New Matchbox Case of Tiny Cars Reveals a Mazda RX-8 and 23 More Items

Since Mattel took over at Matchbox, it has tried to revive the brand and steer it in a similar direction to Hot Wheels. Some apparent differences are still at play, but it all feels to be guided by the same marketing department. We recently looked at Case N for the 2023 Hot Wheels season, and now we've got Mix 10 for Matchbox before us. There are only a third as many cars inside as in an HW Mainline case, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You'll rarely see crazy fantasy vehicles sporting the Matchbox logo, and most items here look pretty accurate.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is my least favorite car in this new set, and that may all be down to the wheels it's using. The First Edition variation was much better in Red with multiple double-spoke rims. The Ice Cream King is a much older casting, first appearing in 2009. It has already undergone a retooling process in 2019, and I can't help but think of the Hot Wheels Quick Bite every time I look at it.

If only it played music when driving down your made-up diorama road! Mattel will sometimes ruin a Hot Wheels item by applying an overcrowded or ugly livery to it, but you don't usually have to worry about that with Matchbox. The color on the Audi TT RS is most likely a replica of Viper Green Metallic, and it's much better than the previous Orange, Red, and Black variations. JDM fans will be relieved to see the 1984 Toyota MR2 in this set.

You'll find three earlier interpretations of the car on the market if you look for it, and we love the fact that the pop-up headlights aren't simply stickers as you'd see with HW. The Holden VF Commodore SSV is a new Police car for those who want to build complex dioramas at home. And you can't have a miniature city without a tiny Police car or other service vehicles such as the Ford C900, can you?

As if one Electric Vehicle wasn't enough, the Volkswagen ID.4 is also part of this Matchbox set, now featuring a new color compared to the first iteration. A Renault Kangoo might mean little to you if you live in the USA, but Europeans might like this Goodyear-branded Tire Service vehicle. The 1941 Plymouth Coupe is a new casting for Matchbox, and it's good to see that this box isn't just a rehash of older products.

Given my affiliation (read Obsession) with rotary-powered vehicles, it makes perfect sense that the car I'm most excited about with Mix 10 is the Mazda RX-8. I was on the brink of buying one of these cars before I decided I needed some boost in my life. But I'd still love to own one as a daily driver, as stupid as that may sound to some people. It could be faster in a straight line, but the chassis provides excellent handling around corners!

And that's where all the fun begins. The Metallic Black RX-8 is a new casting for Matchbox too, and it's a pleasant surprise to see more cars entering the 1/64th-scale world. It's always fun to observe the contrast between items inside Matchbox cases. After the 1934 Chevy Master Coupe, you end up with a 2012 BMW 3 Series Touring. Station Wagons are always a big hit with diecast collectors, and this one also has a panoramic roof that allows you to take a peek inside.

The real question is: "How long before we'll get a replica of the new BMW M3 Touring?" The Porsche 911 Carerra Cabriolet has been around for over two decades, and we've already seen a similar blue version. But that happened more than ten years ago before Matchbox retooled the design in 2020. The Land Rover Defender 90 showed up in 2021 and was the first of three iterations within the past few years.

While I'm not a fan of the current color, I appreciate the spare tire on the rear, which further enhances the sense of realism. The Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is yet another new casting for this mix and a replica of one of the most expensive cars here. For once, I think I can live with the black rims, although I wonder what a more premium version of it would look like.

If the MBX Field Car doesn't feel appealing, you might think differently about the 1986 Volvo 240. It's not the best-looking car in the world, but somehow it lives on in the memories of so many adults today. And this casting hasn't been around for long either, so it should be a reasonably exciting addition to any diecast collection.