I wanted to take a quick moment to thank Nigel for his great year as the Matchbox Ambassador for 2013. I believe the best Ambassador to date mainly due to his awesome historical reports. Hopefully, we will continue to be treated to his excellent reporting on all things Matchbox!
Cheers,
Jeff van Leliveld (94SS)
Ambassador Report 48
INTRODUCTION
How quickly the year has passed and so this becomes my final report. I
hand over the Ambassador reins to Larry Scaduto, a collector of many
years who, I am sure, will maintain the high standards set by my
predecessors. It just leaves me to show some of the colours for models
to be released later this year and show some of the mock-ups for next
year. These are shown with the kind permission of Mattel. I have trusted
to memory with much of this report and so there may well be errors
included for which I humbly apologize.
The Gathering models as has become the norm are excellent creations and
tribute again has to be paid to the skills of Michael Heralda. The
artwork on the Gathering models serves as an example of what Matchbox
can do if given a free hand.
MATCHBOX ADDRESSES THE FUTURE
Robert Knox, a new member of the Matchbox marketing team, introduced
some of the changes for 2015 in the form of a brand update. He started
by saying that Matchbox models would be Guaranteed for Life and a child
could return a broken model to Mattel for free of charge replacement any
time during the child’s lifetime, thus emphasising the durability of
the range. The four core themes of Adventure City, Explorers,
Construction and Heroic Rescue will continue in 2015 with just a small
change to the packaging, which will include the Guaranteed for Life
markings. The Adventure City group was described as including all those
vehicles one would expect to see in the city such as cars, delivery
vans, repair vehicles and buses. Construction will include models such
as mining trucks, farm vehicles and construction vehicles. The
Explorers group of models will include everything that can float or fly
or go places normal vehicles would not be able drive.
A new feature will involve mystery models. At least six exclusively
coloured models will be packed alongside standard models in small
plastic “blind” bags. There will be a small window in the packaging to
enable collectors to have a glimpse of what may be inside!
It was promised that the website will be updated later this year because
it was acknowledged that the videos and the product were outdated. It
will include the current ranges as well as the Spring Promotion, along
the lines of the 2014 promotion with National Geographic. Robert was
delighted to announce that Matchbox was bringing back the Matchbox
Die-cast Poster, available for download on the web. It was not clear how
large the poster might be.
Dave Weise, who joined the Matchbox team in 2005, is the manager for
Matchbox Diecast vehicles, and works with the four members of the design
team. As well as managing the traditional Matchbox Die-cast lines, his
responsibilities include Creature Catchers, Real Working Rigs, Sky
Busters and a new line of large scale trucks. It was good to hear that
Michael Heralda, the senior graphics designer, is making excellent
progress following his illness and it was especially pleasing that
through the wonders of technology, he appeared on screen still
displaying his inimitable sense of humour. His skills are particularly
apparent on the special models designed for the Gatherings. We hope that
it will not be too long before Mike is back at his desk.
Miguel Lopez was introduced as the new Super Hero Matchbox designer. He
struck me as a man who wanted to make things happen and already he has
had a major influence on the design of Matchbox miniatures. He spoke
more about the generic creations that he had created for 2015 whilst
Dave spoke about the licensed models.
There had been pressure in 2013 and 2014 to ensure that Matchbox and the
blue brand were kept apart and to that end Matchbox focused on
tough-looking, industrial and unstoppable vehicles for Heroic
Adventure. This focus will be drawn back somewhat for 2015 as the aims
for these type of vehicles have now been realised. Thus, there will be a
return to more licensed vehicles and that will include licensed cars.
Details are still sparse as the licensing process takes time to take
place.
In total there will be 25 new tools and there will be 125 models – I
presume that to include the 5 recolours. Several of the mock-ups are
shown in this report but clearly there are several others in the
pipeline. There will be five new tools for Skybusters and for this range
some planes will be shared with Hot Wheels packaging. For the 1:24
scale trucks, they will continue with rubber tyres and diecast features
with 10 models in total.There will also be a range of six 1:64 trucks
with articulated wheels and a working feature.
NEW RELEASES
It was difficult to get a good photo of the models on display as they
were enclosed in Perspex cases. However, John Lambert was able to take
some individual photos to give a better idea as to what will be released
in the future. I believe that the painted models are those to be
released in 2014, but they are not necessarily the finished product.
Some models for 2014 have not yet been finalized.
2015
Eighteen of the 25 new castings for 2015 are shown. We are assured that
there will be more cars in the missing seven models. There will be a new
European car for next year but information cannot be released until
next year. Mention was also made of a Spark Fire Truck loosely based
around a Ford Concept vehicle. There will also be a new Jeep Cherokee
for 2014 and a Jeep Police 4 x 4 Pick-up.
The generic Military Truck is shown above.
The Lamborghini Cheetah was an off-road prototype built in 1977 by the
Italian carmaker Lamborghini. Sometimes referred to as L002, it was
developed in competition with other manufacturers as a potential
military vehicle. It was different because the engine was a Lamborghini
Countach V12.
Generic Beach Buggy with possibly body boards or surf boards.
Cadillac Presidential Limousine, referred to as The Beast or Cadillac 1.
Tesla Model S is the world's first premium electric sedan - designed from the ground up as an electric car
Roar by Four Dune Buggy with fins in the rear is a radical design.
Sure to be popular worldwide is the BMW 5 series Police Car by popular
demand. It was suggested that it would also be very popular as a family
saloon.
From the construction segment comes the new Ford F-150 Pick-up Truck. It will be finished as a Contractor’s Truck.
In the Heroic Rescue group another classic Fire Engine will appear from
the 1970s. Dave related that Matchbox had been pursuing America Le
France Fire Truck but the company went out of business, thus scuppering
licensing plans. This new classic Mack Fire Truck will remind collectors
of more advanced years of the #29 in both the regular and Superfast
series.
The Crawler Hauler aka Critter Truck is a very tough truck for rugged
areas. Its off-road qualities enables it to hold beasts and monsters and
there will be some moulded in the back.
The Meter Made/Maid will be more familiar to some than others. I
understand that they are a common sight in Japan when meter maids give
out parking tickets and escape in a vehicle such as this.
This is a model of a real vehicle comes from Romania. It is called the
Ghe-O Rescue Vehicle. More information regarding this all-terrain
vehicle may be found on the internet.
It will be possible on this vehicle to move the booms in and out and resembles a Crop Sprayer
The latest Ford Cargo has been redesigned and is already selling in
Latin America. It is radical looking typifying Ford’s new styling with a
hexagonal grille. It even has a slot for a Convoy Trailer but there are
no plans to resurrect this range and so old trailers will have to be
used.
This model is to be used in conjunction with Skybusters and may be called Airport Tractor.
The Fire Boat
Porsche Cayman
This is a low profile Mining Dump Truck which features a moveable
bucket. The proportions are very much akin to the real vehicle. Mountain
Mover.
PREMIUM LINE
It will be a Diecast line called Supreme Hero and will feature Police,
Emergency and Fire vehicles. Models will be fitted with two piece wheels
with tyres on hubs. In total there will be 18 models and only one of
these will be generic. The line up is not yet complete as only two types
of wheels are being used and one or other has to fit all models chosen.
Dave told me that already there were questions over three of the models
originally selected and so the full range cannot be notified until
later in the year. All vehicles will have realistic liveries, for
example, California Highway Patrol. The main emphasis on these vehicles
will be realism and authentic workings. No boxes will be included but
the models will have a unique premium package with information on the
rear regarding the real vehicle. Models will not be double diecast as in
the past.
The 9 and 10 car packs will continue and there will be 8 different packs for 2015.
There will again be 12 Five packs available in 2015.
Farewell
And so my time as Ambassador is over. I would like to thank every
collector for so much support. I hope that I have covered something for
everyone in terms of interest. I thank so many collectors who have shown
their enthusiasm for the history section. In particular thanks are due
to Graham Tomlinson, John Lambert and David Tilley for their help with
these reports.
I wish Larry all the best and I am confident he will continue to highlight this brand that we all share a fondness for.
Anyone seen the 2013 recolour? Dave Weise tells me it has been produced.
Nigel Cooper 21st July 2014
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