5 Matchbox Castings That Deserve To Make A Comeback

I was inspired by a recent Instagram post from @font_kustoms where they pointed out the growing repetition of boring castings in the current Matchbox lineup and showed some great castings from the back catalog that would make a better choice for upcoming assortments.  I couldn’t agree more, though I think that there are some other great castings that deserve their chance to return to the spotlight.  Here are five of my favorites, in no particular order. 

‘15 Cadillac Escalade

This modern Escalade casting looks great with nice proportions if a little small in size.  I love the big chrome grille and boxy shape, and the front and rear detailing makes for a clean, handsome car that looks just as classy as it should.  Unfortunately, after debuting in this dark gray in 2018 and being recolored white for a five pack in 2020, this casting has just disappeared.  Perhaps it was ruled too expensive to produce, though that seems unlikely given that both white and gray versions were re-released as part of the Walmart exclusive Cadillac series in 2021.  Whatever the reason for its disappearance, I would love to see this casting return, ideally with black paint, as it would make the perfect counterpart to the Cadillac CT5-V. 

2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S

This GT 63 S has become another two-and-done casting, at least so far.  Granted, its absence has been shorter, with the debut white version released in 2020 and the black recolor released in 2021.  I find this model’s lack of recolors particularly disappointing because it’s just such a great casting – the proportions and detailing are perfect, with lots of texture in that Panamericana grille and nicely rendered exhaust tips.  This casting was always quick to disappear from the pegs when it was released, so there’s definitely an appetite for more!  I’d love to see one released in the excellent green color that this car shares with the AMG GT R.  

BMW 1M (M1)

The Matchbox BMW 1M (inexplicably identified on the base as an M1) is a particularly significant model in Matchbox’s history.  Released in 2013, this model was designed at a time when Matchbox was primarily making unrealistic cars with cartoonish decos to appeal to children, much to the chagrin of collectors.  When the BMW 1M emerged, it seemed like a glimmer of hope for the return to Matchbox greatness that we have since seen.  The casting is realistic, with slightly exaggerated fender flares and a stock-looking deco.  Not only was it a nicely executed model, but it was a model of a subtle, under-the-radar performance icon that was an instant hit with collectors.  Recolors came pretty consistently until 2016 when the model disappeared, with only a hard to find silver 9-pack version in 2019.  I would love to see this model make a comeback, as I believe it would be just as popular with collectors today as it was a decade ago. 

2014 Porsche Cayman

This Porsche Cayman hails from a similar era, debuting in 2015 with a stock deco and excellent proportions.  I’ve always liked this casting, as it’s nice to see a “regular” Porsche sports car, rather than the GT3/GT4/Turbo versions we usually see in the diecast world.  It’s a very cool car, which makes it disappointing that it was only released 4 times before disappearing in 2020.  Compared to the rainbow of colors we’ve seen the 911 GT3 casting released in, it’s disappointing to see the Porsche paint-to-sample catalog so unexplored on this casting.  Give us a Shark Blue or Mint Green or Ultraviolet Cayman.  I guarantee collectors would pick them up in a heartbeat! 

Aston Martin DBS Volante

The DBS was a golden era for Aston Martin design language and this Matchbox casting does a great job of living up to that design excellence.  This car just exudes cool, with that iconic Aston Martin grille and the unique clear brake lights.  Each of this car’s 7 releases features a clean deco with front and rear detailing, and a surprising number of them feature unique red or caramel brown interior colors, which were fairly common on 1:1 Aston Martin interiors from this era.  This casting’s return in 2021 was a very welcome surprise, and I think it still has more life left in it.  Perhaps a light blue version with a brown interior would make a nice addition to the Matchbox line, though I would also be happy to see Matchbox explore some more outside-the-box color choices.  

Each of these cars would make an excellent addition to the 2024 Matchbox lineup, though there are certainly plenty of other good choices too.  I’d like to see more variety in the line, rather than more of the same Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500 models that have seen so many releases in the past few years.  Feel free to share some of your favorite underutilized castings in the comments below!