| The Tuk-Tuk is an iconic land vehicle, which has become an everyday transport in Thailand that has many origins dating back to the 1880s. Its significance in culture certainly knows what this three-wheeled vehicle is all about.
This, of course, is about the die-cast representation of a generic public transport that has been popular in Thailaind and some countries in Southeast Asia. It's been under the radar for the Matchbox team to produce this beloved transport vehicle, and they made it happen whne it first debute in 2017. The second release gets a spotlight as it is more with the realistic colours. |
The first release was in bright green with pink interiors, and the top is in a dark tint while making a custom wheel exclusive to this casting. You’d think this is just some random casting that would be generic, but it’s not what you’d thought it will not get that much attention as this casting was difficult to find in Australian retail.
The first release was highly anticipated by most collectors in Asia the moment this was announced, and Thailand gets to be put on the map for the creation of this casting that they have adapted as their own being part of their culture and heritage that is a wonderful moment for those hardworking people who collaborated with the designers from Mattel in putting this product.
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New Look Packaging
The 2018 card back looks slightly different from its previous year's release. The artwork is larger and more prominent, which will catch your attention. This year is also the 65th anniversary of the brand as a tiny circular logo with Matchbox brand is celebrating this year. The name on the side is now separate from which segment and name of the model can be found.
There’s a tiny icon at the very bottom left corner of the card back that has a tow truck as the logo for the “MBX Service” segment that would acknowledge the Tuk-Tuk is part of and it is going to be part of the way you look at this card back for 2018.
Since this casting may have removable parts (more of this later), you will see multiple language warnings that overlap the artwork that you don’t see in other models released along with this casting. The back doesn’t say much other than legal stuff and copyrights can be seen with no description of the model other than its name tear the top of the card back is prominent.
This vehicle is of course based on the Tuk-Tuk transport vehicle by Matchbox.
Key Features of the Tuk-tuk below:
- Year Release: 2018 | MBX Service Subtheme
- Base Color: Silver | Metal
- Window: Tint
- Handlebars: Yellow
- Tampo: THAILAND Tuk-Tuk', various logos | Unpainted Front Headlight details
- Interior: Silver
What Tuk-Tuk so long?
They say it’s about time, and it was worth the jubilation when Matchbox released the first casting for the Tuk-Tuk in 2017, and the following year it follows what was promised before with more details as well as the names and other things you see on both sides of the trike that acknowledges the team in Thailand that collaborated in making this casting a reality.
The Matchbox team did a phenomenal job in pushing the design and engineering of this casting that few collectors would even bother to appreciate let alone leave it imprisoned in its carded bubble. There are so many nuisances that make this a stand-out model that very few would even notice to see hanging on the racks the first release was popular enough there’s a 50/50 chance that you’ll come across this model in a retail store.
This model is actually of two parts as the roof/windshield is a lighter shade of dark tint and is removable while the base model is made of diecast and plastic with no running change from the debut release. The handlebars are still made in diecast painted in bright yellow while the interior seats are painted in silver.
Surprisingly, the entire body is a two-piece plastic while maintaining the base in silver that added paint hits to make the handlebars yellow. The deco with so many tiny writings in English and Thai that you can’t make up some of them as it might be the names of the designs in Thailand who had a hand collaborating with Matchbox in putting together this model.
Overall, the Tuk-Tuk is a very much popular model that ran from 2017 to 2018 with only two models that some say are hard to find due to its limited run. It could have been better if they added more variations to the shortlist of released casting. But despite the short run Matchbox might produce a newer model. It might be a brand-new casting or a slightly modified one that would fit the budget cost.
For now, this one lived out the popularity of this famous public transport in Southeast Asia. You don’t see it running in Western countries, but this model surely cruised along Marion Road in South Australia where it was found.
Tuk-Tuk is part of the MBX Service segment series and overall MB15 released for the 2018 year, which was acquired at Big W in Westfield Marion for $2.00 AUD (₱ 83.24 Pesos | $ 1.46 USD**). Matchbox is distributed in Australia by Mattel Pty., LTD. based in Richmond, Victoria.
** - Currency Converter via Google.com
NOTES:
The photos used in this article and review were produced but unpublished in 2018. The studio shots were taken at the Marion Libraries, while the outdoor shows were taken across the Marion City Council Building and the areas nearby.
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