Despite the hype surrounding this new Matchbox Porsche (and it is a great model), it represents a missed opportunity for the Matchbox brand. In fact, the missed opportunity is two-fold: the model choice and the execution of this debut release.
Given that Matchbox only releases 100 models each year – Moving Parts and Collector notwithstanding – it’s disappointing to see Matchbox choose to make a model Hot Wheels has already produced. Of course, the development time of a new diecast model is long, so it’s likely that this particular model has been in the pipeline for some time, but the Hot Wheels 918 Spyder came out in 2018, so the Matchbox team would have known about that model before they began designing theirs. Why make the same model as their sister company, albeit with a fixed roof? I acknowledge that the 918 fits Matchbox’s EV/Hybrid focus for the coming years, but the 918 is also far from the only Porsche vehicle that fits the bill. 2023 Macan e-hybrid anyone? The 2022 Cayenne e-hybrid would also make a great spiritual successor to the 2005 Cayenne Turbo.
I actually wouldn’t have had a problem with Matchbox choosing to recreate a Hot Wheels casting if the Hot Wheels casting hadn’t been so well executed. Matchbox’s choice to produce a model of the Mustang Mach-E doesn’t bother me because the Hot Wheels attempt featured a heavily-deco’d Mach-E 1400 that looks nothing like the car you would see at your local Ford dealership. However, the Hot Wheels Porsche 918 Spyder is almost Matchbox-like in its realistic proportions and clean deco.
The second missed opportunity is Matchbox’s choice of debut deco. The gray just doesn’t fit the car. A pearl white model with dark gray wheels would have been a great color choice as it would have matched the white Weissach press car, and it would have been significantly different from the gray Hot Wheels release. Instead, we are left with another gray version of a model that has only seen two clean Hot Wheels releases: gray and red.
I don’t understand the choice of gold wheels on this debut release – it’s not a Subaru! The only gold-wheeled 918 Spyder I can find is a black model with gold HRE wheels (you can check out its dupont registry page here ). As far as I am aware, the 918 was never sold from the factory with gold wheels, so I have to assume the inspiration to include them on this model must have come from that car.
Between the odd color choice and the model choice itself, I’m left with thoughts of what could have been. Matchbox has a history of great Porsche models, from the Cayman to the 911 GT3 and Carrera Cabriolet. These models represent some of the most loved castings in Matchbox’s history, and for good reason. Yet, both 911’s are getting rather dated. The 996 Carrera Cabriolet specifically is five generations old! With the opportunity to add a new Porsche to the list, it would have been great to see a modern classic like the 911R or even a 718 Boxster GTS4.0. Instead we’re left with another version of a model most of us already have in our collections. A missed opportunity.
diecastleno.com 
Reblogged this on Musings from my Garage.
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