Definitely matchbox cars, and, I still have all mine collecting dust in the basement

Great thread, brings back some fond memories.

Of course, it is another instance of SIGforum costing me moneu. I went on eBay and found a 1967 Mercury Cougar Matchbox. My brother had that Cougar when he was in high school - same color, etc.

It will be a great gift for him.

^^^ just curious what did that cost you?

I was all about Matchbox when I was was a kid, had dozens and dozens of them. I had a few Hot Wheels, but those usually got hit by my toy train when they, ahem, unexpectedly ran out of gas while crossing the tracks.

Interesting side story…

About 5 or 6 years ago we built a home for a guy who was a former Exon executive. Then his Mom got sick and required her only son to take care of her so he resigned his job in NOVA and started caring for his Mom. He found out that he had some time on his hands and started thinking what he could do to earn a few bucks but still give him the flexibility to car for his Mom 24/7.

He had always loved Matchbox cars as a kid and started buying those he found at estate sales, fix them up and resel them on eBay.

When I met him after his Mom had passed and he decided to move down to Smith Mt. Lake he had very specific ideas of a room that would allow him to streamline the process. From cleaning, to painting, to photographing and finally shipping we set up the room.

One day I asked him why he didn’t go back to work he said why would he join the rat race in DC. He was clearing $5k/week…. Doing this on a part time basis. He had clients all over the world from Australia to Hong Kong who were very serious about acquiring specific cars to add to their collection and would literally pay thousands for the right car in pristine condition.

He even got permission from Mattel to recreate the wooden boxes that some models came in…

What a fascinating guy.

quote:

Perhaps my all-time favorite:

Is that the "Family Truckster"?

I can't remember who/brand made it but my favorite was the James Bond car from "The Spy Who Loved Me". It was the White Lotus and was the one that was transformed into the underwater car.

The other night the History channel had a special about Matchbox and Hot Wheels. Pretty interesting history.

I had a ton of hot wheels as a kid and recently sold the collection I had. I didn't keep them to sell, they were well played with as a kid. Got almost $500 for it. Sadly there was one car I crushed with a hammer as I used it for the police, EMS, and Fire to respond to. Turns out that one car alone would have been worth around $200. Leave it to me as a kid to smash the most expensive car. It was a Hot Wheels Red Line.

I like the older Matchbox cars (and milk wagon ) with the metal wheels.

The kids couldn't bring any toys to school that didn't fit inside a matchbox, hence the name.

Seems like the best big rigs at the time were made by Winross. Triples, pups, tankers, straight trucks? They had them,

Johnny Lightning had a short run of cars that were not painted. I thought that was cool as well.

Racing Champions was good for a few unlicensed racecars. Picking one up from the year before they were officialy made for some good trades.

Interestingly enough, I have an older Matchbox Bugatti that doesn't have a year stamped on it.

Hot Wheels. I have a few from the late 60s somewhere. Matchbox were not cool then. How could they be cool now?

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
(Neat video)

Thank you for the video! I always thought my Matchboxes were slower than my Hot Wheels cars; now I know why.

I'm hoping all my cars (both Matchbox and Hot Wheels) are still in the attic...

I always preferred matchbox cars to hot wheels as a child.

I was always into the construction equipment king size Matchbox vehicles in the 1960s. They were amazingly detailed and robust toys!

As long as they had the good wheels I didn’t care. The ones that were hollow underneath with the round edge wheels mounted on a thin shaft never rolled good.

I was totally Hot Wheels.
Didn’t think anyone would say matchbox, but looks like th majority did.

Had them from the 1965 to 1970 Tim frame

As a kid in the late '60s, the little track and cars that we got at Christmas one year was; Johnny Lightning. Otherwise, I vote Hot Wheels.

This is America.
M.B. for week days
And
H.W. for the week ends
Getti the race on

Must be an old geezer, never liked HW. My early days had plenty of Matchboxes, must have been hundreds and close to a thousand.
Didn’t much enjoy when they started making futuristic models but the military were my favorites.

Remember having thr larger size very old/early cars bit not sure if they were Matchbox too.

Had completely forgotten about the tiny cars. Fond memories.

0-0

Hot Wheels had Sizzlers, so they automatically win. Not to mention, the Jack Rabbit Special!

quote:

Originally posted by MagnumU:
Of course, it is another instance of SIGforum costing me money. I went on eBay and found a 1967 Mercury Cougar Matchbox. My brother had that Cougar when he was in high school - same color, etc.

Hey, I learned how to drive and ... do other stuff ... in a '68 Mercury Cougar XR7!

Matchbox...The Ford GT model circa 1966 (or so) release was awesome.