Lamley Awards Poll: What was the Best Matchbox Licensed New Model in 2017?

January 3, 2018

Alright, let’s go orange.

Hopefully you agree with me that Matchbox continues a most welcome return to form. You might have some likes and dislikes among the new models shown here, but there is a nice variety of vehicles from all kinds of angles, and that diversity is what many of us longtime Matchbox fans have come to love. Sure, more would be better, but this is a nice, realistic, mix.

Add to that the fact that Matchbox Team has proven to be well engaged with the community, much more than it used to be. They set the stage with their @matchboxworld IG feed, and we have seen Abe in Albuquerque, Germany, and at JCCS previewing all kinds of goodies. And as many of you have found when meeting him, he listens, and he definitely brings you into the process, good and bad.

So let’s have a gander back at 2017, before we jump into 2018. Here are all the 2018 LICENSED New Models. I debated including the non-licensed, considering Matchbox is doing a lot more realistic generic vehicles, but I decided to stick with licensed. Please note I did not include a photo of the GHE-O Predator. I could not find one to photograph. But it is included in the poll.

You will find photos of all below.

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31 responses to “Lamley Awards Poll: What was the Best Matchbox Licensed New Model in 2017?”

SeattleO
January 3, 2018
Better lineup than hot wheels. Seriously. Just wish I could have found them

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BlackWind
January 3, 2018
No photo of Camaro convertible?

Anyway, this is difficult for me as all of them are equally good. I’m not surprised by seeing the variety (usual Matchbox business) however, the lack of sports cars is a bummer imo. Anyway, I’m voting for the G63 6×6 but there’s a good chance my mind could change tomorrow.

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1. Wheaterz
  January 3, 2018
  Camaro is the bottom photo.. but where’s the Ghe-o?
  
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  1. BlackWind
    January 4, 2018
    Ahh I see it now. Why no GHE-O? read the description.
Carlos Font Segura
January 3, 2018
This year I’ve been able to get some 2017 MBX cars (including the new Impreza, MB 6×6, Hudson, 500X and Golf), but the distribution is still very bad. So my vote goes to the Hudson Hornet police car, it’s a beautiful little police toy car! The Golf it’s the closed second for me. The Junior, i3 and Camaro are awsome too.

The disapponiting model is definitely the Subaru Impreza police car, very bad done in my opinion :/

Honorable mention for the Glass King and Speed trap, very nice MBX Original models.

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Tran
January 3, 2018
I actually don’t like the 6×6 once I saw it in person. Its so skinny. Proportions are just messed up

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1. Ben
  January 4, 2018
  Yeah, I agree. I mean, I understand the size limitations MB has to work within, but it’s still a shame.
  
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bubblecar
January 3, 2018
Nissan Junior…every detail, PERFECT.

The Camaro was a close second for me…it got the muscle car stance just right.

Never a tampo problem with Matchbox models, either…unlike the ones so many Hot Wheels have.

.

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Allen
January 3, 2018
I can’t pick a best they like the hotwheels was all in their own way cool again matchbox is really marking a good come back

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Mavanerick
January 3, 2018
This is a difficult vote. There are only a few that I don’t want to vote for. It has been an incredibly good year for Matchbox.

Besides the excellent choices of vehicles to license, and apart from the great execution of said models by the team, there are some other reasons to vote for some of them specifically:

Tacoma and Brookwood (but especially Tacoma): the excellent added play value of removable pieces.
Chevy Van (and, to a lesser extent, the VW Golf): the excitement of hunting for two versions of the casting.
AMG 6×6: the significance of the return of the Mercedes-Benz license.
VW Golf: the willingness of the team to tweak the paint in order to make it a perfect match with the original.
Datsun 510: best application of detail on a factory deco I’ve ever seen for a $1 model.

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Zach Charles Regalus Schuller
January 3, 2018
There should be a vote on the Generic Matchbox’s released this year. Most of them, like Speed Trapper and Duk-Duk, were just plain fun castings.

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Karl53186
January 3, 2018
Well for me it’s the Jeep. Nailed the cast and those new wheels really do it justice. Bought multiples for wheel swaps.
Big surprise on the Mercedes vote, it’s so out of scale and small it’s terrible to me. I would be very happy if matchbox trashed the mold and made a bigger one.
Will not buy one again no matter the deco or premium package it may come in.
Maybe Hot wheels should do one,look at the new land Rover, they seem to know how to do it.

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Land Ark
January 3, 2018
I have admitted many times to being a JDM fanboy. I have been since Super Street magazine was just getting big.
But I had to vote for the Golf.

The 510 is interesting, but honestly I don’t care for the roof rack. I was excited to find one anyway, but when I saw it in person I was extremely disappointed. It’ll get my vote if that is a poll for MBX too. The lack of side tampos is what really hurts it for me. But the lack of roof tampos will ruin it when they put them on the side.

The proportions of the Junior don’t look right to my eyes. It’s narrow but the wheels are so big and fat, it just looks awkward. It doesn’t help that I have a beautiful 1:43 version to compare it to.

I can’t with good conscience vote for anything without an interior. The wagon would be fantastic with a full roof and interior. I understand they can’t use much metal anymore, and I appreciate them still doing some interesting castings, but it just feels too cheap.

I’m disappointed with this year’s selection but I am hopeful there will be better choices in the future.

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1. Ben
  January 4, 2018
  I’m with you 100% concerning not voting for something without an interior. I understand the reasons why it had to happen, but a model with solid black windows will never get my vote. I also see what you mean with the Nissan Junior. I still love the model, but it does seem a little off.
  
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Israel Moore
January 3, 2018
I have to go with the Camaro. Mostly because I have one.

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Connor McCollum
January 3, 2018
I’m going with the Chevy Camaro Convertible. The proportions seem just right despite the very narrow and intricate grill that they managed to perfect. Not to mention the front and rear detailing, side mirrors, and the tinted 5 spoke wheels. To me, this car seems very underappreciated and I can clearly see that in the polls. It’s one of the least favored castings of the year. Maybe it’s because there’s so many Camaros out there that people are getting sick and tired of them. But hey, it’s much better than the Hot Wheels version by a long shot!

Like someone else mentioned, the Datsun was exciting at first but disappointing in person due to the lack of side detailing since all of it is on the roof, hood, and a little of the trunk. I don’t like the fact that it also sacrifices front and rear detailing. I mean, at least do the taillights! It would’ve looked so much better. But I will give it this, the two wheel variations added to the fun factor and I did manage to find the dish wheeled version and it looks so much better than those dorky six spoke ones!

By the way, if you make a poll for MBX Originals, my vote would be for the Speed Trapper. I think it’s a neat little rig, even if it is a pegwarmer! There’s lot of detail on it and the fact you can actually hitch it to another vehicle adding to the play value for the kids or display.

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1. John Nilsson
  January 3, 2018
  Connor great points. The Camaro is one of the best done if not the best. Your point on Speed Trapper shows your appreciation for realistic models. Some will find this a waste but it’s not really a collection piece IMO. This piece is great for guys who like to display their diecast via dioramas. I once found an arrow tow along sign by I think it was Matsato that made it. I’m not a collector of that brand but I picked it and the dump truck that went with it up. The dump I swapped out the wheels with older MBX wheels and added an amber light bar and they are great when displayed even though their not a major brand.
  
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John Nilsson
January 3, 2018
I honestly love all of them but unfortunately haven’t found the Datsun rally. I picked the Chevy Van but the 6×6 was probably the best. Just felt the Chevy needed the respect cause the 6×6 was gonna get it’s due. I have to agree with whoever said MBs line up was better than HWs. BTW aren’t you leaving one out? Am I wrong wasn’t the Chrysler 300 in this years licensed models? The HH was also a instant classic. Really a pretty broad range of variety congrats to MB on a great comeback! Here’s hoping that they keep it going and I am so looking forward to the 2018s. Wish HWs would go back to how they used to put out awesome FEs! Also enjoyed collecting HWs when they put out the FEs with it posted on the packages, was so much more fun hunting and easier to find the ones you really wanted.

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John Nilsson
January 3, 2018
Sorry but I have to comment on the fact that there are still so many that can not get their hands on MBX. Considering there will still be plenty that sit. Not because their not selling but because I think collectors of MBX tend not to hoard or scalp this brand. MBX was an international brand way back when. I see collection of MBX from around the world on the internet that some of whom can no longer get them since Mattel bought the brand. This sucks because this is a hobby that is dwindling. Some lost interest in the brand at the end of Tyco’s run. But now I think these collection would love these models. I feel it’s a great disservice to the collector and a serious lack of respect to the legacy of the brand. They finally bring the brand back from the brink of extinction only to fail the collector. It’s obvious the design team is working extremely hard to bring this brand back to the top. For Mattel to hold it back is truly a lack of commitment to the brand IMO. I mean come on just by the comments here you can hear the enthusiasm and the disappointment. Enthusiastic for direction they are taking the brand and the frustration of not being able to get them, it’s a dam shame. I feel bad for the people that can’t get these and have to pay inflated prices on a secondary market for them. Mattel should be ashamed!

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1. Karl53186
  January 4, 2018
  Ok enough already I know some of u can not find new matchbox,and do not want to pay eBay prices. But of the 14 cars listed minus some variation models I’ve seen all fourteen in stores around here in the last two weeks. If you want hard to get cars reach out to people like those posting here and ask hey can u get me some. My fellow collectors and I here in town do it all the time. I would have no problem picking up something for someone while I am out and sending it out for cost. It is more fun to share the hobby than sitting at home.
  
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Borislav
January 3, 2018
It`s a tough pick, but my vote goes to the Golf Country. Great execution, perfect colors, very balanced proportions. It almost looks like the real car. I hope that this year will bring us the same variety of wonderful models from Matchbox.

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Yuneek Cypher
January 4, 2018
I’m going with the Golf. Hope it looks as good in hand.

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mbx_hwc
January 4, 2018
Had to go with the Merc , Golf a close second . Quite a hard choice this year

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Randy C
January 4, 2018
Wow. I have several of these. I have the 510, camaro, and Golf Country in front of me at my desk. The Brookwood is sitting in front of a lighthouse knicknack of my wife’s at home. Hudson and Van are at home as well. All have had some paint detailing to add to them. The 510 I did at work with Sharpies in my spare time. A little silver and black, plus the taillights and it reeally becomes a whole new, better model. Did buy the Fiat 500 but gave to daughter to give to a friend who bought the exact real car. The others are nice but just don’t fit into my interests and ability to display them somewhere. At this point, every new car has to displace something, darnit. got to get more displays. I voted for the Brookwood because WAGON.

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Ben
January 4, 2018
Just like with Hot Wheels, my choice here is in the minority. I picked the BMW i3. With the exception of the inappropriate width of the tires (which can be remedied by displaying the car from the side), this casting is just perfect. Front and rear tampo, plus the blue accent stripe on the side (!!) makes for a great look, and I love how well they captured the unique interior as well. Close contenders were the Hudson, Gladiator, and Camaro.

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Glenn
January 4, 2018
I liked the Gladiator the best. I thought it was closest to 1/64 scale. Also like the Camaro convertible, but it’s too narrow.

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Marshall Garrison
January 4, 2018
Hands-down, the Hudson is too-cool-for-school, so that gets it for me. The Chevy wagon is the next most-interesting model, both because of the canoe, & the way they did it (thankfully it wasn’t all a single casting). With the fewer number of MB on the pegs with the smaller 24-count cases, I hope MB notes the degree the smaller cases account for whatever less there is in sales – it would be a shame for that to end up as a ongoing downward-spiral with ever-shrinking case-counts.

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AverageJoe
January 6, 2018
I don’t have it in my collection, since I don’t think it is an attractive car, but the BMW to me seems like the nicest model Matchbox has in that lineup – just a quick glance and I’d think I was looking at the real car – REAL sharp casting, excellent tampos, just very, very nice all around. And not going in my very small collection:)

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pyrrol
February 26, 2018
I have limited room, so I have a Hall of Fame with my favorite recent models on display (and another display of vintage). So, that’s a good test, if a car makes the hall. I’ll do a quick review of the ones that made my hall and maybe add a few that could be in there in the future:

In the hall: ’59 Chevy Wagon. I was not getting spoilers at this point and was stunned when I came across this. I tend to give extra high marks to old vehicles, and the 50’s is a favorite era. This car is a hard shape to sculpt correctly and it is a knockout. The bare bones paint and hubcaps work great. The top with canoe is a crazy touch (and cool doing this with the Tacoma. It defined the year). Just an all time great model. The lack of paint detail and interior work great aesthetically, and it is amazing they could do this one in budget.

’51 Hornet Police: This was another stunner. The ‘bathtub’ design of this car is pretty iconic. And pretty hard to do a good mold of. This police car looks like it drove right out of a film noir movie! The understated paint and hubcaps are great. This is an all time great car, and frankly something you could never dream of from Hot Wheels. I wish they would do many paint versions of this one, and perhaps they will. Oddly, the horn and lights are metal parts of the mold so it sort of has to be a working vehicle, which is gutsy. It would make a great sheriff, different police variations, maybe a civil defense vehicle, and one hell of a fire chief car! Despite a lot of metal, decent paint, and a chrome base, this model ALSO has an interior!

’95 Chevy Van: I love a good van and this as about as good as it gets. The ‘big red’ is basically dressed as a generic ambulance, but it is a great blank canvas for all sorts of ‘decco’. It has a really 70’s feel to it… Strangely committed to being an ambulance with the molded on square lights and the window piece light and horn. In the future, the plastic could be changed to make a blank sunroof and a narrow sunroof over the cab instead. This model is really odd, because despite these details it isn’t treated as a full ambulance and has a back bumper with adventure stuff–gas cans or a motorcycle. (There’s a story behind it.) This is another non interior as the budget was used on chrome and, metal and details. Fine with me in this case.

’70 Datsun Rally: I saw this one on the Lamely Group and knew it was coming, but still a double take kind of car. I can’t believe the metal they used to do all the rally jazz in the roof rack. It’s all metal, and painstakingly stamped with colors. The sides are totally clean, showing off the sparkle orange, but the hood and trunk have ton of detail. The hood even has very realistic mud splatters. Obviously with the ‘superfast’ toy wheels (making them functional rolling kids toys) and budget limitations for a $1 price point, vehicle proportions will be a bit off. The one weakness of this model is that it’s proportions seem more off than the others when viewed from the front or back. It feels a little narrow or squished. This is another permanent rally due to the metal side lights and roof items. Fine with me! What a fun model and I’m sure they can come up with some great paint variations (see 2018). I never saw this model with the disc hubs and think it looks extra good with those. This one flew off the pegs. It seemed like all these did, but the van and the ’59 wagon were a little easier to find in my neck of the woods. The Hornet was a ghost.

A lot of other models that are really impressive. I think the Jr might make it into the hall soon. Great mold, good proportions and lots of repaint potential. And I like unusual licensed vehicles. A lot. The Mercedes 6×6 is one that you can tell Matchbox spent a long time on. Another really unusual licensed vehicle. Hard to imagine ever seeing one in person. At first this one was hard to find, but I’ve been seeing it a lot now. The Tacoma is a lot of fun, but a bit of a mundane, ugly truck. With the tent piece, the blank hubs and the paint job, it’s dressed up about as nice as possible. Really impressive year!

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Speedeeone
December 25, 2018
My vote goes to the BMW i3. It is just so perfectly executed. From the distinctive beltline to the headlight and taillight tampos to the iconic turquoise rocker panel stripe. Looks like a scaled down version of the real thing.

The VW Golf County comes in a close second. Again, it looks so perfectly scaled down from the real car. All the details are there; the ride height, the wheel choice, the perfect shade of Montana Green paint and the addition of the rear-mounted spare and front grill guard to finish it off. The headlights and taillights would have been a nice addition.

The Subaru WRX is the one I was probably most excited for, and the Battenburg livery is great, but I feel the proportions of the car are a bit off, somewhat stunted in length and perhaps too tall as well as riding too high.

The Fiat 500X is well executed, but lets be honest, a bit dull.

The Jeep Gladiator is excellent, I can appreciate that, but I’m not a Jeep kinda guy.

The Mercedes 6×6 is a great idea and the details are done well, but due to limitations in scale, this model just comes out way to narrow and small overall.

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