VANGUARDS - Ford 100E

An early one here, and one that looks good too, ladies and gentlemen i proudly give you the Ford 100E in Conway yellow, and a pretty colour it is too, especially when you consider the era of the car, when most cars were still black, this is a nice bright change.

Being, an early model, VA21000 there are no jewelled headlights, just silver plastic and no working suspension, but on this model it really does not matter, with the tampo's perfectly placed,  this little Ford is a great addition to my ever expanding collection.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6b 3500 V8 code 3

Oh dear, I forgot to dust this before i took the pictures, please forgive me, anyway, what do we have here, well, it is another Rover P6b 3500 V8 in a beautiful Monza Red, VA06502, I do have this model with out the extra's, this one has been code 3'd with Kent Fire Brigade working and badge, I cant locate any real version of this car, so assume it is just a made up model, its different, and well, that's what took my fancy.

As, like the Almond one I just posted, this has the jewelled headlights and working suspension, along with great tampo's. Another great Rover casting from Vanguards, this is what they should be doing not European rubbish, and not too new either, because there are loads of other model manufacturers that are doing them.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6b 3500 V8

Now look at that, is not NOT the best looking Rover you have ever seen ? it is just stunning ! and I really do love this casting, especially this model, in fact i have two. VA06500 is a Rover P6b 3500 V8, and is in beautiful Almond, and I think this is the best colour for this model, the twin bonnet bulges, larger lower cowling, and the 3500 badging makes this a lovely casting.

As is usual for later Vangaurd's, it has jewelled headlights and working suspension, nothing opens on these models, but that is no negative point here, my only minor criticism on this and all P6 models is the heavy handed silver windscreen surround, it looks just too bulky, but thats it, as near to perfection as is possible, and I think i have said that before somewhere..LOL..

MATCHBOX - Porsche Panamera

Now look at that and then compare it to the hot Wheels version HERE you can clearly see a vast difference in both models, with this being the far superior one, the fact it has front and rear tampo's, and the brilliant ten spoke double wheels, really set it off, and the dark purple paint, makes it a very good example of how it should be done.

It is nice to see the window down on front door, so you can see in, matchbox prefers NOT to do this, as it is a little costly, yeah right, but sometimes they do so that we can see the details of the interior, because they state they "sometimes put more interior detail on cars, so we remove the window so that you can see it", well, i don't know about that, but it does make a nice difference, and is one of many Porsche Panamera models i have from Matchbox.

TEAMSTERZ - BMW X6

MMMMmmmm, well, what can I say about this model, it a Teamsterz, and was a twin pack model, this is god awful BMW X6, a car that's is just so damn ugly, like the new X4, and well, any BMW of recent years, this though has to be the daddy of ugliness, this model i only purchased (from Poundland or other cheapo store) because it was in UK police livery, and it looked better in the packaging than it does here.

The Police word on the bonnet is in the wrong place, and teh light bar on the roof is incorrect, but hey for a quid for two models, i should not really complain, the details are just about right, shame there is no tampo on the lights at the front, especially as they have already gotten a front tampo, I would not buy another, so lest ge that cleared up now.

MATCHBOX - Honda Element

What a weird little thing this is, and from a major manufacturer too, the Honda Element, was a sort of MPV, mini van car, that was mainly sold in Asia and the US, and Matchbox made their version too, and it was not a bad attempt either, especially as they are front and rear plastic mouldings that mimicked the rear car, and therefore could make them in differing colours, they even did a balls up version, which had a sticker on the packaging indicating it was an error.

The wheels do little to enhance this model, as they are probably the worst wheels that Matchbox has produced in a while, well, since the ill fated Hero City era, and we wont go there, nothing on this model opens, as is the case these days with all things Matchbox, and definitely no suspension, but it is not a bad casting and one that I do like, shame about the wheels though.

MATCHBOX - Chevrolet Suburban Police

Where would the world be without the SUV, and the Suburban can trace its lineage back to the 1930's, and with it currently on its 12th generation, its not looking like ending just yet, so with that sort of history it is not surprising that Matchbox has had a Suburban in its range since 2000.

this casting is part of a 5 pack piece set, and looks good in the hand, but once blown up in picture form, you can clearly see the awful bonnet line, now, whether thats paint or dodgy metal work i am not sure, but either way, the picture really does make this look awful, and it takes away the great looking tampo, on the side, because your eyes are drawn to the front.

MATCHBOX - 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

A lovely 1957 Ford Thunderbird in pale blue, this is just a lovely model, the small fins at the rear, the cover over the rear wheel, rear tyre on the boot, all things that made this car iconic, the '57 T-Bird, even today is a car that classic Ford lovers aspire too, and Matchbox has detailed this in small scale really well.

The classic tri-spoke wheels, look perfect for this car, along with the solid slab of silver for the bumper and grill, the silver boot wheel is a bit much, and maybe it could have been a different colour, of have a tampo on just to break up such a large lump of silver, but other than that, this is a great little casting.

HOT WHEELS - Porsche Panamera

I have never understood WHY Mattel makes a model in the Matchbox line, and then coppies it for the Hot Wheels line, surely it is double the cost, especially as the casting for the matchbox one is far superior to this Hot Wheels one.

Why, well, can you see the rather thick black slab of plastic that goes around the base of the car, well, that's it, that one thing has really made the Porsche Panamera not the best version made, in fact Realtoy make a better version than this thing, the scale looks off as well, with tiny side windows, I only have this version of the Hot Wheels Porsche, and wont be getting any others.

HOT WHEEL - BMW 3-Series MK I

What a surprise this was when it was launched, a MK I 3-Series, and in my view the best version, there have been a few different colour schemes made of this model, i feel this is the best, the only issue i have is that the front end could have done with some colour, the lights, grill, bumper, etc.

I have said it before, and I will say it again, Mattel spend too much time making garish plastic crap, that have nothing in common with cars like these, if Mattel limited the amount of cars in the range, currently over 200, plus re-colours, and spent a few extra pennies on licencing a product, they would sell far far more.

HOT WHEELS - BMW 3-Series Coupe

The last of the 3-Series coupe models, as BMW only has saloon and tourer as a 3-Series, coupe and convertibles are now known as 4-Series, I thinks it is just another reason to make things as complicated as possible for the buyer, and to no doubt up the price of the 4-Series models.

Anyway, Hot Wheels made this coupe 3-Series, and as a person that does not like BMW's, I found the casting to be very good, the 10 spoke wheels look right, the tampo is spot on, and overall a nice little model.

MATCHBOX - CADILLAC SPECIAL - 4 of the best

The first of our Caddy's is a 1956 Cadillac El Dorado, in a fetching pale blue, this stunning little model with hideous lace wheels shows what can be achieved by those at Mattel, given the opportunity, this convertible is very highly detailed, for such a small scale model, and one that sits nicely in the display box.

Number 2, well, how could any Caddy collection NOT include this, the original casting was a hearse, but after so many people (probably two saddo's) complained, they adjusted the moulds to make it into an ambulance, and you know what, they NEVER made a Ghostbusters version, HOW could they NOT have made one of them, DUH!, the disc wheels really make this model look the part, even if it is sitting slightly higher than other versions.

Coming more up-to date, the Cadillac CTS Coupe, a really nice scale version in silver, shows how Cadillac has evolved over the years, with its modern sharp lines and weird headlight arrangement, that's copied at the rear (fold over onto the wing) it gives the Caddy a look only Caddy can get away with, the large grill, nicely filled in on this version, gives the front a purposeful look, along with the ten spoke doubles, matchbox and Cadillac will continue to have a good relationship (as long as they don't stop making licensed products which they look as thought they are head that way)

And this little stunner makes four, This Cadillac Sedan De Ville is a typical 1970's yank tank, a huge barge of a car, that would have enough metal in it to make three small European cars, but then the Americans are nothing but flamboyant, the 70's was also an era where all the cars looked the same,  but the Sedan De Ville had that, something, that made it stand out, like all caddy's have over its entire history.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6 2000 Police

And just because I like this casting, here is another, the Rover P6 2000 in West Midlands Police trim, and this just typifies the "Jam Sandwich" of police cars, as they were known in the 70's and early 80's, For Rover, the Police business was huge, firstly with the P6, then the SD1, which was a huge seller for them, then the not so popular Rover 800.

This Rover is VA27007 and is a Limited Edition, 3332/4000, is mint and boxed, and like all other Rovers, is one of my favourite castings.

VANGUARDS - Rover P6 2000

Back to basics with this one, just a standard car, this time in Tobacco Leaf, not really a colour that you could use these days, not unless Cocaine white, Heroin Brown, or Hash green are colours that can be used, mmm, now there is an idea, I will send them off to Land Rover, they can use them on the SPort model for all the drug dealers... LOL...

This is a mint and boxed Rover P6 2000, VA27009, and, is a Limited Edition, 0410/4000, I just love this casting of the P6, and the 3500 P6b, that was also produced.

VANGUARDS - MG ZT PSNI

The last of my loose models, and again this was to be used for a plinth set with the three other MG ZT's, this time an unusual version, and a nice one too, the PSNI, the Police Service of Northern Ireland,  and as you can see, Vanguards could not be bothered to get the front right, The PSNI is the MK I version, whereas the Vanguards is the MK II, I can not locate ANY pictures of a MK II PSNI, as they never had any, so a but of a balls up on Vanguards behalf there.

These issues aside, the ZT is a nice addition to any collection, as there is not many that utilise the PSNI for model car treatment, even if it is the wrong car, but its a nice addition to the display cabinet.

VANGUARDS - Rover P5 MK II

How can anyone, not love this casting, it is just lovely, the stone grey and juniper green paint make this Vanguards Rover P5 MK II, stand out as one of the best, with Jewelled headlights, genuine wheel trims, working suspension, the large chrome grill and spot on tampo's, this is about as good as it gets, this is my all time favourite casting from Vanguards, and any and all versions are welcome here.

I have two of this casting, VA06900, and as this was the launch car, it is not a limited edition, I just wish I had one for real on the drive.

VANGUARDS - Rover P4 Cheshire Police

A Vanguards from the early era, a beautiful Rover P4, in green, this one is produced for Cheshire Police, with the only addition being the roof box and light, , the lack of jewelled headlights is a little bit if a downer, but the overall look of this model makes up for it, the model number is VA19006, there is no working suspension on this model and it is not a Limited Edition.

It is a Rover so for me it automatically goes to the top of the list, and this is a beautiful model, the colour is stunning, and like the advert said all those years back, Above all, it's a Rover.

VANGUARDS - Austin Cambridge Sussex Police

Vanguards of old really knew how to produce a brilliant model, and the Farina models from the BMC stable, are some of the best, here we have the Austin Cambridge, in Sussex Police trim, the model code is VA44001 and the Limited Edition number is 1845/5000

The working suspension, jewelled headlights, and perfect tampo's just bring this model to life, and after the Rovers and MG's this is one of my all time favourite models.

MAJORETTE - Citroen C5

Lets have a change from Hot Wheels, matchbox and Vanguards, with this stunning little casting of the Citroen C5, and what a casting it is, with a very detailed exterior, and good interior, this Majorette model is really very good.

The detailed front is the latest generation of the C5, with the large chevron, the opening doors and working suspension, along with numerous colour variations as  per usual with Majorette, shows that producing a £1.00 model with high detail, working suspension and opening parts CAN be achieved, and it shows that matchbox and Hot Wheels would rather have an extra penny or two in profit than actually give people what they want.

HOT WHEELS - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

One of the rare Hot Wheels, a really great casting of a brand new car, this, is the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, in stunning red, with larger rear wheels, this shows that Hot Wheels can, when they try, to produce a stunning representation of a real car.

The tampo is spot on too, the only down side for me, is the paint, it is a little thick, and takes away some of the detail around the front area, other than that, a lovely small scale model.

HOT WHEELS - Back Slider

Dont ask, I loathe this, why the hell I purchased it is beyond me, I must have been having a sugar rush or something, because as soon as i got it home, I just sat there and thought, who the hell put that in my trolley... DOH! - Anyway, it is a Hot Wheels Back slider,  the long black top piece slides back to allow for a car to be driven onto it and used as a car transporter. Nuf Said about this monstrosity.

MATCHBOX - Dodge Charger x 2

Chrysler Group sub brand Dodge hit a major home run with the Charger, it was an instant hit, and Matchbox were not far behind with launching there version, here, we have two models, one in Silver and the other in orange, the top having six spoke wheels and the bottom, the Super-fast five spokes.

The orange one, is by far the worse in regards to paint and tampo, too thickly painted and the tampo looks just cheap and nasty, the silver one however has less tampo, but looks better for it,  but the wheels are awful, personally the top wheels on the bottom model would be just about right, and then maybe a nice glossy black one, with black ten spoke doubles, LOL, we could go on all day , but overall, these are nice models, but would look better in other colours and wheels variations.

MATCHBOX - Opel Speedster x 2

A great addition to the Matchbox range was the Opel Speedster,  the model was originally launched in 2003, so has been around for a few years, but had a break from 2010 to 2013, her we have the only two i have loose, a nice red and and not so nice, slime green, both with the ten spoke double wheels, I like these wheels, they suit many sports cars, and look exceptional on these two European sports cars.

Based on a Lotus Elise, and produced at the Lotus, Hethel Factory, the Speedster, or Vauxhall VX220 as it was known in the UK, was not the best seller, fewer than 10,000 were made, but i suspect more than that were made in this small scale.

MATCHBOX - Shelby 500 GT Convertible

This is another of those models that look right, from the wheels to the tampo's one of the rare Matchbox models of late that is really good, however, Matchbox, like its Blue sister brand Hot Wheels, seems to be heading towards producing US branded products only, and that is a real shame, and there are really only so many Mustangs, or Shelby GT500's you can produce before it gets really really boring.

MATCHBOX - 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle

I am not a great fan of the US brands, they are usually ugly and just over chromed, yet this one, the 1971 Chevy Chevelle looks the part, a chunky car without the chrome, and with all the muscle that is required, The casting by Matchbox is quite nice, apart from the great blob of silver at the front, I am sure they could have stretched the black interior to cover for the grill, or lights or something just to break it up.

The tri-Spokes are not quite right either on this model, but they are better than some of the other wheel variations that Matchbox have for use.

VANGUARDS - Morris Minor Convertible.

Another Morris Minor, and like the traveller earlier posted, this is not perfect, but is damn close, there was a time when you would see a Minor on every road in the UK, and even now, at any Classic car show, there will be a myriad of version, from saloon, to van, to pick-up and convertible, and a few in between.

The A-Pillar looks a but thick, but the rest is lovely, jewelled headlights, chrome effect hub caps, perfectly placed tampos, along with a nice interior, like the others this is one of my display models, and currently sits between two Rovers, an SD1 and a 75.

VANGUARDS - Rover 75

Another Rover, and this time, another Rover 75, I wont apologise for it either, this is the very last car made by MG-Rover, and so deserves to be promoted, the actual last one, is at Gaydon, the BMIHT, in Firefrost and signed by the few workers that were left to complete the cars that were on the line, all these cars were hand made, and are surely of historical value.

This Vanguards 75 in Black is perfect, black being my favourite colour for any model, along with it being a Rover, only one car can beat this, and that's the Rover P5b in Black, and I have a few of those too.

VANGUARDS - Triumph TR3A

Quite a nice casting this is, and one that I am glad that anguards has done, you see, teh TR6, and TR4A are always being modelled, but not very often is this the TR3A, a lovely curved body with that face, two shiney eyes, the triumph badge for the nose (which is way to big) and the large open grill for the mouth, this little pocket rocked is just so wonderfully cast.

The fixed soft top looks both right and wrong, the silver blobs on the back are just way to big, if they are meant to be snap clips, but nonethless this is a great addition to my display collection/

MATCHBOX - Dodge Monaco Police

Now, when i saw that matchbox were doing a Dodge Monaco Police, I was hoping that a black and white would make it to production, and sure enough, they did, and I know that most people my age (21, ok 44) will remember such TV programmes as TJ Hooker, CHiPs, and so on that all had the Dodge Monaco whizzing around the streets in the US of A, usually being crunched or bashed, like all the Dodge Monaco's in The Dukes of Hazzard, how many they actually used in the show is unknown, but over 300 General Lee cars were used, with only 17 left at the end of production.

This Matchbox, is as near to perfect as it can be, the light bar is poo, but that's about it really, this model just brings back so many memories from TV programmes from so many years ago,

REALTOY - BMW 3-Series x 2

Now, I know i am not as young as I used to be, but I know I am not going senile, just yet anyway, but when i was rooting through that big box of loose models I found these two, a little battle worn, both identical except that the word trend on the top car is on white and on the car below (rear end showing - oooer) the word trend is on yellow, but that's the only difference, and I have no idea where they came from.

They are Realtoy, so are a good representation of the real thing, which they are, but i have never seen anything like them, so I must assume that one of my nephews had purchased them, or were given them and they got in my box, and as possession is 9/10ths of the law they are now mine... LOL...

MATCHBOX - Chevrolet SSR x 2

A couple of weird ones here, the Chevrolet SSR, a sort of coupe pick up truck with retro looks, there was was a time a few years ago when all the US manufactures produced some sort of retro car, the Plymouth Prowler, Dodge Viper, Chevy HHR and more, they did not last too long, fortunately, but the small scale manufactures managed to get in and produce them, nearly all, by the time they vanished from the showrooms.

both models here are loose and live a nice peaceful life in my multi section box, with many other models, not one of my favourite scale models, but at least they are proper licensed products, which Mattel seems to be slowly pulling away from, hopefully someone will come along and by Matchbox and get it back to building proper cars again.

BULGARIAN MATCHBOX - Ford Cortina Ambulance

A nice surprise here, a Bulgarian Matchbox Ford Cortina Ambulance, well, calling it an Ambulance is a bit of a stretch, but when the old moulds from Matchbox were finished with they went to Bulgaria where they carried on producing Matchbox models, and in vast numbers and variations, the original Cortina that was produced by Matchbox came with opening doors, here they are not able to open.

The standard of the time dot dash wheels look just right on this model, along with the base-plaste that is also the front bumper and grill.light as well as the back bumper, Bulgarian Matchbox now go for lots of money, this one came with its blister falling off from the damaged cardboard, none of which was described by the seller, needless to say generous feedback was left.

HOT WHEELS - Lotus Evora GT4

Lets have a stonking great sports car from the United Kingdom shall we ? This is the Hot Wheels Lotus Evora GT4, the race version of the luxury road car produced in Hethal Norfolk, England, here hot wheels have decided to give it a bit of a garish colour scheme, I am not generally in favour of these awful looking colours and stripes that they, and I mean Mattel, put on these cars, but sometimes when a model is just so good anyway, you just have to have it.

And have it I did, along with a second, out of the same box as the Batmobile I earlier posted, the larger rear wheel looks a little weird, but somehow suits the look of this GT4 car, personally i would like to see all the side graphics removed, leaving it all white, and leave just the bonnet stripe blacked out headlights.

RMZ CITY - BMW Z4

Like the white BMW 5-Series, I purchased these from a guy in the Philippines, I purchased two of each, unfortunately both of these BMW Z4 models arrived with the packaging detached from the card backing, hence why I have two in the bottom picture, the general look of these models are just spot on, and like the 5-Series the Tampo-ing is as near to perfectly placed as can be, the top part of the car, window and roof are plastic, diecast the rest.

for such a small car, and small amount of money paid, the details like the badging and tyres are really good, like I said on the other post I am not a fan of BMW, but when a good model appears its hard not to say yes please.

RMZ CITY - BMW 5-Series.

I found these on eBay, i was looking for something else and stumbled across RMZ City, never heard of them before, and was taken by the variety of the models and how up to date they were, so i messaged the seller, and asked for a multiple purchase discount, as you do, and surprisingly, I got one, and nice big one at that, so I purchased a large number of these small scale (1/64ish) models

This BMW 5-Series was one of the first I saw, normally i wont touch BMW models, as I really have a hatred of all things BMW, but when I see something this good I just had to have it, nothing openins on these models and there is no working suspension, but the tampo-ing on the lights is spot on, as is the position of the BMW roundel on the front.

VANGUARDS - Mini Cooper

Like the Morris Minor, everyone does a Mini, but not many do it right, this is another one that's not 100% right, you just need to look at the rear window for that, the C-Pillar is just too big, why are the hinges on the boot and number plate light not silvered, but once you get past those issues this Vanguards Mini Cooper is a joy, the Minilite wheels, the cooper wreath, bonnet stripes, sliding windows and so on, just draw you to this model.

It is a tiny model, but then so is the actual car, but this one just oozes Mini, real Mini, not the fake large BINI cars of today, I was really surprised that the tooling for the original Mini was not sold off to another company to continue making limited runs, as the would sell, even at the end of it's life the Mini was still selling, not the 300,000 a year it did in it's hey day, or enough to justify production, but enough to keep it high profile enough to have protests at its demise.

VANGUARDS - Morris Minor Traveller

Another early Vanguards/Lledo model, and not one of the best, it seems that everyone and their mother does a version of a Morris Minor, some are better than others, this model falls in the "others" sector, no jewelled headlights, and wood bodywork, is so obviously brown plastic, if they had put some sort of grain in it, it would have been a million times better, but no, the colouring of the hinges and lights is spot on, like the rest of the silvered items, grill surrounds, bonnet ornaments, door handles and so on.

I feel this model lacks reality, dont get me wrong, it is not too bad, but when compared to other models within the Vanguards range, it is left lacking, but it was an early model, so I suppose they learned as they went along. Another plinth model, thats on display, and no collection is complete without at least four Morris Minors....LOL...