Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Announcements (Updated: July 11, 2018)

Welcome to Swifty's Garage!


Thanks to all of you for making this board what it is today!


Attention new members: We would like to welcome you personally, so please introduce yourself. Click here: INTRODUCTIONS


For all the latest news and announcements, please click here: PA System



Thank you - The Swifty's Garage Team




This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution

Car of the Week:


Matchbox 1968 Ford F-100


Click Here: Matchbox '68 Ford F-100
Welcome to Swifty's Garage. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Thank You,
The Swifty's Garage Team


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features.

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Nigel Cooper's October 8 Ambassador Report
Topic Started: Oct 8 2013, 02:36 PM (1,109 Views)
mbx64
Member Avatar
Matchbox Collector
Nigel Cooper's latest Report is out, and it features the SACRED Porsche Panamera. Oh yes, I typed that. Porsche Panamera, baby!

*All images courtesy of Lamley Group Blog

=========================================================================================================


Ambassador Report 7

I apologise for this report being slightly late but I was in Los Angeles last week, taking in a visit to the Matchbox team at Mattel. Further comments relating to my visit will be included in Report 8.
As always I should mention that these images are shown with permission from Mattel.
The first four are new deco's for 2014 Singles. The JeepWillys will be part of the "Tactical (military) Mission Force" pack for 2014. I am sure it will bring back memories, despite its modifications, of the original Jeep released in the 1970s. The models shown are as follows:
MB706 Lotus Exige - blue
MB249 Chevy K-1500 - white
MB755 Pierce Dash Fire Engine - red/white
MB832 Jeep Wrangler Superlift - tan
MB784 Jeep Willys - army green
MB532 BMW Z8 - red
MB857 Chevy Suburban - blue (note: this is a retool of MB436 and believed to be the first release under the new MAN#)
MB816 Porsche Panamera - silver
Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

I was asked why MBX and Matchbox features so heavily oncolour schemes and was told that if, for example, an authentic livery is used on a fire truck, permission has to be granted by the relevant authorities and this may not always be forthcoming. I will pass on your comments regarding likes and dislikes of the models and colour schemes shown here. I am sure that as all of these 1-120 models are miniatures of authentic vehicles, they will be more likely to be greeted with enthusiasm.

VARIATION to look out for

There is an interesting update one of the vehicles used for 2014. The 2006 Fire Engine (MB698) which was shown earlier in an ambassador report is going to be modified. The existing casting (MB698) will appear in the 2014 singles line in yellow. The revised casting (MB949) will appear in the 2014 5 pack. The revised casting will have a shortened body to expose the trailer hitch and the front grill detail will be moulded to the chassis. Both versions will share the same deco but the 5 pack model will have the new casting. As such the current casting will make its last appearance in the 2014 singles line and the new casting will replace it in the future. I wonder whether there are plans for a suitable trailer such that the hitch or tow hook might be used!

The BMW Z8 will return in red as a member of the 2014 Exotics 5-pack and the Chevy Suburban will be part of the new Police pack.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Is there a list of the 5-pack package names for 2014 yet? This will be provided very soon.

Are 10-packs continuing for other markets outside USA or will all markets move to 9-packs? USA will continue to distribute 9 packs whilst all other markets will provide 10 packs.
The request last time for the Porsche Panamera has quickly been answered for it will be part of the singles line, painted in silver.
Posted Image

The next two 2014 models will be included in a new play set item. These are exclusive to the play set and won’t be part of the singles or 5-car packs. There will be 3 cars included with this upcoming play set. The third car was shown in my previous ambassador report. These two are:

MB898 Whiplash - orange/white
MB894 Turn Tamer - yellow/green
Posted Image

Posted Image

Are these new playset exclusive models being manufactured in Thailand? They will be manufactured in Thailand.

LOOKING BACK

The photos of old models, displays and advertising literature seems to be going down well and so I include a few more. Let me know if there is something in particular that you would like to see and I will do my best to locate it.
Jack Odell constantly said that he made Fred Bronner a multi-millionaire. However, Bronner must be given considerable credit for maximising the potential of the line. It was he who developed large displays in wood and glass, for which the purchasers had to pay as well as cardboard displays that were generally free. The one shown below is from 1958 and was a leaflet that representatives of the company gave to potential shopkeepers. I am constantly enthralled by the displays and cannot but be impressed bythe sales potential when all models were included and at a height for both children and adults to see clearly. I noticed that today ToysRUs and Meyers had Matchbox displays, but they were hardly in the same league of visual appeal. Moreover, the whole range was certainly not available.
Posted Image

Shown below are the two models mentioned in the Ambassador 6 report that were probably painted in these colours by mistake and released anyway.
Posted Image

Posted Image

This was a typical form sent by Fred Bronner in May 1959. I get the impression that the wholesaler will just be receiving these new military models without knowing what quantity he is getting. It must have been an easier life then.
Posted Image

This is a photo taken at the March 1959 Toy Fair, which I presume was in New York because Fred Bronner's name is shown and there would be no reason to show this name in England. I don't know who the lady is but the man looks like a young Jack Odell to me.
Posted Image

Nigel Cooper October 7th 2013


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Stampede
Member Avatar
Team Canada
Sweet! I love the Pierce and the Exige! Willys look nice, as well as the Suburban in police livery!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mbx64
Member Avatar
Matchbox Collector
Stampede
Oct 8 2013, 02:56 PM
Sweet! I love the Pierce and the Exige! Willys look nice, as well as the Suburban in police livery!
I agree! That Exige makes me all woozy inside.

Definitely one of the best ever produced!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
pjedsel
Member Avatar
Muscle Car
I so enjoy the history items that Nigel adds to his report. It is fun to reflect on the history of Matchbox. As for the new models, the Pierce looks pretty nice in red and white. I keep wondering if we will see the Pierce released in the future with actual department liveries. The Willy's Jeep in Army colors looks great as does the police Suburban.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bill50
Fullsize
Is this report a full version or an edited edition?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mbx64
Member Avatar
Matchbox Collector
Bill50
Oct 8 2013, 04:43 PM
Is this report a full version or an edited edition?
It's pulled from the Lamley group, but the version on the MCCH is full, too, I believe.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JustDavid
Member Avatar
SUV
The Porsche looks good...many thanks for the updates.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LF171
Subcompact
Thanks for another update.

The Panarama looks great in silver. And the wheels certainly help! Love the BF Goodrich logo on the K1500. Other than the Whiplash and the Turn Tamer, everything else looks pretty good.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Black Wind
Member Avatar
Midsize
For some reason, Google Chrome decided to crash on me and not display any photos at all, except the Porsche. How ironic.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bill50
Fullsize
Black Wind
Oct 9 2013, 11:20 AM
For some reason, Google Chrome decided to crash on me and not display any photos at all, except the Porsche. How ironic.
I use Chromebooks only these days,no need for my laptop any more and you need to see the cars in the pics as they all look good apart from the generics. :wave:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Stampede
Member Avatar
Team Canada
Black Wind
Oct 9 2013, 11:20 AM
For some reason, Google Chrome decided to crash on me and not display any photos at all, except the Porsche. How ironic.
Glad to see you back, Black Wind! I don't think that we've heard from you in a while! :wave:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
realgone58
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
I like them all, except the generics. Not a bad batch. Thanks Nigel for the history part. I love that! Hope to see that section in every report if possible.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Black Wind
Member Avatar
Midsize
Stampede
Oct 9 2013, 01:52 PM
Glad to see you back, Black Wind! I don't think that we've heard from you in a while! :wave:
Thanks for not forgetting me! And yes, I've not been around here for quiet some time as my college has started now (so classes, practicals, exams and all that stuff) so was busy with that, then moving on there was the new season of Top Gear the last two months (no BBC entertainment on my TV, had to watch it on Streetfire, which takes a lot of time to load each video), been recently addicted to Fifth gear and Wheeler Dealers (this programme actually helps me in my practicals as Edd basically does the same things in his workshop that I'll be doing in my college over time) so you can imagine how much engaged I was. I'm back however, and will be hanging around this site but won't be much active unless I have lots of free time. Anyway, enough with my story as I don't want this to go too much off-topic. So lets move on:-

Great report. Lots of nice cars in there that are going on my shopping list. Heading that list, quiet obviously, is the Porsche Panamera, which is just brilliant. Again, thanks for the report!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
clem24
Member Avatar
Station Wagon
Nice.. New Panamera. Jeez mbx64 you're gonna have to change yer sig... :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Bay 3: Matchbox · Next Topic »
Add Reply



March's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations DinoMom for winning March's contest!



April's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations carsdownunder for winning April's contest!






Powered By

This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution


eXTReMe Tracker