	Small	Desert Camouflage	4-wheeled
33819-1910-G2	1997	Cool Concepts	19	Chrysler Atlantic	1:64	Gold
33867-1910-G2	1997	Street Cruisers	67	Mazda RX-7	1:58	Orange & Black
34366-4	1995	Premiere Collection Series 1		Toyota Supra	Small	Gold	Production: 25,000
95227-0910	2001	Cool Rides	31	BMW X5	Small	Dark Blue
95262-0910	2001	Kids' Cars of the Year	70	Chevrolet SSR	Small	Dark Blue
95264-0910	2001	Kids' Cars of the Year	72	Volkswagen Microbus	Small	Light Blue	Microbus Concept
96007-0910	1999	Open Road	4	Plymouth Prowler	1:56	Black
96089-0910	1999	Great Drivers	16	1957 Thunderbird	1:63	Yellow
96329-0910	1999	Show Cars		VW Concept 1	1:61	Black w/yellow stripes
96376-0911	2000	Worldwide Wheels	81	Concept 1 Beetle Convertible	1:61	White
96377-0911	2000	Worldwide Wheels	82	Ferrari 456 GT	1:61	Silver
96379-0910	1999	Worldwide Wheels	84	Ford Focus	1:57	Metallic Dark Orange
97669-0718	2002	Hero City Collection	51	Pontiac Vibe	Small	Silver
J2371-0910	2006	MBX Metal	30	1963 Cadillac Hearse	1:81	Black
H1825-0910	2004		24	Toyota SCION XB	Small	Silver	Treasure Inside!
H1838-0910	2004		36	London Taxi	1:63	Black	Treasure Inside!
H1848	2005	MBX Metal	49	Ford GT	1:62	Red w/white stripes
H1851	2005	MBX Metal	55	Volvo XC90	1:74	Silver
H1861	2005	MBX Metal	60	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	1:66	Brown
H1865-0910	2005		47	Honda Element	1:56	Black	Treasure Inside!
J2388-0814	2005	MBX Metal	66	1956 Ford Pick-Up	1:65	Metallic Light Blue
K7474-0910	2007	MBX Metal	57	Honda Ridgeline	1:69	Light Blue
K7484-0910	2007	MBX Metal	4	Volvo C30	1:61	Silver
K7486-0910	2007	MBX Metal	32	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA	1:59	Red	1965
K7489-0910	2007	MBX Metal	23	Lexus GS430	1:64	Tan
K9468-0910	2007	MBX Metal	8	Dodge Magnum R/T	Small	Metallic Dark Blue
K9473-0910	2007	MBX Metal	22	Chevrolet Corvette C6	Small	Dark Blue
K9474-0910	2006	MBX Metal	13	Ford GT	1:62	Gold w/black stripes
K9479-0910	2007	MBX Metal	16	Ford Mustang GT Concept	1:62	Yellow w/gray stripes
K9480-0910	2007	MBX Metal	18	Chevy SSR	Small	Lime Green
K9483-0910	2007	MBX Metal	27	1957 Thunderbird	1:63	Yellow
L5031-0910	2007	MBX Metal	12	Lotus Exige	Small	Lime Green
L5037-0910	2007	MBX Metal	18	Chevy SSR	Small	Metallic Orange
L5048-0910	2007	MBX Metal	4	Volvo C30	1:61	Gold
M2626-0910	2007	City Action	2	'06 Volkswagen Caddy	1:62	Aqua
M2627-0910	2007	Metro Rides	2	Mazda 2	1:59	Green
M5302-0910	2007	Heritage Classics	5	'71 Chevelle SS Convertible	1:64	Teal w/white stripes
M5315-0910	2007	Sports Cars	14	TVR Tuscan S	1:57	Green
N5435-0910	2008	Heritage Classics	1	'71 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser	1:68	Avocado Green w/wood panels
P2912-0910	2008	Heritage Classics	7	'69 Cadillac Sedan DeVille	1:75	Grey
P2935-0910	2008	VIP Rides	6	Bentley Continental GT	1:64	Bronze
R0453-0911	2010	Sports Cars	2	'08 Holden VE Ute SSV	1:64	Bronze
V1168-0910	2009	Construction	38	'57 GMC Pickup	1:66	White w/"Sam's Deliveries - Bentonville, Arkansas"	Walmart