The prototype of the Holden VF Commodore SSV debuted at the Gathering in 2022 to much fanfare, especially from the Australian Matchbox collectors. As a huge fan of the Chevy SS, I was thrilled to see that its Australian sibling would be coming to the Matchbox line (it’s common for owners of Chevy SS’s to... Continue Reading →
The Mk7 VW Golf has been a frustrating casting to collect, as every version we’ve seen has been ruined by ugly side graphics that come at the cost of any front or rear detailing. As a lover of clean cars and Volkswagens alike, this has annoyed me to no end. Luckily, it seems someone at... Continue Reading →
McLaren's naming structure has become a bit crowded lately. Even as a certified car guy, the alphanumeric soup of 570S, 600LT, 650S, 675LT, 765LT, and so on has become hard to keep track of. As the new entry level model in the McLaren lineup, the Artura seeks to free us from the numbers with a... Continue Reading →
The late 2010’s really were a peak for Aston Martin’s design language. All their cars were the perfect combination of elegant and aggressive in a way that just exudes “cool” – none more so than the DBS. Hot Wheels’ take on the DBS is fantastically executed, with great proportions and lots of casting detail. Originally... Continue Reading →
Believe it or not, the original Lamborghini Murcielago casting came out in 2003. To its credit, the Lambo holds up better than most castings from that era, but a lot has changed in the years since. Hot Wheels castings have become more detailed, more realistic, and less focused on track use, which meant the aging... Continue Reading →
I’ve never explored the world of Tarmac Works before, as most of their models are of cars that are outside my car tastes, but I love an AMG Mercedes. As one of the rarified Black Series models, this SLS might just be the craziest car Mercedes has ever made, so I decided it was time... Continue Reading →
After Matchbox's recent disappointment of a 911 Targa, I thought it was the perfect time to take a look at a model that does a far better job of giving the 911 Targa the treatment it deserves. This is the MiniGT Porsche 911 Targa. I admit, a piece about how nicely detailed and well executed... Continue Reading →
It’s long puzzled me that the affordable, everyday enthusiast icons are so often overlooked by diecast car makers. In fact, I wrote a whole blog post about the need for a hot hatches premium series from Hot Wheels! For whatever reason, the cars that actual enthusiasts likely drive every day are frustratingly hard to find... Continue Reading →
I think it’s fair to call the Nissan GT-R the dominant car of the diecast world for the last decade. We’ve seen seemingly every possible permutation of model, special edition, and color from each and every one of the major diecast brands for the R32, R33, and especially R34 generations. So why are premium 1/64... Continue Reading →
We all know the Hot Wheels mainline serves as a gateway drug of sorts into the world of 1/64 diecast collecting. They offer a great blend of value for money and are easy and affordable to build a collection out of. However, like many collectors, I find myself collecting fewer and fewer of these mainline... Continue Reading →
I can’t fathom why Matchbox continues to make one of their best castings so hard to find. This Nissan GT-R Nismo debuted in the Collectors series at only one per case, making it nearly impossible to find. Then they released this fantastic red version…in a Moving Parts series that was sold exclusively in Japan. Then... Continue Reading →
Throughout history, a number of great philosophers have asked pressing questions about the human condition, about our place in the universe and the nature of conciousness…which prompts me to ask: is a Targa without its targa still a Targa? Ok, I may not be Renee Descartes, but I think that will be the main question... Continue Reading →
Matchbox and Alfa Romeo have a famously troubled past, filled with limited recolors and underutilized castings. Yet, in recent years we’ve seen plenty of interesting recolors of both the new Giulia and the old Guilia Sprint GTA, so it seems the two companies must have resolved their differences. With this newfound cooperation, we now get... Continue Reading →
As the frustration of trying to find popular Hot Wheels and Matchbox models at retail grows year after year, I find myself exploring the world of more premium 1/64 models. I’ve covered my experiences with MiniGT, BBR, and Pop Race on this blog before, but after finding a killer deal on this McLaren 600LT made... Continue Reading →
Sometimes a car has a specific paint color that just looks correct – the obvious choice. Colors like Verde Mantis on a Lamborghini or Resale Red on a Ferrari seem to add to the appeal of the car, and the same is true of this frozen gray paint on the BMW M4 CSL. When BMW... Continue Reading →
It’s no secret that the Hot Wheels mainline has been highly budget constrained for a number of years. Castings have slowly begun to include more plastic and less metal, fewer tampo passes, and reduced quality control. Since being a “$1 toy” is such a big part of the Hot Wheels brand, it’s understandably difficult for... Continue Reading →
The first mix of 2024 has barely hit the shelves and we already have a model of the year contender! This new 911 Cabriolet is a gorgeous model, and it’s incredibly impressive that the Matchbox team is able to put together such an impressive model at a $1 price point. One of my favorite... Continue Reading →
New diecast maker Pop Race burst onto the 1/64 scene out of nowhere last year. Their first few models didn’t really appeal to me, but that all changed when they released a stock-looking GR86 in Neptune Blue (the best color available on the GR86). I’ve been waiting for years for a GR86 model to be... Continue Reading →
If you were to make a list of the most iconic American automotive nameplates, you would probably include cars like the Corvette, F-150, and this Chevy Tahoe. Used by everyone from soccer moms to Uber drivers to the Secret Service, the Tahoe is pure Americana. I’m thrilled that Matchbox decided to make a model of... Continue Reading →
Better late than never, right? Through a combination of Matchbox’s increasing interest in the world of supercars and the growing hype surrounding the now-mythical Lexus LFA, we finally have an LFA model from one of the Mattel brands. Sure, Kyosho and Tomica have made models of the LFA in the past, but those aren’t widely... Continue Reading →
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