Matchbox’s Durango Police Seems Too Premium For The Moving Parts Line

If you’re a Matchbox collector, odds are you’re also a fan of diecast police cars.  When the Dodge Durango first came to the Matchbox line a couple years ago, I was surprised to see a civilian version rather than a squad car.  I didn’t have to wait long for a police version, though.  Matchbox just released this ‘18 Dodge Durango as a Moving Parts model wearing the familiar Boone County Sheriff livery. 

This model’s release in the Moving Parts line is a surprise to me.  When we first saw the sneaks of this model, I was sure it was going to be a Collectors model.  With lots of printed detailing on all four sides and rubber tires, I can’t help but suspect that this model was originally destined for the premium line.  Perhaps it was swapped out at the last minute to fill a gap in the Moving Parts line, or perhaps the Matchbox team was just feeling generous, but this is the only non-super chase Moving Parts model I’ve seen with rubber tires.  

This is also among the only Matchbox models to be improved by the addition of premium wheels, so they’re a welcome sight here.  They feel like a perfect fit for a police cruiser like this.  I’m also glad to see the return of the Boone County police livery, which has become iconic in the Matchbox world.  The trailer hitch at the back is easily the weakest part of this casting, and I suspect it’s there only to ensure compatibility with the Speed Trapper casting. 

Apart from that trailer hitch, the rear detailing here is exemplary.  It’s lovely to see a Matchbox police car that doesn’t lose its lights in favor of side graphics!  The Durango’s trademark lightbar is very well replicated, and I appreciate the “SLO DOWN” license plate at the back too (even if it’s not necessarily a realistic license plate). 

This Durango also receives full printed detailing in the front, a rarity among Matchbox police cars and a very welcome sight.  The headlights are nicely detailed and you can even make out the turn signals within them!  There is one thing that’s bugging me about this front end though…this isn’t a police Durango!  The Durangos used by law enforcement are a model called the Dodge Durango Pursuit made by Dodge Law, but this casting appears to be based on the civilian Durango SRT.  This is most obvious in the hood design (that hood scoop is clearly from an SRT model), but there are other differences as well.  Those dual fog lights were a feature on the SRT Durango, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used on a police cruiser.  Likewise, the radar cruise control sensor on the lower grille seems unlikely to appear on a police car.  Suddenly I wish this Durango had an opening hood, because I suspect you’d find a 392 V8 under there! 

Instead of an opening hood, this Durango has opening rear doors.  While normally I would complain about opening doors – I still don’t like the awkward panel gaps they require – these doors hide something special.  You may have noticed the K9 badges around this cruiser…if you open those rear doors, you’ll find a doggo back there!  If I have to put up with moving doors in order to have a cute little dog in the backseat, I’m in. 

As excellent as this Durango is, I can’t help but feel a little frustrated by the Boone County Sheriff livery.  It’s very fun that it’s a licensed livery from a real police department, but it’s endlessly frustrating that the livery changes for seemingly every single release!  I love collecting a big police department with matching liveries – California Highway Patrol is great because their livery is always the same – but the Boone County Sheriff vehicles never feel like they’re from the same department.  This isn’t Matchbox’s fault, of course.  If you look up pictures of Boone County Sheriff vehicles online, you’ll see a huge variety of graphics across their lineup.  Ultimately, I hope we get a similarly well-detailed version of this Durango from a police department with a more consistent livery.  CHP would be my first choice, but I’d also be happy with NYPD or even the return of the RCMP livery from a few years ago!  Make it happen, Matchbox…I promise I will buy several.