Lambo's new LM002

So Lambo are keen to get on the SUV Bandwagon – well, they have done so before with the LM002 which was a beast and a half and mainly sold in the Middle East. Call it a Hummer with a badge.

I suspect that the drivetrain will be all Audi mechanics, which should give it some off-road credibility.

Not sure about this one – just looks like a modded BMW X6 to be honest….but no doubt the chav-set will lap it up, trading in the Cayannes……

Source: Metro, 23/04/2012

Matchbox 1-75 for 2012 - the debate goes on

A reply from the MCCH board about the state of 1-75 for 2012 - the initial response is from David Tilley, a Matchbox guru and my nemesis.

Have a read, see what you think -

Re: 2012 Batch B\ V case preview!!!
Originally Posted by David Tilley

No matter which direction Matchbox took there was always going to be people who do not like it.

Sadly, the point is that the direction that was taken leaped forward for a while, but topped out and was starting to decline. Toys rotate on cycles in and out of fashion. There are always the "next big thing" and then there are the mainstays. Toy cars are one of the mainstays, but even in that genre there is the more popular stuff and less popular stuff. Sadly, the realism that Matchbox evolved into in the mid-2000s was no longer selling as well as the more fantasy stuff and Matchbox needed to evolve again. Many are stating that Walmart, Target etc have reduced peg space for Matchbox, but stores are saying that they were no longer willing to give space to them. When Matchbox came up with the new direction the stores liked what they were seeing and are planning on increasing space again. Isn't the next big refit in January? We will see what stores allot the Matchbox brand then.

In the UK things are a little different in the way that stores sell, and does not factor in quite as much. But recently, around my area, many more stores are starting to stock Matchbox products. Lately, my local Asda has been selling Matchbox a lot faster than they had a year ago. Sadly, there are still some of the older classics hanging around (worst one being one of my faves the Porsche 914 in green), but the new flashier graphics are enthralling the kids much more than they did. Recent stuff has been selling extremely fast. My local store put out a batch with VW Saveiro the weekend before last. 10 days later the bin was refilled again with another 72 assortment case of models. Twice, I stopped rummaging through because there were kids there on Tuesday who wanted to look through. They are selling faster than I have known them to sell for ages. The bright green Ford F-100 Panel Truck with the panther on the side is the fastest selling version of this casting I have seen since it debuted in orange a few years back. It has not been hanging around at all. My local TRU finally put out a more recent assortment of models, which was the batch where this model debuted. There were 3 of this casting on the pegs at the start of the week. I went in again yesterday and all 3 were gone. Yet the Pontiac Firebird, Ford Mustang GT CS, Toyota Prius (in green), Porsche 914, last year's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser are still on the pegs. There are also a ton of gray Rock Shockers from 2009 as adventure is also not a huge seller. Construction does not do particularly well either. From what I have seen in the numerous stores I frequent is that the modern cars do sell well (green Porsche 911GT3, Audi R8, Aston, Mini Cooper Cabrio - although strangely not the Fisker), and emergency style vehicles just evoporate immediately. Other utility style vehicles also seem to do well, and sometimes the brighter color vehicles do much better than previous examples (thinking pink Lotus Europa over the blue and yellow)

At this present moment in time, the kids around near me are taking to Matchbox much more than before. Sadly, it is at the expense of us collectors, but this is a toy company whose main market is kids. They are looking to sell to the majority, not the minority.

Me, personally, I do not mind the new direction. Sometimes I like a funky color scheme. I have stated numerous times how I think the new 2012 Cadillac Ambulance is my favorite version of that casting released to date. The new Dodge Charger Police car will likely have a quite realistic black/white color scheme for its debut as these are pretty popular and I bet they will go with the more traditional debut. Plus, the Aston Martin and Mini Cooper will be in very realistic color schemes for 2012, as I doubt that either BMW or Aston Martin will allow for unusual color schemes on them.

But we must also remember that this is not a permanent thing. It is like a pendulum, where it was totally one way, and has now swung to the other side, and will in 2013 swing back towards the middle again. To me, this is not the same as Hero City, as at that time the vehicles had very cartoony graphics. These are bright and in-your-face, but in a different way. They are a different slant on how to brighten things up. I have seen nothing yet that makes me fearful. I am still very much looking forward to seeing what is to come for the rest of 2012.

I started collecting in the 1970s, where we used to have thing like Tyre Fryer, Woosh-n-Push, Stingeroo, Fandango, Clipper etc. These were totally weird fantasy vehicles that are now seen as iconic. Yet, they are still some of the least desirable models in my collection. I am a Matchbox 3" model collector (Superfast - present), and will continue to collect Matchbox models as long as they continue making them and I am phsyically able to do so.

(My reply to this post):
DT, excellent thoughts as usual, but I have noticed that the availability of MB in the UK seems to be focused in the Midlands and North - you do not get anything down south (cos' we are infinitely richer than yow....), so the distribution in the UK is NOT even.

Even my local TRU struggles to fill with HW (!!), but more to the point computer games, Lego (hurrah!) and other character toys are VERY popular.

As mentioned before it will be a matter of time. in 20 years time when some of us may not even be around, the future of the "collecting" lies in the hands of the next generation - I cannot see them taking this up, and thus the need to cater for the collector for MB will diminish. It is inevitable.

New models for the Opel Collection

4 new models that will be part of the Opel Sammlung over the next 2 months - 

I am only really interested in the Ascona B400, which is good, as it saves me a bit of cash. 

I must post my second blog about the ones that I have in The Garage....keep meaning to do that, and get sidtracked!

34.	1953 – 1955	OPEL KAPTITÄN
35.	1991 – 1998	OPEL FRONTERA A
36.	1938 – 1940	OPEL KAPTITÄN
37.	1979 – 1981	OPEL ASCONA B 400

A rare sight - Mini 850 RHD in Switzerland

It is not often you see an original Mini on the roads these days, let alone one outside of the UK.

This little gem was parked outside our block the other day. for a car that is almost 30+ years old, it has survived the Swiss winters and was in very good shape.

Most significantly, it was also in RHD - are rarity in Switzerland. I have seen a few old Mini's around and they have been with LHD, so imported in from BL at the time of making.

For me, this car is still the epitome of affordable motoring. Seats four, a boot (OK, a little small on the boot space), and will get you from A to B. with a little bit oc character.

Today’s version – and blinded by the BMW marketing machine – is nothing more than a 1-Series. Small and affordable was the original Mini – two doors and sometimes an estate. Now you get a 4-door ‘Cooper’ Diesel – so much for heritage……

Hot Wheels Pontiac GTO Judge

The GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist; Bill Collins, a chassis engineer; and Pontiac chief engineer John DeLorean. In early 1963, General Motors' management issued an edict banning divisions from involvement in auto racing. At the time, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. With GM's ban on factory-sponsored racing, Pontiac's young, visionary management turned its attention to emphasizing street performance.

The most significant event of 1969 for the GTO was the launch of a new model called 'The Judge'. The Judge name came from a comedy routine, "Here Come de Judge", used repeatedly on the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In TV show. The Judge routine, made popular by legendary showman Sammy Davis, Jr. was borrowed from the act of long-time Burlesque entertainer Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham. Advertisements used slogans like "All rise for The Judge" and "The Judge can be bought." As originally conceived, the Judge was to be a low-cost GTO, stripped of some gimmicks to make it competitive with the Plymouth Road Runner. During its development, however, it was decided to make it the ultimate in street performance and image. The resulting package ended up being US$332 more expensive than a standard GTO, and included the Ram Air III engine, Rally II wheels without trim rings, Hurst shifter (with a unique T-shaped handle), wider tires, various decals, and a rear spoiler. Pontiac claimed that the spoiler had some functional effect at higher speeds, producing a small but measurabledown force, but it was of little value at legal speeds except for style. The Judge was initially offered only in "Carousel Red," but late in the model year a variety of other colours became available.

This is another more than acceptable model from the HW 1/64 range. It does no more than be exactly what it is – a standard diecast model, but it is a good casting, and for those who enjoy Americana, I am sure that with a little bit of painstaking TLC, improvements on detailing can easily be applied to the headlights, rear end and so forth.

Hot Wheels 1978 DODGE LIL express pick up

This one reminded me of the Chevy C-10 pick up used in the film Driver starring Ryan O'Neal.



HW also do some old skool Trans Am's so I am sure that this would complement the model nicely and one could even re-create the scene.

OK, it's a Dodge, but I think that it is a smart model. And also showcases the need for Hot Wheels to stick with the Americana rather than let Matchbox have a go. This is what they do best, and one of the reasons why I grab these models when I can.

It also gives me the opportunity to learn about models from outside of Europe/APAC, so although they will never make it to the Garage, they are part of the Hot Wheels collection.

Pixar Cars 2 - Carlo Maserati

Another use of an original casting from the original CARS movie, first seen under COSTANZO
DELLA CORSA - the green Maserati Quattroporte.

Another fine casting of the actual car in 'caricature' mode.

Vanguards 1/43 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was first presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1985, with plans to release it for sale in September and closing production of the 5,000 cars in the summer of 1986.

In practice, it was launched in July 1986 and 5545 were manufactured in total of which 500 were sent to Tickford for conversion to the Sierra 3 door RS500 Cosworth. The vehicle was manufactured in RHD (Right Hand Drive Only).

I see this model as the spiritual successor to the Matchbox SuperKings version that was also produced in white. My copy - for some reason - had a massive dent in the front grille, which really annoyed me - methinks my mother had summat to do with it - I'll never know.

It is a fairly decent effort - everything is in the right place, and the tampo-ing at the rear is well done.

What surprises me is that Hornby/Corgi have not released a RS500 version yet - this surely is an iconic Fast Ford that is worthy of re-creation. For some reason this model has not found a place in The Garage, not sure why......