Nine Upcoming Matchbox Items We're Eager to See

As a result, my FC RX-7 is getting a complete makeover, which I will unveil in two or three weeks. It's amazing how much you can accomplish if you decide against buying hundreds of Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars every month. You'll be better off if you just focus on a few castings. With that in mind, I'm seeing more and more sneak peeks of upcoming collectibles from both of Mattel's big brands.

And every new release from Matchbox makes me think I should pay more attention to this manufacturer. Today, we'll be looking at nine upcoming castings, some of which are fascinating. If you're an avid Matchbox enthusiast, you may have already seen the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster. The Arancio Argos (Orange) supercar appeared in the Moving Parts series, featuring opening doors.

You'll see three different Aventador castings at Hot Wheels, but this is a novelty for Matchbox. But there are several other Lambos to choose from if that's how you want to play the game, including the Centenario, the Diablo, and the LM002. If you love moving parts on 1/64th-scale cars as much as I do, you'll be ecstatic about the BMW E30 M3. It's much better than Jun Imai's 1992 BMW M3 but slightly less exciting than Vetuskey's RLC-exclusive design.

Brand purists might be upset about how the hood opens, but this casting should be a hit overall. The 1995 Chevy C1500 reminds me of how good Matchbox trucks are. I remember drooling over collectibles like the 1986 Ford F-150 and the 1964 Chevy C10. It shows that a simple design goes a long way, and you don't need flames or overcomplicated liveries to make a tiny vehicle desirable.

There's something nostalgic about the color combo on the C1500, and it would be a great addition to any diorama or home display. The 1973 Mazda Savanna RX-3 is a bit more on the wild side by comparison, but still not so "in your face" like its Hot Wheels counterpart that has a widebody kit on. I usually frown upon a red-on-red color combo, but it just clicks together in this instance.

It feels great to see another rotary-powered machine at Matchbox after last year's RX-8. I will hunt for this model to display it next to my 1991 Mazda Autozam AZ-1. Tiny convertibles are always cool, as you can get a better look at the interior design. At least three 1963 Corvette castings are over in the Hot Wheels camp, but two are Cartoonish by design. Also, neither of the three is still around today, and the Matchbox casting is superior in every single way.

The VET327 number plate is a nice little detail, but so are the painted taillights. The car I least expected to see over at Matchbox is the Radical SR3 XXR. I attended a Radical race last year and saw an RXC GT3 in a shopping mall a few days ago. Driving any of Radical's race cars has been on my bucket list for some time now, and Matchbox certainly did an impressive job designing this casting.

I would love to see it rolling on a different set of wheels, which would be closer to the real deal. The Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Pickup truck is an exciting throwback to the '60s, alongside its sporty sibling. I guess the final release will feature red and white paint or a mix of green and white. One thing's for sure: there are plenty of ways to fill up the bed to make the truck look even more realistic.

I've tried dried cat food before, but small pebbles will also work. One of the first cars I tested as a journalist was the third-generation Nissan Pathfinder. It left a strong impression on me, and I'd add one to my garage tomorrow. (if I had the budget, or a garage for that matter) Matchbox is working on a replica of the first-generation Pathfinder, which debuted almost 40 years ago.

If you grew up dreaming about one of these, you're lucky. Otherwise, I'm unsure if this casting will reach the sales target. I wouldn't buy it unless they come up with a special color combo. The final item on the list is a classic Aston Martin, something we don't see much of at Matchbox. Come to think of it, there are fewer than a dozen castings at Hot Wheels.

The wheels are probably the best part of the new Matchbox design, but we'll have to wait a few months before the manufacturer reveals the final color combo. It's a nice casting, and there is no doubt about that. But I'd be willing to bet people will be more eager to get the BMW M3 and the Chevy C1500 instead.