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 →
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 →
