My Want List: The Last Of This Year's Matchbox Mix 6 - Second Favorite

Hi everyone! Welcome to a new edition of My Want List. Last month, I was able to easily find most of what I wanted from this year's mix six. And that was before I found anything from mix five. Anyway, I still needed to find two more releases, so the hunt continued. After many failed diecast hunts, I was finally able to acquire the last two mix six releases I wanted. So with that said, let's get this post started by going over the release that instantly became my second favorite from this mix first.

As you know, Hot Wheels created a five-window '32 Ford casting for their Red Line Club members. To be honest, I was really disappointed to see that a new Hot Wheels hot rod was only going to be available to select collectors. I love Hot Wheels, but I don't like all of their decisions. I know the Red Line Club is now open to everyone, but I've heard some horror stories about trying to get those releases. So I've made the decision to not get mixed up in any of that.

Once again, it's Matchbox to the rescue! Thanks to them, I now have a five-window 1932 Ford in my collection.  

Now, some of you might sill prefer the one from Hot Wheels due to it having an exposed engine, but I happen to like this one a little more. Since both of the current Hot Wheels '32 Ford castings feature an exposed engine, I feel it was a great idea for Matchbox to go in a different direction for their casting.

I want to now focus on what was done to the exterior. For the debut release of their '33 Ford, Matchbox chose to give it a used look. They also did that with the 2020 mainline release that I have. Anyway, I really like how they did things differently for this casting's debut release. As you might know, flames are a design I like to see on hot rods, and this one's design is pretty cool. It's also cool how they combined it with a pinstripe.  

At the end of the day, I feel this casting is definitely a great alternative to the Red Line Club one. And that's especially true for those of you that don't want to get involved with the Red Line Club issues like I don't. Alright, that's enough drooling over this casting. I need to move on to the other one, which is a nice release too.

The last one I wanted from mix six, is the new 2020 Land Rover Defender 90. With how many Land Rover releases we've gotten from both brands, it was only a matter of time before we got this one. 

One of this vehicles noteworthy features, is it's "floating pillar." I'll be honest, this feature made me raise an eyebrow when I first saw it. It's not everyday you see a vehicle with a wide colored square on it's windows. After a while though, I started to not have a problem with it. I, for one, like seeing the various vehicle design styles from around the world. And whether you like this feature or not, it is apart of it's design. So I'm glad Matchbox decided to incorporate it into the overall design of their casting. 

Although I'm pleased with this Matchbox casting, I am curious to know if Hot Wheels is going to make their own version of it. If they did, I'm sure it would have a lifted appearance, and that's totally fine. But they could also do things differently by making the 110, which is the four-door version. In fact, I'd prefer for them to do that instead.  

Okay, that's the last two releases I needed from this year's mix six. This mix had so many great models, and I really love the vintage cars. I hope they keep making them, because it's really nice to have more classic American cars. The last thing I want to say, is that you can expect to see the 1932 Ford featured in this month's edition of Best On The Block. I guess that's kind of a spoiler, but it should have been obvious.

So, how do you feel about these two releases? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Okay, that's all for this edition of My Want List. Until the next post, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

Today On The Boulevard: What I Got From The Newest Matchbox Collectors Series Assortment

Hi everyone, welcome to another edition of Today On The Boulevard. Have you been enjoying the Collectors series from Matchbox? I have. Each of the assortments so far have provided us with some great looking models. And that continues to be the case with the third assortment that has finally showed up in my area. Unfortunately, I was only able to get some of the releases from it. As usual, certain releases were hoarded up, which is fine because I was able to get two of the ones I really wanted. 

Before I get to the releases I got, I figured that I'd go ahead and talk about the ones I couldn't get. In total, there were two releases that got hoarded up. They are the Gulf themed Divco Milk Truck and the Honda S2000. It's not surprising that those are the ones. Usually, the Milk Truck is the peg warmer, but slap a Gulf theme on it, and everyone goes crazy. As for the S2000, I think we all know why that was one of the releases that was taken. So I don't need to say more. Alright, let's move on from those.

The first of the two that I really wanted, is the 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE. Finally! That's the first thing I said when I saw pictures of this release going around the internet. I was wondering when there'd be a second release of this two-door classic. From what I can gather, the original releases from a long time ago were finished in red like the Superfast release. So despite being happy with that one, I felt that it was time for one to be finished in another color. And I'm totally satisfied with the color that was picked for this release.   

As you can see, the designers chose to give this classic Mercedes-Benz modern looking six-spoke wheels. This is the one design choice I don't like. Personally, this release would have looked much better with the RRS or SRR wheels. Other than that, this is a great release.

Lately, matchbox has been the go-to brand for classic American rides. Some of my personal favorites, are the vehicles from the 30's. That's why the 1934 Chevy Master Coupe was my number one favorite release from mix five. Anyway, back in 2019, Matchbox released the very beautiful 1932 Ford Pickup in their Superfast series. That casting, just so happens to be the second one I wanted the most from this new Collectors series assortment. I'm so glad this release wasn't completely hoarded up like the Milk Truck and S2000. Of the many multiples of each release that was left, this was the only one.

The best thing about this third release for me, is how it features a two-tone color scheme. The first two releases are still nice, but it's cool to finally see this truck with different colored fenders. The red RRS wheels, are another one of the design choices that made this a must-have for me. I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that thinks vintage vehicles look a-okay with colored steel wheels. I mean, just look at how many black hot rods there are with red wheels.  

At the end of the day, this is truly another great release of this casting. And all of the design choices made for it, have truly made it hard for me to pick a specific favorite. 

Besides the Collectors series, I've also been enjoying all of the new Toyota releases from both of Mattel's diecast brands. I think we can all agree that they've released some great castings ever since they got the license to use Toyota again. And now, there's a new one to add to that list. The Toyota FJ Cruiser has finally been made, and it's the last release I got. 

I was actually surprised at how there were many multiples of it left on the pegs. Since it's a Toyota, I figured that It'd be one of the ones that was hoarded. That's why it wasn't one of the releases I had to have. Nowadays, I try not to make Japanese vehicles a priority since they are the main ones hoarded up whenever new stock comes in. I guess it just couldn't overshadow the mighty Gulf livery, and that's completely fine by me, since it made it easy to get.

Well, it looks like I'm going to be on the hunt for the other two, but I'm not going to stress myself out trying to live at Walmart just to get them. So it'd be great if I can find them, but it won't matter if I can't. 

So, did you decide to also get these three? Or did you only care about the Milk Truck and S2000? Feel free to let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Today On The Boulevard. Until the next edition, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

White Booth Wednesday #104

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: '10 Toyota Tundra

Series: 2016 Hot Wheels Rad Trucks (Walmart set)

Boulevard Rating: 9

How I Feel About This Release: The Rad Trucks set was another one of the store exclusive sets I was happy to find. It featured many great pickup trucks, and this Tundra was one of the ones I really wanted. At the time, I didn't have one of these in my collection, so it was definitely a release I had to get. As I've said before, I wasn't too into pickups when I was younger. But things changed once I got older and back into collecting. Nowadays, you'll usually see nice looking ones talked about in a My Want List post. Anyway, now I want to talk about the design. As you can see, this release features an okay looking multi-colored stripe. Although I don't dislike it, I would have picked different colors for it. Had I been the one to design this release, I would have used the TRD colors instead. In my opinion, that color combination would have been perfect for this lifted Toyota Tundra.

So how do you feel about this week's featured vehicle? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. Till next time, happy collecting.

Looking At: 2021 Hot Wheels Flying Customs - Second Mix

Hello everyone! Welcome to a new edition of Looking At. I really love the Hot Wheels Flying Customs series. Each mix has featured eight beautifully decorated models, and that continues to be the case for this year's second mix. One of the other things I like about this mix, is that Hot Wheels decided to go all American with the releases that were picked. This decision made it so I could get some cool releases of castings that aren't used that often in the mainline, and one of them is new to my collection. So with that being said, let's go over the eight releases. 

The first release I'm going to talk about, is the '84 Pontiac Firebird. I was wondering when we'd see another release of this casting. The 2021 mainline is almost over, and I really though it's second release was going to be featured in a My Want List post. Ultimately, I have no issue with them deciding to make it's second release apart of this year's Flying Customs. 

I'm really pleased with how black and gold was picked for it's color scheme. To this day, it's my favorite color schemes for these cars, and I know it is for a lot of you as well. I know it isn't the only nice color scheme for a Firebird, but it's definitely one of the best ones, if I do say so myself.

As for this release's design, I like how they kept things simple. Now, when it comes to the Flying Customs, I really don't have a problem with the flashy designs that are created. However, for this car, I feel it looks the best with simple stripes. 

Once again, Hot Wheels chose to include one of their own castings, and for this mix, that casting is the Custom Otto. I'm truly overjoyed with their decision to use it for this Flying Customs mix. It used to be a casting that I dreamt of having, but that all changed when they created a closed hood version for the mainline. Now it seems like it's going to be used on a regular basis, and I'm glad.

When this mix first started showing up, this was the main one that was left. I still can't figure out why folks don't like it as much as the other releases. I mean, I know it's not one of the licensed castings, but it's not a bad release at all. The racing theme isn't bad either, but what I really like, is the metallic gold that was used for it's exterior. My pictures don't do it justice!   

The next two releases from this mix, are vehicles from Plymouth. Remember how I said one of the castings was new to my collection? Well, that casting is the convertible '70 Plymouth Barracuda. I really thought I'd missed my chance to get one of these at retail cost. The last time it was used in the mainline, was 2013. And I know there were two multi-pack releases back in 2017, but those packs didn't have enough releases I'd want. So for the longest time, I had my sights set on one of it's older releases that's for sale on the secondary market. I just hadn't made a move on any of them yet, since there were other old castings I needed to get first.

There's still a few older releases I'm interested in, but for now, I'm completely satisfied with this one. And it's all thanks to every one of the design choices made for it.

The second one from this mix, is the '71 Plymouth GTX. This is actually one of the ones I had to have. Now, it's not like I didn't have this casting in my collection. I had two different basic releases of this casting prior to this one. The 2005 muscle mania release was my first one, and the Fast and Furious one was my second one. I do have one premium release, but it's a premium version of the Fast and Furious one.

The one issue with the two I had, is that they feature similar stripe designs. Sure, the design on the 2005 release has an extra thin stripe in-between the main stripes, but it's basically the same design as the other one I have. So I've spent many months wanting one with a different design. That's the main reason why this was one of the ones I had to have. 

I really like the combination of red, yellow, and blue. Together, these three colors created a very stunning GTX!

The '70 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is the next one from this mix. And it was a casting I didn't have when I finally got back into collecting these awesome diecast models. I finally got my first one when Hot Wheels released the Vintage American Muscle set. After I got it, I decided to jump on the internet to see all of it's older releases. Although I was happy with the one I got, there was one older release I really wanted to have, and it's the orange one from the 1998 mainline. So I had my fingers crossed that I'd be able to get one off of the secondary market for a decent price. Fortunately, I no longer have to shop around, because Hot Wheels decided to release an orange one in this mix.

It might not be plain like the one I had my eye on, but it's definitely a nice release. And I honestly have no issue with the design. In fact, I like it and the colors that were picked for it. 

Today, the 1:64 Scale GT is holding it's annual classics race, and one of the cars participating, is the '68 Shelby GT500 from this mix. This one features an okay looking racing theme, and it's neat how they chose to give it the same color scheme as the one they gave the '67 Custom Mustang from this year's first Flying Customs mix.

I'm really am starting to think they have to use Goodyear so many times due to the licensing agreement. I mean, it could just be a design trend, but this is the third release with this decal placed over the rear wheels. The previous two releases were in case M, and I felt they didn't really need the decal. Of course, the decal makes sense on this release, since it features a racing theme. 

Up next, is the '64 Chevy Nova Wagon. I was really excited when I found out this casting was going to be in a Flying Customs mix. The 2020 HW Flames release, was the first one in my collection, and I still think it's a cool release. But this Flying Customs release is now my favorite, since it was finished in blue. Besides being finished in my favorite color, it features an okay looking design along it's sides.

The eighth and final release from this second mix, is the '55 Chevy. I don't know the exact case contents, but what I do know is that the pegs were full. So it seems like there's only one of these per case. I know collectors consider these to be the rare ones, but I really don't see the need to do that. Each case should have two of each. Anyway, that's enough about that. Let me focus on what I like about this release.

I love their choice to use Magenta, and the design they created for it is perfect. Oh, and let me not forget the additional design choices like the gold HO wheels, and the interior color. Combined, all four of those design choices created one superb release of this casting. 

You never know when there'll be one release that's completely hoarded up like the Exotic Envy release of the Bugatti Chiron. And all of these are exceptionally good models. So I'm really glad I was able to get all eight releases from this mix. 

So, what how did you feel about the releases from this second mix? I'm sure most of you like all of them, but you can let me know your exact thoughts down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Looking At. Until the next post, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

Best On The Block: September 2021

It's the last day of September, so it's time to show six of the best releases that were featured in various post during the month.

#1: 1955 Corvette - 2021 Hot Wheels Convertible Set

Why I Picked It: This is an absolutely gorgeous release of this classic! Besides the color, I really like how they chose to not put a design on it. I mean, the releases prior to this one are okay, but not having a design make this one way better. 

#2: 1934 Chevy Master Coupe - 2021 Matchbox Mainline 

Why I Picked It: I don't know about you, but I feel it's nice to have another 1930s casting that isn't a hot rod like the various Ford castings. I remember how excited I was when I first saw pictures of it on the internet. In fact, I was so excited, I jumped out of my chair.

#3: 1953 Buick Skylark - 2021 Matchbox Mainline

Why I Picked It: This was obviously going to be one of my favorite releases from the month. After all, I bought a second one to open. It truly is nice to have more of our classic cars. I, for one, feel they are just as nice as the classics from international manufacturers. 

#4: GT Scorcher - 2021 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: Although it's a Hot Wheels original, I felt the need to include it in this month's post. I don't always get the unlicensed castings, but I feel this one of the ones that's perfect for both child and adult collectors alike. It's definitely one hot casting, and I hope they do things right by creating realistic looking liveries for it going forward.

#5: AMC Rebel Machine - 2021 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: This was one of the ones I wanted the most from this year's case M. I'm so happy to see this muscle car in the mainline. The Forza release was the only one I had prior to this one. But to be honest, I really wanted the debut release. Fortunately, the designers gave this release a similar color scheme. So I no longer need to go bankrupt getting the first one off of the secondary market.

#6: Porsche 964 - 2021 Hot Wheels Boulevard

Why I Picked It: I love the unique mix of colors that were picked for this release. Now, it's worth mentioning that that's not the only reason why I picked it for this post. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to participate in the recent Target mail-in promotion. And I was honestly feeling a little down about not being able to find enough releases to get that Porsche. I know this isn't the same Porsche as the mail-in, but it's still a classic Porsche nonetheless. And since I wasn't able to get the other one, I was very delighted to find this one.

Okay, that's all six of the releases I picked for this month's Best On The Block post. Now that you know my favorites, go ahead and let me know down in the comments what your favorite releases were from this month.

White Booth Wednesday #103

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: Scion FR-S

Series: 2015 Hot Wheels Workshop (HW Drift Race)

Boulevard Rating: 8

How I Feel About This Release: I really like this replica of the Evasive Motorsports FR-S. The only thing that would have made this release better, is if it was given some additional decals. At the end of the day though, this is something I can ignore. Besides being a replica, there's another reason why it's this week's featured vehicle. Basically, this is the only release of this casting in my collection. I know one was released a earlier this year, but that set never made it to the pegs at any of my local Walmarts. The only reason why I have this one, is because of a grocery store run. Had I not needed to go to the store that day, this would be another one of the castings I'd have to get off of the secondary. Even if I do end up getting a second one, this one will always be my favorite.

So how do you feel about this week's featured vehicle? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. Till next time, happy collecting.

Today On The Boulevard: 2021 Hot Wheels Batman Set

Hi everyone, welcome to a new edition of Today On The Boulevard. I don't necessarily dislike store exclusive sets. After all, if found, they provide our collections with amazing releases. I just don't make fining them a priority. Anyway, Hot Wheels has once again released a Batman themed Walmart set, and It has some nice looking editions of the Batmobiles that were picked. I truly love these Batman sets.

The only bad thing about these sets, is that there is always one car that is hoarded. This time, it's the TV series Batmobile, and I'm not the slightest bit surprised. I did check multiple Walmart locations, and they had this set on the pegs like the first store I went to. But the TV Series Batmobile was the only one that was bought. It's not like they're going to stop making Batmobiles anytime soon, and there'll obviously be many more releases of it. So even though  it would have nice to get it, I'm completely happy with the four I got. Okay, let's move on to the ones that were left.

Pinstripes seem to be the theme that was picked for this year's Batman releases. The mainline Batman series features two models with the theme, and it's what they chose for the Batmobiles in this set. Personally, I think these vehicles look great with pinstripes.

Although I like all four of the releases in this set, there are two that I like the most, and the Animated Series Batmobile is one of them. Besides being finished in a nice metallic red, it somewhat matches the case M release of the Batplane. These two releases look great sitting next to each other, if I do say so myself.

Although I'm not surprised about the TV Seires Batmobile, I am surprised at how the 1989 Batmobile was one of the releases that was left. Maybe it has to do with the color of the pinstripes, or maybe it just got overshadowed by the other one. Of course, the reasons for it being left are of no concern to me. I think it's an okay looking release, so I'm glad it was easy to get.

The Brave and The Bold Batmobile is the next one that was left. This release's wild color scheme is why it's my second favorite one from this set. I think it was a great idea to make this one stand out from the other releases that are finished in dark colors. In my opinion, it's as unique as the Mystery Machine themed release of it.

The Hot Wheels designed Batmobile was the fourth one that was left. This doesn't seem to be a very popular casting. Every time it's released, the collectors in my area leave it behind. For the most part, it ends up being a peg warmer that sits for a long time. I know it's not from any of the comics, but I feel Hot Wheels did a nice job designing their own Batmobile. Overall, it's body isn't too wild like some of their other original vehicle designs. So I don't see why it's not liked. 

It's worth noting that this is the only one from this set that's plain. I really don't have an issue with this decision, since they chose to make this release black. As you know, none of the other releases are black. I know there'll most likely be a mainline release that's black, but it could end up being the one with a design. So this set might be the only way to get a plain black release of this Batmobile. 

Although I have two that I like the most, I think all of them look fantastic. So I'd give this set a nine out of ten. As for the TV Series Batmobile, I'll keep an eye out for it, but I'm not going to make finding it a priority. If I find it, I'll probably feature it in White Booth Wednesday.  

Okay, so what are your thoughts on this set? Were you able to get all five? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Today On The Boulevard. Till next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

2021 Matchbox Mix 5 Want List - Now Complete

Hello everyone, welcome to today's post. As you know, I recently published a post where I showed more of the Matchbox mix five releases I got. Well, not too long after that post, I was able to find the rest of the ones I had on my want list. I don't know about your area, but around mine, fuel is $4. So I'm glad it didn't take too much to find these. With that said, let's go over the last of my mix five want list.

I don't always feel the need to add a police vehicles to my collection, however, there are times when I do. And Matchbox is the brand I look to, because they make good looking replicas of them. I personally like how their castings have a light bar that's apart of the window piece. Anyway, mix five had two police vehicles, and both of them made it to my want list.

The Ford Police Interceptor is the first of the two. Throughout the years, this casting has featured many different police liveries. There's even been two Fire Chief themed releases. An unmarked release was the only one that had yet to be made. So when I saw they decided to make one, I instantly added it to my want list. I mean... I think you already know how I feel about plain releases. So I really don't need to say anything else about this one. 

The 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility is the second one. This casting made it's debut back in 2019, and I chose to not get it due to the Fire Chief theme that was applied to it. It was then used again last year, and I still chose not to get it, which was a decision I would come to regret. After a while, I started to feel like I missed my chance to get one that features a realistic police livery. Fortunately, I would be given another chance this year. Based on the back of the card, this release is a replica of the units that are used by the San Luis Obispo Police. 

I really don't have that many police SUVs in my collection. And like I said, matchbox makes nice looking replicas of police vehicles. So it was definitely time to have at least one release of this police SUV. 

Up next, are a couple of castings that were given some neat designs. The '62 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE is the first one. I'll admit that it would have been nice to see a plain release of this casting, but I don't have an issue with their decision to release another racing themed one. Furthermore, this is the second release of this casting, so there's obviously going to be many more releases. Hopefully, we'll get to see a plain release of this four-door classic.  

I actually like all of the design choices that were made for this release, despite wanting a plain one. Besides being finished in my favorite color, it features a livery that's not bad at all. I also like the additional real-life sponsor decal. 

The second one with a neat design is the '19 Ford Mustang. I think it's cool how they decided to release a second one of these with a design. This could honestly be a step in the right direction. The plain releases are done in the beginning of the year, while the decorated releases are done towards the end.

Although I like this Brembo themed release, I do have an issue with the wheel choice. Some of you might disagree, but I feel the wheels used for this release are better suited for classic cars. I know they don't have that many basic wheels, but I feel it would have looked better with their five or split ten-spoke wheels. 

I also dislike how it doesn't have front or rear details. I know this is a mainline, but I feel it could have at least had the details that were applied to the rear of the other releases. 

Okay, that's all of the releases I had on my mix five want list. Although this mix had many great releases, my personal favorite is still the 1934 Chevy Master Coupe. For me, it all came down to the fact that it's a 1930s Chevy that isn't a hot rod like the various Ford castings.

So, what ended up being your favorite release from this mix? Feel free to let me know down in the comments section. Well, it's on to looking for the rest of mix six. Till then, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.