Car Matchbox
Car Matchbox
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 NASCAR LOT 10 CARS 124 SCALE JEFF GORDON DALE EARNHARDT JRmatchboxhot wheels  US $150.00
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 50 CAR DISPLAY CASE 1 64 MATCHBOX HOTWHEELS NASCAR US $124.99
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 32 CAR DISPLAY CASE 1 64 MATCHBOX HOTWHEELS HO OAK US $94.99
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 MATCHBOX FULL 24 CAR SET CLOOECTORS CHOICE NEVER OPENED 1994 US $85.00
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 Lot of 50 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Team Caliber Cars US $79.99
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 JD McDuffie 3 Car Set Matchbox 164 1992 US $75.00
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 Lot Of Matchbox White Rose Collectables Diecast Nascar Transporters And Cars US $75.00
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 Lot of 47 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Team Caliber Cars 1 Alliance Truck US $73.99
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 Lot Of 31 Nascar Diecast Cars Matchbox Action Plus 7 Nascar Pieces Free Bonus US $64.99
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 Lot of 40 Nascar Diecast Cars MatchboxTeam Caliber Action Cars US $63.99
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 Lot Of 38 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Cars And Trucks US $59.99
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 Lot Of 38 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Cars US $59.99
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 Lot of 32 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Cars 1 Davy Allison 28 Havoline Truck US $59.99
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 Lot of 36 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Team Caliber Cars 1 Alliance Truck US $57.99
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 4 NASCAR ITEMS L MODEL CAR S MATCHBOX CAR 72 CARD COLLECTOR SET 1 CAP US $50.00
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 1971 Lesney matchbox superfast HOT SMOKER funny car 19 excellent condition No V US $49.99
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 Lot of 26 Nascar Diecast Action Matchbox Team Caliber Cars 2 Trucks US $49.99
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 MATCHBOX MODIFIEDS 1990 4 CARS Stefanik Ruggiero US $49.95
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 RUSTY WALLACE 2 MILLER LITE 164 FORD THUNDERBIRD MATCHBOX CAR IN BOTTLE US $34.95
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 RARE 10 pc lot IROC Camaro Earnhardt 1 63 SCM Stock Car Miniature Matchbox pics US $76.00
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 Nastrax Driving School Matchbox Set Richard Petty Truck Hauler 6 Cars Combs US $32.00
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 HOT WHEEL MATCHBOX RACING CHAMPIONS NASCAR STOCK CAR TRANSPORTERS CARS AND CARDS US $29.99
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 1991 Matchbox Superstars Goodwrench Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Test Car Rare 164 US $29.95
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 REMINGTON BUTCH MOCK MOTORSPORTS 164 FORD T BIRD MATCHBOX CAR IN SHOTGUN SHELL US $29.95
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 1989 racing road champions matchbox car s 164 CASE US $29.95
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 Lot of 11 Matchbox Racing Superstars 1 64 Nascar Diecast Haulers and Cars US $27.99
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Hot Wheels Immediate Success and Impact on Matchbox
The Matchbox brand of cars dominated the die-cast toy car industry for decades. In fact, they had no real competitors during their reign as the only prominent die-cast toy car maker. That is until Mattel introduced their line of Hot Wheels in 1968 and had immediate success. Matchbox’s sales in America dropped from $28 million to $6 million following the introduction of Hot Wheels. There are a number of reasons why Hot Wheels had such an immediate success.
The first and primary reason for Hot Wheel’s overnight success was the wheels. Co-Founder of Mattel, Elliot Handler, had created new wheels that are described as ‘friction-less.’ These new wheels allowed Hot Wheels cars to race at up to 200 mph (for the scale of the car). These ‘hot’ wheels allowed Mattel’s line to quickly surpass all competitors, both car to car and sales to sales. Children simply enjoyed having a toy car that ran much faster down the plastic track.
Hot Wheels also had a great advantage starting out. The Lesney company (forerunner to Matchbox) started from scratch with a condemned building, limited funding, and grew out of a die-casting company’s slow season. Hot Wheels came from already well established Mattel. Mattel was the leading company in many toy categories and had highly successful lines of toys like ‘Barbie’ and ‘See N Say’. In fact, when Mattel introduce Hot Wheels, they did so with a $10 million advertising campaign. Hot Wheels also had an advantage in the production of their cars. They had their models build in places like China and the Far East, where labor costs were significantly less than in England, where Matchbox originated.
Another huge factor that led to Hot Wheels success in America was the fact that it was an American company. Hot Wheels initial success was limited to the United States and sent Matchbox sales in America plummeting as stated earlier. Matchbox was able to maintain a foothold in the die-cast toy car industry due to its worldwide sales.
Hot Wheels also became widely popular immediately because of the models they chose to produce. Matchbox had primarily produced their cars years after the actual car or vehicle was produced. Hot Wheels primarily used the designs of the American made muscle cars and hot rods of the fifties and sixties. They also tended to customize the cars the way many car enthusiasts did in Southern California, with the rear end jacked up and flames or other graphics painted on the body. These design characteristics helped Hot Wheels succeed in America because kids could now race around the living room with the cars they saw on the streets and their older siblings drove.
In 1969, a year and a half after Hot Wheels were introduced, Matchbox themselves came out with faster wheels and more contemporary models. Matchbox and Hot Wheels then remained neck and neck in the toy car world for many years. It wasn’t until the 1990’s the Hot Wheels began to pull away from Matchbox and become the clear industry leader.
About the Author
Author Wesley Skiles is creator of www.mattelmatchbox.com, a novice collector and father of two boys that love die-cast cars.
