My Assessment of the 2014 Matchbox List

This is my take on the 2014 lineup that was just announced by Mattel and distributed by the wonderful Nigel Cooper. I will start with Nigel's breakdown of vehicle types:


Cars – 2013 = 20 cars 2014 = 9 cars (fewer than half of 2013) - 9 Civilian cars, + 5 or 6 Police cars = NOT ENOUGH
Construction – 2013 = 10 construction 2014 = 20 construction - The new Theme I guess
Licenses – 2013 = 56 licenses 2014 = 45 licenses (roughly 1/5 less) - Sad state of Affairs which will hurt the brand deeply
No flying, but additional water vehicles - A small victory as I like neither for the most part but understand the need for them. Why not introduce a 'Waterbusters' line and stick all the boats under that brand?

"Many collectors look for a good scattering of cars in the range and so perhaps they will be disappointed. Perhaps the removal of the flight related models is a good idea, when we have Skybusters. The fall in the number of licensed models will distress many collectors of authentic vehicles. We slipped to under half the range last year, but we drop quite a few more here. The range now consists of just over a third of licensed castings." - This is a terrible decision...only 1/3 of the line is REAL? What happened to REAL Action Adventure?

The following are my comments and my opinion only....

MB# C/N
1 947 Porsche 911 GT3 - Great. It looks great
2 839 Urban Tow Truck - Ok
3 776 Street Cleaner - ok I guess
4 823 Aston Martin DBS Volante - Great
5 812 68 Ford Mustang GT/CS - Great as it is a popular model
6 887 Two Story Bus - Seems popular so good to include
7 816 Porsche Panamera - Nice to have it back and the color and wheel choice are EXCELLENT
8 889 Food Truck - Ok
9 807 Caterham Superlight R500 - Nice!
10 850 Garbage Grinder - Please God Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!
11 810 71 Pontiac Firebird - Sweet...and it looks great!
12 815 Cadillac CTS - I assume this is the Coupe....great choice Mattel!
13 886 Ground Grinder - :(
14 834 Crop Master - OK
15 840 Water Tanker - meh...
16 800 Road Roller - Ok
17 687 International CXT - Thanks Michael for the sweet 'Inc' livery!
18 786 57 GMC Stepside - Nice....logos looks a little too modern for a 57 pickup (kids will know what this is? Target market? I digress)
19 3 Axle Dump Truck - No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 745 Scraper - Ok
21 828 Pit King - Ok
22 704 Powerlift - Ok
23 882 All Terrain Crane - Ok
24 884 Dump Dozer - No
25 950 Tractor Plow - I have a hundred examples of this casting already....please stop. The 'INC' was nice.
26 868 Torque Titan - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
27 856 Load Lifter - meh
28 852 Trail Tipper - NO
29 703 Tractor  - Ok
30 946 Ground Breaker - meh
31 853 Sowing Machine - Great...a nice casting generic or not.
32 737 Quarry King - No!
33 222 Highway Maintenance Truck - Ok
34 712 Desert Thunder V16 - I have a hundred examples of this casting already....please stop.
35 864 International Scout 4x4 - Not a fan but at least licensed:(
36 861 Sand Shredder - No
37 805 Toyota 4Runner - Realistic Livery please. Great casting.
38 892 BMW R-1200 GS Motorcycle - Ok
39 845 4x4 Scrambulance - Ok
40 249 Chevy K1500 Pick up - Old but I like this casting. And it's licensed!
41 891 Deep Diver - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
42 899 Questor - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
43 842 Blizzard Buster - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
44 795 Cliff Hanger - please give a long rest after this year!
45 767 Quick Sander - NO
46 833 Terrain Trouncer - NO
47 847 Frost Fighter - Terrible..sorry.
48 952 Hummer w/Ramp - NO...even if it is licensed.
49 825 Road Tripper - I prefer the Motorhome casting. This one sucks.
50 797 Baja Bullit - NO!
51 782 Sahara Survivor - Please retire soon.
52 832 Jeep Wrangler Superlift - Ok I guess
53 781 Rock Shocker - No
54 764 Toyota FJ Cruiser - Nice inclusion and a sought after casting...just check ebay:)
55 838 Land Rover Defender 110 - Wonderful casting even though it was butchered a few years ago.
56 863 Vantom - No...I rather have the 4x4 Chevy Van LOL!
57 788 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Realistic please...no RED WINDOWS!
58 831 ATV 6x6 - ok
59 783 Jungle Crawler - So tired of these...No
60 748 MBX 4X4 -NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
61 819 Coyote 500 - Please destroy this casting. It is ALWAYS LAST on the pegs to sell (if they actually do)
62 818 Dune Dog - Ok...probably the best of these generic 4x4 Mattel loves so much:(
63 723 VW Beetle 4x4 - No!!! VW or not. If you are paying for a VW license, should have used the 62 Beetle, or VW Saveiro Cross since LAAM is the Target market!
64 670 Jeep Hurricane - I tire but at least Licensed!
65 895 Road Raider - NO
66 897 Blaze Buster  - NO
67 898 Whiplash - Hell NO..WTH! Mattel
68 894 Turn Tamer - Hell NO..WTH! Mattel
69 900 MBX Coupe - Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
70 896 Range Rover Evoque - Great. Please use a Licensed model to fill in for this model since it is not ready yet.
71 893 BMW M1 - Sweet!
72 949 06 Fire Engine - ok
73 935 BMW R-1200RT-P police Motorcycle - Ok
74 890 Amphi Flyer - No comment
75 771 Ford E-350 Super Duty Ambulance - Good choice
76 858 56 Buick Century Police Car - Prefer the Monaco. Do kids know what a 56 Buick is?
77 843 Seagrave Fire Engine - Do kids know what this is? Target audience?
 78 824 SWAT Truck - Please retire this! No!
79 755 Pierce Dash - Seems popular...but I am not a fan. Licensed is good.
80 885 Renault Master Ambulance - OK...please detail the front lights!
81 867 Lamborghini Gallardo Police car - Ok..Licensed!
82 817 Ford F-550 Superduty - OK
83 855 Oshkosh M-ATV - OK
84 933 Dodge Charger Pursuit - Good Licensed Choice and a popular casting and theme.
85 938 Ford F-350 Superlift Brush Truck - Ok...Ford Licensing must be cheap to work with LOL:)
86 888 International MXT-MVA - Nice!
87 821 Ford Police Interceptor  - Good!
88 881 Blaze Blitzer - No
89 801 International WorkStar Brush Fire Truck - NICE!
90 872 BMW X5(police) - I look forward to this modified casting...and it is licensed!
91 510 Armored Recon Vehicle - ???
92 866 Fire Smasher - No
93 751 Subaru Impreza WRX Police - Great...why not a non-police version. Just put surfboard on top!
94 784 43 Jeep Willys - Okay...people everywhere recognize this I guess. Target audience?
95 969 92 Ford Mustang Police car New - Should be cool!
96 902 Field Tripper New - ????
97 903 Land Rover LR4 New - Great. Please use a Licensed model to fill in for this model since it is not ready yet.
98 904 Garbage Gulper New - #36 is still the best modern trashtruck...thisone not so much:(
99 905 Alfa Romeo 4C New - Looking forward.
100 906 63 Mack Model B New - LAAM and Kid the target? I think not. Fire guys will enjoy it.
101 907 Blockade Buster New - ???
102 908 Crime Crusher New - ???
103 909 Rapids Rescue New - ???
104 910 Sahara Sweeper New - ???
105 911 Toyota Tacoma Lifeguard New - Great choice
106 912 Trail Tracker New - ???
107 913 Mound Mover New - This looks good for a generic construction piece
108 914 Ground Grabber New - ???
109 915 Seed Shaker New - ???
110 916 Dirt Smasher New - ???
111 917 Mini Dozer New - Looks a little cheap in the execution but I like the design.
112 918 Drill Digger New - ???
113 919 Acre Maker New - ???
114 920 Ford F-350 Stake Bed New - Sounds interesting!
115 921 Terrainiac New - ???
116 922 Snow Ripper New - ???
117 923 Travel Tracker New - ???
118 924 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 New - HELL YES MATTEL!!!
119 925 Rumble Raider New - ???
120 926 Sea Spy New - I hate boats in general, but I like this one. Good job.

The five recolours were to have been these five models but as the #97 Land Rover LR4 has been postponed until 2015, another model will be selected from the standard line in due course. This will also apply to the #70 Evoque.

International Scout 4x4 - One is enough...this casting although licensed is not too popular
Blockade Buster - No Comment:(
Travel Tracker - No Comment:(
Crime Crusher - No Comment:(
 Land Rover LR4 - I Pray they replace this with a licensed casting but not holding my breath.


2013 Models that were removed for 2014:

Fisker Karma - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Batmobile - Great that it is gone!
1966 Dodge A100 Pick-Up - Why...it is new and was hard to find (US and ROW)
Austin Mini Cooper - Sad to see it go again
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood - I guess it does not fit the kid target...but neither does 60 yr old firetrucks:(
1954 Jaguar XK120SE - I guess it does not fit the kid target...but neither does 60 yr old firetrucks:(
1957 Chevy Belair Convertible - I guess it does not fit the kid target...but neither does 60 yr old firetrucks:(
1969 Chevy Camaro Convertible - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
1963 Cadillac Ambulance - A VERY popular model worldwide....why not include it?
Porsche Cayenne - DT will be upset:)   but hate to loose a licensed casting
Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible - DT will be upset:)   but hate to loose a licensed casting
Express Delivery - Should have kept it in the lineup...plastic or not.
Dodge Viper GTS-R - I am ready for this to go but hate to loose a licensed casting
Ice Cream Truck - OK
Baja Bandit - Thanks the LORD!
2000 Chevy Corvette Convertible - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
VW Karmann Ghia Type 34 Convertible - Stupid...if the target market is LAAM and with the popularity of all things 'VW"...WHY?
2013 Ford Explorer - WHY? It is brand new:(
GMC School Bus - Should have been included
Chevy Van - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Dodge RAM SRT/10 - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Jeep Rescue Concept - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Cadillac CTS Wagon - Personally Sad for me as I LOVE this casting but I understand the decision...I can only buy so many LOL! But hate to loose a licensed casting!
Chevy Silverado - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
MBX Motorhome - A good time for a break
Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
TVR Tuscan S - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Audi R8 - Not OK....I like this casting.
BMW Mini Cooper Convertible - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Rescue Helicopter - YES!
Austin FX4 Taxi - Should have kept this in with a nice realistic English livery which the team has yet to do:(
Gas Tanker - OK
Skidster - OK...needs a break
Lotus Europa - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
VW Type 181 - Stupid...if the target market is LAAM and with the popularity of all things 'VW"...WHY?
4x4 Buggy - YES!
VW Saveiro Cross - REALLY REALLY REALLY Stupid...if the target market is LAAM and with the popularity of all things 'VW"...WHY?
Mission Helicopter - Yes
Hummer H2 Concept - Yeah...but hate to loose a licensed casting
Isuzu Amigo - Hmmm...I like it. Sorry to loose a licensed casting
Mitsubishi Eclipse - Yes...gone! Still hate to loose a licensed casting
Opel Speedster - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
Aqua King - Not smart....I never see this on the pegs. Better liveries like Coca-Cola would send this flying off the pegs Mattel! (I know, that cost money...SUCK IT UP Bean Counters!)
Tractor Shovel - Great...it has run it's course
Rescue Boat - Great...not a fan of metal sinkable boats for the most part although I like that new Spy Boat.
1978 Dodge Monaco Police - Terrible idea...Police collectors are nuts for this one.
Jeep Willys Concept - OK but hate to loose a licensed casting
2006 Dune Buggy - THANK THE LORD IT IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is rumor of a change in direction for the brand for 2015, so I am hoping 2014 was already planned and set as it is not an exciting year looking ahead. I  as many, are looking forward to the 2015 line preview that will be discussed this July at the 2014 Matchbox Collectors International Gathering of Friends
Convention in New Mexico. This will either confirm or put that rumor to rest.

There you have it....just a crazy Dutchman's opinion on a large companies decision making. I know Michael, Dave, Miguel and the rest of the Matchbox model team do their best with their constraints but honest feedback should be discussed so those decision makers above them hopefully will see the light and remove the chains choking their creativity.



Best Regards,
Jeff