Mercedes sure seems to be having a moment with the Mattel brands. Whether it’s the 500E, C63, and 560SEC from Hot Wheels, or the GT 63 and CLA wagon from Matchbox, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Mercedes models. That doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see a new Mercedes casting though, especially... Continue Reading →
It’s a rare event when Hot Wheels launches a new product line, so I was eager to check out this new Aventador with its removable rear bumper and nearly $28 (with shipping) price tag. While this isn’t technically the first Elite64 model, the Aventador is the first in the line to really capture my (and... Continue Reading →
We are definitely living in a golden age of 1/64. From inexpensive but wonderful models from the toy brands at Mattel to display-worthy models from MiniGT and Tarmac Works, there’s a plethora of ways to spend your 1/64 dollars. When I heard that famed 1/18 maker BBR had partnered with 1/64 darling MiniGT, I knew... Continue Reading →
Big Lamborghinis from Hot Wheels have historically been a mixed bag. Some, like the mainline Aventador, are well proportioned and nearly perfect Hot Wheels models. Others, like the mainline Murcielago, just look a bit off – riding a bit too high and being a bit too flat. Others are let down by their color choice,... Continue Reading →
Despite all the high-performance, exotic sports cars that define my current diecast collection, I grew up on diecast semi trucks. I had a few buses and off-brand tractor-trailers, but the bulk of my childhood collection was made up of Matchbox Convoys. My bias here is obvious, but I still think that era of Matchbox Convoys... Continue Reading →
When the mainline Matchbox Gladiator came out in 2020, I wasn’t a huge fan of it. Its lack of doors always made it look a bit weird to me…not unrealistic, because obviously you can take the doors off on a Gladiator, but perhaps a little incomplete. The lack of front and rear detailing only made... Continue Reading →
It was certainly a long time coming. When the Shelby GT500 casting was released in 2020, it was a pretty good looking upgrade to the Shelby GT350 casting we already had in the lineup. Unfortunately, ever since its debut release, this casting has been plagued by the same unfortunate tampo treatment: hood, roof, and sides. ... Continue Reading →
One of the nicest things about the Matchbox brand is the knowledge that no matter what mainline model I want, I will eventually be able to track it down at some retail store. That’s one of the lovely side effects of Matchbox being less widely popular than the blue brand – it just doesn’t have... Continue Reading →
When was the last time you thought about the Nissan Sentra? Unless you recently rented one from Enterprise, odds are it’s been a while. That’s not surprising, because the modern Sentra is a fundamentally uninteresting car. Sure, maybe you liked the old Sentra SE-R back in the day, but this isn’t an SE-R. This is... Continue Reading →
It’s been a great couple of years for diecast Porsches. After what felt like decades of Matchbox and Hot Wheels reusing the same old 911 GT3 castings, we’ve finally seen a whirlwind of new Porsches released. Hot Wheels released the 992 GT3 and Taycan, and Matchbox released a new Cayenne, 918, 911 Carrera 4, and... Continue Reading →
Mattel’s loss of the Ferrari license is one of the most frequently told stories in the world of diecast, and for good reason. The Ferrari brand holds a ton of significance for car enthusiasts all over the world, myself included. I used to love collecting Hot Wheels Ferraris, and I certainly wish they were still... Continue Reading →
It’s always amazing to see a new casting with some Matchbox heritage, and we’ve been getting spoiled lately with the modernized versions of classic castings being released left and right. The new Porsche Cayenne casting is so great it was my 2022 model of the year, the Karma GS-6 seemed to rise from the dead... Continue Reading →
When the Karma GS-6 prototype casting was unveiled at the Gathering 2022, I dubbed it the surprise of the show. This car serves as a successor to the important but somewhat forgotten Fisker Karma casting, and I couldn’t wait to get these two models together to compare them. If you’re unaware of the history of... Continue Reading →
I wrote a fairly critical article when Matchbox’s 918 Spyder first hit the market in its gray and gold deco. While I stand by my comments in that article, some things have changed since then that have allowed me to really appreciate this new yellow version. One of my biggest criticisms was the casting choice... Continue Reading →
I’ve always found it odd that the Zonda doesn’t get more recognition in the world of diecast. As I was growing up, it seemed like Horacio Pagani’s latest iteration of his namesake supercar was being featured every season on Top Gear. It had wild styling, an exhaust note to die for, the kind of supercar... Continue Reading →
Matchbox has a long history of fantastically executed, stock looking pickup trucks. Trucks like the Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 police car show Matchbox’s prowess with this type of vehicle, so my expectations were high when I heard they would be releasing the new F-150 Lightning. It does not disappoint. The F-150 Lightning fits well... Continue Reading →
It’s always great to see a new performance car hit the market, but it’s a rarity to see a new performance brand. Hyundai’s N division has been taking the world by storm since it’s debut a few years ago, but there has been a startling lack of N representation in the world of diecast. I’ve... Continue Reading →
Models like this make me question the hype around super treasure hunts. For 10% of the market rate of most super treasure hunts, this Lamborghini is intricately detailed with printing on five sides. It even has a spectraflame style green paint! That paint is the most striking part of this model, with the bright green... Continue Reading →
For most of us collectors, I think it’s fair to say our hobby is an extension of, or at least a byproduct of, our childhood love of cars (both 1:64 and 1:1). While my tastes have since shifted to more performance oriented sports cars and muscle cars, I grew up with an obsessive love for... Continue Reading →
The Corvette is among the most storied of American nameplates, right up there with Mustang and F-150. So, it’s not surprising that both Matchbox and Hot Wheels can be reliably counted upon to produce their own take on the Corvette of each generation, as we’ve seen all the way up to the modern C8. Weirdly,... Continue Reading →
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