River Adventures | Sand Shredder

The Sand Shredder is an unlicensed All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), which is also a Matchbox Original. It is for most into this hobby is an underrated vehicle. It’s not as scaled as the usual 1/64 scale Matchbox Car, but it stands out to appeal to those who are into the great outdoors. It’s one of those Matchbox Originals that gets attention from a specific market that is into 4x4 or into this type of recreational vehicle. This is before Matchbox acquired the Polaris license, who produce real-life ATVs. There have been unlicensed vehicles similar to the San Shredder, but this one certainly is a Matchbox ATV!

MBX Metro | Mazda Autozam AZ-1

The Mazda Autozam Az-1 is a mid-engine Kei-Class sports car developed in collaboration with Suzuki provided the engine and some inspiration for the design. It was produced from October 1992 to October 1994 and was exclusively sold in Japan. The proposal for the creation of this car goes back to 1985 with Suzuki creating a mid-engine car of their own. There have been several stages in the process of creating this car, and it took years until it was unveiled and became a production car sold only in Japan. Matchbox has produced its die-cast version debuting for the 2023 mainline in Gloss Dark Blue.

River Adventures | Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup truck marketed for Canada and the US market. It was produced by Honds to compete with its US counterparts. Currently, there have been two generations of the Honda Ridgeline. Matchbox introduced the first generation Ridgeline in 2007 based on the 2005 model. It’s not even sold outside North America or its home country of Japan; the Ridgeline is built for the American Market, as the aesthetics are Western in its silhouette. It was manufactured from 2005 to 2015 for the first generation.

River Adventures | Raft Boat

It’s always fun to play with your Matchbox in your youth when they are basing the vehicles on real life. Some of them may not be licensed, and it becomes interesting when it is based on a theme. It may be about off-road or a vehicle that you see in the city. The novelty of the concept is one of the core identities why Matchbox a beloved brand, and it shows why it’s still around. Some of them are not even vehicles, but can be a trailer with a gimmick as an add-on to your existing Matchbox vehicles. It can be hauling a camping trailer or watercraft that would look good on your 4x4 vehicle.

River Adventures | Mercedes-Benz U300

Mercedes-Benz has been known for luxury cars and SUVs but has rarely ever been known for tractors, Lorries, Trucks, or heavy machinery. But Matchbox is known to produce licensed castings of everything that would fit into their 1/64 scale basic range that continues to cater not only just cars. But this also includes other types of vehicles such as trucks and even boats. Speaking of trucks, Mercedes-Benz has produced some of these models through Matchbox basic and special themed series of vehicles. This includes the Mercedes-Benz U300 light truck that has been produced before going back to the Lesney era.

River Adventures | Coyote 500

Matchbox has produced some of the unlicensed casting going back to the brand’s debut in 1953. Some of these designs have been mainly inspired by concepts or are futuristic in aesthetics that they can be translated into becoming real-life vehicles that you may see in car shows or special events. Some of these Matchbox Originals are worldly made with fantasy in mind or inspired to be concepts that can be turned into actual vehicles. The Coyote 500 is one such casting that is produced with an all-terrain design that can be used for the desert, jungle, or the most challenging terrain that was designed for.

MBX Service | Tuk-Tuk

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.

MBX Heroic Rescue | '95 Custom Chevy Van

Matchbox has been known for some interesting vehicles that don’t get much appreciation for their design, as well as other reasons why, in the modern age of die-cast collecting, it’s considered to be uncommon. We’re talking vans that were produced years ago; it’s being produced by whichever brand represents it. Of course, the famous ones like the Volkswagen panel vans have been part of Matchbox, even dating back to the metal axles, to getting Superfast versions. These days, it’s uncommon due to the amount of die-cast being used, and it will cost Mattel to raise the price of mainline Matchbox.

MBX Adventure City | Volvo V60 Wagon

Volvo is largely known for its award-winning safety feature, and its signature compact executive and estate cars. Their Volvo Estate CArs have evolved over the years to fit with the modern technologies of today. Their continued evolution has not changed for the type of car they are known for. Matchbox has been known to produce some of their earlier models dating back to the 1980s with the Estate. Several castings followed and one of them was released in 2016 with the Volvo V60 Wagon, which is still being Manufactured by the Swedish company producing a second generation.

MBX Heroic Rescue | Land Rover Defender 110

The Land Rover Defender 110 is a long-wheelbase off-road vehicle that was introduced in the 1990s. There’s a shorter version, which is the Defender Ninety. But this four-wheel drive is more known for being used for the toughest terrains and being able to carry more passengers and cargo for those camping trips. Matchbox has produced the Land Rover Defender 110, which is based on the 1997 model in 2006 and had a long run that was discontinued in 2021. This casting feature is the last one being sold in the mainline for 2017. But in the following years, it was only available in multi-packs and special themed sets before it is finally retired.

MBX Road Trip | Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

A Station Wagon (also called a Wagon in the US) or an Estate Car (or short for Estate, a term used in the UK) is mostly known as a family vehicle even before the crossovers or the SUVs became the ‘modern’ ride. It is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with a roof extended rearward over shared passenger/cargo. The origin goes back to the 1910s, but the modern station wagon became known by the mid-1940s to the 1970s. It became a part of pop culture often depicted in film and television. But the 1990s saw its appearance in “That 70’s Show” with the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser that also appeared in the recent spinoff of that series in 2023.

MBX Show Cars | Volkswagen Concept 1

Collecting diecast cars doesn’t start to become a hobby until you’re an adult. Because having them in anyone’s childhood depends on each and everyone’s opinion and personal experience growing up. Sometimes it is not counted until you’re aware of how much a reminder they are in your life. Personally, growing up there have been so many toys out there that become a part of your youth. It might be the latest trend or what’s popular around that time period. But with all that has been happening in-between life, there would be something constant that by chance or moment it would resonate with you.