Photo: RealTruck
Growing up, I always dreamed about having the magical power of turning a diecast car into the real thing. That's a common dream for boys who are part of families that live modest lives. But most of my car-related dreams have come true.
I have learned to admire Mattel for more than just its 1/64th-scale cars. The company has developed and used so many innovative ideas and marketing strategies. You can learn a lot from this manufacturer by studying its line-up of model vehicles.
Last year, I wondered if the Mad Mike Drift Attack casting would become more than a fantasy casting. It turned out that the Hot Wheels car came out before Mad Mike unveiled the real thing. And you'll see all sorts of similar stories. Mattel owns Matchbox, too.
So it's only fair that we'll see similar strategies there. In December of 2023, I wrote a story about an upcoming Jeep Gladiator with a price tag of $25. I pointed out at that time that you didn't need to worry about scalpers with this one. It's still available on Mattel Creations if you want one for your collection. But there's more to this story than meets the eye.
There is a life-sized version of this item, which some of you may have seen at the SEMA Show last year. The project represents a collaboration between two companies. RealTruck Inc. from Arbor Ann, Michigan, offers a wide selection of aftermarket accessories for truck, Jeep, and off-road enthusiasts.
The Gladiator served as a demo car for their parts, including the Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent, their HD Stubby Front Bumper, and the Superlift 4" Basic Lift kit, to name just a few. Doetsch Off-Road from Chandler, Arizona, built this overland-inspired Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
And the story goes on, as there's a social component to it, too. This year's Barret-Jackson show in Scottsdale, Arizona, will allow someone to take ownership of the 1:1 Matchbox Jeep. The auction should reveal the winner at around 4:30 PM on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The best part is that 100% of the hammer price will go to Building Homes for Heroes, a non-profit organization you might have heard about. This Gladiator is a 2023 model with the standard 3.6-liter V6 engine.
According to the VIN decoder, it should have an 8-speed Automatic 850RE transmission, which costs an extra $2,000 if you decide to configure your car. With all this information, how big do you think the winning bid will be?
The standard MSRP for the 2023 Gladiator Rubicon is $51,840 ($1,895 Destination Charge not included). With the RealTruck accessories, the hype surrounding the build, and the purpose of the auction, it's safe to assume that you'll need to spend $100K or more to get this one.
Last year, I wondered if the Mad Mike Drift Attack casting would become more than a fantasy casting. It turned out that the Hot Wheels car came out before Mad Mike unveiled the real thing. And you'll see all sorts of similar stories. Mattel owns Matchbox, too.
So it's only fair that we'll see similar strategies there. In December of 2023, I wrote a story about an upcoming Jeep Gladiator with a price tag of $25. I pointed out at that time that you didn't need to worry about scalpers with this one. It's still available on Mattel Creations if you want one for your collection. But there's more to this story than meets the eye.
There is a life-sized version of this item, which some of you may have seen at the SEMA Show last year. The project represents a collaboration between two companies. RealTruck Inc. from Arbor Ann, Michigan, offers a wide selection of aftermarket accessories for truck, Jeep, and off-road enthusiasts.
The Gladiator served as a demo car for their parts, including the Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent, their HD Stubby Front Bumper, and the Superlift 4" Basic Lift kit, to name just a few. Doetsch Off-Road from Chandler, Arizona, built this overland-inspired Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
And the story goes on, as there's a social component to it, too. This year's Barret-Jackson show in Scottsdale, Arizona, will allow someone to take ownership of the 1:1 Matchbox Jeep. The auction should reveal the winner at around 4:30 PM on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The best part is that 100% of the hammer price will go to Building Homes for Heroes, a non-profit organization you might have heard about. This Gladiator is a 2023 model with the standard 3.6-liter V6 engine.
According to the VIN decoder, it should have an 8-speed Automatic 850RE transmission, which costs an extra $2,000 if you decide to configure your car. With all this information, how big do you think the winning bid will be?
The standard MSRP for the 2023 Gladiator Rubicon is $51,840 ($1,895 Destination Charge not included). With the RealTruck accessories, the hype surrounding the build, and the purpose of the auction, it's safe to assume that you'll need to spend $100K or more to get this one.
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