|
|
|
| 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. |
| Nigel Cooper's October 8 Ambassador Report | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 8 2013, 02:36 PM (1,109 Views) | |
| mbx64 | Oct 8 2013, 02:36 PM Post #1 |
|
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 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() 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 ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() Shown below are the two models mentioned in the Ambassador 6 report that were probably painted in these colours by mistake and released anyway. ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() 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. ![]() Nigel Cooper October 7th 2013 |
![]() |
|
| Stampede | Oct 8 2013, 02:56 PM Post #2 |
![]()
Team Canada
|
Sweet! I love the Pierce and the Exige! Willys look nice, as well as the Suburban in police livery! |
![]() |
|
| mbx64 | Oct 8 2013, 03:04 PM Post #3 |
|
Matchbox Collector
|
I agree! That Exige makes me all woozy inside. Definitely one of the best ever produced! |
![]() |
|
| pjedsel | Oct 8 2013, 03:11 PM Post #4 |
![]()
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. |
![]() |
|
| Bill50 | Oct 8 2013, 04:43 PM Post #5 |
|
Fullsize
|
Is this report a full version or an edited edition? |
![]() |
|
| mbx64 | Oct 8 2013, 05:10 PM Post #6 |
|
Matchbox Collector
|
It's pulled from the Lamley group, but the version on the MCCH is full, too, I believe. |
![]() |
|
| JustDavid | Oct 8 2013, 08:03 PM Post #7 |
![]()
SUV
|
The Porsche looks good...many thanks for the updates. |
![]() |
|
| LF171 | Oct 8 2013, 08:37 PM Post #8 |
|
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. |
![]() |
|
| Black Wind | Oct 9 2013, 11:20 AM Post #9 |
|
Midsize
|
For some reason, Google Chrome decided to crash on me and not display any photos at all, except the Porsche. How ironic. |
![]() |
|
| Bill50 | Oct 9 2013, 11:53 AM Post #10 |
|
Fullsize
|
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.
|
![]() |
|
| Stampede | Oct 9 2013, 01:52 PM Post #11 |
![]()
Team Canada
|
Glad to see you back, Black Wind! I don't think that we've heard from you in a while!
|
![]() |
|
| realgone58 | Oct 9 2013, 03:38 PM Post #12 |
![]()
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. |
![]() |
|
| Black Wind | Oct 10 2013, 06:50 AM Post #13 |
|
Midsize
|
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! |
![]() |
|
| clem24 | Oct 10 2013, 11:08 AM Post #14 |
![]()
Station Wagon
|
Nice.. New Panamera. Jeez mbx64 you're gonna have to change yer sig...
|
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Bay 3: Matchbox · Next Topic » |
| Track Topic · E-mail Topic |
1:58 PM Jul 11
|



























1:58 PM Jul 11