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Why Matchbox did Everything Right with the Dodge Magnum
Topic Started: Feb 1 2015, 01:33 PM (1,808 Views)
mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
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With Mattel firing their CEO, losing substantial profit margins, and wondering why its nonexistence internet presence is not good enough, I have taken the time to look through the Matchbox archives. It is something I really like to do, but it can be poisonous. When I dust off and unfold my 2009 poster it makes today's time seem comparable to Matchbox being taken over by aliens. I never would have imagined Matchbox would be where they are today, well. . . where they are today.

It was as I was delving into Matchbox's online databases that I realized the Dodge Magnum encompasses everything that I like about Matchbox. Mattel did everything right with MB680, from beginning to end. The Magnum has a multitude of benefits that seem lost today. I have gone through every aspect of this model's life, and I hope that Matchbox returns to these ideals to regain its popularity.
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Photo: John Lambert

Fortunately, the first-gen Magnum was not widely done by most 1:64 diecast manufacturers. Anytime a casting is overdone in a scale it loses appeal. Toyota's Prius was a nice Matchbox, but I prefer the underdone Insight tenfold to the Prius.There are some offerings here and there of the Magnum, Motormax's is pretty nice, but a majority of them are slammed and have rims that are halfway under the wheel well.
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2005 was the first year that Matchbox's Magnum made it to the mainline, and that was the first model year of Magnums. The Matchbox debut nearly coincided with Dodge's, and that is important to make a relevant and appealing model. This is something Mattel fails to do today, and a great example is Tesla's Model S. The Model S debuted with a 2013 model year, and it has taken two years for Mattel to respond to that. The Tesla name is still one that draws attention from international crowds today, automotively-intrigued or not, but Mattel still missed out on 2 prime years of the Tesla being completely relevant.
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The Magnum's casting is another positive quality to address. Its body is diecast, even with solid B and C pillars, and the wagon has the oft-admired hefty-in-the hand feel. It has good execution, with accurate proportions, a low stance and its signature squashed roofline. Although there is no scale on the base, it fits well around sedans and SUVs, and I calculated the scale to be a respectable 1:72.
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In more general terms, it also a real licensed vehicle, which has become more of a rare occurrence these days. The icing on the cake is that it is a wagon. Most cultured motor enthusiasts love them, and I fall into that group as well. We have a fake woodie V6 Buick wagon in the garage as I speak, although it may not like to work. Ever.

But there is nothing that captures the same kind of admiration as a big, long, American wagon, and the Magnum is one of the last of the bunch alongside GM's later example. Having both from Matchbox is a real gift.
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Even with all of the Magnum's values, I have not touched upon its most significant trait: diversity.

Today, when we get a new casting it religiously remains what it was developed as. A Lamborghini Polizia, neat! I hope we see this Italian super car stock one day! Nope. The M5 Police is cool, but can the lightbar ever come off? Nope. What about on the Impreza WRX? Nuh-uh. Can the Stakebed F-350 have an ambulance unit on the rear? Maybe just a box van? That's crazy talk.

This stubborn tunnel-vision (one of Mattel's latest characteristics) is absolutely no good for a today's lineup. Development is great, but times are constantly shifting and older models should be able to adapt to new markets and ideas.
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The Magnum was a king of a casting. It debuted as a police model a couple of times, but then the lightbar vanished, and a beautifully civilian Magnum in blue followed. The Magnum saw 4 more police versions, but interspersed between those releases came a stock black version in a premium line. A 2008 5-pack saw a sporty purple Magnum with a blackened (carbon fiber-esque) hood, white stripes and 10-spokes. Three different types of Magnums switched out repeatedly, offering a huge diversity in the model's form. Then, in 2009, something entirely new was put on the Magnum's roof: surf boards. Fake woodie paneling was even added as a total surprise and contradiction to the 2009 poster, and that made the Magnum a California beach-side cruiser. Finally came the model's last hurrah, a black Sheriff model; the circle of the MB680's life. It took on 4 completely different styles in 7 years.

Just as the Magnum was becoming a past thought in the real world, one last version appeared to remind us of its purposeful and significant lifetime as a Matchbox that has still not been matched yet.
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Nic
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Barracuda68
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I'm hungry
I like there magnum too, only one I have is that blue one.

PS. I also enjoyed reading that write up
Edited by Barracuda68, Feb 1 2015, 03:13 PM.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I see a few I don't have and a few I do. Nice write up! If they weren't so pricey at the time I might have gotten one instead of my Olds...but I got a great deal on my Olds and for the most part it's been faithful so far, even with 200K plus on the clock.
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W_Body_Geek
Minivan
:O Nice writeup :) I like this casting, too, though I don't think I have one :?
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Barracuda68
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I'm hungry
"Fortunately, the first-gen Magnum was not widely done by most 1:64 diecast manufacturers." actually its has been done by a few in 1/64th. Jada, Maisto, motormax, 1 badd ride (remember them), of course MBX, hot wheels did a one too (it was one of there cartooned cars) and I'm sure a couple of them lesser known makers did one.

like this one by a company called Dickie http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Magnum-RT-2005-Dickie-1-64-Diecast-Mint-Loose-/371146290178
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MrFutura
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Station Wagon
Thanks for the post! For myself, there's little to look for these day with Matchbox. But that's my problem. Give the kids what they want. The new Mustang Police looks great and I hope to pay a fair price for one. A few years back they were really putting out some great stuff: P914, Vista Cruiser, Caddy Fleetwood, Miura, Europa, Karmann Ghia, Dodge A-100….. stock classics. I also really liked the Lesney Edition series with the metal bases. I suppose, like Hot Wheels, they need to come to terms with their two audiences, kids and collectors, and don't confuse the two.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
That 'Dickie' is actually a Yat Ming casting. It has been released in Corgi packaging, too. In addition to the basic Yat Ming casting which is also approximately 1:72, there was also a nice, different casting in Yat Ming's Road Signature 1:72 line.

I think the Matchbox and Motor Max Magnums are the nicest. The Maisto (Allstars) Magnum is very appealing to me, also, but only comes with oversize custom rims.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

It's a nice article on the Magnum from MB. They used it in so many different ways which is very commendable. The solid cast B and C pillars were quite rare during this time period as well. Dean is correct that Yatming actually issued two versions of the Magnum. One was for their 1/72 'Signature Series' detailed line as well as one for their basic 3" line. Motormax also did a really nice model as well as Dean mentioned.

I showcased the Motormax '05 R/T last year . . . COTD:August 24, 2014
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Edited by craftymore, Feb 1 2015, 04:05 PM.
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zzziippyyy
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Drive it like you stole it!
Great post, i enjoyed reading it :)
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mbx64
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Barracuda68
Feb 1 2015, 03:20 PM
"Fortunately, the first-gen Magnum was not widely done by most 1:64 diecast manufacturers." actually its has been done by a few in 1/64th. Jada, Maisto, motormax, 1 badd ride (remember them), of course MBX, hot wheels did a one too (it was one of there cartooned cars) and I'm sure a couple of them lesser known makers did one.

like this one by a company called Dickie http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Magnum-RT-2005-Dickie-1-64-Diecast-Mint-Loose-/371146290178
Thanks for your nice comments, but the Hot Wheels, Jada, and Badd Ride versions were all tuned, not stock like Matchbox's and Motormax's. There are very few civilian Magnums in 1:64, which is what I was trying to get at.

Honestly, I would not even call this a Magnum casting! ;)
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Thanks for the picture of the Motormax, Zach. I knew they made a nice version of it, and it looks neat with the flames.

I appreciate the kind words everyone! The writeup is long but it's very important to the topic of the post, and I am glad that you are all fans of the model as well.
Edited by mbx64, Feb 1 2015, 04:38 PM.
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Stampede
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Team Canada
Awesome review, Nicolas! I agree, Matchbox did do a great job on the Magnum.

The only ones that I currently have are the 2007 blue version, and the Brazos County Sheriff model. There are a few police models that I'd like to track down as well...
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
:toy: This was a very nice casting from Matchbox - always great when a manufacturer offers a station wagon! I think I have all of the police versions - plus a couple others. I l considered a Magnum but something about that rear design always made me feel like it had a major blind spot to the rear - and the one I test drove just didn't work for me.
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Douglas
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SUV
Nicolas, that was a really enjoyable read, and great pics. :thumbup:

I admired the real car, and enjoyed collecting the different Mbx versions, but of course I'm a bigger fan of the emergency vehicle versions, although I liked the surfboard ones as well, and actually thought they should have used that casting when they did that green paint scheme, I think it would have worked best, but I like it how it is too, I like the stock casting versions too, simply because it's a nice looking station wagon.

It would have been great to see a Fire Chief, Paramedic, or Rescue, paint schemes, but I don't know that the castings gone, so there's hope for a future version of one of these I guess.
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
Here are the Magnum police cars I have in my collection

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Arlington Heights Police/Color Comp limited edition
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JustDavid
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SUV
Excellent write-up as usual...great pics too. Most of the latest Matchbox releases have been a "pass" for me, so this is an awesome blast from the past.
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78Gremlin_GT
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The Gremlin Guy
Fantastic write-up of a good model, for sure. While I have no particular love for many Dodge models, being an AMC guy, I can appreciate the details that went into making this model such a diversifying addition. If only MBX would do this to more of it's models! :unsure: It's what I've been saying all along, why can't they make TWO versions at once, the gaudy child's playtoy, and a stock paint job version? Why does the entire run have to be "this way only" ??? :huh: I still say it would help them determine the market direction, by analyzing which cars are left on the pegs, and which ones are taken home. Looking at all the new 2015 vehicles, I found a few of the Mustang police cars, and did buy a couple, but most of the others are just outside my area of interest. I'd rather buy the Rad Racers by Wham-O for $1 with their box trucks and other types, even if the cabs aren't all that realistic looking, I can use them for my model trains with more realistic markings than the * Bling! bling! * stuff they put in packages now at MBX. :angry: Even HW has got less gaudy paint on many of their hi-po cars. Anyway, the Magnum wagon sure was a looker for MB, with all the variations I can see the appeal it drew, and I think they could do as well with other vehicles with less fantasy and more down-to-Earth detailing additions. Obviously the voices of the buying public aren't being heard (or listened to), so I guess it will take a "market correction" , ie collectors not buying them as much, to try to force the changes. Just seems to take so long to get responses that way, but I guess we're stuck with that approach until Big Management finally realizes some changes are needed. I like that woodgrain with surfboard version, that's different but not "wacky" different enough, to appeal to even my tastes in diecast. :P I like it a lot. Lets hope the PTB will get back to making more stock versions to appeal to a wider base of customers (eventually).

Jerry
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
I resisted the Magnum for some time....I think I just didn't like the "squashed roofline". But the model has grown on me....especially with the Police versions. I know I have a couple of those, but honestly couldn't tell you if I have all the "code 1" issues (they may be in some storage tub somewhere....). I'll parrot the others here....very nice write up, Nic, as usual (for you, it seems).

I don't remember having that "woody" with the surfboards, but having grown up on the Southern California coast, that would be a welcome addition to the non-emergency rigs in my collection.
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mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
Thanks for your comments everyone; I enjoy reading each one of them. :)

John, the Arlington heights Colorcomp you posted had me do a double-take. For a second it looked like a real Mattel release that I had somehow missed. It is a fantastic looking model. I can definitely understand the Magnum having a huge blindspot with the rear pillar, and the sloping roofline. The rear window height rivals that of supercars.

Doug, I do not know if the casting is available anymore. It was scheduled for later release in the 2012 line but it was completely scrapped. There were delays with the Challenger, but that came later, unlike the Magnum. The suggestions you listed would have made me happy!

Thanks for your input Jerry. My thoughts coincide with many of yours, and you offered a good idea with the kid vs. collector variant in the mainline instead of a higher priced premium range. That could be a successful new idea that is worth trying.

b2young
 
I don't remember having that "woody" with the surfboards, but having grown up on the Southern California coast, that would be a welcome addition to the non-emergency rigs in my collection.

I hope you are able to find that one!
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mbx64
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JustDavid
Feb 2 2015, 09:44 PM
Excellent write-up as usual...great pics too. Most of the latest Matchbox releases have been a "pass" for me, so this is an awesome blast from the past.
Thanks! I have been tired with the new releases so far too, and that has not been helped with the delayed release of the 4C. :waiting: And blasts from the past are always fun!
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