With the yearly Matchbox line preview at the Gathering fast approaching, we just got a look at some new models to tide us over. The bulk of these pictures were posted by @ada_3l3 on Instagram, but I’ll shout out other creators where applicable. Let’s jump right in!
Where better to start than with a new National Parks model? This 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit gets the classic pale green deco with an orange badge, and it’s sure to be a fan favorite. The National Parks theme is always one of my favorite recurring decos, and I know I’m not alone. Plus, I always like when we see modern patrol vehicles rather than vintage National Parks cars. The lack of any front or rear detailing is too bad, but to be expected. That said, I do appreciate the reflective strip at the bottom of the doors, which looks very similar to the design we saw on the National Parks Bronco. I can’t wait to build out my fleet with a few new Chargers!
The Charger wasn’t the only new National Parks model we saw this week though – we also got a look at the new Freightliner fire truck thanks to @chenley75 on Instagram, which is making its debut in a National Parks deco. I am so excited for this model, and not just because it looks great in mint green! The casting itself looks amazing, and it appears no expense was spared on the detailing. It’s wonderful to see another licensed fire truck in the Working Rigs line, and I hope this is just the first of many recurring themes we see on this casting.
Speaking of recurring themes, we have yet another appearance of the ever-popular UPS deco! While it’s always exciting to have more UPS delivery vehicles in the lineup (and I fully expect this one to be just as popular as all the rest), I find this model a tad confusing. This casting is clearly inspired by a Grumman LLV (aka the USPS mail truck), which I have never seen UPS use. Based on a quick Google search, neither has anyone else, so I can’t help but wonder why Matchbox chose this casting. It seems to me like the VW Caddy or Ford e-Transit would have been better choices, as they look more like the delivery vans that UPS actually uses in rural areas. Still, I expect this to be a very popular model, as it still features the classic UPS branding.
Praise be, the Cadillac CT5-V is finally getting the paint color that I’ve been hoping for since the model was first announced. I have no idea how it took Matchbox 4 attempts (5 if you count the super chase) to land on Cadillac’s best color, but I’m glad it’s finally here. Thankfully, the wheel choice also looks great, as this CT5-V somehow managed to dodge the gold wheels that seem to be landing on every blue Matchbox car this year!
The 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport has been a hotly anticipated casting, and I think Matchbox nailed the color choice on this one. I’m a little worried that this Cherokee might look a bit too big, but it’s hard to get an accurate sense of scale without any other small SUVs to compare it to. Expect a closer look at this model once I get it in hand.
We’ve already seen the Audi RS5 Sportback in a Lamley video, but we get another look at it here. It’s unchanged from the prototype version, which is disappointing for those of us that hoped this casting would get upgraded to the new 5 spoke wheels. Maybe for the next recolor…
The Dodge D-200 is back with a fairly generic 4×4 livery.
The rest of the models in this set of leaks are heavy machinery, alongside this case’s designated pegwarmer: the MBX Field Car Convertible.
In more interesting news, we got our first look at the production version of the Bentley Batur thanks to @matchboxluke! He managed to find this model at a retail store, which makes this the rare example of a Matchbox car that makes it out into the supply chain without being leaked online first. I’m not sure how that happened, but it’s very exciting to finally see the Batur with its proper detailing. Matchbox nailed the debut deco on this Bentley. It wears a gorgeous shade of Cerulean Blue paint, with front and rear detailing and black five spoke wheels. I even like the chrome lip that really makes the wheels pop! Under the hood, the W12 is fully detailed, which is lovely to see since it helps lessen the sting of the awkward shut line when the hood is closed (one of the only things I don’t like about this model). Overall, it looks awesome, and I hope the Batur casting sees a lot more action than the one-and-done Continental Moving Parts casting.
We also got our first look at the 1992 Dodge Viper RT10 from the same case thanks to reddit user u/Frogg_racer! I’m not crazy about the panel gaps around the hood on this model, but I know this Viper has been a hotly anticipated casting with many collectors, so I’m sure it will garner plenty of excitement!
Finally, we saw a model that took me by surprise: a Mercedes-Benz Actros semi truck with Working Rigs branding. This is doubly interesting. Obviously, the Actros is a brand new truck design, and one that looks great. Perhaps even more significant is the fact that this Actros sure looks a lot like a Convoys model. Could this be a sign that my beloved Convoys line will be returning under the Working Rigs branding? The existence of a brand new cab design would certainly suggest they have future plans for truck models, so I’m hoping we get some more information about future trucks at the Gathering next weekend!
That’s it for this news roundup, but you’d better believe I’ll be doing a full writeup on all the news from the 2027 Line Preview at the Gathering, so be sure to get subscribed if you aren’t already! As always, the list of upcoming models has been updated to reflect this new information.
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I’m excited for the upcoming 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit to be released as a National Parks vehicle as well as the new Working Rigs Freightliner ladder truck! It’s gonna be some time until they arrive in stores.
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